Zara Ali
is a Trinidadian doctoral candidate at Leiden University, where her research employs zooarchaeological and palaeoethnobotanical analyses. These methods offer a deeper understanding of the foodways and socio-environmental interactions of Trinidad’s earliest inhabitants. She has field and post-excavation experience at Archaic, Ceramic and Historic Age sites in Trinidad and Tobago and the Dominican Republic. Beyond research, Ali advocates for public awareness of heritage preservation and leads initiatives to engage communities in protecting their cultural heritage, striving to promote respect and appreciation for the past in contemporary society.
Arlene Álvarez
has a Ph.D. in Archaeology focusing on heritage management and museum studies from the Faculty of Archaeology at Leiden University. She also holds a master’s degree in public administration from Baruch College, and a bachelor’s degree in sociology and political science from Rutgers University. Arlene Alvarez is currently Senior Manager of Exhibitions and Programs at the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center in Orlando, Florida. She was the director of the Altos de Chavón Regional Museum of Archaeology for 19 years where she oversaw all aspects of collections care, community outreach and educational development. She is currently an affiliated fellow at KITLV/Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asia and Caribbean Studies with the project CaribTRAILS.
Lisette Roura Alvarez
is a specialist in historical archaeology and Professor of Archeology at the San Gerónimo University College in Havana. She has a degree in Sociocultural Studies and holds a Ph.D. in Historical Sciences. She is Director of the Archaeology Cabinet at the Office of the Historian of Havana, Cuba. Her main lines of research revolve around issues of industrial archaeology, Indo-Hispanic interaction, and Indigenous cultural legacy. She is the Co-author of Indios en La Habana. Aproximación histórico-arqueológica.
Irvince Nanichi Auguiste
was a former Chief and Indigenous community leader from the Kalinago Territory in Dominica. He was involved in Nexus1492’s research on Dominica and other Caribbean islands and in the Caribbean Ties exhibition co-creation. For
Victoria Borg O’Flaherty
MA (Dundee), was Director of Archives, St. Kitts Nevis National Archives (RIP).
Lornadale L. Charles
is a Social Scientist and trained Archaeologist specializes in Archaeology of the Americas and Heritage of Indigenous Peoples. Previously a part-time Social Sciences instructor, she taught various subjects including Sociology of Crime and Deviance and The family. Her research interests lie in comparative and historical archaeology and sociology, particularly focusing on the Circum-Caribbean archaeology. Her work emphasizes the interplay between politics, history, archaeological preservation, and the safeguarding of Indigenous cultural heritage. Further, she examines the relationship between archaeology, heritage, nationalism, identity, and the valuation of objects. She proudly holds a master’s degree in Archaeology from the University of Leiden, in the Netherlands.
Eldris Con Aguilar
is an educational researcher who studied the teaching of indigenous heritage in the social studies curriculum in Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and the Dominican Republic as part of her Ph.D. research at Leiden University (2013–2019). Most recently, she investigated the impact of Impact Driven Education practices at Erasmus University between 2021–2023. She is a postdoctoral researcher and lecturer at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (The Netherlands), where she studies pedagogical practices to advance health and well-being through community-engaged educational research..
Raymundo A.C.F. Dijkhoff
holds a MA in Archaeology and Culture History of Indigenous America at Leiden University, the Netherlands. he works at the National Archaeological Museum Aruba Since 1999. He is the Head of the Collections and Research Department. He was Deputy Director during two periods at the museum. He is the author and editor of archaeological publications and his research is currently focusing on the Santa Cruz 35 site cemetery of the Historic Period which will be the base of his PROSPECTIVE Ph.D. At present, he is the MAIN coordinator of Aruba for Underwater Cultural Heritage matters.
is an archaeologist and Scientific Advisor of the Centre d’Animation et d’interprétation de la Culture Amérindienne (CAPNORD Martinique). He is currently a Ph.D. candidate at University of Paris I Panthéon Sorbonne on Pre-Columbian Art in the Lesser Antilles. In 2015, he was awarded a prize with his colleagues on the scientific mediation with communities in Saint-Denis (France). Since 4 years in Martinique, he is working on transmission of Indigenous heritage to the Caribbean population. He thus set up popularization projects such as “La minute ABAKETA, notably with the webinar ABAKETONI.
