6 July. On 30 June, a reception was held to say farewell to three members of the ICCROM staff: Mónica García Robles, Baba Keita and Valerie Magar.

Mónica García joined ICCROM in 1979 under the directorship of Sir Bernard Feilden. Working in publications, she has watched the organization evolve both technologically and programmatically under six Director-Generals. Mónica’s vision for Communication led to ICCROM going online in 1994, and she has maintained the website since then. In 2009 she became manager ad interim of the Office of Communication and Information. With her retirement she plans to travel and work with children.

A former PREMA participant in 1986, Baba Keita joined ICCROM in 2005 as project specialist for AFRICA 2009 programme, and later in 2008 became project manager after the departure of Webber Ndoro. Prior to working at ICCROM he was coordinator of professional activities at the Ecole du Patrimoine Africain (EPA) in Benin. Earlier this year, he was appointed Director of EPA, a post he will begin this summer. We wish him all the best as he takes on this important responsibility.

Valerie Magar has been working with ICCROM since 2004, prior to which, she was senior conservator at the Coordinación Nacional de Conservación del Patrimonio Cultural (CNCPC-INAH) in Mexico. Valerie has been working in the Sites Unit as a conservation specialist, collaborating with many of ICCROM’s international and regional activities, namely, Built Heritage, Latin America and Southeast Europe. She will continue to be involved in ICCROM activities.

ICCROM staff and friends will miss these cherished colleagues, but we look forward to collaborating with them after their departure.

updated on: 16 July, 2010