HERITAGE-PRO engages in the preservation of cultural heritage – but what is the motivation for those working on the project? What do they expect during the lifespan of the project and beyond? Well, just listen to them (in English, German, French and Serbian):


Christer Gustafsson, Ph.D., is professor at Uppsala university, Campus Gotland, and teaches cultural heritage preservation, sustainable development, and economics of conservation. He was Director (Landsantikvarie) of the Regional Museums of Halland and Heritage Halland, head of International Department, Regional Museums of Halland, head of Building Conservation Team, Regional Museums of Halland, Municipal Heritage Conservation officer (kommunanatikvarie), Sollentuna kommune, heritage conservation officer in Sweden. He was member of the experts panel of the EU Agenda for cultural heritage research and innovation (2013-2015) and international advisor for future cultural heritage policies to the Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear safety of the Federal Republic of Germany. He is member of the panel of experts European Heritage Label (one of four experts appointed by the European Commission).


Jermina Stanojev holds a PhD in Participatory and Integrated Governance of Cultural Heritage for South-East Europe through an Evidence-Based Policy Approach, from Politecnico di Milano. Since 2009 she is an advisor to public cultural organisations on role of cultural heritage in international cultural relations within the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance. She is a cofounder of the
Centre for Promotion of Culture and Art. Priory to that, she has established competences and wide experience in field of cultural heritage and cultural relations working in different organisations: UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture, Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments, European Cultural Centre Foundation, Commission of the Republic of Serbia for UNESCO, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia. She is member of the expert group “Towards an Integrated Approach to Cultural Heritage for Europe – Skills, Training and Knowledge-transfer in the Traditional and Emerging Heritage”.


Dietmar Wiegand is Managing Director of the Institute for Property Research, University Professor for Real Estate Development and Management at Vienna University of Technology and board member of several conferences related to real estate, regional development and cultural heritage. Beside his capabilities in curriculum development he is an international recognized expert in real estate, cultural heritage and regional development. His holistic approach enables new strategies to maintain cultural heritage and increase its macroeconomic value.


Susanne Gill is project manager at Entwicklungsagentur Rheinland-Pfalz, the development agency of the German region of Rhineland-Palatinate. She studied geography, geology and meteorology at University of Mainz. She is specifically interested and active in Roman heritage preservation actions and as a dissemination expert for heritage topics she is well aware how important it is to raise awareness for the protection of cultural heritage. Her statement in German reflects her ambition to improve cooperation for heritage preservation.


Sascha Kolhey is also a project manager at Entwicklungsagentur Rheinland-Pfalz – and a European enthusiast when it comes to heritage preservation! After a Bachelor in Political Science and History, he did a trinational Master in European Studies in Poland, Germany and France. Following graduation, Sascha will be working at Entwicklungsagentur Rheinland-Pfalz e.V. as project assistant for HERITAGE-PRO. He is looking forward to work in this project as closer cooperation between European countries, especially in the field of vocational training, creates the possibility to make everyone benefit from the process of European integration.


Manon Deboise is project officer at ENCATC, the leading European network on cultural management and policy. Founded in 1992, it provides academics, researchers, students, cultural professionals, policy makers and artists with a forum for enabling transnational cooperation and peer learning. To anticipate the future and better understand the past the association pursues, publishes, presents, and disseminates scientific research. Manon’s contribution is in French.


Special thanks to Jermina, who adresses with her testimonial also the Serbian speaking heritage community.