Join us as we interview David Knox, Assaad Seif & Joanne Farchakh Bajjaly on the British Council CATAPULT.
Date: Tuesday, May 31
Time: 10AM NYC | 3PM London | 5PM Beirut | 6PM Abu Dhabi
Hosted By: Mikey Muhanna (afikra)
David Knox was appointed Country Director, Lebanon in September 2018. He comes with over 30 years’ experience of cultural relations and international development. Prior to Beirut, in his role as Director, MENA, Governance and Civil Society based in Cairo (2014-18), he led the British Council’s work with a focus on young people’s empowerment and specifically on gender equality. During this period, he negotiated the organisation’s entry into PVE work, building on the strength of the British Council cultural relations approach. Previous roles included Project Direction of UK aid and EU funded programming in Palestine and Yemen and in South Asia (Afghanistan and Pakistan). He has held positions in Headquarters in Corporate Performance Management and Planning with a focus on impact evaluation and as Deputy Regional Director for Europe and the Americas.
Assaad Seif: Archaeologist, University Professor, and UNESCO / ICOMOS Heritage Expert with 30 years of experience, and co-founder of Ṣilāt for Culture; Dr. Seif held first-line positions at the Lebanese Ministry of Culture ranging from the head of the archaeology and heritage research departments to serving as an advisor for the Minister of Culture. He is a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of CMAS - Conservation and Management of Archaeological Sites - a Tailor & Francis publication. He is also a research consultant at the National Council for Scientific Research (CNRSL). As a UNESCO and ICOMOS expert, Assaad is well acquainted with the current situation of cultural heritage management and conservation in the Arab countries in general and Lebanon in particular. Throughout his career, Assaad gathered a wide experience in the management of cultural heritage, cultural project implementation as well as cultural dissemination, community engagement, and awareness-raising. His work has led to important changes and enhancements in the practice of archaeological research and heritage management in Lebanon as well as in other Arab countries.
Joanne Farchakh Bajjaly is an archaeologist and journalist who has worked from 1998 till 2013 in Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq documenting discoveries and destruction of heritage in the Middle East. She wrote in several Lebanese newspapers and co-edited with Professor Peter Stone the book "The Destruction of Cultural Heritage in Iraq" winner in 2011 James R. Wiseman Book Award. After witnessing the loss of heritage, she decided to start "working" on the topic. In 2005, she founded Biladi, an NGO dedicated to promote and safeguard heritage through training for professionals and education activities. In 2015; she collaborated with colleagues to initiate the Lebanese Committee of the Blue Shield, and launched with the Blue Shield International several training programs for the UNIFIL forces in South Lebanon; and professionals at the Antiquities Department. After the Beirut Blast on the 4th of August, she was coordinating the mission to safeguard destroyed heritage in collaboration with the Lebanese Army and UNIFIL and the Directorate General of Antiquities (DGA).
This event is being videotaped for subsequent broadcast on the library website and other media. The audience is encouraged to offer comments and raise questions during the formal question and answer period, but please be advised that your voice and image may be recorded and later broadcast as part of this event. By participating in the question and answer period you are consenting to the possible reproduction and transmission of your remarks.