Ng Xin Yi

Senior Cultural Heritage Officer / Executive Assistant to the General Manager
xinyi[at]gtwhi[dot]com[dot]my

Fields of Expertise

• Intangible Cultural Heritage Studies
• World Heritage Studies
• Collection Management and Emergency Response to Objects
• Anthropological Practices

ABOUT ME

Ng Xin Yi joined George Town World Heritage Incorporated in 2015. She obtained a master’s degree in Anthropology from National Taiwan University in 2010, and gained international work experience, knowledge and skills on archaeological excavation, museum collection care and anthropological field works in Taiwan and New Zealand. Now as Senior Cultural Heritage Officer, Xin Yi develops, supervises and executes projects, conducts research and fieldwork, and reviews proposals to promote sustainable development and management. Her duties as Executive Assistant to the General Manager include preparing reference materials and resources from UNESCO and international agencies. Xin Yi’s areas of expertise comprise intangible cultural heritage, UNESCO conventions, impact assessment, and object care.

I AM A SITE MANAGER BECAUSE ...

I am a happy Site Manager because everything is nice and fine.

PHOTO GALLERY

Participating in community ceremonies is part of my job as it builds rapport and is an important way to observe local cultural practices.

Just another day on-site sieving through century-old mud to peek at the bygone life of Sia Boey. One of the remarkable experiences at GTWHI.

Salvaging artefacts from a post-fire scene for further emergency treatment, with the owner’s consent. It is sad to witness a disaster but we can try our best to help with the recovery.

Attending to visitors and answering questions. With visitors flocking in from all around the world, it is a good learning process and the discussions could be rewarding and inspiring.

CURRENT POSITIONS

Senior Cultural Heritage Officer and Executive Assistant to the General Manager, George Town World Heritage Incorporated (2019 – current).

QUALIFICATIONS

Master of Arts in Anthropology, National Taiwan University, Taiwan (2007 – 2010).
Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology, National Taiwan University, Taiwan (2002 – 2006).
SMK Sultan Ismail, Johor Bahru, Johor (1996 – 2000).

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

Tourism Management at UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Vol. 1), MOOC, 2019.
Advanced workshop on restoration and preservation of books and documents (图书文献保护及修复工作坊進階班), co-organised by the Centre for Malaysian Chinese Studies and LLG Cultural Development Foundation, Kuala Lumpur, 2019.
International Course on Impact Assessment for Heritage, WHITRAP Shanghai under the World Heritage Leadership Program, 2018.
First Aid to Cultural Heritage in Times of Crisis, co-organized by ICCROM, The Smithsonian Institute, The Prince Claus Fund, and the Netherlands Fund in Trust, 2018.
National Disaster Risk Reduction workshop, co-organised by UNESCO Jakarta and George Town World Heritage Incorporated, 2017.
Archival preservation and conservation advanced workshop (图书文献保护及修复工作坊進階班), co-organised by the Centre for Malaysian Chinese Studies and LLG Cultural Development Foundation, 2017.
Inception Workshop for Capacity Building for Disaster Risk Reduction of Heritage, co-organized by UNESCO Jakarta and George Town World Heritage Incorporated, 2017.
Intangible Cultural Heritage Capacity Building Workshop, National Heritage Department of Malaysia, 2016 – 2017.
Archaeological field school, Department of Anthropology, National Taiwan University, 2005.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2016 – 2018, Cultural Heritage Officer and Executive Assistant to the General Manager, George Town World Heritage Incorporated.
2015, Research Officer, George Town World Heritage Incorporated.
2014, Assistant Research Officer, on “Pulau Jerejak’s Historical Remnants” project, Department of Architecture, University Technology of Malaysia.
2012, Project Officer, “Past for the Future: Re-visualising Kaviyang (連結過去與未來：泰武—佳平影像計畫)” project, Department of Anthropology, National Taiwan University.
2011, Project Officer, “Tales from old photo: Archived photos of Mu Dan: a Southern Paiwan Community (牡丹排灣族老照片說故事計畫)” project, Department of Anthropology, National Taiwan University.
2008, Project Assistant, “National Taiwan University Anthropological Collection Digital Archive project (臺灣大學人類學系典藏文物數位化計畫)”, Department of Anthropology, National Taiwan University.
2007, Research Assistant, “Gender, Capitalism and the Invention of Culture: Comparative Study of Malay and Chinese Communities in Malaysia” research project, Department of Anthropology, National Taiwan University.
2007, Project Assistant, “Inventorying Millitary Settlements (台灣眷村普查計畫)” project, Association of Mainlander Taiwanese (社團法人台灣外省人協會).
2006, Research Assistant, “Sustainable Eco-tourism and local social context in Tao-Mi Village, Nan Tou” research project, Department of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University.
2006 – 2007, archaeological fieldwork at the old settlement of the Lai-Yi Village, Taiwan.

