our team is growing!
Meet Erin
Erin is an archaeologist with diverse experience in the Heritage and GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums) sectors. She has worked in historic collections management, archaeological excavation, research and documentation, and stakeholder engagement.
Born in the UK, she holds a first-class BA Hons in Classical Archaeology and Ancient History from the University of Oxford. Erin learned her trade excavating Ancient Roman sites in Italy and working with collections in Rome. She then worked for several years in museums in the UK, including as the curator of a regional maritime museum. Working in regional museums gave her a taste for the important role that local history centers play in communities and collective memory, and she particularly enjoyed using her position to help communities connect more closely with their past.
![Our Team Is Growing! 1 Our Team Is Growing! 1](https://aboriginallandservices.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/84/2024/07/EAiles_HeadShot_Main-768x1024.jpg)
Erin later moved to London, where she landed a role at a major publishing company. She worked on the production of catalogues for major international museum and gallery exhibitions, as well as diversifying her skillset through editing non-fiction works across a broad range of topics, including art, architecture, fashion, and photography. Ultimately, however, Erin discovered that big city life wasn’t for her and decided to travel to Australia—the best decision she ever made!
Upon her arrival in Australia, Erin continued her work in the GLAM sector through a variety of casual roles based in Sydney. However, she longed for a closer connection to the landscape and hoped to find that in the vastness of WA. With this in mind, she took a job on a pearl farm on the Dampier Peninsula in the Kimberley. Erin fell in love with the lifestyle, landscape, and opportunities offered in WA, and got her first chance to work directly with Traditional Owners. Learning from Bardi and Jawi Traditional Owners on Country was a privilege and sparked a passion in Erin that ultimately led her to seek professional employment opportunities in the Heritage sector in Australia.
Erin secured a job as an archaeologist with a heritage consultancy in Sydney. While this role was great for gaining broad experience within the Australian heritage sector, she found herself yet again in a big city. As her contract drew to an end, Erin knew she wanted to return to WA and couldn’t believe her luck when she was offered a role at ALS.
Bill Bennell, Principal Director at ALS, remarked, “We are thrilled to have yet another talented and skilled archaeologist on our team. Erin’s extensive experience and passion for working with Traditional Owners are invaluable assets to our organization.”
Erin feels extremely privileged to work at ALS and to learn from Traditional Owners on Country. She loves the fact that she is working with living cultural heritage and can see the impacts of her work in action. Being able to work directly with stakeholders in the Cultural Landscape gives her work the purpose and direction she has been seeking.
When Erin is not working, she loves to explore the outdoors and spends a lot of time in and around the ocean. She is an avid sailor and recently completed the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.