Heritage Advantage CoLab | Episode 001 - Recap
PastView is proud to partner with ArchivalOne in the launch of the Heritage Advantage CoLab, a new cross-industry initiative designed to connect the people shaping the future of archives, heritage, and digital preservation. Episode 001 marks the beginning of this collaboration, bringing together leaders who work at the intersection of history, brand identity, and technology.
The first session featured guest speakers from Reuters Screenocean, GSK, Twinings, The Centre for Business History, and Chivas Brothers/Pernod Ricard.
The discussion was candid, practical, and forward-looking, revealing how heritage work is evolving under real-world pressures.
Below are the themes that defined the conversation:
Heritage Is Alive and Full of Surprise
One of the strongest takeaways was how dynamic archival work truly is. Participants shared stories of unexpected finds that reshape how companies understand their own journeys.
As Adrian O'Meara, Global Product Manager, Digital Assets & Information, at Twinings & Ovaltine reflected, working with centuries-old brands reveals that heritage is not just about preservation. It is about identity. These discoveries, whether hidden artefacts or overlooked records, become anchors for storytelling and brand meaning.
“When you’re working with brands that are 100 or 300 years old, you realize heritage isn’t just history, it’s identity.”
Archives are not static repositories. They are living ecosystems of memory and discovery.
Digitization Is Urgent and High Stakes
Helen Walker, Archive Manager at Reuters Screenocean, described digitization as a race against time. Her team is building an in-house hub capable of processing thousands of tapes each month, driven by the reality that physical media faces environmental threats, geopolitical risk, and natural degradation.
“Our journalists bore witness to history, our duty is to preserve their content”
Her message was clear: preserving journalistic history is a responsibility, not a luxury. Digitization is the bridge between fragile physical collections and long-term accessibility.
Discovery Is Part Adventure, Part Responsibility
A memorable reflection on discovery came from Robert Athol, archivist at Chivas Brothers/Pernod Ricard, who described what it was like to step into an archive that had never previously had a dedicated professional steward. As he explained:
“I was the first qualified archivist Chivas Brothers had, and so I was in the fortunate position to be exploring attics and basements and warehouses, and everywhere to see what records were out there. I found all sorts of things, including my favorite object, a very large Victorian fire engine. Which no one else wants responsibility for, but I do!”
His story captures the spirit of heritage work at its most human. Archives are not assembled neatly. They are uncovered through curiosity, persistence, and a willingness to take responsibility for the objects and stories others overlook. Moments like these remind us that preservation is driven as much by passion as it is by process.
AI Unlocks Collections at Scale
At GSK, Jill Moretto, Director of Global Information Governance Operations, shared how AI-assisted transcription is transforming access to archival content. Thousands of hours of video and audio material are becoming searchable for the first time.
“AI is like the most junior lawyer, you must check its work, but it saves enormous time,”
Her perspective was grounded and pragmatic. AI accelerates discovery, but human expertise remains central. Archivists validate, interpret, and contextualize what technology surfaces. The future is collaborative, not automated.
Many Companies Discover Their Heritage Late
Anders Sjöman, CEO of Centre for Business History, located in Stockholm, Sweden, highlighted a striking pattern: “Heritage becomes real the moment a company realizes it actually has one.”
Once awareness emerges, the shift is immediate. Archives become tools for strategy, innovation, and cultural continuity. In an era of rapid transformation, institutional memory is a stabilizing force.
Heritage Is Strategic Intelligence
During the session, co-host Laura Osburnsen emphasized that “Heritage is more than memory, it’s intelligence. When we activate it, organizations see themselves clearly for the first time.”
This principle sits at the heart of the Heritage Advantage CoLab. The goal is not nostalgia. It is insight, resilience, and informed decision-making.
The Beginning of a Movement
As co-host Casper Smithson noted, “This isn’t just a meeting, it’s the beginning of a collaborative movement.”
Episode 001 demonstrated the value of open exchange between archivists, brand custodians, and digital preservation leaders. The challenges discussed were real, and the solutions emerging are collective.
PastView is excited to support this partnership and help grow a community dedicated to protecting and activating heritage worldwide.
More sessions and shared insights are already in development for Episode 002.
For full details on the Heritage Advantage CoLab, visit:
https://archivalone.com/heritage-advantage-colab/
