Curriculum vitae

Experienced in international project management, working with different stakeholders (government, NGO’s, businesses, academia and local communities). Eager to demonstrate how heritage can contribute to cultural, social, economic and environmental challenges.

Mara studied Archaeology and Prehistory in Amsterdam (VU, 1996-2001) and Melbourne (University of Melbourne, 2000). After finishing her Masters she worked as a cultural tour guide in Italy, focusing on (pre) Roman history. In 2005 Mara started working for the Netherlands Cultural Heritage Agency (RCE) as an Archaeological Information Specialist. Her interest in international heritage management increased and she did a traineeship at the Centre for International Heritage Activities (CIE), primarily dealing with archaeological heritage management in the Caribbean.

In 2009 Mara got the opportunity to work for the Shared Heritage program of the National Archives of the Netherlands and later also the RCE.  'Shared Heritage' in the Dutch context primarily means heritage dating from the era of the Dutch East and West India Companies (VOC and WIC) and from Dutch colonialism and migration in Asia, Africa, and the America's.  Ambitions of the Shared Heritage policy are directed towards preservation, capacity building, improving access to heritage and enhancing international cultural cooperation.

Mara works as Managing Director for the Centre for Global Heritage and Development from January 2014 onwards.

Mara is also trained in Heritage Impact Assessment and is expert member of IFLA.