Harriet Deacon

Dr. Harriet Deacon is a Lecturer at the University of Hull's Faculty of Science and Engineering, affiliated with the Data Science AI and Modelling Centre (DAIM). She specializes in AI ethics, heritage studies, and intellectual property law. Her work bridges cultural heritage safeguarding, digital technologies, and policy advocacy. Since 2010, she has served as a UNESCO consultant under the 2003 Intangible Heritage Convention, focusing on global capacity building and heritage economics. She holds a BA (Hons) from the University of Cape Town (1989), a PhD in History from the University of Cambridge (1994), and an MSc in Intellectual Property Management from Queen Mary University of London (2016).

Her research explores AI’s impact on creative industries and intangible heritage, including digital literacy for community data governance. She leads the British Academy-funded DAIL-ICH Project in Africa and organized events like the 2024 UNESCO webinar on AI and heritage. She is an associate member of the UK Parliament’s All-Party Parliamentary Group on Craft and advises the Heritage Crafts Association and ICH North.

• Education: BA (UCT), PhD (Cambridge), MSc (QMUL)
• Grants: £124,722 from the British Academy for DAIL-ICH (2024–2025)
• Roles: UNESCO Consultant, WIPO Advisor, APPG on Craft Member

Her projects emphasize cross-border collaboration, such as ICH North’s efforts in Northern Europe’s cultural heritage digitization. She advocates for sustainable heritage frameworks and equitable IP practices for local communities.