Margaret Crocket, DSG responsible for conferences and currently supporting PCOM’s work, attended the ESARBICA Conference, “Archives in the 21st Century and Beyond: Historical and technological paradigm shift” from the 3rd to the 7th June.
Margaret was invited to officially open the pre-conference workshop on disaster planning, which “were well-attended and of a high quality with excellent speakers providing insights into how to develop disaster planning expertise and action plans as well as plenty of opportunity for young and new professionals to contribute their views and ask questions. The format, although taking place in a large lecture theatre, was informal and encouraging for learning.” The number of participants exceeded expectations with 140 registered before the event and at least 250 actually coming.
Margaret also made a presentation to the ESARBICA Board, telling them about the latest developments in ICA. She was also later able to announce to the whole conference the newly signed contract with UNESCO to develop a pilot digital preservation curriculum with special focus on the African constituency. She encouraged the Board to work together to make a bid to host ICA’s 2015 Annual Conference, which is to be somewhere in Africa.
Margaret Crockett, Dr. Hassan Wario, and Alistair Tough
The main conference was also “of a very high quality” was very successful. It was opened by the Kenyan Minister for Sport, Culture and Arts, Dr. Hassan Wario, with Alistair Tough of the United Kingdom giving the keynote address. The atmosphere was very warm and collegial and the DSG noted that “older, more experienced colleagues, whilst regarded with respect by others also worked hard to develop their less-experienced fellow-professionals”. When asked what her favourite memory of the event was, the DSG said “dancing on the stage on the final evening in the company of people from all of the countries represented in ESARBICA and the feeling of welcome and belonging.”
ESARBICA is to be congratulated on such a successful conference.