Curriculum Vitae

PatrickFilmer-Sankey

PO Box 20 Perth TAS Australia 7300 ●0363981433 ● 0411135821 ●

Field of Interest

  • Education and the communication of scientific and cultural ideas

to the public. The problems of popularisation and content.

  • The nature and future of collecting and collecting institutions.
  • Evolutionary biology, in particular speciation

Professional Experience

2006-2010 Director Queen Victoria Museum and ArtGallery

The QVMAG with a staff of 45 and an annual budget of over $5million, two campuses and a collection valued at $232million, is the largest and best developed non-metropolitan museum in Australasia.

In the past 3 years I have led it from a demoralised and functionally compromised institution to one in financial and operational excellence. A major redevelopment project is nearly complete with the refurbishment of a major nine Gallery Art Gallery and the redevelopment of the 16,000m2 Inveresk site. Research, exhibition and collection standards have risen dramatically in all three curatorial areas, Fine and Decorative Art, History and the Natural Sciences.

2005-2006 General Manager, Reef HQ

Reef HQ is the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s primary education display and outreach venue. Housing the worlds largest living coral mesocosm, It is charged with communicating the Federal Governments management and education priorities for the World Heritage Reef, to the nation and the world.

The operation of Reef HQ is technically complex from the maintenance of the living systems to the development technically diverse means of communication. The programmes cover a wide range of disciplines and draws together the work of institutions such as the Australian Institute of Marine Science, James Cook and other Universities, federal and state agencies and the Museum community.

Reef HQ is managed proactively to maximise income for the support and extension of its programmes and services. While a government funded organisation, it operates as far as possible on a cost recovery commercial model.

2000-2004 Deputy Director of the AustralianMuseum

Responsible to the Director of the Australian Museum, the Deputy Director is reported to by the Heads of the Museum’s four Divisions, Science, Public Programs, Corporate and Commercial Services and Strategic Initiatives. The position oversees the work and working environment of nearly 300 employees, deals extensively with State and National stakeholders, assists the Director in the determination and implementation of policy.

As the nations major natural science institution, the Australian Museum holds a collection valued at over $500 million, has a permanent science staff of 74 (300 FTEs overall), and supports state wide (and indeed national) outreach programs.

Curriculum Vitae

PatrickFilmer-Sankey

Professional Experience continued

1998-2000 Director of the Museum and ArtGalleries of theNorthern Territory (MAGNT)

Responsible to the CEO of the Department of Arts and Museums, the Director managed all aspects of the operation of the MAGNT. The institution had a staff of over 70 including 16 curatorial positions and managed seven sites throughout the Territory and an annual budget of $6.5 million. Attracting over 250,000 visitors a year and holding over one million specimens across the humanities and sciences, the MAGNT is a nationally significant institution. Active research is encouraged and extensive collaborations with MAGNT research staff exist around the world.

1992-1998 Director of the NewcastleRegionalMuseum

Answerable to the Director of Community Development. Responsible for all aspects of the operation of the Museum which is a facility of the Newcastle City Council. Opened in 1989, the NRM, the leading regional museum in NSW, had grown to a staff of 13.5 (FTE), an annual budget of over $1,000,000 and an annual visitation of over 180,000. My position involved extensive media, external organisation and public contact as well as responsibility for all internal policies and programs.

1989-1992 Assistant Director, NewcastleRegionalMuseum

Directly responsible for the development, direction and administration of the NRM, including planning of the exhibition, conservation and education programmes. Answerable to the Newcastle City Council through the ArtGallery / Museum Director. Redefined the NRM's direction, developed and implemented new exhibition, conservation, collection and external relations policies. Through effective liaison with industry, raised significant funds, for the Museum's development and through good media contacts greatly raised the profile of the Museum in the community and community involvement in the Museum.

Achievements

I have been successful in building strong internal cohesion and a sense of élan across disciplines and across the museums I have worked for as a whole. I have taken responsibility, negotiated a vision and led by example – “making things possible” – in order to serve the broad needs of the community and the institution.

