Two PhD candidates from the Centre for Heritage and Museum Studies at the Australian National University (ANU) — Huzeima Mahamadu and Xiaochun Ma — were recently selected to present their research at the prestigious international conference “Conflicting Discourses in Interpreting Contested Heritage: The Role of Diverse Communities in Fostering Dialogue for Peacebuilding and Reconciliation,” held in Tokyo on June 14, 2025. 

Chosen from a highly competitive pool of over 100 international submissions, both Mahamadu and Ma were recognised for their research contributions to global conversations on heritage, memory, and reconciliation. Their supervisor, Assoc Prof Yujie Zhu also participated in the conference as an invited expert panellist, noted the valuable opportunity the experience provides for their academic and professional development and is therefore happy about their achievements.

The global event was jointly organised by Seoul National University’s Institute of International Studies, the Centre for Reconciliation Studies at Waseda University (WCRS), ICOMOS-ICIP, and Our World Heritage, with sponsorship from the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience (ICSC). It brought together leading scholars, heritage practitioners, and civil society leaders to explore how contested histories are interpreted and how inclusive dialogue can foster reconciliation and peacebuilding.

Huzeima Mahamadu was selected as one of five youth speakers at the conference under session three (voices from the future generation). Her presentation focused on the representation of slavery history as a form of difficult heritage in Ghanaian museums. Drawing on her research, Mahamadu highlighted the challenges associated with presenting slavery history in Ghana, as well as the varying perceptions of different visitor groups in museums’ narratives. She emphasised the importance of involving diverse stakeholders in fostering reflective dialogue processes that can contribute to healing and reconciliation.

Xiaochun Ma was selected as one of five youth poster presenters (voices from the future generation). Her work examined the role of heritage education in Chinese universities, specifically the integration of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) practices into curricula. Ma illustrated how student engagement with heritage communities through study tours can deepen understanding and appreciation of cultural heritage in communities.

Assoc Prof Yujie Zhu was invited to speak as an expert panellist. He emphasised the need for interpretive approaches that centre diverse knowledge systems and lived experiences, calling for a shift from traditional didactic presentations to more inclusive methods such as dialogical engagement, co-curation, participatory memory work, and trans-local knowledge exchange.

The participation of Huzeima Mahamadu and Xiaochun Ma at this high-level international forum underscores ANU and the Centre for Heritage and Museum Studies’ strong commitment to academic excellence, international collaboration, and advancing cross-cultural dialogue and historical reconciliation.