Personal profile
Biography
Ian Baxter MA(Hons), PhD(Cantab), FSAScot, FSA, FRSA, PCIfA
Ian Baxter originally trained as an archaeologist at Edinburgh University, and completed a PhD at the University of Cambridge investigating strategic management within heritage and conservation organisations. He has worked for a number of Universities, including the University of Cambridge as Director of Public & Professional Programmes, Bournemouth University, Glasgow Caledonian University and the University of Suffolk where he was Head of Suffolk Business School from 2012-2015 . At Heriot-Watt University he is a Professor (Historic Environment Management) in the School of Social Sciences (Edinburgh Business School), and also Steward & Operational Director for Panmure House (the final home of economist Adam Smith). He is a long-standing Affiliated Scholar at the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research & Member of the Faculty of Human, Social & Political Science at the University of Cambridge.
He is a non-executive director of Historic Environment Scotland and Chair of its Heritage Assets Committee. He is a Council Member (Trustee) of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, a member the Institute for Historic Building Conservation's Education, Training & Standards Committee, and co-chairs The Heritage Alliance's Skills, Education and Engagement Advocacy Group.
He has previously been Vice-Chair of the Built Environment Forum Scotland (BEFS) – the national representative body for historic environment NGOs in Scotland, and a Trustee of The Heritage Alliance (covering England's heritage NGO sector). During the main Covid-19 period he chaired the Covid Historic Environment Resilience Forum (CHERF) on behalf of BEFS and Historic Environment Scotland. He has also previously served on the National Trust for Scotland’s Economic & Community Development Advisory Panel, English Heritage’s Research Advisory Panel, and the ICOMOS UK Cultural Tourism Committee.
Research interests
- Policy and strategy development for historic environment sector
- Knowledege management and exchange in heritage sector
- Visitor experience management and interpretation at historic sites and monuments
- Administrative / business histories of heritage organisations
- Branding and design in cultural organisations
- Cultural resource management
- Heritage management
- Archaeology and historic preservation
Key Research Words/Phrases
- Administrative histories / business history
- Heritage policy and strategy
- Guidebooks
- Heritage signs
- Tourism
- Historic preservation
- Cultural resource management
- Archaeology
- Heritage management
- Knowledge exchange
Roles & Responsibilities
Internal (Heriot-Watt University)
- Professor - Historic Environment Management (School of Social Sciences / Edinburgh Business School)
- Steward & Operational Director - Panmure House
External
- Chair of Built Environment Forum Scotland (BEFS) Historic Environment Working Group (HEWG)
- Non-executive board member of Historic Environment Scotland and member of HES Heritage Assets Committee
- Council Member (Trustee) of Society of Antiquaries of Scotland
- Co-Chair of Skills, Education & Engagement Advocacy Group, The Heritage Alliance
- Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) - Education, Training & Standards Committee Member
- RSA Fellows' Media, Creative Industries & Cultural Heritage Network - steering group member
- Scottish Graduate School for Arts & Humanities, Cultural & Museum Studies Discipline+ Catalyst.
- Historic Houses Association Learning Advisory Service Panel Member
External positions
Historic Environment Scotland
1 Nov 2024 → …
Professor, Tianjin University of Finance and Economics
1 Dec 2017 → …
Faculty of Human, Social & Political Sciences, University of Cambridge
Apr 2011 → …
McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge
Apr 2011 → …
Built Environment Forum Scotland
Historic Houses Association
Fellow, Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce
Fellow, Society of Antiquaries (London)
Fellow, Society of Antiquaries of Scotland
The Heritage Alliance
Professor, University of Suffolk
Keywords
- AM Museums (General). Collectors and collecting (General)
- museum
- heritage
- historic preservation
- cultural resource management
- CC Archaeology
- GV Recreation Leisure
- Tourism
- attractions
- H Social Sciences (General)
- management
- strategy
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
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SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
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SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
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SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
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SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
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SDG 14 Life Below Water
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SDG 15 Life on Land
Fingerprint
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We (or I) need to talk about heritage management
Baxter, I., Dec 2025.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review
Open AccessFile3 Downloads (Pure) -
Heritage Careers Guide 2024-2025
Baxter, I. W. F., 8 Jul 2024, 3rd ed. Edinburgh: Heriot-Watt University. 16 p.Research output: Book/Report › Other report
Open AccessFile769 Downloads (Pure) -
Heritage and tourism organisations in a disrupted world
Baxter, I., 15 Nov 2023, Heritage and Cultural Heritage Tourism: International Perspectives. Yu, P.-L., Lertcharnrit, T. & Smith, G. S. (eds.). Springer, p. 49-60 12 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
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Heritage Careers Guide 2023-2024
Baxter, I. W. F., 7 Apr 2023, Heriot-Watt University. 11 p.Research output: Book/Report › Other report
Open AccessFile286 Downloads (Pure) -
Liminality and contemporary engagement: Knockando Wool Mill – a cultural heritage case study
Collinson, E. & Baxter, I., 2 Jan 2022, In: Journal of Heritage Tourism. 17, 1, p. 107-123 17 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
9 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus)
Prizes
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The Traditional Marketplace: Serious leisure and recommending authentic travel
Curran, R. W. F. A. (Recipient), Baxter, I. W. F. (Recipient), Collinson, E. (Recipient), Taheri, B. (Recipient), Gannon, M. J. (Recipient), Lochrie, S. (Recipient), Thompson, J. (Recipient) & Yalinay, O. (Recipient), 2018
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
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Global Heritage (Journal)
Baxter, I. (Editorial board member)
2026 → …Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work › Editorial activity
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Responsible Tourism: Solutions for Edinburgh’s Future
Baxter, I. W. F. (Invited speaker)
30 Oct 2024Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in conference
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UK Heritage's position in the international sphere post-election: The view from Scotland
Baxter, I. W. F. (Speaker)
27 Sept 2024Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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The Heritage Alliance - Skills, Education & Engagement Advocacy Group (External organisation)
Baxter, I. W. F. (Chair)
2018 → …Activity: Membership › Membership of Policy Group
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Beijing Technology and Business University
O'Gorman, K. D. (Visiting Researcher) & Baxter, I. W. F. (Visiting Researcher)
Mar 2017Activity: Visiting an external institution › Visiting an external academic institution