02/12/2024
Woohoo ๐ฅณ
Hello Facebook friends and followers of the Australian Opal Centre.
My name is Ray Griffin and, on behalf of the Board of the Australian Opal Centre Limited, Iโm dropping in to let you know about the appointment of Michelle Smith as the inaugural Museum Director-CEO for the Australian Opal Centre commencing 9 December 2024.
Michelleโs entire career to date is highlighted by a focus on museum and cultural heritage facilities management roles in regional and remote areas of Australia โ NSW, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia as well as the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory. Her most recent role was as Team Leader for Cultural Services with the City of Coffs Harbour where she managed four services; museum and gallery, libraries, cultural development and programs, and operations while managing a $6 million operations budget and 60 staff across five facilities. In that role, Michelle was a member of the team that managed the development of the $82 million cultural and civic hub, Yarrila Place, in Coffs Harbour. In November, Michelle and her team were the winner of a Museums & Galleries of NSW IMAGinE award in the Exhibition Projects โ Museums and Heritage category.
In welcoming Michelle to the AOC, on behalf of our members and the Board, I want to convey our deep appreciation to Jenni Brammall who has been at the helm as Manager and more recently as CEO for more than 20 years. Jenniโs palaeontology expertise and vast knowledge of opals, opalised fossils and the community of Lightning Ridge, all combined with her highly succesful fund raising skills, is a large part of why our amazing building is now coming out of the ground. Jenni has been a constant driving force behind the realisation of the communityโs decades long vision and the Board is in discussion with her about a possible role with us as we move into the next stage of growth and development.
Michelle said last week: โIโm thrilled to be starting in the role with the Australian Opal Centre as we move to opening the new centre in 2025. Itโs such an exciting project for Lightning Ridge and the wider opal and opalised fossil communities - Iโve seen how local attractions can transform communities and regions through providing an economic underpinning that helps them grow and prosper.โ
Commencing next Monday, Michelle will be getting out and about in the community to meet our members and get a first hand view of the new AOC.
Meanwhile, if you're in Lightning Ridge, be sure to get out to the viewing ramp at the new AOC construction site on the Three Mile Road - the roof is all but complete and backfilling to the walls is underway. Soon, this iconic building will be neatly embedded into the earth echoing, in part, the underground experience of where opals are discovered.
And, just in case you're wondering, at this stage, we're looking to a late May opening subject to a lot of variables. But we'll keep you posted as and when we can.
Many thanks,all.
Ray Griffin
The New AOC
https://www.australianopalcentre.com/the-building
Support the AOC
https://www.australianopalcentre.com/support-the-aoc
