Katherine McMahon has taken over as director of the National Museum of Australia.
It comes after a seven year stint at the museum, including as Assistant Director Discovery and Collections, Deputy Director and most recently, acting Director.
Previously, Ms McMahon worked at the Australian War Memorial where she played a key role in the Memorial’s gallery development and exhibitions program.
National Museum Council Chair, Ben Maguire, congratulated Ms McMahon on her appointment which he said has the council’s unanimous support.
“The National Museum’s Council is delighted by this appointment – Katherine McMahon will provide the leadership, ambition and vision to build on the institution’s successes to date and drive the organisation through its next pivotal phase,” Mr Maguire said.
“We can’t wait to see where she takes the Museum in the years ahead”.
Ms McMahon said she was both delighted and honoured to accept the five-year appointment and praised the government for its investment in the cultural sector and for its commitment to the arts.
She said telling Australia’s shared stories and honouring its First Nations history will be ‘first order issue’ for the museum in coming years, as well as expanding its digital classroom.
‘I’m honoured to accept the position of Director of the National Museum, a globally acclaimed and locally trusted and cherished institution, which has a unique mandate to explore our national identity, providing a place for every story,’ Ms McMahon said.
“After dedicating two decades in leadership roles to the cultural sector where I’ve brought some of our nation’s great stories to life, I can’t wait to bring the same passion and energy to the country’s most important museum,” she said.
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