I believe that internal leadership must precede external distinction and that probity and financial prudence are essential preconditions for independence and success.

My major roles and achievements in the three most recent museum and art gallery positions below are summarised in the tables below:

Curriculum Vitae

PatrickFilmer-Sankey

Director of the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery

Leadership

/ The development of a new vision for the QVMAG with the refurbishment of the 4,000m2 four storey Royal Park site as an Art Gallery and the repositioning of the 16,000m2 Inveresk site as a science and material culture focused “museum” site. The reorganisation of collections, information management and the Curatorial areas to improve efficiency and capacity in Research and Communications. Significant upgrading of key areas such as the Planetarium, the development of the Phenomena Factory hands-on-science section. Reintegrated the Museum into the Council administrative and technical framework.
Change Management / The QVMAG was moribund, over-reviewed and demoralised on my arrival. By mid 2010 it was within 10 months of a complete renewal. Staffing was stable and appropriately arranged within a new management structure, systems such as collection management were greatly enhanced, OH&S and other management practices were in place.
Financial Control / The QVMAG had been in a financially parlous condition for many years prior to 2006. I instituted a restructure that while reducing staff by 20%, did not reduce maintained and eventually increased useful outputs such as research and exhibitions. The budget was balanced and in the black for the last 3 financial years, an unprecedented achievement.
Stakeholder management / Close and effective relationships were established with for example, the University of Tasmania and external research resources leading to a significant increase in output. The Council enthusiastically endorsed and supported the vision I developed for the Museum and groups such as the Foundation and the Friends of the QVMAG were re-energised. Government became a key and important stakeholder and contributed strongly to the new QVMAG, a significant change in attitude to the institution.
Deputy Director of the Australian Museum

Leadership

/ I integrated the Museum’s two major activity streams Science and Public Programmes while ensuring that governance and financial requirements are met. I established direction, led, convinced, and balanced competing needs.
Change Management / Reformed the Public Programme approach, deepening the cross-disciplinary involvement and maximising income. I set the direction for Science, introducing integrated collection management; the strengthening of molecular biology and provided a museum wide-space and facilities solution. I significantly reduced risks associated with employment practice, OH&S. I improved probity andtransparency in relation to financial and employment practices. I have worked to develop a cross-disciplinary culture leading to richer public programmes. I have increased productivity enabling the maintenance of output in the face of declining resources.
Financial Control / I represented the Museum on the Museum Trusts Finance and Audit review Committee, through which I have run strategies balancing the AM budget for 3 years despite a real term decline in resources. Supervised the collection valuation and negotiated bids including the medium term accommodation strategy.
Stakeholder Management / Liasing with Trust, attending the Trust meetings and represented the Museum on the Finance subcommittee. I attended cross Ministry meetings represented the Museum to professional groups, potential sponsors, Federal agencies and committees. Opening exhibitions, developed and authorised MoUs (including international agreements). As the supervisor of Lizard Island, working with the support committee, one of the Museum's most successful fundraising arms ($700,000 in 2003).

Curriculum Vitae

PatrickFilmer-Sankey

Director of the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory

Leadership

/ I initiated a Museum wide cross-disciplinary management model, reformed collection management and built or occupied new stores. I led the conception and realisation of the new Museum of CentralAustralia on time and on budget.
Change Management / I designed and implemented a restructure to meet the challenges of debt without reducing services. I reallocated resources to strengthen core outcomes (Collections, Research and Education). I led a push into SE Asia, representing the Museum in Malaysia and leading the rescue of the DilliMuseum post independence in East Timor.
Financial Control / As the ultimate controller of the financial resources of the MAGNT, I moved it from a position of $800,000 debt to a surplus within two years that permitted the renewal of previously neglected assets and the purchase of important new ones.
Stakeholder Management / As Director I was the MAGNT’s major spokesperson and liaison point on inter, intra-state and national issues. I initiated and negotiated sponsorship agreements including $800,000 from Telstra, $50,000 from GIO and an anonymous donation from an oil major for the rescue of the DilliMuseum. I developed strong community links including the strengthening of 16 regional museums and the formation of the first Aboriginal Advisor Committee for the MAGNT.

