The title for this year's conference is 'Activating UK UNESCO Chair Expertise'.
Speakers and Agenda
The UK UNESCO Chairs Conference 2025 Programme will feature two days of presentations, panel debates, and discussions.
Agenda correct as of 8 July 2025 (subject to final amendments)
Day One - Thursday 17 July
Afternoon Session
12:30 - 13:30: Registration and refreshments
13:30 - 14:00: Introduction: UNESCO context in the UK
- Professor Graham Galbraith CBE, Vice-Chancellor, University of Portsmouth
- Professor Anne Anderson OBE, Chair, UK National Commission for UNESCO
14:00 - 14:45: Example of UK UNESCO expertise addressing global challenges
UNESCO Chair in Ocean Governance - Looking Forward
- Professor Pierre Failler and Dr He Yuan, UNESCO Chair on Ocean Governance, University of Portsmouth
Ocean Science on the Move - The Power of Global Sailing
- Dr Sophie Quintin, Researcher in Marine Security and Ocean Governance
- James Harayda, Skipper and Team Principal
Big Wave Reserve: Riding the Balance - Conservation in Big Wave Reserves
- Dr Ian Hendy, Senior Lecturer in Tropical Marine Ecology
- Sebastian Steudtner, Big Wave Surfer
14:45 - 15:30: Panel Discussion: Profile raising of UNESCO and UNESCO Chairs locally, nationally, and internationally
Moderated discussion with contributions from attendees.
15:30 - 15:45: Refreshment Break
15:45 - 17:00: Exchange of ideas among UNESCO Chairs: Opportunities and challenges and how best to demonstrate the value of the UNESCO Chair designation to a range of stakeholders
Moderated discussion with contributions from attendees.
17:00 - 17:15: Day 1 Concluding remarks and next steps
- Professor Anne Anderson OBE, Chair, UK National Commission for UNESCO
Evening
17:30 - 21:00: Evening Reception and Cultural Visit
- 18:00 Boat trip around Historic Dockyard
- 19:30 Evening meal at Still & West - Bath Square, Old Portsmouth, PO1 2JL
Day Two - Friday 18 July
Engaging with policy - locally, nationally and globally
Morning Session
08:30 - 09:00: Morning coffee and informal networking
09:00 - 10:15: Engaging with UNESCO, UK and Devolved Governments
- Professor Anne Anderson OBE, Chair, UK National Commission for UNESCO
- Anna Nsubuga, UK Ambassador and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO
- Emily Boyce, UN Partnerships Lead (UNICEF, UNDP, UNESCO, UN Women, UNOPs), Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)
- Justin Ahanhanzo, ex-(retired) IOC-UNESCO Focal Point, Coordinator & Evaluator of UNESCO Chairs and Category II Centres in Oceans & Climate Sciences, Observations & Services, Policy and Governance
10:15 - 10:30: Coffee Break
10:30 - 12:15: Workshop on research and funding: UNESCO Designations as sites for research and collaboration
- James Bridge, Chief Executive and Secretary-General, UK National Commission for UNESCO
- Matt Rabagliati, Head of Policy, Reseach and Communications, UK National Commission for UNESCO
- AHRC Subject to final confirmation
- Representatives of the Isle of Wight and Brighton and Lewes Downs UNESCO Biosphere Reserves
12:15 - 12:30: Plenary: Follow-up and next steps
- Professor Anne Anderson OBE, Chair, UK National Commission for UNESCO
12:30: Conference Close
