2025 World Monuments Watch Selection Panelists

Lynn Meskell is the Penn Integrates Knowledge Professor in Anthropology, Historic Preservation and at Penn Museum at the University of Pennsylvania and AD White Professor at Cornell University. Meskell is a renowned archaeologist and anthropologist and author of the award-winning  A Future in Ruins: UNESCO, World Heritage, and the Dream of Peace (2018), among other works.  

Albino Jopela is currently the Executive Director of the African World Heritage Fund (AWHF), an intergovernmental organization created in 2006 by the African Union and UNESCO to support the effective conservation and protection of cultural and natural heritage of Outstanding Universal Value in Africa. He is a Research Fellow at the University of Eduardo Mondlane, Mozambique, and the University of Cape Town, South Africa; he has also served as an advisor to ICOMOS on world heritage. His professional interests include heritage conservation and management systems, world heritage, climate heritage, rock art, and liberation heritage in Africa. 

Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailovic is the Secretary General of Europa Nostra, European Voice of civil society committed to cultural heritage, and a prominent advocate for cultural heritage in Europe. She is the initiator and Spokesperson of the European Heritage Alliance, and the Leader of the European Heritage Hub project, where she leads efforts to protect and celebrate Europe’s cultural legacy. As the Regional Co-Chair of the Climate Heritage Network, Quaedvlieg-Mihailovic works to integrate cultural heritage into global climate action. Her leadership and advocacy have made her a key figure in shaping policies that safeguard Europe’s heritage for future generations. 

Nelly Robles García is the Vice President of the International Committee of Archaeological Heritage Management, and a leading archaeological and preservation expert. Robles García previously served as the National Coordinator at Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) and Director of the Archaeological Zone of Monte Albán in Oaxaca. A recipient of the Society for American Archaeology’s Presidential Award, Robles García is recognized for her contributions to Oaxacan archaeology and her dedication to fostering collaboration between North American and Mexican archaeologists.  

Pasang Dolma Sherpa is the executive director of the Center for Indigenous Peoples’ Research & Development (CIPRED) in Nepal and a dedicated advocate for indigenous rights and climate action. She has served as co-chairs for the Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change (IPFCC) and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change’s Local Communities and Indigenous People’s Platform Working Group. Sherpa’s work focuses on integrating traditional knowledge with modern climate strategies, ensuring that Indigenous voices are central to global environmental policies and sustainable development efforts.  

Brinda Somaya is the Founder and Principal Architect at Somaya and Kalappa Consultants in Mumbai, India, and an acclaimed architect and urban conservationist. She has led the design and execution of over 200 projects, blending architecture with social equity and preservation. Somaya has served as the chairperson of the Board of Governors at the School of Planning & Architecture (SPA) in Vijayawada, contributing significantly to architectural education in India. Her work is recognized for its commitment to preserving cultural heritage while addressing contemporary urban challenges. 

Lyu Zhou is the Director and Professor at the National Heritage Center, Tsinghua University, Beijing, and a leading expert in heritage conservation and preservation planning. He serves as Vice President of ICOMOS-China and President of the Architectural History Society of China. LYU has played a pivotal role in the conservation of numerous World Heritage sites and Silk Road locations, earning international recognition for his work. His contributions have significantly shaped heritage preservation practices in China and beyond.