Australian Museum ANNUAL REPORT 2013–14 Australian Museum ANNUAL REPORT 2013–14 ii Australian Museum Annual Report 2013–14 The Australian Museum Annual Report 2013 –14 Availability is published by the Australian Museum Trust, This annual report has been designed for accessible 6 College Street Sydney NSW 2010. online use and distribution. This report is available at australianmuseum.net.au/Annual-Reports. © Australian Museum Trust 2014 Further information on the research and education ISSN 1039-4141 programs and services of the Australian Museum Editor can be found at australianmuseum.net.au. Brendan Atkins Cost of production Design The production cost of this report is estimated Amanda Teer at $550. Australian Museum Design Studio Contact Australian Museum 6 College Street Sydney NSW 2010 Open daily 9.30 am – 5.00 pm t 02 9320 6000 f 02 9320 6050 e [email protected] w australianmuseum.net.au facebook.com/australianmuseum twitter.com/austmus instagram.com/australianmuseum youtube.com/austmus iii Minister Admission charges The Hon. Troy Grant MP, Deputy Premier, General Museum entry: Minister for Trade & Investment, Minister for Adult $15 Regional Infrastructure & Services, Minister for Child (5–15 years) $8 Tourism & Major Events, Minister for Hospitality, Concession $8 Gaming & Racing, Minister for the Arts Family (one adult, two children) $23 Governance Family (two adults, two children) $38 The Museum is governed by a Trust established each additional child $3 under the Australian Museum Trust Act 1975. Pre-booked Australian school groups (per child) $6 The Trust has 11 members, one of whom must Pre-booked preschool groups (per child) $4 have knowledge of, or experience in, science; Children under five years, Australian Government one of whom must have knowledge of, or DVA Gold Cardholders, Australian Government experience in, education; and one of whom must ‘Blue’ Pensioner Concession Cardholders and have knowledge of, or experience in, Australian Australian Museum Members free. Indigenous culture. Additional charges may apply to special exhibitions Trustees are appointed by the Governor on the and activities. recommendation of the Minister for a term of up to three years. Trustees may serve for no more than three terms. Vacancies may be filled by the Governor on the recommendation of the Minister. The President of the Trust is appointed by the Governor on the recommendation of the Minister. The Director & CEO of the Australian Museum is Secretary to the Trust and is responsible for the common seal. Trustees receive no remuneration but may be reimbursed for expenses. All of the Museum’s annual reports since 1853 are available at australianmuseum.net.au/ Annual-Reports. Further information on the research and education programs and services of the Australian Museum can be found at australianmuseum.net.au. iv Australian Museum Annual Report 2013–14 The Hon. Troy Grant, MP Deputy Premier, Minister for Trade & Investment, Minister for Regional Infrastructure & Services, Minister for Tourism & Major Events, Minister for Hospitality, Gaming & Racing, Minister for the Arts Minister, In accordance with the provisions of the Annual Reports (Statutory Bodies) Act 1984 and the Public Finance and Audit Act 1983 we have pleasure in submitting this report of the activities of the Australian Museum Trust for the financial year ended 30 June 2014 for presentation to Parliament. On behalf of the Australian Museum Trust, [signed] [signed] Catherine Livingstone AO Kim McKay AO President of the Trust Secretary of the Trust Director & CEO Australian Museum v CONTENTS Part 1 The year in review 1 Part 4 Appendices 79 President’s report 2 Appendix A Organisation chart 80 Director’s report 3 Appendix B Trustees of the Australian Museum 81 Revenue summary 4 Appendix C Executive & management Highlights 2103–14 5 group profiles 87 Appendix D Internal audit and risk management 97 Part 2 Performance reports 7 Appendix E Credit card certification 98 Performance summary 8 Appendix F Privacy and personal information 99 01 A hub of learning 9 Appendix G Digital information security 99 02 Exciting and compelling 11 Appendix H Public access to information 100 03 Engaged with the community 15 Appendix I Disability action plan 100 04 Inspiring collections 16 Appendix J Multicultural policies and 05 A trusted adviser and partner 17 services program 101 06 Research that makes a difference 18 Appendix K Grants 103 07 Culture and commitment 19 Appendix L Publications 108 08 Balanced resources 20 Appendix M Overseas travel 109 09 Environmentally sustainable 22 Appendix N Recognising staff achievements 111 Part 3 Financial statements 23 Appendix O Fellowships and Financial commentary 24 postgraduate awards 112 Part 3A Financial statements Australian