My skills in communication, audience engagement and driving creative projects have been shaped by 30 years as a curator, writer and producer with a leading museum organisation in Sydney, Australia. I’m currently open to new opportunities and challenges across the cultural, disability and health sectors.
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Qualifications
Work experience
Skills and strengths
Exhibitions
Projects
Writing
Personal details
Qualifications_
Graduate Diploma in Museum Studies
Awarded with Merit
University of Sydney, 1991
Degree of Bachelor of Arts
Majoring in History and Sociology
University of New South Wales, 1986-1990
Work experience_
December 2020 – present
Support worker, part-time
Assistance and support tailored to individual needs
HireUp
May 2024 – May 2025
Teacher’s Aide, South East Sydney
Kindergarten to early primary school for Autistic children
South East Sydney Public School
Aspect (Autism Spectrum Australia)
January 2023 – May 2024
Team Leader, Adult Community Engagement Program
Program development and community engagement for Autistic adults
Adult Community Services page
Aspect (Autism Spectrum Australia)
August 2022 – December 2022
Disability Support Worker, multiple clients
Avenue Co-working/Fighting Chance
August 2021 – December 2022
Project Officer
Collections and Stories Team – web site development, content management, stakeholder liaison and editorial support
Storyplace website
Museums and Galleries NSW
January 2012 – May 2021
Curator
Interpretation (exhibitions and projects)
Sydney Living Museums/Museums of History NSW
2007-2012
Curator
Hyde Park Barracks, Sydney
Sydney Living Museums/Museums of History NSW
1999-2007
Curator Manager
Elizabeth Farm, Harris Park
Sydney Living Museums/Museums of History NSW
1998-2001
Curatorial Advisor (Honorary)
Vienna Cottage, Hunters Hill
National Trust of Australia (NSW)
1998-1999
Curator
Rouse Hill House, Rouse Hill
Sydney Living Museums/Museums of History NSW
1996-1998
Curator
Hyde Park Barracks, Sydney
Sydney Living Museums/Museums of History NSW
1996-1998
Curator
Susannah Place, The Rocks, Sydney
Sydney Living Museums/Museums of History NSW
1992-1996
Assistant Curator
Hyde Park Barracks, Sydney
Sydney Living Museums/Museums of History NSW
1993-1994
Research Curator
Museum Of Sydney, Sydney
Sydney Living Museums/Museums of History NSW
1993-1994
Archivist
Primary Records Collection
Society Of Australia Genealogists
1991-1992
Curatorial Assistant
Rouse Hill House, Rouse Hill
Sydney Living Museums/Museums of History NSW
Skills and strengths_
Content creation
- Primary research and content scoping
- Narrative development and conceptual frameworks
- Video direction, editing and production
- Exhibition – concept to delivery – initial pitch to installation, interpretive text, graphics, etc
- Audioguide and soundscape scripting and studio production
- General content production – online, articles, books, blogs, labels, reports, plans, masterplans, vision statements, public enquiries, job descriptions, performance reviews
- Social (and broadcast) media and on-the-fly marketing click bait
- Gallery and site signage, wayfinding, messaging, interpretation
- Media interviews, briefings, information packs and networking
Collaboration and teamwork
- Museum staff supervision (tearooms, gardeners, guides, admin and front of house operations)
- Recruitment, training, work plans, performance development plans
- Volunteer team support, supervision and training
- Members and Foundation meetings and networking
- Reporting, planning and staff structure reviews
Collection (and fabric) management
- Collection management, condition reporting
- Object cataloguing, movement control and audits
- Pest inspections and environmental monitoring
- Lender liaison, collection and transportation
- Archaeology collection, catalogue and store management
- Heritage building and fabric management, engineers, trades and technical specialist liaison, maintenance schedules, monitoring programs, reporting and policy implementation
Exhibition design and installation
- 3D design and set construction
- Gallery lighting, security and environmental controls
- Object and picture hanging and handling, mount design
- Showcase assembly and installation, technical support and direction
Stakeholder engagement
- Artist partnerships, commissions and residencies (dancers, writers, playwrights, painters, sculptors, photographers, film makers)
- Museum stakeholder and lender engagement
- Architects, builders and specialist trades liaison
- Web designers and developers
- Exhibition designers, consultant creatives and content producers
- External filmmakers, audio guide and soundscape producers
- Audience evaluation and market research consultants
Exhibitions_
Game changing exhibitions from ‘pitch to packdown’ that are rigorously researched, thoughtfully curated, thematically bold, visually strong, audience-focused and impactful.
