Research & Innovation Group

To support, contextualise and substantiate the learning from the CC&UH project, the UKNC has established a Research & Innovation Group which will comprise a broad range of expertise and cross-disciplinary specialisms. The Research & Innovation Group includes representatives from academic institutions, researchers, funders and agencies, and collectivelys explore how UNESCO sites can localise, identify, test and progress multiple innovative approaches to addressing 21st-century challenges.

Key Information

Project Partners:

ButCH (ButCH (Bureau for the Contemporary and Historic), British Council, English Heritage, Historic England, Leeds University Business School, Loughborough University, National Trust, Thirwall Associates, University College London, University of Birmingham, University of Edinburgh, University of Manchester, University of Nottingham, University of the Highlands and Islands, UNESCO

Project Leads:

Dave Chapman, UKNC, Aisling Parrish, UKNC, Matt Rabagliati, UKNC, Sefryn Penrose, ButCH, Sarah May, ButCH, Nadia Bartolini, ButCH, Angela Piccini, ButCH

The outputs from the Research & Innovation Group will also ground UK and international UNESCO sites within the broader move to nexus / place-based approaches to sustainable development, and set a future-oriented and sector-wide research agenda for the next 5-10 years.

ButCH (Bureau for the Contemporary and Historic) has been appointed to convene, manage and bring focus to the activities of the Research & Innovation Group, centering its work around the development and delivery of a research study and strategic agenda.

- Fernando Avakian (Project Officer, UNESCO World Heritage Centre)
- Lara Band (Research Analyst, ButCH)
- Nadia Bartolini (Research Director, ButCH)
- Rosalind Bryce (Director, Centre for Mountain Studies, University of the Highlands and Islands)
- Dave Chapman (Project lead - Climate Change & UNESCO Heritage, UK National Commission for UNESCO)
- Dina Dayala (UNESCO Chair on Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience Engineering, University College London)
- David Drewry (Vice Chair, Non-Executive Director for Natural Sciences, UK National Commission for UNESCO )
- Francesca Giliberto (Senior Research Fellow, Leeds University Business School)
- Kate Guest (Senior Policy Advisor (Climate Change), Historic England)
- David Hannah (UNESCO Chair in Water Science, University of Birmingham)
- Keith Jones (National Specialist Climate Change, National Trust)
- Stefan Krause (UNITWIN Network on Ecohydrological Interfaces Under Change, University of Birmingham)
- Qiuhua Liang (UNESCO Chair on Informatics and Multi-hazard Risk Reduction, Loughborough University)
- Sarah May (Co-Director, ButCH)
- Marc J Metzger (Professor of Environment and Society, University of Edinburgh)
- Aisling Parrish (Project Administrator - Climate Change and UNESCO Heritage, UK National Commission for UNESCO)
- Sefryn Penrose (Co-Director, ButCH) (Chair)
- Matt Rabagliati (Head of Policy, Research and Communications, UK National Commission for UNESCO)
- Claire Thirlwall (Director, Thirlwall Associates)
- Ian Thomas (Head of Evidence, Arts, British Council)
- Juliet Thondhlana (UNESCO Chair in International Education and Development, University of Nottingham)
- Joanne Tippett (Senior Lecturer in Spatial Planning, School of Environment, Education and Development, University of Manchester)
- Imogen Wood (Senior National Consultant for Heritage & Climate, National Trust)
- Rob Woodside (Conservation & Estates Director, English Heritage)

Project Announcements

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23 June 2025

UK National Commission for UNESCO’s Research & Innovation Group meets to confirm research agenda and refine proposals

Members of the UKNC’s Research & Innovation Group recently met to accelerate collaborative work on a cross-cutting research strategy…

03 February 2025

New UKNC Research & Innovation Group established to shape the future of UNESCO Sites and Sustainability

The UK National Commission for UNESCO (UKNC)…

12 December 2024

Climate Change & UNESCO Heritage visits Frontiers of the Roman Empire: Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site

Our Climate Change & UNESCO Heritage pilot sites have been working hard to unlock new learning about the stakeholder and data landscapes local to their UNESCO site…

23 June 2025

UK National Commission for UNESCO’s Research & Innovation Group meets to confirm research agenda and refine proposals

Members of the UKNC’s Research & Innovation Group recently met to accelerate collaborative work on a cross-cutting research strategy…

03 February 2025

New UKNC Research & Innovation Group established to shape the future of UNESCO Sites and Sustainability

The UK National Commission for UNESCO (UKNC)…

12 December 2024

Climate Change & UNESCO Heritage visits Frontiers of the Roman Empire: Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site

Our Climate Change & UNESCO Heritage pilot sites have been working hard to unlock new learning about the stakeholder and data landscapes local to their UNESCO site…

UKNC Team Members

Matthew Rabagliati

Head of Policy, Research and Communications

Matt leads the UKNC’s policy, communications, and research. He manages the organisation's Theory of Change and Delivery Framework with the UK Government. He leads the organisation's fundraising, research and business development with the Secretary-General, and the Climate Change and UNESCO Heritage Project and the Local to Global Programme.

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Matthew Rabagliati

Head of Policy, Research and Communications

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Pilot Sites

Project Approaches

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