I am honoured to be taking on the role of Editor-in-Chief for the International Journal of Cultural Property, following in the footsteps of Alexander Bauer. The journal, which celebrated its 30th anniversary last year, has been a beacon of excellence in publishing articles across the fields of cultural heritage, law, and policy since 1992.

My journey with IJCP began as a doctoral student, researching the regulation of auctions in France and England. It was during this time that I first encountered the journal, and it played a pivotal role in my academic path. Faced with the choice of specialising in European private law/the law of obligations or cultural heritage law, I chose the latter without hesitation. Since then, the concept of heritage has evolved to encompass both tangible and intangible elements, as well as culture and nature, acknowledging the indefeasible connection between people, their environment, their past, present and future. The field of heritage law has matured into a complex web of norms, recognised as a distinct branch of law – Cultural Heritage Law – in many jurisdictions and as a new branch of international law – International Cultural Heritage Law.

The Journal has grown in parallel with these developments, making invaluable contributions to the field of cultural heritage law on both national and international fronts. It has also expanded its scope to address contemporary challenges and debates surrounding heritage, including decolonisation, climate change, sustainable development, nationalism, internationalism, repatriation, restitution, and digitalisation, from a multidisciplinary perspective.

As I step into the role of Editor, my goal is to build upon this growth and continue the outstanding work of my predecessor. I encourage submissions from scholars and professionals representing a diverse range of disciplines such as law, anthropology, public policy, archaeology, art history, preservation, ethics, economics, museum studies, tourism, and heritage studies. The editorial team and I are particularly interested in contributions that tackle pressing heritage issues, advance new approaches to heritage debates, and offer practical policy recommendations.

I eagerly anticipate receiving a wide array of submissions, including original research articles with strong theoretical contributions, case notes analysing important legal developments at various levels, conference reports, and book reviews.

I extend a warm invitation to contributors from all corners of the globe, encompassing indigenous, Western, and non-Western perspectives. Your insights will undoubtedly enrich the discourse on the intricate, multifaceted, and often conflicting aspects of heritage.

I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to collaborate with the ever-expanding community of cultural heritage scholars and look forward to contributing to the continued success of the International Journal of Cultural Property.