CURATOR
Hyde Park Barracks – major site renewal and relaunch
Sydney Living Museums, 2020
This role involved reframing the story of Hyde Park Barracks and the development of a comprehensive narrative framework that would underpin the museum experience, including the museum journey and all storytelling content (self guided audio, web, labels, interactives, articles). Freed from its former identity as a ‘museum of itself’, the Barracks now traces the story of convict Sydney and the saga of colonial transformation. As lead curator on the project team I collaborated with designers, collection managers, writers, audio producers, model makers, fabricators, technicians and co-wrote the site history and museum guide publication.
CURATOR
Sand in the City – an immersive, interactive exhibition experience
Museum of Sydney, 2016-2017
This role combined collaboration with designers to create an interactive and immersive museum experience deploying kinetic sand, digital sand boxes, Lego building pods with an array of accessible messaging about Sydney’s sandy foreshores. An accompanying video series involved 16 mini documentary works exploring coastal identities, cultures and communities.
CURATOR
Sydney Harbour Icons with LEGO Bricks (with Ryan McNaught)
Museum of Sydney, 2015-2016
This role involved collaboration with designers and fabricators to develop an interactive Lego-building experience combining hands-on creativity and curatorial messaging about Sydney Harbour. I also directed, and edited, a major documentary video shot in and around the harbour interviewing Ryan McNaught, Opera House engineers, a tugboat operator, a cruise ship captain, the CYCA commodore, Foti fireworks, among several others, to accompany in the exhibition.
CURATOR
Towers of Tomorrow with LEGO Bricks (with Ryan McNaught)
Museum of Sydney, 2014-2015
Collaboration with designers to develop a hands-on building focused experience in conjunction with a display of scale models of world famous skyscrapers created by Lego master Ryan McNaught. I created all messaging and interpretive content along with an accompanying video documentary tracking Ryan’s creativity in action and key aspects of each Tower’s architectural design.
CURATOR
Surf City, Getting Radical in the 1950s, 60s and 70s
Museum of Sydney, 2011-2012
This major exhibition showcased a massive gathering of rare surf culture objects, surf boards and surfing memorabilia sourced from dozens of private and public collections, including film and photos, clothing, music, books, magazines and posters spanning the three decades from 1950. My role involved diving deeply into Sydney’s surfing communities, businesses, collectors, archives and libraries, identifying and interviewing hundreds of individuals associated with surfing history and translating this into a visually stunning and curatorial rich exhibition experience. I also directed a major documentary video for screening in the exhibition and coordinated a busy program of talks, film screenings and themed tours.
CURATORIAL DIRECTION
Remnant and Reliquary – pop up artist installation and PHD thesis showing Hyde Park Barracks, 2010
Overseeing and directing the installation of a site specific art installation showcasing works for a Doctoral thesis of UTS scholar and artist Melissa Liard, based on a selection of Women’s Asylum objects from the Hyde Park Barracks archaeology collection.
CURATOR
Australian Convict Sites, World Heritage
Hyde Park Barracks, 2010
Research and concept development, stakeholder liaison, sourcing images and footage, content production, exhibition design and assistance in installation, object handling and hanging, marketing team liaison, media appearances, staff briefings, exhibition documentation and records management. Public talks, VIP visits and public programming.
CURATOR
Irish Orphan Girls
Hyde Park Barracks, 2008
Exhibition concept, research and content production, assistance in installation, collection sourcing, movement and display systems, interpretive labelling and graphics panels, exhibition talks and tours, staff briefings, exhibition launch activities, production of media packages, interviews and appearances, audience evaluation and ongoing condition reporting and monitoring. Packdown, debriefing, exhibition files and issues follow up, object returns, finalising collection management processes, exhibition review.
CO-CURATOR
Prison Tattoo – exhibition and book
Justice and Police Museum, 1998
Exhibition concept, research and content production, assistance in installation, collection sourcing, movement and display systems, interpretive labelling and graphics panels, exhibition talks and tours, staff briefings, exhibition launch activities, production of media packages, interviews and appearances, audience evaluation and ongoing condition reporting and monitoring. Packdown, debriefing, exhibition files and issues follow up, object returns, finalising collection management processes, exhibition review.
CURATOR
The Horror Within: Smallpox and the Vaccine Institute
Hyde Park Barracks, 1998
Exhibition concept, research and content production, assistance in installation, collection sourcing, movement and display systems, interpretive labelling and graphics panels, exhibition talks and tours, staff briefings, exhibition launch activities, production of media packages, interviews and appearances, audience evaluation and ongoing condition reporting and monitoring. Packdown, debriefing, exhibition files, object returns, finalising collection management processes, exhibition review.
