New Director at Wiltshire Heritage Museum
Tuesday, 01 April, 2008

Mr David Dawson has been appointed the new Director of the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society and Wiltshire Heritage Museum based in Devizes. His appointment follows the retirement of Dr Paul Robinson at the end of February, who had been Curator at the Museum since 1986.

David brings to the Society and Museum a wide range of experience in museum management, from practical curatorial work to national and international policy and the use of digital technology. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and an Associate of the Museums Association. He holds a BA in Archaeology from Durham University and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies from Leicester. He has worked as a field archaeologist on a number of excavations in the UK, France and Italy, which included several seasons as a Site Supervisor for English Heritage. Beginning his museum career as a cataloguer for the Sussex Archaeological Society he later become a curator at Canterbury City Museum and then for the Oxfordshire Museums Service. He then moved to the Museum Documentation Association (MDA) to give advice and provide training for museums on the use of information technology, whilst also contributing to the MDA’s work on the development of documentation standards.

Currently a policy advisor with the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, David has worked in a number of roles covering a wide range of activities. These include helping set up the successful Portable Antiquities Scheme, which funds Finds Liaison Officers throughout the country, and exploiting digital technology to improve public access to museum and archive collections. He has also acted as an expert advisor for the (National Lottery) New Opportunities Fund programme for the Digitisation of Learning Materials as well as on the creation and implementation of technical standards. In addition he has represented the UK on a number of international expert and advisory panels.

Outside work David is involved in Scouting and helps run an Oxfordshire branch of the Young Archaeologists Club. He and his family will be moving to Devizes after he takes up his job at the end of May.

Speaking about his appointment David says “I am looking forward to joining the fantastic team at Wiltshire Heritage Museum. For me, this is a ‘dream job’ where I can lead the Museum and the Society in the next stages of its development.”


End