Address by Gráinne Shaffrey

22nd ICOMOS General Assembly, Kuching, Malaysia
22 September 2026

Dear ICOMOS colleagues, friends and distinguished guests in this room and online,

Chers collègues et amis de l’ICOMOS, distingués invités présents dans cette salle ou participant à distance,

Estimados colegas y amigos de ICOMOS, distinguidos invitados presentes en esta sala y quienes nos acompañan en línea,

It is with a great sense of honour, responsibility and humility that I stand amongst you as the tenth President of ICOMOS. I step into the shoes of a remarkable group of past Presidents, who have cumulatively built this fantastic organisation into a valuable force of good for this world. And, our immediate past President, Teresa Patricio, has, I can assure you, very large shoes!

As we have witnessed through the many discussions and presentations over these last days, ICOMOS stands apart in the world of cultural heritage and is a genuine leader in the advancement and evolution of heritage. At a time of increasing volatility and uncertainty ICOMOS provides a solid mooring post which is grounded in a value system based on mutual respect, independence and a spirit of unprejudiced cooperation and transdisciplinarity. This mooring post will, if we collectively uphold our shared core principles, become increasingly valued as a pillar of hope and a pathway towards a more sustainable future.

My admiration for ICOMOS and all involved in what we do, only grows as I learn more and participate more. As an organisation and a global gathering of committed volunteer members it is deeply inspiring. I applaud the incredible generosity of all members in giving your time, intellectual skills, passion and so much more than this, in pursuit of the important work we are doing – on climate action; on preparing and responding to an increasing number and type of crises and staying committed throughout the recovery process; to carefully developing groundbreaking and pioneering conceptual frameworks and practical guidance in the form of our doctrinal texts; to providing rigorous, truly expert, independent and insightful advice on World Heritage; to the groundwork we would not survive without, at the local level within National and Transnational Committees by the many members we may not see at these gatherings, who may not engage so much internationally, but who are a key foundation of our organisation.

Right now, you might be looking towards me, I want you all instead, for a moment to reflect on the ICOMOS members in your countries who are not here, and just as important, those in your neighbouring countries, and acknowledge your and their commitment to the protection, advancement and transmission of cultural heritage, enacted within the framework of our Ethical Principles.

I do not take this rare commitment for granted and with the Board we will work to find ways to improve the conditions for participation.

As I set out in my election statement, I am here to listen, to reflect carefully, and to move ICOMOS forward collectively and collaboratively. And I borrowed a lesson I learnt from my dear colleague Zeynep Gül Ünal, when speaking about how ICOMOS might respond to disasters and conflicts – It is when we come together to think together and to act together that we can be our most effective and influential.

I want to thank all those who met and spoke with me in the lead up to the election – I have heard much from you that can inspire and inform how and what we do over the next 3 years. And I have also been listening carefully over these last days of our General Assembly and Scientific Symposium – I have heard the voices at meetings, but also in the smaller and vital informal conversations with you. What I value greatly, and I hope all of you will work with me in this way, is to ensure a respectful, rigorous, collaborative and open process in what we do. When we progress informed by critical thinking, open, respectful discussion and debate, to action, and return again to reflection and review, then we can enable better and more effective action.

We have many tasks ahead of importance – in which I include those embedded in the resolutions now adopted by this 22nd General Assembly, amongst which is our comprehensive 3-year General Programme. My 3-year mandate brings us closer to the looming 2030 milestones and we will give focus to how we might mark this significant date and, more critically, prepare for post-2030 with culture placed at the centre of development policies and ICOMOS as the lead international expert body backing sustainable development through cultural heritage.

Amongst the many words that have echoed in my mind over the last few days are Change and Continuity. Change is inevitable and at this moment, myself and the new Board represent change. Change does not necessarily mean disruption, loss, turning things upside down. Change can nurture and build on existing foundations. Change can accommodate continuity and propel us forward without losing the timeless values that define who we are.

This General Assembly also addressed our multi-cultural diversity through exploring terminology and meaning – not only as written text, spoken word, or thought concepts – but also as expressions of cultural specificity and diversity. And, being an ICOMOS event, I could not resist creating an acronym from the inspiring core pillars of the Scientific Symposium – Respect, Enhance, Accept, and Partnership – together their first letters spell REAP, which speaks of a harvest we might yield from sowing, nurturing and wisely tending all these concepts.

I am from Ireland, in population and size we are very small in global terms. We have a history of migration and movement. An island off an island on the edge of a continent, we have always looked outwards and ideas and culture have washed in and washed out. I take inspiration from this condition which has informed my own global interest and outlook. I joined ICOMOS for its world-wide perspective and this is what I will carry with me throughout my term.

I will end with a few personal congratulations and thanks.

Congratulations and thanks to:

• The Organisers of this wonderful General Assembly and Scientific Symposium – ICOMOS Malaysia and all its members; the Scientific Symposium Convenors and Co-chairs, the ICOMOS Advisory Committee, the International Secretariat and all those who have given presentations or facilitated workshops, panel sessions, etc.
  I hope you all get a few good nights’ sleep and a restful holiday after your immense work.
• To our Honorary Past President, Teresa Patricio, and former Bureau and Board members – I have learnt much from all of you and your commitment during these last three, six and nine years is truly remarkable. You have left a positive legacy to build on.
• Congratulations to ICOMOS Australia on your 50^th birthday and to all other Committees celebrating significant milestones at this General Assembly.

My thanks also go to the:

• Incoming Board and Bureau in advance, for the work you are going to do.
• To all the candidates who generously put themselves forward for election and, in particular, my fellow candidates for President, Susan McIntyre-Tamwoy and Nupur Prothi. This was an unprecedented election process I think, and while it is a positive and healthy sign for ICOMOS, it is not easy for candidates. I hope we can implement all the good and important ideas put forward and supported by the membership.
• To ICOMOS Pakistan and ICOMOS Azerbaijan for generously committing to hosting our 2027 Annual General Assembly and 2029 Triennial General Assembly. I look forward to working closely with you.
• To all who have so generously hosted, supported, partnered and enabled this event.
• To my colleagues in ICOMOS Ireland and others, including absent friends, for your irreplaceable camaraderie.
• And, last, but most definitely not least, to all ICOMOS members in this room and online, who have participated so passionately and effectively these last days, and to ICOMOS members everywhere.

 

I will leave you with a traditional parting wish in Irish, which I have adapted very slightly:

Go n-éirí an bóthar linn
Go raibh an ghaoth go brách ag ár gcúl
Go lonraí an ghrian go te ar ár n-aghaidh
Go dtite an bháisteach go mín ar ár bpháirceanna
Agus go mbuailimid le chéile arís,
Go gcoinní an Mháthair-Chruinne i mbos mhín a láimhe sinn.

May the road rise to meet us,
May the wind be always at our back,
May the sun shine warm upon our faces,
May the rain fall soft upon our fields,
And until we meet again,
May Mother Earth hold us in the gentle palm of Her hand.

 

Go raibh maith agaibh go léir

 

Merci , Gracias, Thank you, Terima kasih