CURATOR
Asylum Women Stories
Hyde Park Barracks, 1997
Exhibition concept, research and content production, assistance in installation, collection sourcing, movement and display systems, interpretive labelling and graphics panels, exhibition talks and tours, staff briefings, exhibition launch activities, production of media packages, interviews and appearances, audience evaluation and ongoing condition reporting and monitoring. Packdown, debriefing, exhibition files and issues follow up, object returns, finalising collection management processes, exhibition review.
CURATORIAL DIRECTION
Re Affiliations – Migration Stories (site-wide artist intervention)
Susannah Place, 1996
Exhibition concept, research and content production, assistance in installation, collection sourcing, movement and display systems, interpretive labelling and graphics panels, exhibition talks and tours, staff briefings, exhibition launch activities, production of media packages, interviews and appearances, audience evaluation and ongoing condition reporting and monitoring. Packdown, debriefing, exhibition files and issues follow up, object returns, finalising collection management processes, exhibition review.
CURATOR
Convict Tools: Cut, Shape, Finish – series of displays throughout museum
Hyde Park Barracks, 1995
Display concept, research and content production, assistance in installation, collection sourcing, movement and display systems, interpretive labelling and graphics panels, exhibition talks and tours, staff briefings, exhibition launch activities, production of media packages, interviews and appearances, audience evaluation and ongoing condition reporting and monitoring. Packdown, debriefing, exhibition files and issues follow up, object returns, finalising collection management processes, exhibition review.
CO-CURATOR
Secure The Shadow – with artists Anne Ferran and Anne Brennan
Greenway Gallery, Hyde Park Barracks, 1995
This exhibition on the Hyde Park Barracks archaeology collection and women’s history was the first investigation by contemporary visual artists of the site’s 19th century Asylum and Immigrants’ Depot. Sifting through evidence – in journals, letters and registers and the building’s grimy archaeology, artists Anne Ferran and Anne Brennan produced photographic works, a collection of handmade books and a series of arresting artefact displays.
CURATOR
Convict Gardeners Of Vaucluse House
Vaucluse House, 1994
Display concept, research and content production, assistance in installation, collection sourcing, movement and display systems, interpretive labelling and graphics panels, exhibition talks and tours, staff briefings, exhibition launch activities, production of media packages, interviews and appearances, audience evaluation and ongoing condition reporting and monitoring. Packdown, debriefing, exhibition files and issues follow up, object returns, finalising collection management processes, exhibition review.
CURATOR
Terra Infirma: The Story Of Sydney Hospital
Hyde Park Barracks, 1994
Exhibition concept, research and content production, showcase design and installation, collection sourcing, movement and display systems, interpretive labelling and graphics panels, exhibition talks and tours, staff briefings, exhibition launch activities, production of media packages, interviews and appearances, audience evaluation and ongoing condition reporting and monitoring. Packdown, debriefing, exhibition files and issues follow up, object returns, finalising collection management processes, exhibition review.
CURATORIAL DIRECTION
Sydney Sandstone
Hyde Park Barracks, 1993
Exhibition concept, research and content production, assistance in installation, collection sourcing, movement and display systems, interpretive labelling and graphics panels, exhibition talks and tours, staff briefings, exhibition launch activities, production of media packages, interviews and appearances, audience evaluation and ongoing condition reporting and monitoring. Packdown, debriefing, exhibition files and issues follow up, object returns, finalising collection management processes, exhibition review.
CURATOR
Cleanliness Is Next To Godliness (in partnership with Coroma Industries)
Elizabeth Bay House, 1993
Exhibition concept, research and content production, collaboration with client, gallery design and installation, collection sourcing, movement and display systems, interpretive labelling and graphics panels, exhibition talks and tours, staff briefings, exhibition launch activities, production of media packages, interviews and appearances, audience evaluation and ongoing condition reporting and monitoring. Packdown, debriefing, exhibition files and issues follow up, object returns, finalising collection management processes, exhibition review.
CURATOR
Reportable Deaths: The City Coroner at Hyde Park Barracks
Hyde Park Barracks, 1993
Exhibition concept, research and content production, showcase and shelving installtion, collection sourcing, movement and display systems, interpretive labelling and graphics panels, exhibition talks and tours, staff briefings, exhibition launch activities, production of media packages, interviews and appearances, audience evaluation and ongoing condition reporting and monitoring. Packdown, debriefing, exhibition files and issues follow up, object returns, finalising collection management processes, exhibition review.
