ICOMOS 21st General Assembly and Scientific Symposium

International Convention Centre Sydney, Australia
31 August – 09 September 2023

#ICOMOSGA2023

ICOMOS 21st General Assembly and Scientific Symposium

We acknowledge the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation as the Traditional Custodians of this Land on which the ICOMOS General Assembly and Scientific Symposium will take place and pay respects to their Elders past and present. We extend this acknowledgement and respect to the Traditional Owners of other Country which will be visited during GA2023 and to all Indigenous people who attend.

#ICOMOSGA2023

ICOMOS 21st General Assembly and Scientific Symposium

International Convention Centre Sydney, Australia
31 August – 09 September 2023

#ICOMOSGA2023

ICOMOS 21st General Assembly and Scientific Symposium

We acknowledge the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation as the Traditional Custodians of this Land on which the ICOMOS General Assembly and Scientific Symposium will take place and pay respects to their Elders past and present. We extend this acknowledgement and respect to the Traditional Owners of other Country which will be visited during GA2023 and to all Indigenous people who attend.

#ICOMOSGA2023

Heritage Changes:
Resilience – Responsibility – Rights – Relationships

Message from the Australia ICOMOS President

Welcome!

On behalf of Australia ICOMOS, I am delighted to invite delegates from around the world to Sydney for the 21st Triennial General Assembly of ICOMOS from 31 August – 9 September 2023.

Together we can learn from each other and promote excellent cultural heritage practices.

Sydney is a destination that offers unrivalled natural and cultural beauty with world-class facilities, including the stunning new International Convention Centre, all in the inspirational setting of Sydney Harbour.

The core General Assembly will occur between 4 and 8 September 2023 within an exciting ten day program of site visits, workshops, lectures, expert meetings and social gatherings. Venues will include the World Heritage listed Sydney Opera House, Cockatoo Island / Wareamah, Hyde Park Barracks and Greater Blue Mountains amongst a wide variety of other Aboriginal and colonial cultural places. We will meet amidst Sydney’s vibrant Indigenous and multicultural communities.

The theme of the five-day Scientific Symposium: ‘Heritage Changes: Resilience – Responsibility – Rights – Relationships’, reflects the tumultuous changes taking place in the world, but also a positive message about the role of our heritage in supporting rapid recovery and inclusive approaches.

Australia ICOMOS has one of the largest and most active ICOMOS national committees, and with strong support from the Australian and NSW State Governments and the City of Sydney, we are thrilled to bring an ICOMOS General Assembly to the Pacific region for the first time.

Please join us at the General Assembly – not only to visit Sydney, but to make this event the cornerstone of a visit to the unique cultural and natural heritage of Australia!

Professor Tracy Ireland
President, Australia ICOMOS

ICOMOS GA2023 Fast Facts

Dates: 31 August – 9 September 2023

Venue: International Convention Centre (ICC Sydney) right in the heart of Sydney

Audience: Expected up to 1,500 professionals from across the globe representing heritage, archaeology, historians, urban planning, architects and academia just to name a few, providing unrivalled access to high-calibre specialist knowledge and delivering a boost to‘grass roots’ interest in cultural heritage and conservation work throughout Australia and globally.

Theme: ‘Heritage Changes’ with sub-themes: Resilience – Responsibility -Rights – Relationships.

Legacy: GA2023 will leave a lasting positive legacy for the recognition, protection and management of cultural and natural heritage and for communities that value and care for it in Australia and globally.

GA2023 video highlights

Selected highlights from ICOMOS GA2023 are now available on the ICOMOS YouTube Channel and at the following links:

Opening ceremony speeches, Sunday 3 September;

  • Prof Tracy Ireland – President of Australia ICOMOS;
  • Prof Teresa Patricio – President of ICOMOS;
  • The Hon Penny Sharpe, MLC, NSW Minister for Heritage;
  • The Hon Tanya Plibersek, Commonwealth Minister for the Environment.

