Canberra-born Katherine McMahon is the new director of the National Museum of Australia.

Ms McMahon has worked at the National Museum for seven years, as assistant director discovery and collections, deputy director and, most recently, as acting director.

“After dedicating two decades in leadership roles to the cultural sector where I’ve brought some of our nation’s great stories to life, I can’t wait to bring the same passion and energy to the country’s most important museum,” she said.

“Telling our shared stories and honouring our proud First Nations history, with integrity and honesty will be a first order issue for the museum in the coming years.

“Expanding the scope and reach of the groundbreaking Australia’s Defining Moments Digital Classroom to school students across the country, will be another key focus.

“The National Museum has reached deeply into classrooms across the country, and I am committed to investing further to broaden and deepen participation and to cement the organisation’s position as the country’s most trusted online Australian history resource.”

Before joining the National Museum, she led a decade-long program of major gallery renewal at the Australian War Memorial, which included the delivery of the acclaimed World War I galleries.

Since joining the National Museum in 2017 Ms McMahon has overseen the organisation’s curatorial, collections, exhibitions, and First Nations programs.

Ms McMahon was born at the old Canberra Hospital (the site of the National Museum of Australia) and grew up in Canberra. She was educated at the Australian National University and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Art History and Curatorship) with majors in history and art history.

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