The International Polar Heritage Committee is an active committee with several categories of membership as shown below. If you fulfill the criteria for membership, and you are keen to contribute as a member of the IPHC, you are welcome to seek further information on the IPHC and apply for membership. In the first instance by contacting the Secretariat: iphc@icomos.org

Expert membership

(i) An Expert member will be a person experienced and engaged in the areas relevant to the objectives of the IPHC. This most commonly involves an active professional involvement and/or relevant practical experience in fields related to the protection and conservation of heritage sites in Arctic and/or Antarctic regions. The Expert member will be interested in the work of the IPHC and be able to assist the IPHC to achieve its objectives.

(ii) An Expert member will be a member of ICOMOS and may be appointed by one of two methods;

a) a person meeting the criteria in (i) above who is nominated by a National Committee, who will be the voting member for that country, or;

b) a person meeting the criteria in (i) above, who seek membership through an application from obtained from the IPHC Secretariat.

(iii) The appointment of new members will be confirmed once ratified by a majority of Expert members attending an IPHC meeting, or by a majority of Expert members responding positively to email or postal submission about the appointment.

Associate membership

(i) An Associate member will be a member of ICOMOS interested in gaining knowledge and building up expertise in areas relevant to the objectives of the Committee, and may apply for membership by personal application or proposal by the National Committee to which they belong;

(ii) Appointment as an Associate member will be confirmed once ratified by a majority of Expert members attending an IPHC meeting, or by a majority of Expert members responding positively to email or postal submission about the appointment.

(iii) Associate Members are conditionally accepted for a period of three years, after which time their contribution to the Committee will be evaluated in a transparent manner.

The Associate Membership shall then be:

a) Extended for another similar period of time, with a maximum of two such triennial extensions, or

b) Upgraded to Expert Membership, or

c) Rejected on the basis of non-participation or unsatisfactory performance;

Non-ICOMOS affiliates

(i) The IPHC may appoint Non-ICOMOS Members, who can make a significant contribution to the meetings and activities of the Committee. Affiliates will be encouraged to apply for ICOMOS membership where this is relevant to their situation;

(ii) Those wishing to be considered as Affiliate members may apply by personal application or be recommended by an Expert member.

(iii) An Affiliate will be invited to join the IPHC following a decision by the majority of the Expert Members, for one triennium, and the invitation may be renewed indefinitely for additional three-year periods.

Honorary members

(i) Honorary Members may be elected by the Expert Members of IPHC and may participate in all activities of the Committee;

(ii) They need not be members of ICOMOS and are appointed in recognition of the services and/or in recognition of outstanding achievement in the field covered by the aims and activities of IPHC.