Richard Burns
Founder and Director, Burns Monument Centre (Kilmarnock, Scotland)
About:
Richard Burns is the visionary founder and current director of the Burns Monument Centre, a landmark cultural and genealogical institution located in the heart of Kilmarnock’s Kay Park. With a background in heritage management and civic development, Richard spearheaded the creation of the Centre as a hub for family history, archival research, and community celebration.
Drawing inspiration from his family’s long connection to Ayrshire and the legacy of Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns, Richard has dedicated his career to promoting ancestral tourism and cultural preservation. His leadership has transformed the Centre into a world-class facility that attracts visitors from across the Scottish diaspora — from Canada to New Zealand.
Areas of Expertise:
- Heritage management and site development
- Genealogical and archival preservation
- Cultural tourism and community engagement
- Event hosting and local history initiatives
Quote:
“Our goal at the Burns Monument Centre is to make history personal — to reconnect people not just with the past, but with who they are.”
Dr. Fiona McAllister
Lead Researcher, School of Digital Humanities – IOE Press University Research Group
About:
Dr. Fiona McAllister is a senior lecturer and research lead in Digital Heritage and Cultural Informatics at IOE Press University. With a PhD in Heritage Informatics from the University of St Andrews, Fiona’s work focuses on how digital platforms can make historical and genealogical archives accessible to global audiences.
She is leading the Digital Heritage and Data Integration workstream for the Burns Monument Centre Research Project, overseeing the implementation of AI-assisted genealogy tools, interactive archives, and immersive visitor experiences.
Areas of Expertise:
- Digital archiving and humanities computing
- Museum informatics and data visualization
- Public history and participatory research
- Genealogical technology integration
Quote:
“Technology should not replace heritage — it should amplify the voices of those who lived before us.”
Professor James Llewellyn
Chair of Cultural Tourism and Identity Studies – IOE Press University Research Group
About:
Professor James Llewellyn is a leading scholar in Cultural Tourism and Identity Studies, known for his extensive research on how heritage spaces influence collective memory and national identity. A graduate of the University of Edinburgh, he has published widely on topics such as diaspora engagement, museum storytelling, and the social economics of tourism.
Within the Burns Monument Centre project, Professor Llewellyn leads the Ancestral Tourism and Economic Impactdivision, investigating how family history research contributes to both cultural identity and sustainable tourism development in Scotland.
Areas of Expertise:
- Cultural identity and diaspora studies
- Heritage tourism economics
- Museum and heritage site interpretation
- Policy development in cultural industries
Quote:
“Every journey home is a form of rediscovery — ancestral tourism gives identity a geography.”
Dr. Aisha Rahman
Senior Research Fellow, Department of Community Heritage and Public Engagement – IOE Press University Research Group
About:
Dr. Aisha Rahman is a social historian and community engagement specialist with over a decade of experience in participatory heritage projects. Her research bridges oral history, education, and civic identity, focusing on how local communities interact with archival heritage and cultural storytelling.
As part of the Burns Monument Centre research initiative, Dr. Rahman oversees the Community and Educational Outreach Programme, collaborating with East Ayrshire schools, local archives, and diaspora groups to record oral histories and build intergenerational storytelling workshops.
Areas of Expertise:
- Oral history and participatory research
- Community heritage education
- Diversity in historical narratives
- Public engagement and youth heritage projects
Quote:
“When a community tells its own story, history becomes alive — it becomes shared, not stored.”