Career Progression

1985-88 Technical Officer and Acting Collection Manager in the Marine Invertebrates:

Division of the AustralianMuseum.

Project Co-ordinator for the "Tall Ships" and the "Sydney Harbour Survey" programs. Responsible for the maintenance and development of collections covering three phyla, budgeting, the development of the volunteer program and computerisation of collection data. Actively involved in the planning and execution of the field collection programme. Participated in the Museum’s educational activities through the Museum Guides and the development of the Discovery Room. Member of the AustralianMuseum's first corporate planning team.

1983-85 Tutor in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Sydney.

Responsible for the development and implementation of courses and units including field trips and audio-tutorial materials within the Biology and Human Social and Environmental programs. Wrote and delivered the first year Evolution lectures. Wrote and assessed computer based teaching packages.

Curriculum Vitae

PatrickFilmer-Sankey

Career Progression continued

1979-83 Ph.D.Commonwealth research scholar

Thesis: " The Comparative Reproductive Energetics of Eight Species of Regular Echinoid on a Temperate - Tropical Cline."

The project was designed to test some of the central predictions of "r and K" selection theory, focusing particularly on echinoid reproductive effort, age at first reproduction and demography. The work was pursued on an Australian National University Scholarship and echinoid populations from NSW and the Great Barrier Reef were compared. Unfortunately due to unforeseen variability, it was

statistically impossible to differentiate between the H0 and H1 hypotheses. As a result, the thesis was not submitted.

1978-79 Interpretation Officerat the Wooler Field Centre

Responsible for the development of botanical, archaeological and geological trails, interpretative displays and the initiation of the public education programme.

1975-78 B.Sc. student at the University of Newcastle-upon- Tyne.

Summer employment at the BritishMuseum (Natural History), 1977 and the BritishMuseum (Antiquities), 1976. Both periods involved work either at the excavation site, a Neolithic flint mine, or on the deer antler finds from that site.

1975 Assistant Technician: HeronIsland Research Station, Queensland.

1974-75 Museum Assistant

Working on the gastropod fauna of the Bass Strait at the National Museum of Victoria. Also attached to the Field Research Unit.

Teaching Experience

  • Demonstrator in practical classes, University of Newcastle upon Tyne. (Invertebrate Anatomy, and second year Marine techniques, a series of field exercises).
  • Tutor at the Sydney University, extensive duties, see above.
  • Member of the AustralianMuseum's "Discovery Room" design team,(that Museums "hands-on" education centre). Designer of two of the opening modules.
  • Trainer of Australian Museum guides and Discovery Room "Explainers".

Education

1997-1983 PhD candidate – AustralianNationalUniversity

1975-1978 BSc hons– University of Newcastle upon Tyne (awarded fist class honours Zoology)

Courses

I have advanced computer skills and have undertaken numerous training courses including:

  • OH&S
  • Management
  • Financial Management
  • Various Computer Programs
  • Responsible Officer
  • Advanced First Aid

I am a qualified open water scuba diver with:

●PADI qualified●Oxygen Reviver●DAN Safety

Curriculum Vitae

PatrickFilmer-Sankey

Scholarships and Awards

  • A.N.U. Commonwealth Ph.D. Scholarship (1979-83)
  • Longbotham Memorial Prize (Hons. Thesis, Newcastle-upon Tyne 1978)

Committees

  • Council of Heads of Australian Faunal Collections– 2006 to present

CHAFC is a “collective” of holders of vouchered zoological material. Through this group standards, and strategic issues concerning such collections are determined. It is the key scientific co-ordination body for the sector and a powerful advocacy group to Government

  • On-Line Zoological Collections of Australian Museums (OZCAM) – 2001 to present

Chair of the Implementation Task Force 2001-2003

OZCAM is a coalition of zoological collection holding institutions including AustralianMuseums, Environment Australia, ABRS and CSIRO. Its mission is to make the 30 million specimens held by the partner organisations available via a common front end over the Internet. As Chair of the implementation group, I was responsible for the effective coordination of the project. It successfully went live in July 2003.

