Otago Museum Trust Board

A professor of Physics at the University of Otago, David has research expertise in theoretical quantum physics, and was the inaugural director (2015 – 2023) of the Dodd Walls Centre, a centre of research excellence leading photonic and quantum technologies in Aotearoa. David is a strong advocate for the importance of educational outreach in making a difference to learning outcomes, and has led successful engagement partnerships with schools, and with Tūhura Otago Museum to bring hands-on science to communities across Aotearoa and the Pacific Islands.

David joined the Museum board in 2008 as the Otago Institute representative, and in 2011 was nominated as the representative for the University of Otago. David became board chair in 2019.

Cherry has an Accounting degree from the University of Otago and has held senior management positions at the DCC and with NZ Trade and Enterprise in Dunedin. Having taken a 20-year break to focus on family and family businesses, Cherry is enjoying using her skillset to contribute to community organisations now that she has more time.

Cherry has been on the boards of iD Dunedin Fashion, the Mosgiel pool development, and, currently, the Otago Farmers Market Trust, all in a voluntary role. Cherry also served on the Otago Museum Trust Board from 1996 to 2001.

Cherry has an Accounting degree from the University of Otago and has held senior management positions at the DCC and with NZ Trade and Enterprise in Dunedin. Having taken a 20-year break to focus on family and family businesses, Cherry is enjoying using her skillset to contribute to community organisations now that she has more time.

Cherry has been on the boards of iD Dunedin Fashion, the Mosgiel pool development, and, currently, the Otago Farmers Market Trust, all in a voluntary role. Cherry also served on the Otago Museum Trust Board from 1996 to 2001.

Christine Garey has served eighteen years in local government; nine as city councillor and as deputy mayor from 2019 to 2022.

Her focus is on preparing the city for the future given the challenges of climate change and the cost-of-living crisis, while honouring the city’s relationship with mana whenua in all undertakings.

Her professional career is in education, arts, management, marketing and tourism, corporate, and small business. Christine has a BA (Geography) and postgraduate qualifications in marketing, public relations, and teaching.

She grew up in Oamaru and first moved to Dunedin as a student, returning to settle here with her own family on the Otago Peninsula.

Gaynor had a 30-year career as a Vet Nurse and loved working with animals.

Gaynor has been a councillor on the Clutha District Council for 21 years, and through this, was nominated as the regional councils’ representative on the Museum trust board when a vacancy came up 12 years ago.

Gaynor values the Museum’s role in connecting communities through its public engagement programmes, which make a real difference to the learning outcomes of young and old alike and improve understanding of our world. A key goal for Gaynor is to achieve government funding to support the Museum’s extensive and world-class collection.

Nancy is Emerita Professor at the University of Otago and has had a career in plant science and science communication spanning four decades. Nancy’s work has involved teaching and researching the effectiveness of different ways of communicating complex ideas.

Nancy has been passionate about museums for as long as she can remember and, as part of her work, has facilitated the development of many multi-disciplinary and cross-cultural exhibitions in museums and public spaces around southern New Zealand and Western Australia.

Nancy is on the board of Age Concern Otago and president of the Association of Friends of Tūhura Otago Museum.

A Distinguished Professor of Biological Anthropology at the University of Otago, Lisa’s main research area uses genomic data to further our knowledge of human settlement across the Pacific and how people adapted to their new environments. The breadth of Lisa’s research takes her from archaeological digs to museums and the lab to understand genomic variation to help us better understand the history and health of Pacific peoples in the past, present, and future.

Inspired by travelling with her family at a young age, Lisa has a passion for understanding what makes us different, and what unites us as humans.

Appointed director in 2013, Ian has led major upgrades at the Museum, including the installation of the only 3D planetarium in Australasia, a bicultural science centre, and a refresh of the Pacific Cultures gallery.

Ian has a doctorate in astronomy and attributes his passion for the night skies to a visit as a young child to the Science Museum in London. This sparked a strong belief that museums can change lives and has led to a career heading organisations across the world that communicate science.

Ian was awarded the Prime Minister’s Science Media Communication prize in 2015, and made a Companion of the Royal Society Te Apārangi in 2019.