Sarah Holma is an anthropologist and archaeologist whose work explores how people understand, care for, and live alongside heritage in the modern world. Her doctoral research at Leiden University focuses on Cambodia, where she examines how Angkor has been shaped by decades of international conservation, tourism, and state involvement. Her work is especially interested in the human side of heritage, how global efforts to protect the past intersect with local lives, knowledge, and rights. She considers questions of access, displacement, and belonging, and how heritage might be managed in ways that are more ethical and inclusive. Alongside her academic work, she has taught and lectured internationally, and is deeply committed to sharing the stories of past and present cultures in ways that are thoughtful, accessible, and engaging for wider audiences.

More information about Sarah Holma

Fields of interest 

Heritage management
Archaeology of Southeast Asia
Angkor and Cambodian heritage
Anthropology of heritage
Cultural policy and tourism
UNESCO and World Heritage
Ethics in archaeology and conservation
Community engagement and public archaeology
Heritage and human rights
Material culture and cultural landscapes

(PhD) Research

My research examines how heritage is shaped, managed, and experienced over time, using Cambodia and the Angkor World Heritage Area as a central case study. I take a long term perspective to understand how present day systems of conservation and governance have developed, from the colonial period through to contemporary international involvement.

I am particularly interested in the relationships between global heritage institutions, state authorities, and local communities, and in how these relationships influence access to sites, knowledge production, and everyday life in heritage landscapes. My work considers how tourism, international funding, and conservation practices have contributed to both the protection of monuments and the creation of new social and economic pressures.

A key part of this research focuses on questions of ethics and responsibility. I examine issues such as displacement, restricted access, and the marginalisation of local voices, and ask how heritage might be managed in ways that are more equitable and inclusive.

More broadly, my work brings together archaeology and anthropology to better understand how the past is interpreted and used in the present, and how alternative approaches might support more balanced and locally grounded forms of heritage management.

CV

Sarah Holma is a PhD candidate in Asian Area Studies at the Leiden Institute for Area Studies. Her research examines the development of heritage management in Cambodia, with a focus on Angkor and the relationships between international organisations, state authorities, and local communities.

She holds a Master of Arts in Asian Pacific Policy Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in Asian Area Studies and Anthropological Theory from the University of British Columbia.

Sarah has worked internationally across Canada, Cambodia, and Australia in roles spanning archaeology, heritage consulting, research, and higher education. She has held academic and leadership positions including Dean and Campus Director, and has taught courses in cultural tourism, global business, research methods, and academic writing.

She is the founder of initiatives supporting archaeological training and capacity building in Cambodia, and has collaborated with institutions including UNESCO and the Royal University of Fine Arts.

Alongside her academic work, Sarah is an enrichment lecturer with international cruise lines including Holland America Line, Cunard, and Norwegian Cruise Line. She presents on archaeology, heritage, and world cultures, with a focus on regions including Southeast Asia, Polynesia, the Americas, and the Caribbean.

Grants and awards

Travel and fieldwork awards supporting research in Southeast Asia, including funding from Leiden University and the Australian National University. Recipient of the UBC Global Fund Award and the UBC CARE Society Travel Award. Recognised as a finalist for the University of British Columbia’s Student Most Likely to Change the World.

Key Publications

Holma, S. (2017). The Future of Cambodian Heritage under China. Asia Pacific Memo, Institute of Asian Research, University of British Columbia.

Holma, S. (2017). How effective are international agencies in the protection, conservation and presentation of Cambodian heritage places? Canadian Council for Southeast Asian Studies Conference, York University.

Holma, S. (2017). Raise the Red Lanterns: The rise of Asian heritage management at the site of Angkor. Canadian Council for Southeast Asian Studies Conference, York University.

Holma, S. (2016). How can World Heritage management plans honour indigenous and human rights in World Heritage areas? Peace and Justice Studies Association Conference.

Holma, S. (2013). Many Voices, One Vision: The Early Years of the World Heritage Convention (research contributor). Université de Montréal.