Katriona Byrne

Katriona's BA in History of Art led her to work on the Pevsner Architectural Guide for Dublin and on the National Inventory of Ireland. The Historic Heart of Dublin European project led to a postgraduate Diploma in Architectural Inventorying and Recording. Katriona then worked for about 10 years as a local authority Conservation Officer in Ireland gaining a Masters in Conservation during this time.

She managed grants budgets, large and small, for conservation projects and engaged with planning of the historic environment, both in terms of policy and development control. This was interspersed with private practice as a Heritage Consultant where she supervised conservation works to traditional farm buildings amongst others, undertook research projects, wrote books and training material, delivered industry and community training, and lectured on some of her favourite topics, including vitrolite, historic ironwork, lime, graveyards and energy efficiency.

Katriona then spent five years with English Heritage/ Historic England in the West Midlands region as an Inspector of Historic Buildings and Areas. She took over the direction of the conservation courses in Birmingham City University in August 2018. In her spare time she volunteer with the Twentieth Century Society, leading tours around Birmingham and towns in Worcestershire.