Ann Attwood ACR
I have been lucky enough to have been involved in the conservation of archives and books for over 40 years’, starting at Warwickshire County Record Office in 1984 with archives. I completed the ARA training scheme for Conservators in 1988 and went to work at The Wellcome Library with books and archives. In 1990 I went to West Dean College to study the conservation of rare books and manuscripts under Chris Clarkson and David Dorning, and returned to the books at the Wellcome Library in 1992.
I was a committee member for the Institute of Paper Conservation 1996-1999 (the forerunner of the ICON B&P group) and served on the Accreditation Sub-committee and Meetings Development Group. I was accredited by the Institute of Paper Conservation in 2000 and have been an ICON accreditation assessor since 2001.
In 2003 following the birth of my first child, I moved back to county archives and to caring for the unique and irreplaceable historical records at Gloucestershire Archives that provide that direct connection through hundreds of years to the ordinary and extraordinary people and events that have shaped our world, locally, nationally and internationally and still impact our lives today.
Simon Cane ACR
Simon Cane is the former Director of Public and Cultural Engagement at University College London, where he led UCL’s museums, the Public Engagement Unit, Bloomsbury Theatre and cultural programmes. He previously spent ten years at Birmingham Museums Trust, including as Director of Operations and Commercial, and managed major projects such as the Staffordshire Hoard programme. Trained as a conservator, Simon’s career has spanned collections care, management and public engagement, with a focus on connecting heritage, research and audiences.
Diana Davis ACR
Diana (McCormack) Davis is an accredited large objects conservator. She trained at Durham University after a career in archaeology, and subsequently worked for English Heritage, the Science Museum, National Museums Scotland, the Antarctic Heritage Trust (NZ) and National Museum of the Royal Navy. She is currently Head of Conservation for the Natural History Museum, leading the team that is responsible for the conservation and care of all the museum's collections. Diana has also been chair of PSD since December 2022.
Claire Fry ACR
Trained in Archaeological Conservation and Care of Collections at Cardiff University, Claire has since enjoyed a 25 year career as a preventive conservator working with clients such as the National Trust, English Heritage and private institutions across the UK. Accredited by the Institute of Conservation in 2010, Claire became an assessor for the Institute’s accreditation scheme in 2012, a mentor in 2014 and a Trustee in 2019. Founding Spencer & Fry in 2015, Claire continues to work across all areas of preventive conservation with a particular interest in Emergency & Salvage Planning and enabling filming in historic locations. She also regularly trains and lectures for institutions and universities across the UK.
Gael Dundas
Gael Dundas is the Director of Collections Management at the Imperial War Museums, with over 25 years of leadership experience in collections management. Believing that curiosity is the cornerstone for strategic innovation, Gael leads strategic and sustainable approaches to the care, development, and use of nationally important archive, museum and library collections. Gael is currently work with Icon to rethink how training and apprenticeships can support new entrants and mid-career professionals alike.
Pedro Gaspar
Pedro Gaspar, PhD, FIIC, is Head of Conservation at the Victoria and Albert Museum. With over 20 years’ experience in heritage and museums, he is known for transformational leadership and innovative, risk-based approaches to conservation. At the V&A he has pioneered new policies on loans, exhibitions and lighting, and he is active internationally in promoting sustainable practice across the sector.
Hannah Harte ACR
Hannah Harte is Director of the London Museum of Water & Steam. She was previously Head of Conservation, Collections & Interiors at the National Trust, where she oversaw the care and engagement of collections at over 300 historic properties, led two national conservation studios, and championed people-focused approaches to heritage. Earlier, she was the British Museum’s first Head of Preventive Conservation and a 2016/17 Clore Leadership Fellow. She has also served as a Trustee for Icon and sits on the Fabric Advisory Committee for Lincoln Cathedral.
Helen Hughes ACR
Helen Hughes ACR is an internationally recognised leader in the field of Architectural Paint Research and Historic Interiors Research.
Previously the Head of Historic Interiors Research & Conservation Unit at English Heritage, she presently runs and owns Historic Interiors Research & Conservation (HIRC) which helps owners of historic interiors listen to the stories layers and layers of old paint have to tell. Helen presents practical options for managing change in historic buildings and sharing conservation decisions, and also provide workshops and training courses for communities, conservation students and heritage professionals. Selected papers are available for download on her website.
- Website:
- www.helenhughes-hirc.com
Emma Jhita
Emma is Icon’s Chief Executive Officer and is responsible for the development and delivery of Icon’s strategic ambitions. She manages the staff team and works closely with the Board of Trustees, Board Committees, and volunteers drawn from the membership.
Emma is an experienced heritage sector leader and fundraising professional and joined Icon from Historic England where she was Head of Partnerships & Development. Emma has a track record of successful delivery in previous roles as Chief Executive of Didcot Railway Centre, Director of Development at the Jewish Museum London, and Head of Fundraising for The Postal Museum.
Contact Emma about strategy, income generation, policy matters and also advocacy and governance.
