Ms Kristal Buckley

Kristal Buckley AM is a Lecturer in Cultural Heritage at Deakin University (Melbourne, Australia). She is an experienced cultural heritage practitioner with 40 years’ professional experience, and holds professional qualifications in the disciplines of anthropology, archaeology and public policy. Before joining Deakin University, she worked in government, consulting and in the community sector. Her research and professional expertise concerns World Heritage and international heritage practices, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. She has a particular focus on the integration of approaches to natural and cultural heritage conservation and is currently completing a PhD at the University of Melbourne in the field of heritage studies.

Kristal Buckley is a member of the Board of the Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority, which manages three World Heritage sites in Tasmania that have been recognised for their associations with the convict histories of Australia; and has recently completed an appointment to the Australian Government’s Advisory Committee for the World Heritage Kingston and Arthurs Vale Historic Area (KAVHA) on Norfolk Island. She is a current member of the International Jury for the UNESCO-Greece Melina Mercouri International Prize for the Safeguarding and Management of Cultural Landscapes; and was a member of the International Jury for the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Cultural Heritage Awards in 2020.

In 2014, Kristal Buckley completed a 9-year term as international Vice-President of ICOMOS and was made an Honorary Member of ICOMOS. She represented ICOMOS at the annual sessions of the World Heritage Committee 2007-2014, and currently works as an ICOMOS World Heritage Adviser. She is an expert member of the ICOMOS International Committees for Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICICH) and Cultural Landscapes (ISCCL); and was President of Australia ICOMOS (2002-2005). She served a 9-year term as a full member of the Heritage Council of Victoria (2001-2010). In 2013, she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to conservation and the environment, particularly in the area of cultural heritage, and to education.