So, what would you do? Negotiating the ethical challenges of commercial heritage consulting
Abstract
Many graduates from UQ Archaeology will find work in commercial heritage consulting, where making the correct identification of an Aboriginal artefact or including a poorly worded recommendation in an Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Management Plan can be the difference between the swift resolution of a matter and a $500,000 loss for someone, protracted litigation, and reputational damage. But who do you consult with and what is meaningful consultation? What if you are asked to modify a report or water down your conclusions? What if there is disagreement about what constitutes a significant site and the outcome could bankrupt someone? What if there are strained relationships during consultation? Dr Andrew Sneddon will draw on his 25 years of commercial consulting experience to tease out some of these questions and invite conversation from the next generation of heritage practitioners.
About the Presenter
Dr Andrew Sneddon’s broad experience in heritage and archaeology includes assessments and management plans for heritage places of local, state, national, Commonwealth and world significance. He works with corporate, government, and non-government entities, and has extensive practical archaeological experience in Australia and abroad. Andrew’s projects have included heritage management inputs for the Sydney Opera House, the Sydney Cricket Ground, Old Parliament House (Canberra), Cockatoo Island (Sydney), Garden Island (Sydney), Victoria Barracks (Brisbane) and in Angkor, Cambodia. He has also conducted community consultation (Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal) for places of social and spiritual significance, and interviews with Aboriginal Native Title applicants across Queensland. Andrew is an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at La Trobe University, and a former director of the University of Queensland Culture & Heritage Unit. He is also a member of the Australia ICOMOS Executive Committee, and provides advice to ICOMOS on risk and management for World Heritage Listed places. Andrew is also a published authority on Aboriginal and built heritage in Australia, and a specialist in the field of heritage law.
About Archaeology Working Papers
The Working Papers in Archaeology seminar series provides a forum for dissemination of archaeological research and ideas amongst UQ archaeology students and staff. All students are invited to attend the series and postgraduate students, from honours upwards, are invited to present their research. The aim is to provide opportunities for students, staff and those from outside UQ, to present and discuss their work in an informal environment. It is hoped that anyone interested in current archaeological directions, both within and outside the School and University, will be able to attend and contribute to the series.
