Kenneth Aitchison

Kenneth is Headland Archaeology’s International Business Development Manager. He is a senior heritage and education professional with over 30 years’ experience undertaking research and delivering successful cultural heritage, historic environment and foresight projects for academic, government and commercial clients, with measurable international impact. He has worked extensively in the Middle East and North Africa, and has also worked in both East and West Africa; his early career included archaeological fieldwork in the UK, Syria, Lebanon, Cyprus, France and Germany. He has also worked extensively for the European Commission and has experience of securing funds for and managing aid-funded development and research projects in Africa (in The Gambia, Tanzania and Kenya).

In addition to his professional responsibilities, he is also Honorary Professor in the University of Liverpool’s Department of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology. He has been a guest lecturer on Masters’ courses at Saxion University, the Central European University, University of Manchester, University of Sheffield and Birkbeck. He founded and was then Executive Director of a consultancy business with staff or offices in UK, US and Ireland, and has held senior leadership and policy development positions for trade and professional associations in the heritage sector (currently CEO of FAME – Federation of Archaeological Managers and Employers, formerly at Chartered Institute for Archaeologists and Icon: the Institute of Conservation).

A demonstrated thought leader in cultural heritage and the historic environment, shown through a wide range of peer-reviewed publications and international academic conference presentations, with work supported and validated by an extensive network of academic and professional contacts who provide wide opportunities for cross-disciplinary project partnering and idea-testing. Kenneth is recognised internationally as the leading world expert in acquiring and analysing employment data for professional archaeology used for foresight and policy development (his PhD by Research Publications was awarded for his work in this area). He is an experienced Chair of international committees, an assured communicator, able to work with wide ranges of stakeholders and a confident team-builder, with experience in engaging support from, and managing, diverse, multicultural teams and projects. He serves on the Society for American Archaeology’s International Government Affairs Committee and Committee on the Americas, and on the Register of Professional Archaeologists’ Ethics Committee.