Following her Master’s degree in Asian Pacific Policy Studies at the Institute of Asian Research at the University of British Columbia, Sarah undertook an internship with UNESCO Bangkok in 2011.

In 2012, she began doctoral studies at the Université de Montréal, where she became increasingly interested in the complexities of UNESCO World Heritage inscription processes, particularly the case of Preah Vihear, and questions surrounding local communities' access to heritage.

She continued her doctoral studies at the Australian National University, developing a stronger focus on archaeology, before moving to Leiden University in 2015 to pursue her research within the Leiden Institute for Area Studies.

On 20 October 2026, Sarah successfully defended her doctoral dissertation at Leiden University and was awarded her PhD.

Sarah Holma Ph.D. research:

A Diachronic Analysis of the Process of Heritage Management in Cambodia

This dissertation examines the historical development of heritage management in Cambodia, focusing on the Angkor World Heritage Area (AWHA). Since Angkor's inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1992, international involvement has played a significant role in its conservation and management, raising questions about authority, technical capacity, access to heritage, and the relationship between international institutions and Cambodian communities.

Drawing on the work of Bruce Trigger, Michel Foucault, Pierre Bourdieu, and Michael Herzfeld, the study conceptualises Cambodia's cultural heritage apparatus as a historically embedded system of institutions, practices, and relationships shaped by colonial legacies and contemporary international heritage governance.

The research traces the development of this apparatus from the French colonial period to the present, examining how international conservation initiatives interact with Cambodian political and social institutions and how these relationships influence decisions concerning cultural heritage.

Particular attention is given to the professional opportunities available to Cambodian archaeologists, the participation of local communities in heritage decision-making, and the consequences of conservation and tourism policies for people living within the Angkor World Heritage Area.

Using a rights-based framework grounded in international conventions, the dissertation examines the ethical responsibilities of heritage institutions and the institutional practices that sustain inequalities in authority, professional opportunity, and access.

The study concludes by considering approaches to heritage management that strengthen Cambodian professional capacity, support meaningful community participation, and encourage more equitable forms of conservation. Its findings contribute to wider discussions about the governance of World Heritage properties and the relationship between international heritage institutions, state authority, and local communities.