By Helen Musa

Curator of the Australian National University Classics Museum, Georgia Pike-Rowney, has been recognised by the Australian Academy of the Humanities for her work, in partnership with the embassy of Italy in Australia, on the identification and repatriation of stolen and looted ancient antiquities.

The Academy, made up of distinguished scholars across the humanities and recognised as the national voice for cultural, creative and ethical thinking, has awarded Dr Pike-Rowney one of its 2026 Humanities Travelling Fellowships.

She is one of eight recipients whose scholarships, according to Academy president Prof Stephen Garton, reflect the excellence of Australia’s early-career humanities researchers.

Pike-Rowney’s project will develop a public education initiative with the embassy of Italy in Australia, aiming to shift repatriation narratives away from blame and secrecy surrounding looted objects towards cultural exchange and transparency.

Under the fellowship, she will conduct field research in Italy and work with Italian researchers, curators, museum professionals and police officials at the forefront of repatriation. The goal is to develop a deeper understanding of Italian repatriation practices, knowledge that will be directly relevant to museums and universities across Australia.

Pike-Rowney has already received international recognition but her receipt of the Academy’s 2026 Humanities Travelling Fellowship is another feather in her cap.

Georgia keeps the classics museum’s treasures alive

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