BC Museums Association Welcomes New Executive Director

The BC Museums Association announced this week the appointment of Theresa Mackay to the position of executive director. 

Mackay, a prominent leader in the fields of marketing and culture and a former director with the Royal BC Museum, succeeds interim executive director, John Grimes. 

She has worked across Canada and internationally for such companies as the Royal BC Museum, Harbourfront Centre and HSBC, and through these roles has worked in partnership with such organizations as The Jewish Museum (NYC), the New York City Ballet, the British Museum and Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto. Mackay is an Associate Faculty member at Royal Roads University, a certified Communications and Advertising Accredited Professional, holds a BA from Simon Fraser University and is completing her Master of Letters in Scottish history with the University of the Highlands and Islands, Scotland.

“Theresa was clearly the right choice for our membership and for this key cultural leadership role,” stated Council president, Peter Ord. “Her background in education, arts and culture, museums and international business, along with her experience in strategic partnerships and success in taking ideas from seed to reality, is a unique mix that opens up numerous possibilities for our association, our membership and the sector in BC. We are excited to have her head our association.”

Said Mackay of the appointment, “I am honoured to have been selected to lead and be the voice of British Columbia’s museum and gallery sector. I strongly believe that the impact of our sector on education, tourism, and the economy should not be undersold. Not only do we have some of the most award-winning and innovative institutions in this province, but we change people’s lives every day through the museum experience by engaging in and presenting research, stories and perspective. The mission for us will be to have this impact heard and ensure that the world is aware of the leading-edge work being done in this province and our communities.”

Mackay assumes her position at the association this month and will be based out of the BCMA office at the Royal BC Museum in Victoria. 

The BC Museums Association is the professional association for the museum and gallery sector in the province of British Columbia. For more information about the association, visit http://museumsassn.bc.ca/.