TORONTO, Sept. 22, 2016 /CNW/ - The Government of Ontario and the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) announced today the appointment of Martha Durdin as Chair of the Museum's Board of Trustees. While Durdin assumes this new role immediately, Durdin has been a member of the Museum's Board of Trustees since 2013 and its Vice-Chair since 2014.
"I am thrilled to welcome Martha as the next Chair of the ROM Board of Trustees," said Eleanor McMahon, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. "Martha, a respected business leader, is also highly aware of the valuable contributions made by arts and culture in communities across Ontario. I look forward to working with her as the Museum opens its doors even wider in the next year to welcome visitors from around the world to its Ontario 150 and Canada 150 programming."
An experienced executive with an extensive background in management, public affairs, and advocacy, Durdin is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer at the Canadian Credit Union Association. Durdin volunteers her time with several community organizations and served for 12 years as the Chair of the Ontario Arts Council. She is the recipient of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal and holds a BA (Hon) from Western University, an MSC from the London School of Economics; and ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors at the Rotman School of Management.
Durdin assumes her leadership role as the ROM emerges from an extraordinarily successful summer on the strength of its exhibitions including the stunning CHIHULY, on display until January 2, 2017; the ground-breaking A Third Gender: Beautiful Youths in Japanese Prints; and the recently-closed, highly successful Tattoos. Ritual. Identity. Obsession. Art. The Museum welcomed 1.1 million visitors last year including nearly 100,000 students and 105,000 Members. It led research in 27 countries and five provinces, and offered nearly 300 programs for visitors, ranging from scholars to families. The ROM is well-positioned to continue this momentum with two film installations by renowned contemporary artist Isaac Julien opening in January 2017, a new Blue Whale exhibition opening in March 2017, and a dynamic calendar of Canada 150 exhibitions and events.
The ROM is an agency of the Government of Ontario. The Board of Trustees is the governing authority for the Museum, responsible for its policies, its operational continuity, and the collections and other assets which the Museum holds in trust for the people of Ontario. The Board consists of 21 Trustees - 15 appointed, three ex-officio members, and three elected by ROM members. Trustees are volunteers who are dedicated to public service and the ROM's well-being and long-term stability.
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ABOUT THE ROM
Opened in 1914, the ROM is Canada's largest museum of natural history and world cultures and has six million objects in its collections and galleries showcasing art, world cultures, and natural history. The ROM is the largest field research institution in the country and a world leader in research areas from biodiversity, palaeontology, and earth sciences to archaeology, ethnology, and visual culture - originating new information towards a global understanding of historical and modern change in culture and environment. For tickets, memberships, and 24-hour information in English and French, visit www.rom.on.ca or call 416.586.8000.
SOURCE Royal Ontario Museum
Image with caption: "Martha Durdin Photo Credit: Anand Maharaj (CNW Group/Royal Ontario Museum)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160922_C1225_PHOTO_EN_778920.jpg
Media Contact: Marnie Peters, AVP PR & Publications, [email protected], 416.562.1635
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