Professor Peter Stone has been awarded the coveted Cultural Protection Ambassador Award from the International Arts & Antiquities Security Forum (IAASF).

The award recognises his tireless endeavours to protect invaluable historical monuments, art, and archaeological sites during periods of conflict.

Stone currently holds the UNESCO Chair in Cultural Property Protection and Peace at Newcastle University and serves as President of the Blue Shield NGO.

This month, the IAASF, renowned for supporting and educating a global audience on the safeguarding of arts, antiquities, and cultural heritage, presented him with the award during a conference.

Andy Davis, Chair of the IAASF Awards Committee, said: “We were delighted to present Professor Peter Stone OBE with the Cultural Protection Ambassador Award. Peter was nominated by the UK National Commission for UNESCO for his dedication to cultural heritage working closely with UNESCO and the Blue Shield.”

Professor Stone was delighted to receive the award.

He said: “It is a huge honour to receive this award from the IAASF as it underlines the need for partnership and trust to be developed between what many may seem like unlikely bedfellows.

“I thank UNESCO for agreeing to establish the Chair in Cultural Property Protection and Peace at Newcastle, and Newcastle University, without whose funding since 2016, none of this would have happened.

“I accept the award also on behalf of my close colleagues Emma Cunliffe and Michael Delacruz. Together we make up the UNESCO Chair team at Newcastle University and, through the Chair, provide much of the core support and activity of the Blue Shield. This is their award as much as mine.”

Secretary-General of the UK National Commission for UNESCO, James Bridge, congratulated Peter and his team at Blue Shield International.

He said: “Congratulations to Peter, his team and Blue Shield International. Peter is a highly influential global leader in cultural property protection: breaking new ground in education and management. He is a key pro bono adviser to the UK National Commission for UNESCO (UKNC), the UK Permanent Delegation to UNESCO and UNESCO itself."

The award comes as UNESCO approved the renewal of Peter’s Chair position in Cultural Property Protection and Peace until 2027.

Professor Chris Day, Vice-Chancellor and President of Newcastle University said: “Peter and his team carry out incredibly important work, educating and training military and peacekeepers around the world about the importance of preserving cultural heritage.

“We are delighted UNESCO has agreed to renew this post for a further four years, so they can continue to help people understand the importance of protecting the past.”