Established in 2016, the AICCM Emerging Conservators SIG connects students, graduates and new professionals with the established cultural materials conservation community in Australia. By fostering ongoing learning and cultivating meaningful conservation dialogue for Emerging Conservation Professionals (ECPs), the SIG serves as a bridge between emerging and established professionals — ensuring that fresh perspectives, new research, and evolving practices are woven into the broader fabric of the profession. Through collaboration, mentorship, and shared inquiry, the SIG nurtures a dynamic community where knowledge flows in both directions, enriching the field for practitioners at every stage of their career.

To help you feel supported during student and post-graduation years we aim to:

  • Connect ECPs in the field with each other, the heritage community, and the AICCM.
  • Create and promote training, networking and mentoring opportunities through AICCM events
  • Partner with student groups such as Student Conservators at Melbourne (SC@M) and UC GLAMS student club at the University of Canberra
  • Increase the involvement of ECPs at AICCM conferences, symposiums and events.

Convenors

Angela Deka is an emerging conservator currently working as an Objects Conservator with Artlab Australia in Adelaide. She holds a Master of Arts in Creative and Cultural Futures (Conservation Focus) from the University of Canberra and has gained experience working with diverse cultural collections across the ACT, NSW, and South Australia. She has previously worked with International Conservation Services on multiple projects across Canberra, in addition to assisting with research projects at the University of Canberra on conservation technologies and heritage sustainability. Her professional interests include objects, paper and photograph conservation, preventive and sustainable approaches to collections care, and improving access to conservation knowledge for early-career professionals. As Co-Convener of the Emerging Conservators Special Interest Group, Angela is passionate about supporting connection, professional development, and knowledge sharing among the next generation of conservators.

Ffion Olearczyk (She/He) is an emerging conservator with a Master’s of Cultural Materials Conservation from the University of Melbourne. Though initially trained in paintings, she/he has been working as an object conservator and assisting preventive conservator at Artlab Australia since September 2025. With experience covering working in multiple international institutions, witnessing, and interacting with, firsthand, the breadth of culture and society, her/his true passion lies in the tangible and intangible conservation of folklore. As an early-career professional and committed educator, Ffion is keen to continue building practical skills while contributing to thoughtful, sustainable approaches to conservation, whether through hands-on treatment work, community engagement, or the development of accessible educational resources that make conservation practice more inclusive and widely understood. Driven by curiosity and a deep respect for the communities whose heritage she/he serves, Ffion approaches every project as an opportunity to learn, collaborate, and advocate for a more equitable and culturally responsive field.

Events

For events, please see the main AICCM upcoming events pages here .

We are always looking for opportunities to set up social and educational events that emerging conservators may be interested in, so please reach out if you would like to collaborate or if you have suggestions for new events. We’d love to hear from you!

Past Programs – Mentorship Program

The Emerging Conservators SIG Mentorship Program ran in 2021 and 2022 and was a great opportunity for mentees to ask questions and receive valuable feedback on treatment, research, conference presenting, project management or other professional skills. We will not be continuing with the program but will continue organising networking events and facilitating conversations among established and emerging professionals in the field.

Contact

You can contact the emerging Conservator Convenors at emerging.conservators@aiccm.org.au

Our Facebook group AICCM Emerging Conservators is a community space for ECPS where peers often share new research, educational and training opportunities and advertise job positions.