The World Heritage Centre announces with profound sadness the passing on 28 April 2015 of Dr Ronald Van Oers, Vice Director of the World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for Asia and the Pacific Region, a UNESCO Category 2 Centre based in Shanghai.
Ron was a brilliant professional in the field of heritage. He had a wealth of academic experience in teaching and research, including as a Research Fellow at Delft University of Technology.
His passion and rich experience contributed to the successful development and coordination of several World Heritage related thematic programmes, among which the Programme on Modern Heritage, the World Heritage Programme for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), and the World Heritage Cities Programme. He also spearheaded the international effort to develop new guidelines for urban conservation. The UNESCO Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape (2011) was developed and adopted thanks to his initiative, commitment and persistence. He advocated with conviction and enthusiasm its application worldwide.
His numerous publications in the field of urban heritage will continue to serve for many heritage professionals as a valuable reference.
Ron loved working in the field with projects and people, and travelling from the most urbanized cities to the most remote islands.
Ron was a dear friend and will be greatly missed by all colleagues at the World Heritage Centre and UNESCO, as well as by the World Heritage community, who has looked to him for guidance and inspiration over the years.
The staff of the Centre for Global Heritage and Development presents its condoleances to Ron's family, friends and colleagues.