Chief Minister Jon Stanhope announced the appointment of Dr Michael Pearson as the new Chair of the ACT Heritage Council.

Pearson has been a member of the Heritage Council for three years. The council provides expert advice to the Minister and other Territory authorities on the identification and conservation of heritage places and objects in the ACT under the Heritage Act 2004. It’s also the body that can say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the redevelopment or demolition of heritage listed buildings, like the Whitley houses in Griffith and Braddon.

Through his company Heritage Management Consultants Pty Ltd, Pearson has been involved in many heritage projects in Canberra, including conservation management plans for the High Court of Australia, the National Gallery of Australia and Old Parliament House.

Dr Pearson succeeds former chair Peter Freeman.