The Historic Environment Forum (HEF) has announced that Dr Adrian Olivier MCIfA has been appointed as Chair.
Adrian has worked at a senior level across a wide range of historic environment activities, crossing traditional professional and subject-based boundaries, and has a broad operational perspective alongside a strong understanding of the wider historic environment. He retired from the then English Heritage in 2012 where he was Heritage Protection Director and Head of Profession for Archaeology.
Adrian was the founding President of the European Archaeological Council, the European network of state heritage agencies. He worked as a lead expert for the Council of Europe, and he continues to work closely with European and international organisations. Currently he is the Secretary General of the ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on Archaeological Heritage Management (ICAHM), and carries out technical missions for the ICOMOS World Heritage Evaluation Unit. He is jury member of the EU/Europa Nostra Heritage Awards (Conservation category).
Adrian is particularly interested in the public, legislative, economic, and social management of heritage - focusing in particular on the need to incorporate and articulate public and community values in heritage activities in order to deliver real and lasting public benefit. He is the Chair of the National Trust Historic Environment Advisory Group and the East of England Regional Advisory Board, and is also an active member of the National Trust Specialist Advice Network. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries (and Policy Committee member), a trustee of the Royal Archaeological Institute, and an honorary Professor of the Institute of Archaeology, University College London. Adrian commented:
“The essential purpose of the Historic Environment Forum is to foster collaboration and coordination between its members and in recent years it has evolved into one of the key players in the heritage world. I am absolutely delighted to be given this opportunity to contribute to the work of the Forum and to help the sector work collectively to develop and pursue its common objectives”.
Adrian succeeds the present interim Chair, Dr Ben Cowell, Director General of Historic Houses, who commented:
“The Historic Environment Forum brings together all of the leading organisations with an interest in the historic environment in England. It has been an honour for me to serve as interim HEF Chair while the search was on to find a replacement for the outgoing chair, John Sell. With his substantial experience in the sector Adrian Olivier is an inspired choice as the new HEF chair, and I look forward to working with him in this role.”
About the Historic Environment Forum
The Historic Environment Forum (HEF) was established and initially coordinated by the then English Heritage following the preparation of The Power of Place (2000), a statement of the value of the historic environment in England. Since then, HEF brought together senior members of staff from more than twenty public and non-government heritage bodies and worked to improve the collaboration of the sector to deliver beneficial change. HEF carries out a range of activities to encourage and support research, conservation, presentation, enjoyment and use of the historic environment in England. HEF is also responsible for setting the themes, directing the research and overseeing the content of Heritage Counts, produced by Historic England.
