MEXICO CITY.- Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) has a new leader at the helm of its crucial cultural heritage conservation efforts. Restorer Thalía Velasco Castelán has been appointed as the new National Coordinator of Cultural Heritage Conservation (CNCPC), taking over from María del Carmen Castro Barrera.

INAH Director General Diego Prieto Hernández emphasized the importance of the CNCPC, describing it as a vital link to the communities who cherish and protect their heritage. He expressed confidence that Velasco Castelán's extensive experience will ensure the continued success of INAH's work in safeguarding and promoting Mexico's rich cultural patrimony.

INAH Technical Secretary José Luis Perea González further highlighted the significance of the National Conservation Strategy, developed within the CNCPC. He described it as a "navigation chart" that will continue to evolve under Velasco Castelán's leadership and through the contributions of the entire CNCPC team.

Velasco Castelán herself expressed a strong commitment to INAH and her new role. She stressed the importance of research, documentation, education, dissemination, and outreach in conservation efforts, emphasizing the need to connect with the communities who live with and utilize their heritage daily.

Reflecting on the CNCPC’s nearly six decades of work, Velasco Castelán acknowledged its success in establishing the restoration profession within INAH. She highlighted the value of the research generated through the study and intervention of historical objects, as well as the important role of publications and academic events.

Looking ahead, Velasco Castelán announced her immediate priorities: following up on current projects and developing the 2025 work plan, aligned with the Sectoral Culture Program.

Velasco Castelán brings a wealth of experience to the role. She holds a degree in Restoration from INAH's National School of Conservation, Restoration, and Museography, "Manuel del Castillo Negrete," and a master's degree in Applied History from the National University of Costa Rica, where her thesis focused on the evolution of documentary heritage within Mexican law from 1914 to 2012.

Since 2003, Velasco Castelán has been a practicing restorer at the CNCPC. She has coordinated significant projects, including the rescue, conservation, cataloging, and dissemination of the collection housed in the Metropolitan Cathedral, and the stabilization of choir books at the National Museum of the Viceroyalty.

From 2016 to 2022, she led the Directorate of Social Education for Conservation, and she has served on various publication boards related to the study and preservation of cultural heritage. Her research and publications have focused on the creation, history, documentation, use, and preservation of documentary collections. With her extensive background and dedication, Thalía Velasco Castelán is well-positioned to lead INAH’s cultural heritage conservation efforts into the future.