Sophie Butler is an Australian cultural heritage specialist with over 25 years’ experience. Much of her expertise lies in the management of cultural heritage issues relating to development and conservation, understanding how these issues connect with communities and helping clients assess and manage associated impacts and opportunities. In recent years her focus has shifted to the facilitation of community participation in heritage processes, recognising the important role cultural heritage plays in community well-being. Currently living in Singapore and nearing completion of the MA in Cultural Heritage Management from Johns Hopkins University, Sophie is now pivoting to pursue research interests and community capacity building projects in Southeast Asia. She hopes to apply her substantial professional skills and experience to the field of academic inquiry with the view to developing practical evidence-based solutions to real world threats and issues affecting communities and their cultural heritage.