#NonExecutiveDirector
Kate Pugh OBE
Non-Executive Director, UK National Commission for UNESCO Board of Directors.
Kate Pugh is a heritage and cultural specialist with extensive experience in national and international heritage.
Kate is Chairman of the Advisory Group of the UK Cultural Protection Fund, managed by British Council in partnership with DCMS. The Cultural Protection Fund is the UK’s fund to support efforts to protect cultural heritage at risk.
From 2003 to 2016 Mrs Pugh served as the Chief Executive of The Heritage Alliance and later wrote its first International Report championing the role of heritage NGOs in international relations. She also co-authored UKNC’s 2019 publication Cultural Heritage Innovation: opportunities for Sustainable Development.
She is a trustee and the honorary secretary of Europa Nostra UK and of The Afghanistan Society. Mrs Pugh was awarded an OBE for services to heritage in the 2015 New Year Honours. She was elected as a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London in 2019.

#Institution
Chairman
Advisory Group, Cultural Protection Fund
From 2017
#Alma-Matter
University of Oxford, BA.
#Role at UNESCO
Culture Portfolio Director, UK National Commission for UNESCO Board of Directors
SINCE 2021
QUOTE
“I am looking forward to teaming up with my fellow Directors at the National Commission to strengthen the UK’s commitment to UNESCO and to support the mutual benefits each brings to the other, particularly through the World Heritage dimension.”
Kate Pugh
Liaising with the UK’s Permanent Delegation to UNESCO and approved by HM government, our Non-Executive Directors help steer the direction of the UK National Commission for UNESCO, and are each responsible for overseeing a particular field of UNESCO’s work in the UK.
ROLE AT UNESCO
Kate Pugh is a Non-Executive Director at the UK National Commission for UNESCO’s Board of Directors and jointly oversees the Culture Portfolio.
Institutions
UK National Commission for UNESCO
Board Member, and Culture Director.
FROM 2021
Trustee and Honorary Secretary
Europa Nostra UK
FROM 2019
Chairman
Advisory Group, Cultural Property Protection
FROM 2017
Chief Executive
The Heritage Alliance
FROM 2003-2016
General Manager
ICOMOS UK
FROM 1995 – 2003
Role at UNESCO
Non-Executive Director at the UK National Commission for UNESCO’s Board of Directors, Culture and Heritage Specialist
SINCE 2021
COMMISSION
The UK National Commission for UNESCO
ESTABLISHED 1946 – LONDON, ENGLAND

UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) is the United Nations body responsible for coordinating international cooperation in education, science, culture and communication. The UKNC is a hub for all UNESCO-related matters in the UK, and the Board of Directors take part in formulating and regularly reviewing the strategic aims of the commission.
Publications
SELECTED PUBLISHED WORK
Read about some of the projects and initiatives that Kate has been a part of.

Cultural Heritage Innovation
2019
#InternationalDevelopment
Alongside the UKNC, Kate oversaw this extensive report on the innovative capacity of the cultural heritage sector within the UK and how it can aid international development.

International Report
#Heritage
Kate authored the first-ever report on the independent heritage sector’s impact overseas alongside cases studies looking at the international work of Heritage Alliance members.The report, sponsored by the Scottish Confucius Institute for Business & Communication at Heriot-Watt University, makes recommendations for building on the success of the overall sector which already generates £21.7 billion a year
QUOTE
“Working with the UK’s wonderfully wide range of UNESCO designations, celebrating their uniqueness and showing how arts and culture can contribute through the Sustainable Development Goals to a more sustainable, peaceful and equitable future at local, national and international levels is for me both a privilege and an exciting challenge”
Kate Pugh
#MoreExperts
RELATED EXPERTS
Meet the UK National Commission for UNESCO Accredited Experts
#Heritage #UK

Matthew Cragoe
ACCREDITED EXPERT
#RuralBritain
As an established rural historian, advisor Professor Matthew Cragoe is Chair of the UK committee for the Man and Biosphere Programme.
RELATED CHAIRS
Read more about our related Chairs in Culture and Freedom.

Chair in Archaeological Ethics and Practice in Cultural Heritage
PROFESSOR ROBIN CONINGHAM
#Archaeology
Durham’s Chair addresses the social, ethical and economic impacts facing heritage managers. The team co-design solutions and training programmes to encourage protection and inclusive promotion, particularly at living heritage sites.

Chair in Cultural Property Protection and Peace
PROFESSOR PETER STONE
#HeritageProtection
The UNESCO Chair team at Newcastle tries to reduce this damage by working with the heritage, military, and humanitarian sectors to plan to conserve heritage during peacetime, as well as ensure its protection during conflict and following natural disaster.
FULL LIST
A global network of universities that carry out research to address pressing challenges and contribute.
*by alphabetical order
Our advisors are experts in their field who provide advice to the UK National Commission for UNESCO by reviewing applications for UNESCO designations, prizes and patronage, and contribute to other aspects of our work.
#Man&Biosphere #Science
#GlobalGeoparks #Science
#GlobalGeoparks #Science
#CreativeCity #Communication
#CreativeCity #Communication
#MemoryoftheWorld #Culture
#WorldHeritage #Culture
#WorldHeritage #Culture
#BlueShield #CulturalProtection
All our accredited experts are selected to advise the UK National Commission for UNESCO on policy matters related to UNESCO. They are approved by HM government to represent the UK in UNESCO committees, commissions and programmes.
#IHP #Science
#IPDC #Communication
#IHP #Science
#IOC #Science
#IOC #Science
#Bioethics #Social&HumanScience
#UnderwaterCulteralHeritage #Culture
#SESAME #Science
#AI #TuringCenter #Science
UNESCO Chairs are based within Institutes for Higher Education and specialise in specific research fields. They provide policy advice to the UK National Commission for UNESCO and HM government, as well as reviewing UNESCO applications.
Liaising with the UK’s Permanent Delegation to UNESCO and approved by HM government, our Non-Executive Directors help steer the direction of the UK National Commission for UNESCO, and are each responsible for overseeing a particular field of UNESCO’s work in the UK.
#Chair #HumanSciences
#Vice-Chair #Culture
#Communication&Information
#NaturalSciences
#HigherEducation
#Education
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