Appendix P Energy management 114 Museum Trust 26 Appendix Q Waste reduction and recycling 115 Part 3B Financial statements Australian Appendix R Heritage management 116 Museum Staff Agency 68 Appendix S Staff, workforce diversity and WHS statistics 117 Appendix T Honorary appointments 120 Appendix U Museum volunteers 121 Appendix V Key acquisitions and donations to the collections 126 Appendix W Benefactors and sponsors 128 Index 133 vi Australian Museum Annual Report 2013–14 1 the year IN REVIEW 2 Australian Museum Annual Report 2013–14 President’s report BUILDING ON OUR STRENGTHS The Australian Museum continues to demonstrate vibrancy in its programs and rigour and diversity in its research, learning and public programming, as the following highlights illustrate. EXHIBITIONS In addition, staff responded to more than We welcome Kim McKay AO as Director 2500 scientific and cultural inquiries, and CEO, whose work has already Tyrannosaurs: Meet the Family, online, in person and in writing. impacted positively on the future of performed well above projected visitor the Australian Museum. I would also numbers. It also received Best Travelling/ Looking to the future, the Australian like to acknowledge the wide-ranging Touring exhibition in the Museums and Museum Research Institute (AMRI) was Galleries National Awards, while the launched by NSW Minister for the Arts contributions of the Museum’s previous associated mobile app, developed by the Troy Grant in August 2014. AMRI will Director, Frank Howarth PSM, who Museum, achieved more than 750,000 focus on and promote the important stepped down in April 2014 after downloads. Featuring new science, research conducted here. 10 years of service in the role. and fossils from the Beijing Museum of Natural History, this outstanding THANKS TO THE MUSEUM THE MUSEUM’S TRUSTEES COMMUNITY exhibition is now on tour in New Zealand. My sincere thanks go to departing In regional NSW and interstate, several I commend the Museum staff, in all Trustees Stephen Crittenden and museum exhibitions, including The Art of their diverse roles, for their commitment Dr James Moody, who also served on the Scott Sisters, Wildlife Photographer to the future of the Museum and their the Trust’s Science Strategy Panel, and of the Year and Deep Oceans, continued individual contributions to the quality Helen Wellings, who continues to serve to tour, reaching audiences of some of what the Australian Museum has to on LIRRF. Thanks too to Kim McKay AO offer. My thanks also go to Members 150,000 people. who stepped down as Trustee to take who provide a significant support base up her appointment as Director and SCIENCE, LEARNING & as well as advocacy on a variety of fronts. CEO. I also welcome our new Trustees, The Museum also depends on a team of COLLECTIONS David Armstrong, Steven Gregg, volunteers – over 850 – who, along with Dr Rod Kefford AM and Robynne The Museum’s Life Long Learning our staff, apply their knowledge and Quiggin, who together provide a programs are continually being developed skills to provide significant benefits in significant knowledge base in finance, for students, from pre-schoolers through science, learning and engagement ‘front education and Indigenous culture. I look to senior high school, while lectures, of house’, as well as behind the scenes forward to working productively with all talks and behind-the-scenes insights and online. are readily available to ‘students’ of all Trustees. Their ongoing contributions to The Chairs and Trustees of the Australian ages. The outstanding schools program the Museum’s priorities are invaluable as Museum Foundation (AMF) and the Museum in a Box® extended its reach to we implement a new corporate strategic Lizard Island Reef Research Foundation almost 90,000 students; while the annual plan and focus on the science, research, (LIRRF) continue to work tirelessly for Science Festival engaged 9000 students. learning and public programs which will the benefit of the Museum. I particularly help us achieve our goals. Our progress in digitising collections thank both Diccon Loxton, Chair of the continues to impact globally – in all AMF, and David Shannon, Chair of the areas from scientific research to general LIRRF, who lead programs and build Catherine Livingstone AO enquiries. The year saw 60,000 records relationships to expand the Museum’s President added to the Museum’s virtual records. much-needed support base. Australian Museum Trust Part 1 The year in review 3 Director’s report A YEAR OF CHANGE The Australian Museum has achieved many significant milestones in this past year, and is now looking ahead with a new Corporate Strategic Plan. Renewal is already underway thanks to capital funding from the NSW Government for a new Master Plan and immediate