Caring for Country Workshop: Indigenous Voices on Culture, Heritage and the Climate Crisis, Saturday 2 September;

Keynote addresses, Monday 4 September;

  • June Oscar, AO, the Australian Indigenous Human Rights Commissioner; and
  • Her Royal Highness, Princess Dana Firas of Jordan.

World Heritage Panel discussion, Friday 8 September:

ICOMOS GA2023 PHOTOS

Thank you to Kylie Christian who was taking photos throughout ICOMOS GA2023 and has very kindly made them available for GA2023 delegates. Download Kylie’s photos below.

 

 

 ICOMOS GA2023 can also provide the full range of photos from our on-site photographer, Oneill Photographics. You can find the full edit photos below.

Sustainability: Towards a sustainable GA2023

We aim to make GA2023 a carbon neutral and sustainable event. Our Sustainability Guide for GA2023 will help make the event environmentally and socially sustainable. Our Aboriginal Procurement Policy will create opportunities for Aboriginal owned businesses and employment. We encourage all sponsors, exhibitors, providers and delegates to read and use these policies.

Please be mindful of our planet and join us in our efforts to neutralise the GA2023 carbon footprint. We encourage all attendees to purchase airline carbon offsets and use public transport. GA2023 will minimise paper consumption and waste through use of technology and encourage attendees to bring their own reusable cups for water which will be complimentary and readily available.

For more on sustainability at the GA2023 click here

ICOMOS – WORKING WITH EARTHCHECK AND REFOREST TO MAKE GA2023 SUSTAINABLE

To lead the way in sustainability, ICOMOS has worked with EarthCheck, using their EventCheck process to carry out a detailed policy and process review, as well as data collection and carbon footprinting.

EarthCheck have calculated the carbon footprint for the ICOMOS 2023 General Assembly and Side Events and together with Reforest they have worked out the number of trees required to offset the carbon footprint. The total emissions for the event (excluding transport) were 225,503 kilograms of CO2-e emissions which equates to approximately 188 kilograms of CO2-e emissions per attendee. The total is equivalent to the carbon dioxide offset by 980 trees, based on an emissions offset factor of 230kg/tree.

KEY FINDINGS

Accounting for 95% of all emissions, the major contributor to this result was accommodation, whilst venue emissions accounted for just 5% of the total. The venue impact was minimal due to ICOMOS’s choice to work primarily with the International Convention Centre, an EarthCheck certified venue. The ICOMOS carbon footprint is 188 kilograms of CO2-e emissions per attendee. By partnering with Reforest, ICOMOS will offset this event’s accommodation and venue related carbon emissions by planting 1200 trees (including 400 trees provided by Reforest) which equates to a total offset of 276,000kg CO2-e, or 230kg CO2-e per attendee.

Delegates were asked to purchase airline carbon offsets for their flights. Delegates can also purchase trees through Reforest to help offset their carbon footprint from  travel, or contribute to offsetting the flight carbon footprint of others travelling to the GA. Information on how to do this will be available during GA2023.

Given the potential for significant negative impacts from conferences and events, ICOMOS are proud to have partnered with EarthCheck to monitor, measure, and manage our event footprint.

Information has been taken from the ICOMOS Final Report EarthCheck EventCheck

Lessons in Sustainability from GA2023

Bamboo USB sticks

GA2023 Convenor Richard Mackay AM spoke to EarthCheck founder and CEO Stewart Moore about the importance of sustainable events, and how sustainability and heritage intertwine.

Strategic Partners

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Opal Patrons

 

 


Digital Patron

The designations employed and the presentation of material throughout this website do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of ICOMOS concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

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The authors of material presented at GA2023 are solely responsible for the choice and the presentation of the facts contained and for the opinions expressed therein, which are not necessarily those of ICOMOS and do not commit the organisation. The designations employed and the presentation of material at GA2023 do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of ICOMOS concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.