Nick Poole, CEO of the UK-based Collections Trust visited Melbourne informally during early October 2008. The Collections Council of Australia was able to assist him in meeting local people involved with the collections sector, and arranged a “round table” with the kind assistance of Museum Victoria.
The Collections Trust is a new and well-supported organisation that is working in several areas that overlap with the interests of Australian organisations, including digital collections and standards. Its predecessor organisation was the Museum Documentation Association.
Local organisations represented at the Round Table on 2 October were:
- Arts Victoria (Martin Hallett and Anne Kershaw)
- Collections Council of Australia (Margaret Birtley)
- Deakin University (Jonathan Sweet)
- Department of Planning and Community Development (Anne Kershaw)
- Heritage Victoria (Amanda Bacon)
- Museum Victoria (Tim Hart, Dr Ken Walker and Dr Ely Wallis)
- Museums Australia – Victoria (Laura Miles and Dimity Mapstone)
- Public Record Office Victoria & Council of Australasian Archives and Records Authorities (Justine Heazlewood)
- State Library of Victoria & National and State Libraries Australasia (Shane Carmody)
Apologies were received from the Council of Australian Art Museum Directors and the Public Galleries Association of Victoria.
The information-share was generous on all fronts, and interesting new contacts were made that might contribute to future collaborations.
While at Melbourne Museum, Mr Poole was also able to address a meeting of the Council of Australasian Museum Directors, and to discuss shared interests with representatives of The Le@rning Federation.
Pictured during a break at the Round Table meeting on 2 October 2008 are (L-R):
Back row: Tim Hart, Shaun Carmody, Ken Walker, Martin Hallett, Jonathan Sweet, Amanda Bacon
Front row: Anne Kershaw, Ely Wallis, Nick Poole, Margaret Birtley, Justine Heazlewood, Laura Miles