Co-Lead Organiser/Co-Founder
Elliat Graney-Saucke (United States)

Elliat Graney-Saucke has worked in cultural event organizing in the US and in Europe. Her background ranges from community based arts festivals to regional, national and international conference and network meetings, most notably with The Bend-It Extravaganza (2003-2008 | Seattle, US), the National Performance Network (2008, 2013 | Seattle/New Orleans, US) and IETM international network for contemporary performing arts (2013 | Brussels, Belgium/Athens, Greece). As a cultural worker, event organizer, documentary filmmaker and performer, she has received awards from the Mayor of Cottbus and the City of Seattle’s 4Culture fund among others, as well as acting as a guest artist at the Universities of Vienna (AU), Saarbrucken (DE), Washington (US) and Minnesota (US). With a BA in Cultural Studies from Goddard College (Vermont, US), she is currently completing her thesis in the World Heritage Studies MA at BTU Cottbus.

 

Co-Lead Organiser/Co-Founder
Caterina Benincasa (Italy)

Caterina Benincasa obtained her degree in Physics and Philosophy, then specialized in Aesthetics & Theory of Contemporary Art, History of Science and World Heritage Studies. Her professional background in event organization, curating exhibitions, conferences and publications, coupled with her interests in exploring the intersections of art and science, led her to co-found Polyhedra, a non-profit association promoting cross-disciplinary research and activities, for which she serves as director and treasurer. She has been visiting lecturer at the Academy of Fine Arts in Sassari, researcher in Neuroaesthetics at Don Gnocchi Foundation, and recently worked for the ‚Modern Geometry and the Concept of Space‘ research group at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science.

 

Guest Relations and Registration Coordinator
Vusala Javadova (Azerbaijan)

Vusala Javadova grew up in Baku, Azerbaijan. She graduated as Historian at the Sumqayit State University, while she also worked at the Ministry of National Security of Azerbaijan as Executive Officer. Afterwards she perceeded as Consulting Manager at the wedding company “Buta”, before she entered the Masters program of World Heritage studies in Germany.

 

 

 

Publicity and Social Media Coordinator
Anastasiya Muratova (Russia)

Anastasiya Muratova graduated as a Journalism Specialist with the Novosibirsk State University, where she also minored in “Culture Journalistics” and was part of the team making the TV-show “Focus” for the Novosibirsk State University. In pursuing her interest in arts and culture, she worked as an art critic at the press office of the theatrical festival “Novo-sibirsky Transit” as well as with the International Christmas Art Festival, publishing official bulletin for both festivals. Anastasiya did several internships at the TV-Company in Yaroslavl and the Regional Press-office in Saint-Petersburg. Recently, she finished an internship in the Projectbureau Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie (The Netherlands, Utrecht), where she supported the nomination of the tentative site to become a World Heritage site. She is currently completing a Master of Arts of World Heritage Studies, lives in Amsterdam and works as a translator.

 

Website and Graphic Design Coordinator
Dana Rebecca Mack (Germany)

With a Bachelor of Architecture, Dana Mack has worked professionally in construction and architectural firms on multi-million dollar projects since 2009, primarily in southern Germany, as well as in Adelaide, Australia. Through her professional experience, in combination with fulfilling leadership positions in event organizing at various NGOs, she has developed a strong background in architectural design and management, as well as skills in creative design. Always having been close to nature, through the World Heritage Program at BTU Cottbus Dana Mack has also applied her experience of environmental awareness to the developed academic focus of innovative approaches to natural heritage interpretation and management, as well as sustainable land-use.

 

 

Volunteer Coordinator
Courtney Hotchkiss (United States)

A current World Heritage Studies student, Courtney grew up in New York where she earned her BA in global management and a minor in cultural studies. Soon after graduating, she served as an AmeriCorps VISTA in northern California as a communications and outreach coordinator for a children’s advocacy group. Most recently, she completed a half year internship in Northern Ireland at the Mourne Heritage Trust, collecting and archiving the local history. She is working towards completing her master’s thesis on heritage site application procedures, specifically the obstacles of the National Park proposal in the Mournes. Volunteering has been a pathway to many opportunities in her life, and most importantly to meet others and to learn from them.

 

Conference Support
Kenny Choi (Hong Kong) 

Born in Hong Kong, Kenny focused on European and South American history, as well as Media and Cultural Studies during his Bachelors. He has worked as a journalist for online news media and has experience in the topic areas of social movement, democracy, culture, government policies and public campaigns. Kenny travels quite extensively in less-well-known places to gain first hand experience on minority cultures and distant societies, taking in refreshingly new perspectives on the world. He has participated and organized in cooperation with Hong Kong Red Cross a voluntary program in Sri Lanka for 3 years, working with local and international NGOs on rural development, education in villages, social conflicts and after-war rehabilitation. Currently a Master student of World Heritage Studies, his interests lie in history of architecture, urban planning, conservation and international politics.

 

Open Call Coordinator
Anar Eyubov (Azerbaijan)

Anar Eyubov graduated in International Relations at the Baku State University. He worked as a Purchase Manager in European Relations and at a communication company for several years. In 2011 Anar started his Master of Arts in World Heritage. Since then, he has worked as an intern in the sustainable tourism sector of UNESCO’s regional office in Quedlinburg, Germany and at the Fine Arts Museum of Budapest. There he gave guided tours and supported the tourism department of the museum to create tourist packages for private companies.

 

 

Conference Support Team

 

Anne O’Dowd (US) – Logistics and Technical Coordination

Irina Hoppe (Germany)  – Live-streaming / Video Documentation Coordination, BTU

Damoun Vahabi Moghaddam (Iran/Germany) – Organizational Support, OHWB

Sepideh Zarrin Ghalam (Iran/Germany) – Curatorial Support, OHWB

Christin Noll (Germany) – Exhibition Support, WHS

Andreea Ciurci (Romania/Germany) – Exhibition Support, WHS

Fabienne Gallina-Baron (Switzerland/Italy/Germany) – Live-stream Technician/Support web

Elliot Hughes (Australia/Germany) – Seminar and Conference Documentation Support web

Olga Wennegren (Sweden/Australia/Germany) – Hospitalities Support