Authors & participants

Mr. Islam Ahmed Ghareeb Ahmed Farrag is a prominent cultural heritage and project management expert with over 13 years of international experience, served as the Heritage Sites Development Manager at the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in Egypt. He is pursuing a PhD in Heritage Management and Museum Studies at the University of Helwan, complemented by a Master's degree from the University of Paris 1 – Panthéon Sorbonne.

In his role at the Ministry, Islam plays a pivotal part in strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and implementing sustainable development initiatives for heritage sites. He excels in visitor management, exhibition development, and enhancing cultural interpretation, ensuring enriching experiences for visitors.

As an ICOMOS expert, he has led numerous conservation projects and managed over 16 complex heritage initiatives. His work includes conducting Heritage Impact Assessments (HIA) and Environmental & Social Impact Assessments (ESIA), safeguarding cultural assets in large infrastructure developments.

His notable achievements include the successful delisting of Abo Mina from UNESCO's In Danger list and driving site exhibition initiatives in Historic Cairo. Islam is dedicated to aligning conservation strategies with international standards, promoting both heritage preservation and local economic growth.

Mr. Kasim Osumanu Mireku is a dedicated arts and culture professional with extensive experience in theatre, event management, and cultural administration. He currently serves as the Acting Regional Director of the Centre for National Culture, Western Region (CNC-WR), where he plays a key role in advancing Ghana's cultural development agenda.

Trained in Theatre Arts and Brand Communication, Kasim combines artistic expertise with strategic communication skills to promote and preserve Ghana's rich and diverse cultural heritage. His professional practice is rooted in his commitment to nurturing appreciation for indigenous arts and creative expressions, particularly within the context of national identity and development.

He has contributed significantly to the planning, coordination, and execution of major national festivals, cultural exhibitions, and creative arts programmes. Through these initiatives, he has helped enhance the visibility of Ghanaian arts, strengthen stakeholder engagement, and created platforms for artists, cultural practitioners, and communities to thrive.

Kasim is passionate about positioning the creative sector as a catalyst for socio-economic growth, youth empowerment, and sustainable national development. He sees culture, not only as heritage to be preserved, but as a dynamic force for innovation, cohesion, and progress in contemporary Ghana.

Mr. Soufiane Er-Rahoui, Museum curator and exhibition commissioner based in Rabat, Morocco, with ten years of experience in the cultural and museum sector. Since 2020, he has served as Chief Curator of the National Museum of Photography, where he leads curatorial strategy, exhibition programming, collection development, scenography, and international cooperation. He has curated and co-curated numerous national and international exhibitions, including Regards sur la jeune scène photographique marocaine, Storytellers, Entre temps et espaces, Bamako Dreams 30, and L'Odyssée contemporaine de Reza. He is also the co-curator of the inaugural exhibition of the new Museum of the African Continent in Rabat.

Actively involved in the renewal of Morocco's museum landscape, his practice explores the intersections of contemporary artistic practices, heritage, and critical narratives, with a strong focus on inclusive mediation, education, and audience engagement. He has established long-term partnerships with major international platforms such as BienalSur, the Bamako Encounters – African Biennale of Photography, and Les Ateliers de Reza, and served as a member of the Curatorial Committee of the 2024 Bamako Biennale of Photography.

Alongside his professional practice, Soufiane Er-Rahoui is a PhD candidate whose research, grounded in anthropological and museological approaches, explores inclusive articulations between African heritages and modern and contemporary artistic practices.

Ms. Myriam Mahmoudi is Curator and Heritage Advisor at the National Bardo Museum in Tunisia. She is trained as an archaeologist, with a strong interest in fieldwork and collection-based research. Her professional practice is closely linked to archaeological excavation, stratigraphic recording, and the inventory of archaeological materials. Through participation in several excavation projects, she has been directly involved in documenting archaeological contexts and recording objects from the moment of their discovery through to their integration into museum collections.

She is particularly attentive to the accuracy of inventory methods, data traceability, and the relationship between objects and their archaeological context. She is also increasingly engaged in the use of digital tools to improve documentation workflows, inventory systems, and the long-term management of archaeological collections. She values collaborative work and knowledge exchange, and sees international training programmes as an important opportunity to strengthen professional practices and share experiences.