Maissoun Sharkawi is a historian and Associate Professor of Applied Arts at Palestine Technical University–Kadoori, holding a Ph.D. in History from the University of Lorraine (Nancy). She is a UNESCO-accredited expert and facilitator for the 2003 Convention. Her professional experience focuses on capacity-building, periodic reporting, community-based inventorying, safeguarding methodologies, International Assistance, and policies linked to intangible cultural heritage.