Staff profiles

Publicity and Media Relations

Providing information, images & expert comment on scientific & cultural research, exhibitions & wider Australian Museum activities.

Media Centre

Read more

---

Members team

Enjoy the very best of the Australian Museum with free entry, exclusive events and much more.

Discounts
Members Lounge
Express queues

Find out more

---

Customer feedback

We would love to hear about your experience and how the Australian Museum can do better in the future.

Find out more

---

Touring Exhibitions

For more information on the Australian Museum touring exhibitions, please contact the Touring Exhibitions team.

Contact us

Find out more

---

Visitor experience

Have a question you can't find an answer to about visiting the Australian Museum? Contact our friendly front of house staff.

Read more

---

Group bookings office

The Australian Museum offers fantastic learning opportunities for students and groups of all ages. Bookings are required for groups of 10 or more.

Online information
Email form
Telephone

Learn more

---

Venue Hire team

Unique spaces ideal for events and functions such as dinners, cocktail parties, receptions, conferences and product launches.

Corporate hire
Private functions
Weddings

Read more

---

People & Culture unit

People & Culture’s purpose is to optimise The Australian Museum’s outcomes through the provision of integrated people and performance solutions to achieve an agile, engaged and high performing workforce.

Read more

---

---

Executive Leadership Team

• Kim McKay AO

  Director & CEO

• Professor Shane Ahyong

  Acting Chief Scientist and NSW Senior Principal Research Scientist

• Russell Briggs

  Chief Experience Officer

• Maggie Chien

  Associate Director, People and Culture

• Julie Ellmers

  Acting Director, AMRI

• Amanda Farrar PSM

  Director, Strategy & Chief of Staff

• Erik Maranik

  Director, Corporate Services

• Laura McBride

  Director, First Nations

• Brett Ogier

  Chief Financial Officer

• Jacinta Spurrett

  Director, Marketing, Communications & Partnerships

---

Senior Management Team

Australian Museum Research Institute (AMRI)

• Dr David Alquezar

  Manager, Australian Centre for Wildlife Genomics

• Heather Bleechmore

  Branch Manager, Collection Care and Conservation

• Dr Jenny Newell

  Curator, Climate Change

• Dr David Abrego

  Director, Lizard Island Research Station

• Dr Emily Howells

  Director, Lizard Island Research Station

---

Operations

• Maggie Chien

  Associate Director, People and Culture

---

First Nations

• Melissa Malu

  Head of Pasifika Collections and Engagement

• Dr Mariko Smith

  Head of First Nations Collections & Research

• Meredith Lynch Underwood

  Cultural Collections Enhancement Manager

• Courtney Marsh

  Manager, Strategic Projects, First Nations

---

Museum Experience & Engagement

• Fran Dorey

  Head of Exhibitions

• Dr Vanessa Finney

  Head of World Cultures, Archives & Library
• 

  Vanessa Gardos

  A/Head of Education

• Megan Lawrence

  Head of Digital
• 

  Narelle Lewis

  Manager, Public Programs

• Fara Pelarek

  Head of Visitor Experience & Education

---

Marketing, Communications and Partnerships

• Publicity and Media Relations

  Media & Communications team
• 

  Christine Bradburn

  Head of Marketing & Memberships

• Liz Thorp

  A/Senior Partnerships Manager

---

Public Affairs & Development

• Frankie Greene

  Head of Development

---

Ask an Expert

If you have a specimen you'd like us to identify or a collection donation request, please click the 'Ask an expert' button below to fill in our online form and submit an enquiry to our team of experts.

---

Ask an Expert

Ask an Archivist or Librarian

---

Download our Organisation Chart

• 2025 Australian Museum Organisation Chart

  138.5 KB

---

Executive Leadership Team

The Executive Leadership Team is responsible for strategic planning and management of the nation’s first museum.

Director profiles

Read More

---

Australian Museum Trust

The Australian Museum (AM) is governed by a Trust established under the Australian Museum Trust Act 1975. Our 11 Trustees play a valuable role in monitoring the performance of the AM, assisting with strategic planning processes and acting as advocates for the institution.

Our Trustees
Trust Act

Read More

---

Work at the Museum

Discover the exciting roles in research, exhibitions, education and communicating the relationship between people, culture and the natural environment.

Research
Exhibitions
Communication
Scholarships

Find out more

---

---

You may also be interested in...