The new director of Museum Theatre Gallery Hawke's Bay (MTG) will be Laura Vodanovich, the current Director of Tairawhiti Museum in Gisborne, the Napier City Council announced today.
Ms Vodanovich replaces Douglas Lloyd Jenkins, who will step down as MTG Hawke's Bay Director next month. She will take up her new
appointment on 1 February next year.
Napier City Council Chief Executive Wayne Jack said Ms Vodanovich was the perfect choice of person to lead the facility forward.
"Laura had just the skills and experience we were looking for," he said.
Ms Vodanovich said she was looking forward to fresh challenges in Hawke's Bay. "MTG Hawke's Bay is a wonderful facility that should be embraced by both the Hawke's Bay community and tourists, and I'm looking forward to working for both in 2015 and beyond."
She has spent just over two years as Director of Tairawhiti Museum in Gisborne.
She has 18 years' experience in the museum industry in a variety of roles, including running large scale building and collection projects, and overseeing the development and completion of an iwi led exhibition at Tairawhiti Museum.
From 1997 until 2012 Ms Vodanovich worked at the Auckland Museum, starting as Assistant Registrar and progressing through to Director of Collections and Research. She holds an MA in Anthropology (Hons) from Auckland University, a post-graduate Diploma in Museum Studies from Massey University, and a Diploma in Law and Collection Management from Melbourne University.
Mr Lloyd Jenkins said he was "thrilled" with the news of the new appointment.
"Laura and I have a work history of more than 20 years standing. I think she will provide a good steady hand for the MTG and I look forward to seeing where she takes the organisation next," he said. .
