I am incredibly excited to have now started in the role of CEO of Museums & Galleries of NSW. I’d firstly like to thank the team here for their very warm welcome and acknowledge their great work during the transition period since Michael Rolfe’s retirement. I would also like to thank Rachel Arndt for her strong leadership as Acting CEO during this time.

Michael Rolfe left this organisation in a very healthy state, with many new and existing programs that continue to support this diverse and vital sector.

For those that don’t know me, I bring over 25 years of working in the cultural sector, the vast majority working in regional galleries in New South Wales and Queensland.

While most of my career has been within public galleries, getting to better understand the breadth and depth of the museum sector is something I am very much looking forward to. As a curator and a gallery director, I have overseen a number of projects linking contemporary art and museum and social history objects – so for me, my key interest is in the stories that objects convey, irrespective of their repository.

I will be spending the next little while speaking with and listening to the sector, to allow M&G NSW to better reflect and support you all. There is a lot of work to be done in this space, but much of it does build on the great work by the team here, and the legacy left by Michael Rolfe.

I would also like to thank the Board of M&G NSW for their trust in me taking on this role. Additionally, I would like to acknowledge the brave decision in allowing me to work across two locations, being Sydney/Gadigal land of the Eora Nation, and the Northern Rivers/Nyangbul Country of the Bundjalung Nation. As the organisation is so regionally focussed, I do think it important that understanding regional issues remain front and centre of our thinking.

I look forward to working with you all, and please do not hesitate to get in contact.

Brett Adlington
CEO