Industry Seminar: What does leadership look like today?
Photo: Katie Bennett, Embellysh Photography.
About the Seminar
Queensland’s museums and galleries are operating in a period of profound change. Leaders across the sector are responding to evolving community expectations, advancing First Nations leadership and cultural authority, navigating new funding and policy environments, embracing digital transformation, and demonstrating the social and economic value of their organisations. At the same time, they are stewarding collections, stories, and infrastructure that connect our communities to our collective history, culture and identity.
We invite you to join us for an exciting full-day seminar that brings together some of the sector’s most respected leaders and thinkers to explore what leadership looks like in practice today. Drawing on national, state, First Nations and community perspectives, the program will explore leadership through the lenses of public policy, cultural governance, organisational transformation, and community capacity-building. Together, these voices will examine the opportunities, challenges, and responsibilities shaping the future of museums and galleries, while highlighting innovative approaches to leadership across the arts and cultural heritage sector.
The seminar will conclude with a networking event that includes the exhibition opening of JAM: Musicians of Logan, speeches, live music and catering, where colleagues from across Queensland’s cultural sector can connect, share insights, and continue the conversations sparked throughout the day.
When: 10am to 5pm, Friday 20 November 2026
Where: Kingston Butter Factory Cultural Precinct, 270 Jacaranda Ave, Kingston QLD 4114, on the lands of the Yagara and Yugambeh peoples
Cost: $45 for general, $35 for students and volunteers
Additionally, 10 free tickets are available on a first come, first served basis for students currently studying courses in the arts field.
Email [email protected] with your details (name, organisation, field of study) to secure one of these tickets.
Speakers
Tina Baum (Gulumirrgin (Larrakia)/Wardaman/Karajarri peoples) – Head Curator, First Nations Art, National Gallery of Australia
Tina Baum, a Gulumirrgin (Larrakia)/Wardaman/Karajarri woman has over 35 years’ experience working in Museums and Galleries throughout Australia. Currently the Head Curator, First Nations Art, she has worked at the National Gallery of Australia since 2005. She is a curator, educator, writer, editor and recipient of numerous national and international leadership and fellowships.
She is passionate about Indigenising best practice museum methodology of Museums collections by embedding Indigenous voices and reasserting cultural authority and agency within Museum and Galleries throughout Australia and internationally.
Tina is committed to the cultural and professional development of arts and culture workers through the Dhiraamalang: Wesfarmers First Nations Arts Leadership and Fellowship Programs.
Simon Wright, Assistant Director, Learning & Public Engagement, Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art
Simon Wright is Assistant Director (Learning + Public Engagement) at QAGOMA and has worked on 350+ exhibition projects for museums, public and art dealer galleries over several decades within Australia and abroad. Actively involved in the arts community beyond QAGOMA, he has served on the Commissioner’s Council for Australia at the 53rd Venice Biennale (representing Griffith University), on the Board at the Institute of Modern Art, and as a juror or judge for many prizes and awards. Since 2014 he has been a Founder Benefactor of the QAGOMA Foundation, participated in leadership programs at Creative Australia / Australia Council and Asialink (University of Melbourne), and has been a recipient of individual and team recognition at The Gallery and Museum Achievement Awards presented by Museums and Galleries Queensland.
Georgia Hoskinson (Badtjala/Butchulla people), Senior Program Officer, Cultural Learning, Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art
Georgia Hoskinson is a Badtjala (Wondunna Clan) artist, educator and Senior Program Officer, Cultural Learning at QAGOMA in Magandjin (Brisbane).
She leads Design Tracks, an award-winning First Nations arts pathways program, and develops First Nations artist-led learning across Queensland. With experience across the GLAM sector, tertiary education and community engagement, Georgia considers how First Nations knowledge systems and relational practice can reshape what galleries present, how they operate and make decisions.
Her approach centres cultural authority, reciprocity and sustained relationships. Georgia is a 2024 Dhirraamalang NGA First Nations Arts Leadership Program alumna and member of the artist collective STAUNCH.
Dr Jo Wills, Senior Museum Development Officer FNQ, Queensland Museum, and Churchill Fellow
Dr Jo Wills is part of the Queensland Museum’s Museum Development Officer (MDO) Program and is based in Cairns, Queensland.
Jo works with communities to build their confidence in managing museums, explore the potential and meaning of their collections, and safeguard them for the future.
Jo’s work in regional Queensland has resulted in revitalised museums, creative exhibitions, strategic development, engaged volunteers, and community disaster recovery. In 2023, a five-year work program to create a new museum in Babinda resulted in the project, community and Jo being recognised at Museums & Galleries Queensland’s Gallery and Museum Achievement Awards.
In 2025, Jo undertook a Churchill Fellowship to explore innovations in museum practice that can inspire and sustain museums in regional Australia.
Acknowledgements
This industry event is presented by Museums & Galleries Queensland in partnership with Logan Arts | Logan City Council, and is supported by Public Galleries Queensland.
Enquiries
Training & Professional Development
Museums & Galleries Queensland