- Email:
- [email protected]
Dr David Leigh ACR (Emeritus)
Trained in London as an archaeological conservator, David went on to teach conservation at Cardiff University where he compiled the first edition of First Aid for Finds. He set up the Conservation Unit of the Museums & Galleries Commission, and established the first conservation awards. As Principal at West Dean College he expanded conservation teaching before becoming CEO of UKIC, and then helped to forge Icon from five membership bodies. Internationally, he was involved with IIC, notably as its Secretary-General, and with the creation of European BSI conservation standards. He continues to be a Trustee of the Anna Plowden Trust and is currently involved as Trustee with conservation and display of the Newport medieval ship timbers and their eventual re-assembly.
Helen Lindsay ACR
Helen Lindsay, ACR trained as a paper conservator and spent 8 years working at the Bodleian Library before moving to the London Archives as Collections Care Manager. As a freelance consultant she has worked for The Wellcome Trust, National Trust and local authorities, charities, universities and museums across the UK. Following 3 years at the Imperial war Museum as Head of Preservation, she returned to freelance work and is currently an Icon Intern Advisor and project worker for The Restoration Trust. Her interest in preservation spans both heritage and environmental conservation as she manages 18 acres of wetland and woodland for nature. Her work with The Restoration Trust focuses on ‘culture therapy’ which aims to creatively break down barriers to inclusion and increase accessibility to heritage.
Alison Lister ACR
Alison Lister BA (Hons), DipCons, ACR, is the owner of Textile Conservation Limited, an independent studio based in Bristol. After studying fine art Alison trained as a textile conservator at the Textile Conservation Centre (TCC) in the late 1980s. Following an internship at the North West Museums Service she returned to the TCC in 1991 to start her conservation teaching career, completing an Advanced Diploma in Higher Education Studies at the Institute of Education, University of London in 1995. Alison left the TCC in 2000 to work as a freelance conservator and educator. She joined Textile Conservation in 2003 and has been its sole owner/director for nearly 20 years.
David McDonald
David McDonald is a heritage consultant, specialising in training other built environment professionals. He was, until late 2011 Conservation and Design Team Leader at the Royal Borough Kensington, a post he held for over twenty years. David previously worked as a town planner at the London Borough of Camden during which time he completed the Diploma in Conservation at the Architectural Association. Formerly a member of the Association of Conservation Officers, he joined the IHBC at its inception and was Chair of its London Branch from 2004 until 2012.
Mike Rieveley ACR, BA
Lead Conservator at Rieveley Ceramics Conservation and Restoration, a private practice specializing in tiling, mosaic and architectural ceramics based in Waunfawr, Nr Caernarfon. A BA in Fine Art Liverpool was followed by working in pottery design and manufacturing before specialising in conserving and restoring ceramics when setting up Rieveley Ceramics Conservation and Restoration in 1999.
Currently chair of The Tiles and Architectural Ceramics Society.
Some of our recent projects include:
- Bodnant Hall, Conwy
- Helmingham Hall, Suffolk
- Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London
- Joana Vasconcelos Wedding Cake, Waddesdon Manor, Buckinghamshire.
- Temple Newsam, Leeds
- Grosvenor Building, Manchester Art School, MMU
- Susan Williams Ellis Foundation, Plas Brondanw, N Wales
- Morecambe Winter Gardens
- Beverley Road Baths, Hull
Tracy Manning ACR
Tracy Manning trained as an art historian and wall painting conservator before joining the English Heritage Conservation Studio in 1994, where she contributed to the Wall Painting Condition Audit and the running of conservation training programmes. Later at Historic England she worked with the Building Conservation team on the Practical Building Conservation Series and conservation guidance, before beginning her current role as Senior Conservation Advisor to the Church of England. In this role she advises on conservation proposals for a wide range of objects, manages the Lottery-funded conservation grants programme, and continues to advocate for heritage skills and improved conservation standards and practices at a national level.
Siobhan Stevenson ACR
Siobhan Stevenson ACR is Director of Legacy Conservation, a private practice offering collections care and conservation services. A former Icon Chair with more than 35 years’ experience in the heritage sector, she has a diverse background in conservation, training, management, and cultural policy and strategy.
Siobhan worked at Cardiff University where she set up the MSc in Care of Collections and was Head of Collections Care at National Museums NI but has also worked in the wider heritage sector most recently as Director of Northern Ireland Museums Council. Siobhan founded Legacy Conservation in 2019, providing conservation, consultancy and project management to museums and collecting institutions across the UK and Ireland.
Sonja Schwoll
Sonja Schwoll is Head of Conservation and Collections Care at the Wellcome Collection. Prior to this, she was Head of Conservation and Treatment Development at The National Archives, where she led the development, promotion, and delivery of their conservation programme. She introduced the concept of conservator practitioners as researcher practitioners and implemented ResearchSpace, an innovative knowledge system for documenting conservation and heritage research. She also played a key role in securing a RICHeS grant to support the establishment of a national Heritage Science Data Service. For over a decade, Sonja ran an independent book conservation studio in London. She has actively shaped the conservation profession through her roles as a lecturer in higher education at Camberwell and West Dean College, as an external examiner, and through her contributions to IPC, Icon, and IADA.