Shabnam Balouch

Research-Led Curator & Conservation Specialist | Archival Interpretation & Heritage Collections | Persian Heritage

London, England, United Kingdom

About

As a Research Led Curator and Conservation Specialist, I work at the intersection of archival interpretation, preventive conservation, and cultural heritage management. My practice centres on uncovering layered stories within collections and ensuring their care, accuracy, and long term preservation for future generations. With experience across Iran and the UK, I bridge practice and research, from revitalising Tehran’s historic urban fabric to safeguarding museum and archival collections in London. I am currently a Preventive Conservation Officer at Leighton House and Sambourne House, where I lead on environmental monitoring, conservation strategy, risk management, and sustainable preservation planning. Alongside my conservation work, I develop research driven curatorial and digital heritage projects that question how archives are shaped, interpreted, and represented. I recently co curated Persia Reimagined: From Herbarium to Heritage at the Library and Archives of Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, an exhibition that brought together botanical specimens, diaries, photographs, and field notes to explore the cultural, historical, and political dimensions of Persian collections. The project examined archives not only as scientific records but as living repositories of memory, voice, and power, foregrounding overlooked perspectives and community knowledge. My current research focuses on ethical archiving, environmental and climate justice, and the use of digital tools and AI to restore Indigenous place names, pronunciations, and cultural context within historical records. Holding dual Master’s degrees in Cultural Heritage and Revitalisation of Historic Buildings, I combine hands on expertise with critical research. Fluent in Persian and English, I thrive in cross cultural and interdisciplinary collaborations that reimagine how heritage is preserved, interpreted, and shared. 🌿 Let’s connect to explore new approaches to archives, collections, and cultural storytelling.

Experience

  • Leighton House and Sambourne House Museums (2 yrs 10 mos)
    • Preventative Conservation Officer
      Sep 2024 - Present · 1 yr 10 mos

      As a Preventative Conservation Officer, I monitor and maintain environmental conditions and undertake specialist conservation cleaning at Leighton House and Sambourne House. My responsibilities include compiling conservation cleaning plans, ensuring the proper functioning of data loggers, implementing preventative measures to protect collections, providing training to staff and volunteers, overseeing annual deep cleans, and liaising with external conservators to address specific conservation needs. This role is essential in ensuring the high standard of care and presentation of the museums and their collections.

    • Conservation & Archive Assistant
      Dec 2023 - Aug 2024 · 9 mos

      Handling artifact movement, conducting regular cleaning, and maintaining accurate documentation of collections. Training other VEA and volunteers on “Light cleaning”. Assisting the curator team with archiving and archival research for the upcoming exhibitions.

    • Visitor Experience Assistant
      Sep 2023 - Aug 2024 · 1 yr

      Helping visitors at both Leighton House and Sambourne House. Engaging visitors and ensuring they have a safe and enjoyable experience.

  • Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (3 yrs 5 mos)
    • Collections Decontamination and Conservation
      Nov 2023 - Present · 2 yrs 8 mos

      My role involves isolating and quarantining archival materials, implementing low-temperature treatments, and ensuring post-treatment safeguards.

    • Guest Curator
      Sep 2024 - Apr 2026 · 1 yr 8 mos

      Guest Curator for “Persia Reimagined: From Herbarium to Heritage”, an exhibition launched on 30th September 2025 at Kew Herbarium. The project bridges Persian heritage and Kew’s archives through creative workshops, community engagement, and storytelling, highlighting untold histories and developing inclusive approaches to archive engagement. Funded by The National Archives & British institution of Persian Studies.

    • Archival Database Creation & Management
      Oct 2023 - Sep 2024 · 1 yr

      Organizing plant determination lists, aligning them with geographical origins. Responsibilities include systematic archival organization, numbering, and meticulous repackaging. Additionally, creating and managing a comprehensive database, adhering to Kew Gardens Archive Cataloguing manual standards.

  • Heritage Social Media Expert at Britain & Co Ltd, Luxury and Heritage Decoration
    Jan 2024 - Aug 2024 · 8 mos

    - Crafted tailored social media strategies for heritage conservation and decoration, boosting brand visibility and engagement. - Produced compelling content, including articles and videos, highlighting company expertise in heritage conservation. - Designed visually appealing graphics consistent with brand guidelines, enhancing online presence and reinforcing heritage-focused ethos.

  • Conservator at Britain & Co Ltd, Luxury and Heritage Decoration
    Mar 2023 - Aug 2023 · 6 mos

    Restoration of Harrow School's Speech Room

  • Collections Care and Management at Wandsworth Museum Company
    Feb 2023 - Jul 2023 · 6 mos

    The collection consists of 52 items of World War I letters, containing correspondence between a soldier named Freddie and his wife Maggie. The letters reveal their love and relationship during the war. The condition assessment shows various types of damage, including mold, fire damage, tears, and fading. The three photographic negatives depict men in different scenarios, requiring further analysis for identification. The wooden soap box, stored with the letters, shows signs of degradation on its paper cover. Proper cataloguing, storage, and conservation measures are necessary to preserve these artefacts and prevent further deterioration. To preserve these artefacts, I cleaned, handled, catalogued, stored, and implemented conservation measures.