Dr. Joshua Davis
Brussels,Belgium
Summary
PhD in Law (defended March 2025), with research on how the EU protects cultural heritage in third countries-work that drives policy debate and has led to international publications. I lead two flagship work packages-Policy Monitor and Heritage Library-within the EU-funded European Heritage Hub, managing cross-cultural teams across time zones to deliver high-impact digital and research outputs to the European Commission. At KU Leuven, I helped launch and scale the HERKUL Institute, driving strategic growth and interdisciplinary collaboration in cultural heritage. Expert in cultural heritage, international law, and project management. Proven track record of delivering results in complex, cross-sector environments.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Post-doctoral scientific collaborator researcher
KU Leuven
Leuven, Belgium
04.2025 - Current
- Coordination of upcoming scientific publication of doctoral thesis - to be published as a book in 2026
- Conducted research on cultural heritage international law and policies.
- Presented findings at Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna on cultural heritage elements in arbitration awards.
- Published research at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University on EU external action for heritage protection in Africa and MENA region.
- Chaired Una Europa EU Horizon application conference and workshop to foster collaboration among institutions.
Project Manager for Policy Monitor and Heritage Library Projects
European Heritage Hub
Brussels, Belgium
12.2024 - Current
- Management of creation, delivery and organisation of European Heritage Hub Heritage Library and Policy Monitor - https://www.europeanheritagehub.eu/policy-monitor/
- Managing final deliverables for Work Packages of policy monitor and heritage library projects for European Commission evaluators.
- Reporting to project Steering Committee and project advisory council
- Oversight and management of multinational, multicultural and international team of partners in project management for the European Heritage Hub, ensuring seamless collaboration and successful outcomes.
- Management of audit and quality control of website database product quality assurance processes conforming to ISO 9001 standards
- Writing of policy papers on cultural heritage relating to EU regional policy smart specialisation strategies, EU enlargement policy and cultural heritage, and cultural heritage in EU international relations
- Event Management - organisation of study visit to KU Leuven for hybrid public lecture of Professor from Australia on cultural heritage (100 in-person attendees and 400 online attendees)
- Event Management - organisation of study visits at Universite Paris 1 Sorbonne and Universidad Compultense de Madrid
- Facilitation of creation of study kit between KU Leuven and University of Bologna as project deliverable
Academic Assistant
KU Leuven
Leuven, Belgium
09.2024 - Current
- Lectured, taught and conducted engaing session on law of international organizations and supervised international law exercises.
- Contributed to curriculum design that enhanced educational effectiveness.
- Assessed student work and offered insights to guide improvement.
- Managed arrangements for guest lecturers, coordinating schedules and content delivery.
Executive Board Member
HERKUL KU Leuven
Leuven, Belgium
03.2021 - Current
- Executed strategic planning and executive management for HERKUL.
- Managed membership database and communications, enhancing organisational efficiency.
- Oversaw social media presence across Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Linktree, and YouTube.
- Coordinated events for corporate and academic audiences, ensuring successful execution.
- Supervised interns to support project assistance and administrative tasks.
- Maintained website content to keep information current and relevant.
- Administered mailing list community for effective outreach and engagement.
PHD Researcher
KU Leuven
Leuven, Belgium
04.2020 - 04.2025
Researcher and Project Participant
European Heritage Hub
Brussels, Belgium
09.2023 - 12.2024
Research Assistant
KU Leuven
Leuven, Belgium
09.2019 - 04.2020
Public Affairs Consultant
Aliénor
Brussels Area, Belgium
01.2016 - 04.2017
- Facilitated co-signing of written questions in European Parliament, enhancing visibility of issues.
- Oversaw monitoring of legislative and media changes impacting client interests.
- Liaised among stakeholders to meet client specifications efficiently.
- Documented and communicated researched materials related to public policy clearly.
- Executed comprehensive research initiatives for diverse projects.
- Translated English documents into French, ensuring accessibility for stakeholders.
Research Assistant - Schuman Scholarship
European Parliament
Brussels Area, Belgium
02.2015 - 07.2015
- Completed traineeship in European Parliament Directorate-General for Parliamentary Research Services (DG EPRS).
Selected for Robert Schuman Scholarship program, demonstrating exceptional qualifications.
Conducted impact assessments for Parliamentary Committees to evaluate policy effectiveness.
News Library Researcher
Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) Australia
Sydney, Australia
11.2014 - 03.2015
- Engaged with Indigenous, Torres Strait Islander, Pacific Islander and culturally diverse migrant communities via culturally respectful programming.
- Sourced content from Reuters, Associated Press, and other agencies to enhance program quality.
- Conducted thorough archival research for documentaries and news bulletins, boosting information reliability.
- Digitised archival footage to streamline access for current affairs programming.
- Translated materials for news bulletins, ensuring precision and readability.
