Interview with Richard Mackay AM - Cultural Heritage Guru

Don’t miss our great podcast interview with heritage guru Richard Mackay who has been visiting Freo this week – you’ll find the podcast at the very foot of this post!

Richard Mackay AM operates his own consultancy, Mackay Strategic. On its website Richard is described as the founder and ‘Director of Possibilities’ at the consultancy. The firm is in the business of offering strategic expert advice on public policy, government liaison and particular experience in World and National Heritage.

Richard Mackay in a West End alleyway

Richard is acknowledged to be a dynamic leader and strategic thinker in the cultural sector, with more than four decades of experience in public and private sector cultural heritage management.

In that four decades, Richard has done and achieved many things including –

In 2003, being appointed an AM – a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia for services to archaeology and cultural heritage.

Holding the position of Adjunct Professor in the Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies program at Deakin University, Melbourne and previously a long-term Adjunct Professor in the Archaeology program at La Trobe University.

Serving on ICOMOS (the peak International Council on Monuments and Sites) as an expert advisor to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee since 2015.

As the Convenor of the ICOMOS global General Assembly hosted in Sydney in 2023.

Being an Honorary Member of ICOMOS.

Being appointed to the Australian Heritage Council as one of two ‘Historic Members’ in July 2024.

And having the honour of being announced the inaugural winner of the Australian Heritage Council ‘Sharon Sullivan Award’ for his contribution to Australia’s national heritage.

Richard Mackay has been visiting Fremantle this week at the invitation of The Fremantle Society to address the challenges of protecting Fremantle’s built heritage in 2026 and the decades ahead.

In between his various engagements speaking to Fremantle cognoscenti including the Mayor and Councillors as well as concerned citizens at a public forum last night, our Editor, Michael Barker, caught up with Richard Mackay AM in the historic West End of Fremantle to talk heritage in general and Fremantle in particular and make the podcast that you will find at the very foot of this post!

Enjoy!

By Michael Barker, Editor, Fremantle Shipping News

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