Pedro Máximo Rocha is a Senior Conservation Scientist at The National Archives in the UK, where he leads innovative projects in preservation and environmental monitoring for archival materials. With a multidisciplinary background in engineering and heritage science, he holds a PhD from UCL’s EPICentre, focusing on environmental impact on strain behaviour in historic tapestries and Master degrees in heritage science and civil engineering. Pedro has extensive experience in the integration of technology and sustainability within cultural heritage. At The National Archives, he leads the implementation of advanced LoRaWAN IoT environmental sensors, enhancing preservation strategies while reducing energy consumption. His expertise includes environmental modeling, risk assessment, and the optimization of monitoring workflows. Notable achievements include securing funding and overseeing the deployment of over 400 sensors across repositories, fostering inter-institutional collaborations, and promoting the adoption of standardized environmental data practices across the heritage sector. Beyond his institutional role, Pedro is an active advocate for heritage recovery and preservation. He previously worked as a member of the Scientific Committee of RestART Beirut, an member of Rekrei, an initiative dedicated to endangered heritage documentation. Passionate about bridging technology, science, heritage and preservation, Pedro is dedicated to foster innovation in the field.

I am a conservator with over 10 years of experience in a variety of settings including private practice, museums, and archives. I enjoy wearing the many hats a conservator must wear; detailed bench work, managing big complex projects, preventive routines, teaching, research and experimentation, advising and persuading budget holders etc. I hold a Masters of Arts degree in Preventive Conservation and a Master of Science degree in Information Studies as well as a Bachelor of Fine Arts.

In 2009 I joined Gwent Archives as a Preservation Assistant. I then enrolled on the ARA Archives Conservation Training Scheme (ACTS) and became a qualified Conservator and gained the Senior Conservator post at Gwent Archives in 2015. I have been ARA ACTS Committee Secretary since 2017.