Today, Alastair Aitken, Chairman of Voyager New Zealand National Maritime Museum Trust Board announced the appointment of Linda Wigley as the new Museum Director. Ms Wigley is currently Director of Toitū Otago Settlers Museum. She will start at Voyager on 7 October.

Mr Aitken said “In recent years Voyager has increased visitor numbers and improved engagement with better programmes and a wider recognition of New Zealand’s extraordinary maritime stories. As the only cultural attraction on Auckland’s Waterfront, we intend to improve still further what we offer to the city. To that end Voyager is preparing a Master Plan that will realise this enormous potential. Our Trust Board is very pleased that Linda will lead this challenging process and work with our staff, volunteers and many stakeholders. Her skills and experience are perfect for the tasks ahead.”

Ms Wigley has extensive international leadership experience within the museums sector. She has a proven track record in planning and delivering major projects, capital fundraising, marketing and communications and human resource management. She has enjoyed a very successful tenure at Toitū during which she directed and delivered New Zealand’s most innovative museum experience. This $37.4 million project recently won the 2013 Museums Aotearoa, Museum of the Year Award for Significant Projects.

“This redevelopment of Toitū has to be my career highlight to date. Toitū was a major , multi layered, multi-million dollar redevelopment completely transforming the museum and the visitor experience. It’s creation involved re-visioning the museum, doubling the size of the museum and showcasing a range of innovative and cutting edge technologies, interpretation and interactive experiences” Ms Wigley said.

Working for Voyager would continue her already established maritime interest. She previously worked for the National Waterways Museum in England and lived on a canal boat in central London for several years. “I have an affinity with the water” she concluded.