Projects_
Compelling museum experiences for diverse audiences, beautiful videos about people, places and things, adventurous narratives to reframe outdated stories, bold concepts that drive creative projects, imaginative outcomes.
PRODUCER WRITER
Navigating Crystal Clear – video tutorial on collection care and digitisation
Museums and Galleries NSW, 2021
CURATOR
On site display tracing John Macarthur’s descent into lunacy and death
Elizabeth Farm 2020
WRITER (co author)
Hyde Park Barracks – site history book and museum guide
Sydney Living Museums 2020
VIDEO DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER
Covid Sydney – The First Wave
Sydney Living Museums 2020 (unreleased)
CURATOR
Series of convict work site models for Hyde Park Barracks Museum renewal
Sydney Living Museums in collaboration with Modelcraft 2020
WRITER
Hyde Park Barracks interactive object labels
Sydney Living Museums 2020
WRITER CURATOR
Hyde Park Barracks (award winning) website
Hyde Park Barracks 2019
USA TRAVEL
Cultural sites, museums and monuments tour of Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, North Carolina, Washington DC and New York 2019
WRITER CURATOR
Convict Sydney / Hyde Park Barracks website
Sydney Living Museums 2017
WRITER CURATOR
Vaucluse House self guided audio tour
Vaucluse House 2016
VIDEO DIRECTOR AND EDITOR
Tales Of Sydney Beaches exhibition video series
Museum of Sydney 2016
VIDEO DIRECTOR AND EDITOR
Toys Through Time exhibition video series
Sydney Living Museums 2016
VIDEO DIRECTOR AND EDITOR
Sydney Harbour Icons in LEGO Bricks, documentary video
Museum of Sydney 2015
VIDEO DIRECTOR AND EDITOR
Towers of Tomorrow in LEGO Bricks, documentary video
Museum of Sydney 2014
CURATOR DEVELOPER
The Handshake, emotion-based audience evaluation tool
Sydney Living Museums 2014
USA TRAVEL
Cultural sites, museums and monuments tour of significant, iconic and left-field attractions, museums, special spots and monuments of New York, Washington DC, Nevada, California and Los Angeles 2014
WRITER CURATOR
Elizabeth Farm interpretive self guided iPad tour
Elizabeth Farm 2014
CURATOR
Vaucluse House Interpretation Masterplan
Vaucluse House 2013
WRITER CURATOR
Sydney Living Museums website rebuild/relaunch
Sydney Living Museums 2013
USA TRAVEL
Cultural sites, museums and monuments tour of significant, iconic and left-field attractions, museums, special spots and monuments of California, New York, Washington DC and West Virginia 2012
WRITER CURATOR
Hyde Park Barracks self guided audio tour
Hyde Park Barracks 2012
USA TRAVEL
Cultural sites, museums and monuments tour of significant, iconic and left-field attractions, museums, special spots and monuments of California and Hawaii 2010
CURATOR
World Heritage submission, inspection and nomination of Hyde Park Barracks
Sydney Living Museums 2009
CURATOR
Property-wide signage, conservation works and interpretation upgrades
Hyde Park Barracks 2009
CURATOR / ARCHAEOLOGY COLLECTION MANAGER
La Trobe University and Hyde Park Barracks archaeology research partnership
Hyde Park Barracks 2008
COMMISSIONING CURATOR
Site specific art commission – artist Jade Oakley – various works including: Bee Hive 2007, Rocky 2006, Dreams of White Horses 2005, Scarlet Fever 2004
Elizabeth Farm
CURATOR / GEO-TECH ENGINEERING COLLABORATION
Building movement, soil moisture and crack monitoring program
Elizabeth Farm 2005
CURATOR WRITER / COLLABORATION WITH ROYAL BLIND SOCIETY
Sensory Garden Experience (self guided audio tour, Braille map, interpretive signage)
Elizabeth Farm 2004
CURATOR PRODUCER
In Praise Of Old Paint, traditional paint conference and workshop
Elizabeth Farm 2004
CURATOR
Childbirth At Home, period house intervention and public programming
Elizabeth Farm 2003
CURATOR
Death At Home, period house intervention and public programming
Elizabeth Farm 2002
CURATOR WRITER
Introduction Video, (with auditorium, site signage and Front Of House upgrade)
Elizabeth Farm 2001
CURATORIAL DIRECTION
Outdoor sculpture commission – artist Joris Evereats – Raft Of Unreason
Elizabeth Farm, 2000
CURATOR PRODUCER
Vienna Cottage, Hunters Hill, interpretation upgrade, displays and video
National Trust NSW 2000
INTERPRETATION CURATOR
Rouse Hill House, site relaunch, interpretation, protective devices and visitor centre
Rouse Hill House 1999
CURATOR
Coordination and research for Artists Hossein and Angela Valamanesh during design and construction of major sculpture Australian Monument to the Great Irish Famine at Hyde Park Barracks 1997
CURATOR
Property-wide signage, conservation works and interpretation upgrades
Susannah Place 1996
CURATOR
Coordination for artist Alison Clouston during design and construction of her large scale courtyard sculpture Bee Ship (including a functioning bee hive in the gate lodge) at Hyde Park Barracks 1995
CURATOR PRODUCER
The Road convict seminar and prison sites tour
Hyde Park Barracks 1994
CURATOR
Research and narrative development
Museum of Sydney project team 1993
CURATORIAL ASSISTANT
Specialist conservation cleaning program (with Elizabeth Wright)
Susannah Place 1992
Writing_
Carefully researched and thoughtfully composed articles and online content.