Kevin Farmer
is currently Deputy Director of the Barbados Museum and Historical Society (BMHS). He has lectured in Archaeology in the Department of History at the University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine, Trinidad, and in the MA Heritage Studies program at UWI Cave Hill, Barbados. He has been involving in a variety of archaeological and heritage projects in Barbados. He is interested in discussions related to cultural identity in post-colonial states, the role of museums in national development, the management and curation of archaeological resources and the role of heritage in national development. He is the co-editor of the book Plantation to Nation: Caribbean Museums and National Identity.
Cameron Gill
is Kittitian Archaeologist & Teacher. Cameron teaches History and Social Studies at a private Catholic School on St. Kitts and is an Adjunct Lecturer at the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College. He holds a Ph.D. in archaeology from Leiden University. He studied history, archaeology, and Heritage Studies at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus. From 2010 to 2016 Cameron served as the General Manager of the Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park Society and the UNESCO Focal Point for St. Kitts and Nevis. He is the Principal Consultant at C. Gill Consulting, an archaeological and heritage consultancy.
Eduardo Herrera Malatesta
is a landscape and computational archaeologist specialized in applying Geographical Information Systems and spatial statistics to understand the multiscalar relationship between humans and the environment in the past. He studied anthropology and archaeology in Venezuela (BA, MA). Then, he got an MSc. in GIS in Archaeology at the University College London (UK). He got his Ph.D. in Archaeology at Leiden University (Netherlands), where he focused on studying the indigenous creation and transformation of landscapes in the
Katarina Jacobson
studied archaeology at the University of Paris 1, Panthéon-Sorbonne. She joined the European research project ERC-Synergy Nexus1492 where she had a Ph.D. « Jeu d’argile : céramique, identité culturelle et créolisation » focusing on an archaeo-anthropological study of ceramics in multicultural Caribbean societies from the pre-colonial period to the present. Currently, she is the director of the Musée municipal Saint John Perse, is also the international coordinator of the international exhibition Caribbean Ties, and co-founder of the Local Voices movement. Katarina is, since the end of 2022, vice-president of the Museum Association of the Caribbean (MAC).
Joseph Sony Jean
is a Haitian archaeologist. He holds a Ph.D. in archaeology from Leiden University. He leads the annual course “Patrimoine Archéologique” for the Master Program Histoire, Memoire et Patrimoine at the Université d’Etat d’Haiti. He also studied archaeology in Haiti, Jamaica, and France. He is a researcher at Leiden University and KITLV (Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies, Leiden) and previously involved as a researcher in the CaribTRAILS project. Since 2014, he is conducting archaeological investigations in northern Haiti. His archaeological research focuses on the long-term landscape transformation of Haiti. He is also interested in critical heritage studies, particularly the politics of heritage and the relationships between contemporary societies and heritage.
Debra Kay Palmer
is a trained conservator in the development of cultural projects and has worked in the cultural heritage field for over 20 years. She holds Master degree in Cultural Projects for Development from the International Labour Organization/ University of Turin and a MSc in Principles of Conservation from the University College London. She has played a key role in the implementation of Jamaica’s obligations under UNESCO’s cultural Conventions and has been instrumental in representing Jamaica’s and other small island states’ positions on varying UNESCO Committees.
is a Ph.D. Researcher at Leiden University and the Royal Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies (KITLV) as part of the Island(ers) at the Helm project. He holds a MA in archaeology from Leiden. As a Ph.D. researcher, he examines the long-term evidence for social adaptations to habitation and climatic challenges in Aruba, Bonaire, and Sint Maarten, from an archaeological perspective. He has been working as an archaeologist at the National Archaeological Museum Aruba, documenting several archaeological sites on the island. He has also served as a deputy director of the museum between 2007 and 2013.
Wilhelm Londoño Díaz
is a Professor of Archaeology in the Department of Anthropology, University of Magdalena, Colombia. He specializes in Indigenous Archaeology, Community Archaeology, Anthropology, Heritage, and Indigenous Studies. He is the author of the book Cultural Heritage Management and Indigenous People in the North of Colombia. His book explores Indigenous people’s struggle for territorial autonomy in an aggressive political environment and tensions between heritage tourism and Indigenous rights.
