Day 1
The insightful event commenced with a welcome by Prof Graham Galbraith CBE, Vice-Chancellor, University of Portsmouth and Prof Anne Anderson OBE, Chair of the UK National Commission for UNESCO.
UK experts gather at University of Portsmouth at the UK UNESCO Chairs Conference 2025
July 28th 2025
This month, the UK National Commission for UNESCO brought together UNESCO Chairs from universities around the UK for two days of discussion, debate and networking at our annual UK UNESCO Chairs Conference. Kindly hosted by the UNESCO Chair in Ocean Governance at the Centre for Blue Governance at the University of Portsmouth, the flagship event saw UK experts in education, science, culture and communication meet with officials from HM Government, UNESCO, and associated organisations.
The UK's UNESCO Chairs and colleagues gather at University of Portsmouth ahead of the 2025 conference
L-R: Prof Graham Galbraith CBE, Vice-Chancellor, University of Portsmouth and Prof Anne Anderson OBE, Chair of the UK National Commission for UNESCO
This was followed by a series of presentations by the Centre for Blue Governance at the University of Portsmouth (including the UNESCO Chair in Ocean Governance led by Professor Pierre Failler) showcasing how their expertise helps to address global challenges.
Representatives from the Centre for Blue Governance at the University of Portsmouth, including (far left) Professor Pierre Failler, the UNESCO Chair in Ocean Governance
The remainder of the first day comprised of discussion and debate focussing on how the profile of UNESCO Chairs can be raised locally, nationally and internationally, and an exchange ideas among UNESCO Chairs on how best to demonstrate the value of the UNESCO Chair designation to a range of stakeholders.
Day 2
Day two of the conference started with a session on how UNESCO Chairs can best engage with UNESCO and the UK and devolved governments. This session included presentations by Anna Nsubuga, UK Ambassador and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO and Emily Boyce, FCDO UN Partnerships Lead (UNICEF, UNDP, UNESCO, UN Women, UNOPs).
Image left: Anna Nsubuga, UK Ambassador and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO. Image right: Emily Boyce, FCDO UN Partnerships Lead (UNICEF, UNDP, UNESCO, UN Women, UNOPs)
Following this participants undertook a workshop session led by Matt Rabagliati, Head of Policy, Research and Communications at the UKNC alongside Dr Jamie Davies, Senior International Partnerships and Engagement Manager (Europe), AHRC.
The workshop examined how UNESCO sites can act as living laboratories to tackle complex, interconnected challenges. It looked at how UNESCO Chairs could base their research at sites like Biosphere Reserves, Global Geoparks, and World Heritage Sites.
Delegates participating in the workshop led by Matt Rabagliati, Head of Policy, Research and Communications at the UKNC and Dr Jamie Davies, Senior International Partnerships and Engagement Manager (Europe), AHRC
With thanks...
We would to thank Professor Pierre Failler, Dr He Yuan, and the rest of UNESCO Chair in Ocean Governance team at the Centre for Blue Governance at the University of Portsmouth for their hard work and support in making the UK UNESCO Chairs Conference 2025 a success.
Find out more about the UK UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN Networks
