The International Council on Monuments and Sites' annual gathering, dedicated to the cultural heritage and conservation efforts worldwide, aligned seamlessly with ICC Sydney’s First Nations and sustainability goals, resulting in a world-class experience for all attendees
Event brief
The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) General Assembly meets annually as a global organisation of cultural heritage professionals. It acts as the principal advisory body on cultural heritage to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, and has more than 110 National Committees internationally.
ICC Sydney was selected to host its 2023 General Assembly (GA2023) from November 28 to December 2, 2023. The venue was chosen for its alignment with ICOMOS’ goals around sustainability, First Nations recognition, and existing commitments and partnerships.
GA2023 welcomed 1,853 professionals in cultural heritage and conservation fields from 100 countries. Programming focused on preservation efforts both in Australia and globally. Delegates represented a range of interdisciplinary sectors from within the heritage conservation community including archaeology, history, urban planning, architecture, and academia.
Event highlights
Themed around the integration of cultural heritage in modern contexts, the General Assembly leveraged ICC Sydney’s Reconciliation Action Plan, and Legacy Program to highlight First Nations culture and practices.
It featured a robust Indigenous Heritage programme, including a Welcome to Country by the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council, and a Gala Dinner crafted by ICC Sydney’s culinary team featuring an indigenous ingredient in every dish. This event fostered global dialogue and shone the spotlight on Australia’s rich cultural and environmental heritage.
Sustainable event delivery was achieved via ICC Sydney’s Silver EarthCheck certification and benchmarking focused on travel and tourism’s environmental impact. An ICOMOS EventCheck assessment determined that venue emissions accounted for just five per cent of GA2023’s overall footprint, thanks to the venue’s existing infrastructure. Edible table centrepieces were also donated after the meeting to aid the local community with partners such as Matthew Talbot Hostel.
The convenient downtown Sydney location facilitated delegate networking and exploring the host city. Proximity to public transport also meant a closer alignment with sustainability goals.
ICC Sydney CEO and group director – convention centres, ASM Global, Geoff Donaghy, said the shared values of ICC Sydney and ICOMOS in recognising the role and contribution of indigenous people in the nation’s culture, environment and sites of significance led to the team’s full support of the conference’s programme and commitment to legacy.
“Through the activation of ICC Sydney’s industry-leading Legacy Program and the inclusion of the comprehensive ICOMOS GA 2023 two-day Indigenous Heritage programme, specialists in relevant fields were able to engage with First Nations heritage to help drive positive legacies in their practices following the event,” he said.
Challenges
A key priority of ICOMOS was to acknowledge indigenous heritage throughout their event programme. From early on in the planning journey, ICOMOS challenged ICC Sydney to help them engage with and celebrate Australia’s First Nations Peoples, culture, and businesses. ICC Sydney’s team met this challenge by helping the organiser to activate the venue’s Legacy Program which aims to drive positive social and environmental legacies in the local community.
Organising an event of such scale and thematic depth also presents logistical and cultural challenges. Integrating cultural respect into every aspect of the event required meticulous planning and engagement with local communities and cultural leaders. The coordination between ICC Sydney and multiple stakeholders ensured that the event met and exceeded its cultural representation and environmental responsibility goals.
Event ICOMOS General Assembly 2023
Organisers ICC Sydney, and the International Council on Monuments and Sites
Venue ICC Sydney
Date November 28 to December 2, 2023
Number of attendees 1,853 professionals from 100 countries
