Our team

Julian Bickersteth AO

Chief Executive Officer

Qualifications

  • 1982 - Diploma in Conservation, West Dean College
  • 1979 - MA Theology, Oxford University

Specialisation

Memberships

  • IIC International Institute for Conservation - President 
  • AICCM Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Material - Professional Member and Chair
  • Environmental Standards Taskforce
  • ICOMOS International Polar Heritage Committee - President 2010-2018
  • National Trust of Australia (NSW ) - Chair, Museums & Galleries Committee
  • ADFAS (Australian Decorative and Fine Art Societies) - President
  • The David Roche Foundation - Chair, Board of Directors
  • Antarctic Heritage Trust of New Zealand - Artefact Conservation Adviser
  • ‍Eryldene Historic House - Board member
  • Honorary conservator
  • ‍Royal Society for the Arts - Fellow
  • Technical Advisory Group, Heritage Office (NSW) - Member‍
  • AusHeritage Ltd - Director

Julian Bickersteth AO FIIC is CEO of International Conservation Services and former President of the International Institute for Conservation (IIC). With over 40 years’ experience, he has worked across conservation disciplines in Australia and internationally.

Julian is a key founding member of ICS and has served as a driving force behind the company since its inception in 1991. International Conservation Services was first conceived to provide materials conservation to the substantial collections held outside of public collecting institutions – ensuring material was restored and conserved to museum standards. Under his guidance, it has become the premier company for the conservation of art and heritage in the country, serving both private and state institutions as well as private clients.

Julian trained at Oxford and West Dean College and has always had a strong affiliation with conservation, combining deep technical expertise with strategic insight.

A leader in promoting sustainability in heritage practice, Julian is known for his advocacy on climate-conscious conservation, influencing global conversations on conservation, environmental responsibility, and professional standards in conservation.

Julian’s key experience revolves around working on projects where there is a conservation component of a broader heritage issue.  His expertise extends from a very broad knowledge of material conservation issues to collection management, architectural conservation and heritage policy creation.

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Awards

Project highlights

Heroic Era Huts, Antarctica

ICS has had a long and major association with the conservation of the huts and contents of the sites from the Heroic Era of Antarctic Exploration (1899-1916).

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Town Hall Grand Staircase

The Grand Staircase was constructed as part of the original Town Hall, between 1869 and 1875. Both the external and major internal walls of the staircase date to this time, but the construction date of the staircase specifically is not known.

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Coat of Arms, Old Parliament House

Old Parliament House (OPH, and formerly the Provisional Parliament House) is a nationally significant heritage building located in Canberra's parliamentary zone.

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Public Art Maintenance, Ventia

ICS was awarded a rolling 4 year contract to clean and reapply protective microcrystalline wax coating to 37 public bronze statues/monuments in the City of Sydney public art collection.

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Hall of Memory, Australian War Memorial

The walls and dome of the Hall of Memory, at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, are lined with one of the largest mosaics in the world. Designed by artist Napier Waller, it was unveiled in 1959.

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Testimonial

Executive Team

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Passionate about conserving art and cultural heritage

Our expert team would love to help you find solutions to your conservation and heritage needs. Get in touch today.

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