Dr Juan de Lara is an archaeologist, art historian, and digital engineer with over 20 years of experience leading businesses and charities. He also holds the position of Associate Researcher at the University of Oxford - Khalili Research Centre for the Art and Material Culture of the Middle East and is also a Trustee of Global Learning London. Dr De Lara has a PhD from the Institute of Archaeology at UCL and an MA in the History of Art and Architecture from the Middle East from SOAS.
Dr Susan Pattie
Dr. Susan Pattie is a cultural anthropologist, writer and project manager. An Honorary Senior Research Associate at University College London, she has written numerous publications about the Armenian diaspora, including the ethnography Faith in History: Armenians Rebuilding Community (Smithsonian Institute Press, 1997). Co-founder and former Director of the Armenian Institute, she has also served as Director of the Armenian Museum of America and as Program Manager of the National Armenian Genocide Centennial Commemorations in Washington,D.C. She was Project Manager of Engaging Refugee Narratives: Perspectives from Academia and the Arts, held at UCL, and leader of the pilot project of the Armenian Diaspora Study initiated by the Gulbenkian Foundation. Her other publications include Who Are the Armenians? (a children’s book), Treasured Objects: Armenian Daily Life in the Ottoman Empire 100 Years Ago, and The Armenian Legionnaires: Sacrifice and Betrayal in WWI. (IB Tauris Press, 2018).
Belinda Keheyan
Belinda Keheyan is a long-time supporter of AI and has served as a trustee, advisory committee member and volunteer for many years. She is an Armenian-Cypriot who was educated and lives in the UK. She spent 30+ years in the City in a career covering financial journalism, PR/marketing and finally helping to set up a challenger stock exchange. Belinda is now focused on pursuing her interest in travel and culture.
Seif El Rashidi
Seif El Rashidi is an art historian who is a specialist on heritage management and public engagement with heritage. He is currently the director of The Barakat Trust. Seif formerly worked in urban conservation for the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, and was the coordinator of Durham’s UNESCO World Heritage Site in the UK. He also managed Salisbury Cathedral's Magna Carta 800th Anniversary, the Layers of London Project for the Institute of Historic Research, and was the project manager for the City of London Police Museum at the Guildhall Library.
He also has a strong professional focus on craft development.
Maxim Saakyan
Maxim Saakyan was born in Italy and grew up in London. He works as a Data Analyst by day and a podcast producer by night. Maxim studied MORSE (Mathematics, Operational Research, Statistics, and Economics) and earned a master's in Data and Decision Analytics from Southampton University, where he received a Dean's List award. Recently, he started a podcast called Uncovering Roots, which investigates lesser-known stories from the SWANA (South West Asia and North Africa) region, with a focus on Armenian narratives. The mini-series which was an investigation into an Armenian Genocide survivor (Aurora Mardiganian) received plenty of attention, being Spotify's #1 pick for Documentaries, charting on iTunes and receiving a spot as Podcast of the Week on the Guardian.
Additionally, Maxim is an active member of the Armenian Creatives UK network, where he is heavily involved with the group.
