Speaker: Thomas Aigner

Areas of focus or expertise:

  • Digital transformation of cultural heritage, in particular of archives.
  • History of Central-Europe, of church history.

Email contact: thomas.aigner@icar-us.eu

Web/social media: www.icar-us.eu

Home: Austria, Vienna

Native language: German

Presentation language(s): German, English

Preferred presentation type: virtual and in-person

Travel preferences: anywhere

Biography

Thomas Aigner MAS is a historian and archivist with extensive international experience in cultural heritage management, archival development, digitisation, and digital transformation. He served as President of ICARUS (International Centre for Archival Research) from 2008 to 2023 and currently holds the position of Secretary General. During his tenure, he was a key driving force behind the organisation’s international growth, cross-border collaborations, and numerous EU-funded projects aimed at advancing digitisation, digital preservation, and open access to cultural heritage content.

Throughout his career, he has held senior management positions in the cultural heritage sector and has developed extensive expertise in strategic planning, institutional development, international partnerships, and large-scale digitisation initiatives. His work has contributed significantly to improving access to archival resources and fostering innovation within archives, libraries, and related heritage institutions.

Since 2023, Thomas Aigner has been working as an independent consultant, advising cultural heritage institutions, public authorities, and private organisations on cultural heritage strategy, digital transformation, digitisation programmes, funding acquisition, and international cooperation.

In which societies are you a member? ICA, ICARUS, Time Machine, Italien Church Archivists, Austrian Archivists´ Association

Speaking experience/references

In my more than 30 years career I spoke at many international and national conferences.

Recording of previous presentation OR an IGGP partner you have presented for: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7jx8Kem–cOe1I9x_ntlFt-W560midMN&si=epvK9aGJIJuuO9ej

Payment/expense arrangements

How do you approach payment for making a presentation? I am willing to negotiate a speaking fee with clients

Other expenses you would like to have reimbursed if you travel? Travel and accommendation

Recordings/additional materials

Are you willing to prepare a handout? Yes

Would you be willing to develop a presentation on another topic? Yes

Do you have any restrictions on recording, re-use of recordings, handouts, etc? No

Are you willing to have the presentation translated or translate it yourself? Yes

Presentation topics
  • Digital transformation of archives
  • Big data of the Past
  • Let’s build a Time Machine
  • Matricula – European Church Registers Online
  • ICARUS – International Collaboration of Archives
  • History of Central Europe