News Library Researcher
Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) Australia
Sydney, Australia
07.2012 - 08.2013
Project Assistant
Open Wiring Systems
Rydalmere, Australia
05.2008 - 07.2012
Membership Assistant
French-Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Sydney, Australia
08.2011 - 10.2011
Education
Doctor of Philosophy - PhD - Law
KU Leuven
Leuven, Belgium03.2025
Master of Science - Advanced Masters in European Integration - Security & Migration
Institute For European Studies, VUB
Brussels, Belgium06-2020
Master of Arts - Political Science and Government
Université Libre De Bruxelles
Brussels, Belgium06-2018
Master of Arts - Political Science
Université Libre De Bruxelles
Brussels, Belgium06-2017
Honours in French - French Language and Literature
Macquarie University
Sydney, NSW04-2013
BBA - Bachelor of Business Administration
Macquarie University
Sydney, New South Wales, NSW04-2012
Bachelor of Arts - Bachelor of Arts in European Studies
Macquarie University
Sydney, New South Wales, NSW04-2012
Certificate of International Arbitration - International Arbitration
Leiden University, The Netherlands
01-2026
Certificate of Project Management - Project Management
Google
12-2025
Skills
- Project management
- EU Creative Europe project management
- Cultural heritage
- Cultural heritage laws and policies
- International law
- EU law
- EU policies
- United Nations law
- Cultural heritage in international arbitration
- Resource extraction policies
- Public policy
- NATO, military and defence policy
- Foreign policy
- UNESCO regulations
- Business Administration
- Quality Assurance
- Research methodologies
- Project management
- Policy analysis
- Event coordination
- Data interpretation
- Team coordination
- University lecturing
- Mentoring
- Teaching
- Discourse analysis
- Public speaking
- Curriculum design
- Writing proficiency
- Data gathering and organisation
- Discovery
- Qualitative and quantitative research
- Data assessments
- Research planning
- Research grants
- Literature review
- Quality assurance controls
- Research ethics
- Data modeling
- Research processes
- Survey design
- Statistical methodologies
- Knowledge sharing
- Research proposals
- Writing and editing
- Quality Management
- Community Management
Certification
- Foundations of Project Management
- Change Management for Generative AI
- Foundations of Sustainability and ESG
- Project Planning: Putting It All Together
- Project Initiation: Starting a Successful Project
Languages
English
Native/ Bilingual
French
Native/ Bilingual
Spanish
Full Professional
Italian
Professional
Dutch
Professional
Portuguese
Professional
Arabic
Limited
Turkish
Limited
Publications
- Davis, Joshua, The European Union and the Protection of Cultural Heritage in Third Countries: Legal and Policy Aspects. PhD dissertation, KU Leuven, 2025. Supervised by Jan Wouters and Koenraad Van Balen. https://kuleuven.limo.libis.be/discovery/search?query=any,contains,LIRIAS4208149&tab=LIRIAS&search_scope=lirias_profile&vid=32KUL_KUL:Lirias&offset=0
- Davis, Joshua, “Cultural heritage restitution diplomacy and the European Union – towards an EU common position for cultural heritage restitution?” in Heritage Hybridisations Concepts, Scales and Spaces - Una Europa PhD Workshop Proceedings, Una Europa PhD Workshop Paris, Panthéon-Sorbonne, May 10-12, 2021, ed. Maria Gravari-Barbas & Isidora Stanković (Paris: Université Paris I, Panthéon-Sorbonne, 2021), 63 – 67.
- Davis, Joshua “The Politicisation of the Process of Inscription into the UNESCO World Heritage List”, in Forever Young: Celebrating 50 years of the World Heritage Convention: Volume 1 Section II – The World Heritage Convention: its Relevance for Strengthening the Values of the International Community, ed. Elisa Baroncini, Bert Demarsin, Ana Gemma López Martín, Raquel Regueiro Dubra, Ruxandra-Iulia Stoica, Manuel Ganarin, Alessandra Quarta, 253 – 280 (Modena, Italy: Stem Mucchi Editore, 2023).
- Davis, Joshua, Martial Manet, María Paula O’Donohoe Villota and Loanh Mirande, “Designing the social sustainability of dissonant heritage: Treatment of dissonant memories by truth and reconciliation commissions: four case studies” in Una Europa PhD Workshop – Dissonant Heritage: Concepts, Critiques, Cases, Post Workshop Online Conference, 31 March 2022 (Chair: Joshua Davis), (Bologna: Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, 2022).
Timeline
Post-doctoral scientific collaborator researcher
KU Leuven
04.2025 - Current
Project Manager for Policy Monitor and Heritage Library Projects
European Heritage Hub
12.2024 - Current
Academic Assistant
KU Leuven
09.2024 - Current
Researcher and Project Participant
European Heritage Hub
09.2023 - 12.2024
Executive Board Member
HERKUL KU Leuven
03.2021 - Current
PHD Researcher
KU Leuven
04.2020 - 04.2025
Research Assistant
KU Leuven
09.2019 - 04.2020
Public Affairs Consultant
Aliénor
01.2016 - 04.2017
Research Assistant - Schuman Scholarship
European Parliament
02.2015 - 07.2015
News Library Researcher
Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) Australia
11.2014 - 03.2015
News Library Researcher
Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) Australia
07.2012 - 08.2013
Membership Assistant
French-Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry
08.2011 - 10.2011
Project Assistant
Open Wiring Systems
05.2008 - 07.2012
Doctor of Philosophy - PhD - Law
KU Leuven
Master of Science - Advanced Masters in European Integration - Security & Migration
Institute For European Studies, VUB
Master of Arts - Political Science and Government
Université Libre De Bruxelles
Master of Arts - Political Science
Université Libre De Bruxelles
Honours in French - French Language and Literature
Macquarie University
BBA - Bachelor of Business Administration
Macquarie University
Bachelor of Arts - Bachelor of Arts in European Studies
Macquarie University
Certificate of International Arbitration - International Arbitration
Leiden University, The Netherlands
Certificate of Project Management - Project Management
Google