Mikelait, Bethany Jo: - With over a decade of experience in cultural heritage conservation in both museum and private practice settings, Bethany Jo Mikelait shares her knowledge gained from her various collaborations with both Canadian and international professional networks. She holds degrees in Fine Art (BFA) and Art Conservation (MAC) from Queen's University in Ontario, Canada. Bethany's love of history, art, and the art conservation profession has extended to serving on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Association of Professional Conservators (CAPC-ACRP), including a term as president. This non-profit volunteer-run association promotes high standards in the Canadian conservation profession by means of a nationally recognized professional accreditation system. In a day where the average layperson is unfamiliar with the role of an art conservator, Bethany continues to advocate for the recognition of professional art and cultural heritage conservators in our country, particularly in non-institutional settings.Bethany's work integrates practical and theoretical aspects of conservation, and she has been dedicated to enhancing professional skills in Canada through collaboration, speaking engagements, training, and knowledge dissemination. Bethany is the owner and principal conservator of The Art Conservatory Inc., a conservation practice based in Toronto, serving private, public, corporate, and institutional sectors across Canada.