PROJECTS

Ongoing

2019 – Current, First Aid for Cultural Heritage in George Town, Penang, Malaysia.
2018 – Current, “UNESCO World Heritage Site State of Conservation Reporting of Conservation of the Historic City of George Town, Pulau Pinang”, George Town, Malaysia.
2018 – Current, Intangible Cultural Heritage Capacity Building Workshops, George Town, Malaysia.
2017 – Current, Nomination of Penang Teong Guan Ceremonies and Festivals for the Inscription to the UNESCO Representative List of the Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Penang, Malaysia.
2016 – Current, Sia Boey Rejuvenation Project — An Urban Archaeological Park in George Town, Penang, Malaysia.
2016 – Current, “UNESCO World Heritage Site State of Conservation Reporting on Heritage Impact Assessment of the Proposed Bayan Lepas Light Rail Transit, Penang” at Sia Boey, George Town, Malaysia.

Completed

2020, Post-Disaster Damage Assessment, Risk Report and Recovery Strategies for No. 134, 136, 138, 140, 142 Lebuh Carnarvon, George Town, Penang, Malaysia.
2019, Boon San Tong Khoo Kongsi Mural Painting Conservation and Talent Cultivation Project, Penang, Malaysia.
2019, UNESCO Pilot Project: Community-Based Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage in George Town, Penang, Malaysia.
2018-2019, Paper Conservation Capacity Training for the Local Community in George Town, Malaysia.
2018, International Conference on Managing Urban Cultural Heritage, George Town World Heritage Incorporated, Penang, Malaysia.
2018, Exhibition on “George Town: Beautiful and Irregular”, George Town World Heritage Site, Penang, Malaysia.
2018, Intangible Cultural Heritage Capacity-Building Workshop, GTWHI.
2017, Exhibition and Performances of Taiwanese Cultural Heritage in Penang, Malaysia.
2017, Sub-Regional Meeting for Intangible Cultural Heritage Safeguarding in Southeast Asia, Penang, Malaysia.
2017, George Town Heritage Celebrations, “Walk the Talk: Oral Traditions and Expressions”, to commemorate the 9th Anniversary of George Town as UNESCO World Heritage Site, Penang, Malaysia.
2017, Research for Proposed Inscription of Penang Botanic Gardens as UNESCO World Heritage Site (Phase 2), Penang, Malaysia.
2017, Workshop on Collections Care in Museums and Galleries, organized by Artlab Australia, Penang State Museum and George Town World Heritage Incorporated.
2016-2019, Conservation of the Embroidery banner of Hong Kong Street Nine Emperor Gods Temple, Penang, Malaysia.
2017, “Malaysia Field Survey Report: Intangible Cultural Heritage Safeguarding Efforts in the Asia-Pacific”, George Town World Heritage Incorporated and International Information and Networking Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region under the auspices of UNESCO.
2016 – 2017, “Heritage Talks” monthly series, George Town World Heritage Incorporated, Malaysia
2016, George Town Heritage Celebrations, “Mai Main: Traditional Sports and Games”, to commemorate the 8th Anniversary of George Town as UNESCO World Heritage Site, Penang, Malaysia.
2016, “World Heritage Quiz”, a collaboration with the China Press, George Town World Heritage Incorporated, Malaysia.
2016, “Come Home For Chinese New Year”, Penang Miao Hui, George Town World Heritage Incorporated, Malaysia.
2015, “Talking Books” monthly talks series, George Town World Heritage Incorporated, Malaysia.
2015, “Intangible Cultural Heritage: Innovative Practices, Sustainable Strategies, and Lessons Learnt”, George Town World Heritage Incorporated, Malaysia.

PUBLICATIONS

Ang, Ming Chee. 2016. 2016 Field Survey Report: Intangible Cultural Heritage Safeguarding Efforts in Malaysia (Republic of Korea: International Information and Networking Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage Centre for Asia and the Pacific).

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS)

LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

Mandarin	Mother tongue. Good in reading, writing and speaking.
English	Good in reading, writing and speaking.
Bahasa Melayu	Good in reading, writing and speaking.
Cantonese	Good in speaking