  • Heritage Advisory Council of the Northern Territory

Member 1998-2000

  • Strehlow Research Centre Board

Member 1998-2000

  • Heritage Collections Council - On Line Working Party

Member 1997-2003

This Committee is a Federal Government initiative (Department of Communication Information Technology and the Arts) and is responsible for the management and development of Australian Museums On Line (AMOL). The importance of developing useful museum resources on the Web, which is AMOL’s task, cannot be underestimated. It is critical to the continuing role of the Museum as a knowledge generator and culturally relevant institution.

  • Australian Science & Technology Exhibitors Network

One of the founding members - 1990 to present

An initiative of Dr Mike Gore, ex-Director of the National Science and Technology Centre (Questacon), this is an important association of Science Centres that now stretches from India to New Zealand. Annual conferences and twice yearly meetings, reciprocal rights, information and exhibition exchanges make this one of the most valuable associations.

  • NSW Ministry for the Arts Museum Committee

Member 1994-1998

Museums won representation through their own committee under the Arts Advisory Council of the Ministry for the Arts (NSW). The committee is charged with the implementation of the policy developed by the Museum Advisory Committee. This task involves the approval and monitoring of grants (including capital works) and the eventual development of a small number of major regional museums.

Curriculum Vitae

PatrickFilmer-Sankey

Committeescontinued

  • NSW Ministry for the Arts Museum Committee

Member 1994-1998

Museums won representation through their own committee under the Arts Advisory Council of the Ministry for the Arts (NSW). The committee is charged with the implementation of the policy developed by the Museum Advisory Committee. This task involves the approval and monitoring of grants (including capital works) and the eventual development of a small number of major regional museums.

  • Museums Australia (NSW)

Ordinary Committee Member 1993-1994

This was a period of considerable difficulty and reorganisation for the body. I was able to contribute to various reforms to the program and the organisation including the development of their first corporate plan.

  • Museum Advisory Council (NSW)

Member 1992-1994

The committee was formed by invitation at the request of the Hon. Peter Collins, then Minister for the Arts with a brief to recommend reforms to support mechanisms then available to regional and community museums in NSW. The report submitted by the committee subsequently became the basis of the recently released policy "Future Directions for Regional and and CommunityMuseums in NSW. (1994)

  • Museums Association of Australia (NSW Branch)

Ordinary Committee Member from 1990 to 1993

Communications

Publications

  • Echinoderms: A survey of Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs, South Pacific Reef Biology; Kowari 3, AustralianNational Parks and Wildlife Service. 1987
  • The effect of the NSW Museums Policy on a regional museum one year on Quarterly News, December 1990
  • Charging to Disaster Artlink 12:1, 1992, Museum Issue
  • Collateral Damage – The effect of the introduction of general entry fees on museum visitation Campus Review, October 1992
  • Convergence or Submergence? [online]. Art Monthly Australia, No. 223, Sept 2009: 14-16.
  • Acknowledged contributor to The Weather Makers, Tim Flannery, Text Publishing Melbourne, 2005

Papers

  • Density and vertical distribution of regular echinoids on the Great Barrier Reef

AMSA conference, Brisbane, 1985

  • An Analysis of the Impact of Entry Fees on Museums

CAMA Conference, Melbourne, 1992

  • Electronic Media and the Future of Museum Collecting

Museums Australia (NSW) State Conference, 1993

  • Thought Word and Deed;PaperingOver the Cracks – divergent cultures in the modern museum"

CAMA Conference, Hobart, 1993

Curriculum Vitae

PatrickFilmer-Sankey