NSW Government announces new Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences Chief Executive

The NSW Government has announced the appointment of Lisa Havilah as the new Chief Executive of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS).

Havilah, who becomes MAAS’ fourth leader in five and a half years, is moving from Sydney’s Carriageworks to take on the role in which she will take control of the NSW Government's planned $1.17 billion move to a new riverside location in Parramatta.

As Director of Carriageworks, Havilah oversaw an increase in overall attendances from 110,000 in 2011 to 1.32 million in 2017.

Reporting directly to NSW Arts Minister Don Harwin, Havilah will be responsible for the planned $1.17 billion move to its new home in Western Sydney.

Minister Harwin advised that Havilah is exceptionally well equipped to guide the future of MAAS during this transformational period, stating “I’m thrilled to welcome Lisa to this crucial role. There is no doubt her wealth of experience puts her in a class of her own. MAAS’s future, in particular the move of the Powerhouse Museum requires expert governance – I have total confidence Lisa is the person for the job.

“With eight years at Carriageworks, six years of experience as Director of Campbelltown Arts Centre and six years at Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, Lisa understands Western Sydney and the vibrant arts and culture sector that is growing daily in the West.”

Commenting on her new role, Havilah advised “I am honoured to join MAAS at this important stage of the museum’s transformation and look forward to delivering great outcomes for the communities of NSW.

“I am proud of the extraordinary things that have been achieved with the Board and staff of Carriageworks over the past eight years which has seen it become the fastest growing cultural precinct in Australia.”

Since 2011 Havilah has overseen significant expansion of the Carriageworks multi-arts hub in Redfern. Before that, she built her career in western Sydney as director of Campbelltown Arts Centre, after a period as deputy at Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre.

Havilah has been a champion for western Sydney arts and a successful collaborator with the NSW Government, which has often praised Carriageworks' success with audience engagement at relatively small cost to taxpayers.

Havilah will be the first Chief Executive to run the Powerhouse which, as a museum, has historically been run by a director.

Dawn Casey left in 2013, at the end of her contract, after the role was advertised and she failed to be re-appointed. An untried director, Rose Hiscock, was appointed instead.

Hiscock re-named the Powerhouse as the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, but resigned after two years after accepting the job to oversee a start-up Science Museum in Melbourne when the NSW Government announced it intended to move the Powerhouse to western Sydney.

Hiscock's deputy Dolla Merrillees was appointed to the top job, but resigned earlier this year after the ABC revealed she approved museum funds be spent on a lavish fashion fundraiser which ended-up costing more than it raised.

The announcement of the new MAAS Chief Executive comes as Create NSW takes the next step in determining the new Powerhouse Museum’s architectural design.

The International design competition to be launched in early December will be managed by independent architectural competition organisers Malcolm Reading Consultants who will drive the search for diverse and transformative designs.

The NSW Government will announce a winning design in the second half of 2019.

Images: Lisa Havilah (top) and the Powerhouse Museum's current location in the Sydney suburb of Ultimo (below).