Sofia Busch

Biography

Sofia is Executive Director of U Thant House, a museum and centre for research, learning and dialogue inspired by the life and work of the United Nations third Secretary-General, and situated in his former residence in Yangon, Myanmar. As such, Sofia is responsible for the day-to-day operations; programme implementation and content development, a well as the long-term strategic vision of the museum. At present time a significant part of her work entails risk management and assessing how the political and security situation in Myanmar may impact museum operations, in order to ensure the safety and wellbeing of staff, visitors and the organisation.

Sofia’s academic and professional background is in peace and conflict resolution. She previously served with the United Nations and the World Bank, working on peace and development issues across the world including in New York and in South and Southeast Asia. Sofia is particularly interested in the role of museums and heritage in promoting peace and tolerance, understanding and reconciliation, and a believer in their ability to inspire positive change in society.

Sofia also oversees the work with U Thant House’s digital history project Lost Footsteps which is exploring Myanmar’s connectedness to the rest of the world, including Britain. Sofia was looking forward to exploring the possibilities of working with the British Museum’s collections to conduct further research, and the possibility of establishing future collaborations.

During the ITP, Sofia was particularly interested in learning about museum management, fundraising and organizational development. She was also interested in the process of exhibition development, interpretation, as well as education and audience engagement.

At the British Museum

During her time at the British Museum, Sofia was based in the Department of Asia and her UK partner placement was spent at Norfolk Museum Service.

Sofia’s participation on the International Training Programme was generously supported by the Charles Wallace Burma Trust.