Commonwealth Heritage Forum and CWGC Launch Partnership through Heritage Champion Appointment in Kenya

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) and the Commonwealth Heritage Forum (CHF) are pleased to announce the appointment of Winnie Bahati as Heritage Champion for Kenya, marking the first major initiative delivered through a new partnership between the two organisations.

Based at CWGC's Nairobi office for a 12-month traineeship, Winnie will work alongside the Commission's Non-Commemorated programme team, helping to identify and develop heritage conservation projects while gaining hands-on experience in built heritage conservation, stakeholder engagement and project delivery.

A qualified architect with a passion for heritage, Winnie joins CWGC through CHF's Commonwealth Training Champions programme, which aims to support the next generation of heritage professionals while building local conservation skills across the Commonwealth.

The appointment is the first public milestone arising from a Memorandum of Understanding between CWGC and CHF, established to encourage collaboration on heritage conservation projects, skills development initiatives, and activities that help tell the stories of communities connected to the World Wars across the Commonwealth.

During her placement, Winnie will help explore opportunities to conserve and celebrate heritage sites in Kenya, support the development of craft skills training initiatives, and contribute to projects that seek to engage local communities with their shared history. She will receive mentoring and support from colleagues across both organisations, developing the skills and experience needed to become a future leader in the heritage sector.

David McDonald, Operational Manager (Non-Commemorated Programme) at CWGC, said: “We are incredibly proud to host a Heritage Champion and are delighted to welcome Winnie to the team in Nairobi. Her appointment demonstrates the tangible value of partnership working and represents an exciting first step in our collaboration with the Commonwealth Heritage Forum.

"By investing in heritage skills and supporting emerging professionals, we can help ensure that important sites of memory and commemoration across the Commonwealth are preserved and shared for future generations. Winnie will play an important role in helping us identify opportunities to protect heritage, engage communities and develop sustainable conservation initiatives.”

Philip Davies OBE, the Founder and Head of the Commonwealth Heritage Forum, said: "The bonds of the Commonwealth were forged in peace, but also in war, leaving a legacy of poignant monuments to shared sacrifice and memory which resonates across generations.

"We are delighted that our partnership with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission is now delivering tangible results on the ground.

"Heritage champions stand in the vanguard of our work in a number of Commonwealth countries. The appointment of Winnie in Kenya will enable us to make a real impact on the local conservation agenda by identifying training opportunities for local people and creating the local capacity needed to save the built heritage at risk that they value.

"This is the first of a series of exciting partnership projects which we are planning together in Africa and beyond."

The partnership reflects a shared commitment to heritage conservation, education and skills development. By combining expertise, resources and networks, CWGC and CHF aim to support projects across the Commonwealth that preserve significant heritage sites and promote greater understanding of the shared experiences and contributions of Commonwealth communities during the First and Second World Wars.

Winnie’s appointment is the first of several initiatives planned through the partnership.

This August, members of CWGC's Egyptian Works Team, Ahmed Sayed, Abdelzahir Hassan and Younis Hussain, were also recipients of Commonwealth Heritage Forum training scholarships, enabling them to undertake a specialist study visit to York Minster in the United Kingdom.

Working alongside expert craftspeople and conservators, the team will gain valuable insight into the preservation of one of the world's most significant ecclesiastical heritage sites.

Together, these initiatives demonstrate the partnership's commitment to developing heritage skills, supporting professional development and creating opportunities for knowledge exchange across the Commonwealth, ensuring that heritage conservation expertise continues to grow and flourish for future generations.

The excitement does not end here, as Winnie, Ahmed, Abdelzahir and Younis will soon be collaborating to help deliver the first restoration project delivered through the partnership in Kenya. Details of this and other planned initiatives will be announced shortly.