Stacey Mac Donald
works as an advisor for the World Wide Fund for Nature on Bonaire. She holds a Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology and was a researcher at the Royal Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies (KITLV). Her research focuses on nature conservation in the Dutch Caribbean. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in pedagogical science at Leiden University in 2010, and her master’s degree in social and organizational psychology at the same university in 2012. She also worked as a consultant at the Dutch Caribbean Management Consultancy firm in Curaçao and was a guest lecturer at the University of Curaçao.
Jerry Michel
qualified as Maître de Conference by the National Council of Universities (CNU) in France, is currently a researcher at LAVUE UMR 7218 CNRS, Université Paris 8 Vincennes Saint-Denis. He is a lecturer and researcher at the Université d’État d’Haïti (UEH) and director of the research sub-group 3 in LADIREP Laboratory at the UEH. His research focuses on the sociology of collective memory, heritage, culture and Cultural Studies, Postcolonial Studies, and Memory Studies.
is a professional in Cultural Heritage Management, focusing on archaeological heritage. As a Heritage Preservation Officer at the National Trust of Trinidad and Tobago, he works to protect over hundreds of his nation’s most cherished tangible heritage assets. He contributes to academic research as a Research Fellow at the Royal Netherlands Institute and is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Archaeology at Leiden University. His involvement in international research projects, like the Nexus1492 and the Rockley Bay Research Project, blends his practical experience with academic research, and enhancing his understanding of Trinidad and Tobago’s archaeological heritage.
Andrea Richards
is a trained archaeologist and has worked in the cultural heritage field in the Caribbean for more than fifteen years. She holds Master degree in public archaeology from the University College London and a BA in history and archaeology from the University of the West Indies, Mona. She is a Ph.D. researcher at Leiden University. Her research interests include public attitudes towards and engagement with the past, trade in cultural objects, cultural heritage legislation, climate change and cultural heritage, and the management, conservation, presentation and sustainable use of heritage sites. She has worked with UNESCO in the Caribbean, France and Jordan on the implementation of varying cultural development projects.
Kara M. Roopsingh
Senior Heritage Preservation and Research Officer at the National Trust of Trinidad and Tobago, has 14 years of experience in heritage research and advocacy. Her role encompasses site monitoring, research, community and local government engagement and managing international grant projects. She is the current Project Lead for the 2-year ‘Resilient Heritage Trinidad and Tobago’ initiative, funded by the US Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation. An alumnus of the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Department of Geography, Roopsingh’s work is driven by a passion for preserving Trinidad and Tobago’s unique heritage against the impacts of climate change.
Pierre Sainte-Luce
is a Guadeloupean doctor, sociologist, writer and entrepreneur who has been awarded the prestigious French title Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur. Thanks to his 10 years of experience in angiology, he has acquired and expanded EHPAD, clinics and a hotel. In the light of his passion for history and arts, he owns two historical sites built in the XVIIth and XVIIIth centuries. Moreover, he authored two novels COLORED and TRANSFIGURATION. Pierre is the President
Tibisay Sankatsing Nava
is a senior project officer for heritage at the Mondriaan Fund. She studied Liberal Arts & Sciences at University College Utrecht in the Netherlands. She has a master’s degree in Arts & Culture and Science Communication from Leiden University. Originally from Aruba, she worked as coordinator of the international exhibition Caribbean Ties between 2017 and 2019. She was the community engagement coordinator at KITLV for CaribTRAILS and the Island(er)s at the Helm projects. She is a Ph.D. researcher at Leiden University. Her research focuses on the role of heritage research in decolonizing Caribbean practices, as well as decolonizing research.
Laurent Christian Ursulet
is currently in charge of cultural engineering in Martinique. He holds a degree in History and Comparative Literature from the University of Paris-Sorbonne, as well as a Master’s degree from the University of Versailles in Culture and Communication Engineering. He was a researcher at the General Inventory of the French Ministry of Culture, Curator of Antiquities and Works of Art and manager of cultural structures in Martinique. He is also a member of the « Conseil Économique, Social, Environnemental, de la Culture et de l’Education de Martinique » and a poet.