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Art Gallery of NSW Executive

  • Director

    Dr Michael Brand
    BA (Hons), MA, PhD (History)

    Photo of Michael Brand

    Michael Brand joined the Gallery in June 2012. Prior to his appointment, he was consulting director of the new Aga Khan Museum under construction in Toronto and scheduled to open in 2013.

    From 2005 to 2010, Dr Brand was director of the J Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, leading both the Getty Center and Getty Villa sites and establishing its new Center for Photography. Previously, he was director of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond from 2000 to 2005; assistant director, curatorial and collection development, at the Queensland Art Gallery in Brisbane from 1996 to 2000; curator of Asian art at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra from 1988 to 1996; and co-director of the Smithsonian Institution Mughal Garden Project in Lahore, Pakistan from 1988 to 1993.

    Dr Brand currently serves on the Visiting Committee of the Harvard Art Museums and the International Advisory Board of the State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg. He is a past member of the Governing Board of the Courtauld Institute of Art in London.

  • Deputy director

    Ms Anne Flanagan
    Dip Int Design, Dip Ed, Dip Vis Arts

    Photo of Anne Flanagan

    Anne Flanagan joined the Gallery in 1992. Her academic background includes visual arts, interior design and education. For more than two decades she has worked in arts organisations, including the Crafts Council of NSW, Powerhouse Museum, Biennale of Sydney, Australian Bicentennial Authority and Historic Houses Trust of NSW.

    Ms Flanagan is responsible for three key areas: building and facility management including major capital projects such as the collection store and the upgrade of the lower level 2 display galleries for contemporary art, and building maintenance and mechanical services; exhibitions, including exhibition management, exhibitions registration, installation, audiovisual, workshop, stores, graphic and multimedia design, publishing and copyright, information and ticketing; and security and gallery services.

  • Director, Finance and Corporate Services

    Mr John Wicks
    B Bus, FCPA

    Photo of John Wicks

    John Wicks joined the Gallery in 2008. He is a fellow of the Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants and holds a Bachelor of Business with an accounting major from Charles Sturt University. He has over 20 years experience in the arts sector, including as executive director, finance and services at the Australia Council for the Arts in Sydney and thereafter as chief financial officer at the Cultural Facilities Corporation in Canberra. His last position was chief financial officer at Hurstville City Council.

    Mr Wicks is the chief financial officer and company secretary for the Art Gallery of NSW Trust, the Art Gallery of NSW Foundation, VisAsia and the Brett Whiteley Foundation. He is also responsible for human resources, strategic planning, legal services, government relations and records management, information communication technology, website and visitor services, which include the Gallery Shop, management of the restaurant and cafe contract, and venue hire.

  • Director, Marketing, Development and Memberships

    Kirsten Downie

    Photo of Kirsten Downie

    Kirsten Downie joined the Gallery in 2011. Her background is in marketing, public relations and business development in the arts, cultural and media industries.

    Before joining the Gallery, she held positions at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra as the head of marketing and communications, at Sydney Opera House as marketing manager, Performing arts and at the specialist arts and entertainment marketing agency Millmaine Entertainment. Ms Downie has over two decades experience working in marketing, advertising, and communications roles in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra. She has worked on a diverse range of projects from contemporary dance to large stadium rock concerts, outdoor cinema, theatre, musicals and the visual arts.

    Ms Downie is responsible for marketing, media relations, business development and working strategically with the Art Gallery Society to enhance the membership program.

  • Director of Collections

    Suhanya Raffel

    Suhanya Raffel will join the Gallery in July 2013.
    Read the media release