Senior Fellow 2026: Dora Jok
We are thrilled to announce that Senior Fellow for 2026 will be Dora Jok, Head of Orang Ulu Research Section, Council for Native Customs & Traditions, Sarawak, Malaysia.
Dora joined us on the International Training Programme in 2016. During her time on the ITP, Dora was based in the Department of Asia, and her partner placement was spent at Glasgow Museums.
The following year in 2017, Dora attended the ITP+ course on Photography and Documentation. During a week-long programme, Dora attended seminars, creative workshops, hands-on sessions and practical working group with colleagues from the British Museum and ITP alumni.
The ITP Senior Fellow role is part of our ITP further engagement projects which are essential to the core objectives of the ITP. Finding ways to give our fellows the widest possible opportunities for further training and development is fundamental. Legacy projects inspire a lifelong commitment to our network from ITP partners and fellows, supported by the British Museum.
To date the ITP has welcomed 12 fellows back to the UK as Senior Fellow to further their professional development and strengthened their connections to the UK ITP network. These colleagues have worked on supporting and delivering the programme as part of the core ITP team.
Dora has shared her thoughts on becoming the 13th ITP Senior Fellow:
I joined the Sarawak Museum Department as Head of Administration and Finance in 2010, eventually moved on to lead the Ethnology and Collections Management Section. Later, I was appointed Head of the Collections Management Division when sections that managed the collections were merged into one division of museum collections. In this role, I oversaw an extensive collection of 402,256 items encompasses zoology, archaeology, ethnology, historical documents, audiovisual materials, and photographs. During my tenure, I strengthened standards in registration, acquisition, documentation, and conservation. I also led the drafting of the Procedures for Management of Movable Heritage Assets that would become as a state circular if approved. Besides that, I delivered public talks on museum objects, highlighting the importance of cultural heritage preservation, the role of collections in shaping identity, and the need for object conservation.
In 2016, I participated in the British Museum International Training Programme (ITP) and Glasgow Museum as partner placement. This experience significantly broadened my professional network and exposed me to international museum practices for the first time. The following year, I attended the ITP+ Documentation and Photography Course in 2017 which furthered my knowledge in object documentation and photography.
In September 2025, I was seconded to the Council for Native Customs & Traditions, Sarawak, as Head of the Orang Ulu Research Section. Codification of the native customary law of the Kayan and Kenyah ethnics are the priority for 2025 – 2026. This transition was not a detour nor a departure from my museum career but an extension of it. In this role, I continue to share knowledge in indigenous cultures, emphasising the significance of material culture in the daily lives of indigenous communities as articulated through their adat (way of life). This contributes to broader efforts to decolonise the interpretation and understanding of museum objects.
Now returning as an ITP Senior Fellow, I am delighted for the opportunity to serve as an external mentor to a new generation of ITP participants. Reflecting on my journey, I stand at the intersection of collections management expertise, native customs and traditions, ethnographic field experiences, senior leadership, and international professional exposures, particularly through ITP. I aim to inspire the ITP 2026 participants who are the future leaders in their organisations by bridging these areas to expand their knowledge and contributing to the growing body of knowledge in museum and heritage management. Finally, I hope we will create a strong global network and connections that support future collaboration.
