Katrina Nitschke Email & Phone Number

Ballarat, Vic, Au

Ballarat, Vic, Au

Ballarat, Victoria, Australia

My portfolio includes design and delivery of all operations and experiences at Sovereign Hill Museums, way we connect with audiences through our marketing communications, and the collections and research that ground our story.

Ballarat, Australia

Adelaide

The South Australian Museum is a natural science and cultural history museum, where I led the Public Engagement department. My team looked after the public experience of the Museum, including exhibitions and galleries, visitor experience and discovery, design, public programming and learning, and science engagement. 34 staff; around $1.5M million recurrent budget and $1.5M in projects annually.In three years, the transformed approach to public engagement that I oversaw:- played a major part in improving overall visitation to the Museum by 15% and in securing the Museum's first ever State Cultural Tourism awards in 2017, repeated in 2018- Led to record visitation at the museum and more than doubled exhibition attendance, with record breaking totals three years in a row - Grew program attendance by more than 50%, delivering innovative and creative programs in partnership with Australia's cultural leaders- Established the Museum's role as a major part of the science engagement ecosystem of SA, securing funding for the multi-partner Inspiring South Australia program, reaching across the state

Adelaide

I led the Community Engagement and Education team at the Botanic Gardens of Adelaide, with responsibility for connecting people with plants and the natural world, to encourage and enable sustainable behaviour. The team created engagement and active involvement in the Botanic Gardens, fostered learning about plants from early years through to professional levels, and created motivation and capacity for sustainable behaviour change in the community. I led schools and community education and public programs, accredited vocational training, outreach programs and volunteering and engagement programs, as well as provided oversight for commercial operations.At the Botanic Gardens, I:• Increased volunteer contribution by 30% in one year to 50,000 hours• Oversaw turn-around of revenue-generating vocational training centre; increased expected cash return by 300% in one year by reducing costs and building revenue growth• Oversaw the establishment of Green Infrastructure project and Kitchen Garden Project social impact programs, securing funding partners and setting strategic direction with diverse state-wide partners• Developed numerous interpretive installations, bringing education and visitor engagement to forefront of collection development and display. Delivered interpretive projects for Garden of Health, SA Water Mediterranean Garden, Amazon Waterlily Pavilion and others

Murray Bridge

I took responsibility for the Community Engagement team in the SA Murray Darling Basin while the substantive manager was on maternity leave. I oversaw communications, brand and marketing, stakeholder and community engagement, capacity building and local government relations programs. Taking the reins for a short time during a period of great transition for a new team, I led development of new engagement principles and frameworks, a region-wide cultural integration program, commenced restructuring the education team to deliver on new strategy, and kept the team focused and delivering on all milestones.

Led the community education programs of the Botanic Gardens of Adelaide, including schools and community education, volunteering and outreach, and interpretation within the three Botanic Adelaide.

Managed communications for multidisciplinary climate change research centre with 10 partners across university, industry and government sectors. Ensured strong internal communication and led effective community and stakeholder engagement in a contentious science and policy area. Reported to CEO.

Managed communications for industry-focused research centre with 150 staff and 27 partners in six national and international locations. Reported to CEO, advised Education Committee and Board. Member, Senior Management Team.

Adelaide/Canberra

My first job out of uni was as a science communicator at CSIRO Enquiries, responding to general science enquiries, and researching and writing fact sheets. I also provided general communications support for CSIRO Horticulture, responsible for publication management, media liaison and for providing presentation and communication coaching and support for scientific staff. I then moved to a similar role in CSIRO Plant Industry, taking on responsibility for media liaison and providing general writing and editing expertise (speeches, short and long media features, media releases, brochures, reports etc), and event management, including development and staffing of displays and presentations.

Education record

Presented by Museums Galleries Australia in association with the Gordon Darling Foundation, the Museum Leadership Program is an intensive.

Master Of Business Administration (Mba)

European Summer School For Advanced Management

Each year an international consortium of outstanding business schools from around the world organise a prestigious and unique summer.

Graduate Certificate In Professional Communication (Public Relations)

Grad Diploma Ecology And Management

Bachelor Of Science (B.Sc.), Ecology