Conference Programme

We are delighted to announce the programme for the Emerging Professionals Conference 2025: Opportunities and Collaborations


The Conference will be held from 9:30am - 5pm at The Confluence Building, Durham University 

Arrival, Tea & Coffee | 9:30am - 10am

Check in, grab some refreshments, and connect with fellow attendees before the event officially begins.

Keynote Speaker - Richard Mulholland | 10:10am - 10:40am

Richard Mulholland is Assistant Professor in Conservation of Fine Art at Northumbria University. Before joining Northumbria, Richard spent nineteen years as a paper conservator, working at several institutions including the V&A, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York and the Harvard Art Museums. 

Talks on Launching a Career | 10:40am - 11:40am

This session will explore the different routes into conservation, and personal insight from speakers into how they progressed from their training into different types of practice. It will be followed by a Q&A. 

Speakers:

Sophie McAloone

Sophie McAloone

Conservation Manager, Fine Art Restoration Company

Sophie McAloone is the Conservation Manager at Fine Art Restoration Company, where she oversees a busy team working on a wide range of conservation projects for private clients, museums, and institutions across the UK. She is a trained easel paintings conservator and has experience with artworks spanning from 15th-century oil on copper pieces to contemporary mixed media, with a particular interest in post-war British art as well as paintings on panel supports.

Her research into the work of British artist Sheila Fell R.A. has been published and presented at public events, including a recent lecture at Tullie Museum as part of a large retrospective exhibition. She has also contributed to The Picture Restorer, combining her practical knowledge with an interest in public engagement and sector discourse. Sophie is an active member of the British Association of Paintings Conservator-Restorers (BAPCR) and currently serves as Education and Outreach Officer on the Committee for ICON’s Private Practice Group. She is especially passionate about supporting early-career conservators and sharing insight into the realities of private practice, team leadership, and career progression.

Huw Bonner

Head of Conservation, National Library of Wales

Huw Bonner is the Head of Conservation at National Library of Wales. With over 36 years of experience in archival conservation, I began my professional journey at the National Library of Wales in 1989 as a Library Assistant, before progressing to the role of Conservation Assistant. My career developed further through positions as Conservation Technician and, subsequently, Qualified Conservator. Over the years, I have specialised in the care and preservation of wax seals and have contributed to professional training as an instructor on the Archives and Records Association (ARA) conservation course. In my current role as Head of Conservation, I lead the department in safeguarding the library’s rich and diverse collections, ensuring their long-term preservation for future generations.

Phil Pollard

Phil Pollard

Heritage Career Pathways Manager, Historic England

Phil Pollard, ACIfA, is Heritage Career Pathways Manager at Historic England, where he manages their strategic approach to improving sector workforce skills and careers. Phil chairs the Historic Environment Skills Forum, which includes ICON as a founding member. He was lead author on the Skills Forum’s Historic Environment Skills and Careers Action Plan for England (HESCAPE) that notes industrial heritage conservation skills and post-excavation skills in Archaeology (inc. conservation) amongst its priority areas.

Phil also chairs the Historic Environment Trailblazer, which has developed 7 new heritage apprenticeship standards including 2 in conservation and led the delivery of the UKs first ever historic environment apprenticeship programme. Previously, Phil established Historic England and English Heritage’s Collaborative Doctoral Partnership programme and sat on the advisory Boards of a number of AHRC Doctoral Training Partnerships.

Phil has been an assessor for the CIfA/UAUK Degree Accreditation since 2019 and is currently Vice Chair of its Accreditation Committee. He is also a Trustee and Honorary Secretary of the Council for British Archaeology.

 

Poster Session 1 | 11:40am - 12:05pm

Each presenter will have 3 minutes to introduce their poster using 1–2 slides. Following the short presentations, participants will have time to view the posters.

You can find all poster titles here

Networking Session | 12:05pm - 12:30pm

Connect with fellow emerging professionals in a relaxed and informal setting. This session offers a chance to share experiences, exchange ideas, and build meaningful connections across the field.

Poster Session 2 | 13:30am - 14:00pm

Each presenter will have 3 minutes to introduce their poster using 1–2 slides. Following the short presentations, participants will have time to view the posters.

You can find all poster titles here

Networking Session | 2pm - 2:30pm

Connect with fellow emerging professionals in a relaxed and informal setting. This session offers a chance to share experiences, exchange ideas, and build meaningful connections across the field.

Talks on Cross-Disciplinary Collaborative Projects | 2:30pm - 3:30pm

This session will explore how conservation often takes place in collaboration with others, from other conservators to heritage professionals and beyond. 

This session will have 20 mins per presentation and will allow for 15 minutes of questions at end of the session.

Speakers and Titles:

Lauren Moon-Schott & Tony King

Shakespeare Recovered: A Case Study into Interdisciplinary Collaboration

 

Closing Remarks from Emma Jhita, Icon CEO | 3:30pm - 4pm

Emma Jhita, CEO of Icon, will offer closing reflections on the day’s discussions, highlight key takeaways, and share thoughts on the future of the profession and the role of emerging professionals within it.

Icon EPN AGM | 4pm - 5pm

 

The inaugural Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Emerging Professionals Group will provide an opportunity to discuss questions raised regarding EPN activities, including events, the group’s webpage, and other relevant matters.

 

In addition, the AGM will include the announcement of the results from the recent Emerging Professionals Group Committee elections.

From 5pm, attendees are invited to join an optional informal gathering for drinks in Durham, a great opportunity to unwind and continue conversations from the day.