Hyde Park Barracks – A Keeper Of Lost Things
Sydney Living Museums website 2020
Get article here
Casting A Long Shadow: Convict Sydney And The Hyde Park Barracks Unlocked 2018
Get article here
Robert Campbell: A Balancing Act
Unlocked 2018
Get article here
Australian Convict Sites: World Heritage
Sydney Living Museums website 2018
Get article here
Joy England: A Shared Benefit
Unlocked 2017
Get article here
Gary Crockett: On Sydney’s Sandy Edge
Unlocked 2016
Get article here
Michael Lech: A Bright Future For Forgotten Artefacts
Unlocked 2016
Get article here
Sand In The City: This Summer The Beach Comes To Town
Unlocked 2016
Get article here
Elisha Long: Taking Care Of Your Monuments
Unlocked 2016
Get article here
Eavesdropping On The Wentworths: A Self Guided Audio Tour Of Vaucluse House
Sydney Living Museums website 2016
Get article here
Mel Flyte – Art Travel And The Twilight of the Wentworths
Unlocked 2015
Get article here
Sydney Harbour Icons in LEGO Bricks at the Museum Of Sydney
Unlocked 2015
Get article here
Matthew Stephens: Between The Lines
Unlocked 2015
Get article here
Sara Jane Rennie: Taking A Long View Of Collection Care
Unlocked 2015
Get article here
Anna Cossu: Childhood At Susannah Place (with Video)
Sydney Living Museums website 2015
Get article here
Scott Hill: Growing Up on Elizabeth Farm (with Video)
Sydney Living Museums website 2015
Get article here
Michael Lech: Dick Whittington And His Cat (with Video)
Sydney Living Museums Webpage 2015
Get article here
Jacqui Newling, Colonial Gastronomer: Cooking Up A Storm
Unlocked 2015
Get article here
Elizabeth Farm: If These Walls Could Talk
Unlocked 2014
Get article here
Nerida Campbell: A Life In Crime
Unlocked 2014
Get article here
Towers Of Tomorrow: An interactive Exhibition
Unlocked 2014
Get article here
Towers Of Tomorrow With LEGO Bricks
Unlocked 2014
Get article here
Towering Creations: The Lego Models
Sydney Living Museums website 2014
Get article here
Distemper Paint
Sydney Living Museums website 2013
Get article here
Edward Champion: Putting William Charles Wentworth To Rest
Sydney Living Museums website 2012
Get article here
Surf City: Sydney’s Surf Mania In The 50s, 60s And 70s
Insites 2011
Get article here
Hyde Park Barracks: World Heritage Site
Insites 2010
Get article here
Rescuing Our Famine Dead: Celebrating Australia’s Irish Famine Monument
Insites 2009
Get article here
Oiling The Wheels Of Patronage: The Origins of Olives At Elizabeth Farm (co-written with Megan Martin)
Insites 2009
Get article here
Web article here
Irish Orphan Girls
Insites 2008
Get article here
Famously Unknown: The So-called Portrait Of Elizabeth Macarthur
Insites 2007
Get article here
Elizabeth Farm Sensory Garden: A Self Guided Sensory Experience
Ace Magazine 2003
View the article here
Cleaning Up: Conservation Of Susannah Place
Insites 1992
Get article here
Personal details_
Address: 12 Henson Street, Marrickville 2204, Australia
Date of birth: 13 July 1961 (current age 64)
Place of birth: Sydney, Australia
Nationality: Australian
Drivers licence: Yes