MEDIA RELEASE 18 July 2008

Auckland Museum Announces Executive Team Appointments

Auckland Museum has announced the first round of appointments for its new Executive Team, reporting to Director Vanda Vitali.

Tim Walker will join the Museum 11 August as Head, Museum Delivery. An Aucklander by birth, Tim’s first curatorial role was at the Waikato Museum on Art and History in the mid 1980s. He later moved to Wellington, eventually becoming Senior Art Curator at The National Art gallery and Te Papa. He was appointed Director of the then Dowse Art Museum in 1998, and his final title was Director, Museums, of TheNewDowse and the Petone Settlers Museum. Tim received his BA and MA in Art History from the University of Auckland.

Lynley Cunningham has been appointed Head, Commercial for the Auckland Museum. Lynley’s recent experience includes marketing, communications, events and funds development as a consultant within the government and museum sector, notably for the Ministry of Education. Prior to that she was the General Manager, Funds Development, for Te Papa where she was responsible for developing and implementing the capital development strategy leading up to and following the opening. Lynley has human resource, commercial and retail experience, and possesses an MBA from Victoria University.

Les Fleming has been appointed Head, Internal Services. Previously the Financial Controller for the Museum, Les has a strong technical background and experience in Accounting, Financial Reporting, Analysis, Acquisitions, Mergers, Restructuring, Investment and Management. He has worked in some of largest corporations in New Zealand and overseas, including Feltex, Downer Construction, and Carter Holt Harvey. Les has been with the Auckland Museum for three years and has lived in Auckland since 1984. He received his accounting degree from the University of Otago.

Russell Briggs is the Museum’s Head, Communication & New Media. He has a 20-year background working in marketing, branding, internal and external communications, and internet delivery. A former screenwriter and journalist, Russell has worked with many Global 100 companies and non-profit institutions to create communications, education, and new media strategy for staff and general populations. A native of California, Russell immigrated to New Zealand in 2002 and had been a citizen since 2006. He received his BA in Film/Television from the University of California.

Further appointments will be announced soon regarding pending positions at the Executive and Senior management levels.

ENDS

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