Tēnā koutou,

The Friends of Te Papa are delighted that Courtney Johnston has been appointed by the Te Papa Board to be the museum’s new Chief Executive. Courtney comes to the role with a huge depth of knowledge and leadership experience in the museum and art worlds and beyond. She graduated with a Masters in Art History from Victoria University of Wellington and is a Wellington resident. In 2015 she was awarded a Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Scholarship to research contemporary museum practice in the United States.

Many of you will have come to know Courtney during her time as Director of Hutt City Museums, leading The Dowse Art Museum, Petone Settlers Museum and the Community Arts Portfolio. Prior to that, she worked at the National Library of New Zealand as Web Manager and Editor, and Communications Advisor, developing the Library’s digital and social media systems and outreach.

Courtney is already well known to all of the Te Papa whānau, as since September 2018 she has been Director of Audience and Insight at the museum.

We are thrilled to welcome Courtney to her new role, as we know she has the passion, vision, and leadership experience to lead Te Papa towards an exciting new future. She will share the leadership of Te Papa with Kaihautū Dr Arapata Hakiwai, in line with Te Papa’s dual leadership model. Courtney is the youngest person to ever lead the national museum.

The Friends are looking forward to working with Courtney, and extend a warm welcome as she takes up her exciting new role.

With best wishes,
Ngā mihi nui

Elizabeth Kay
President