Sydney’s Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS) is about to get its fourth leader in five and a half years, with Carriageworks CEO Lisa Havilah appointed to lead the organisation from January 2019.

Lisa will assume control of the state government’s planned $1.17 billion move to a new riverside MAAS site in Parramatta.

As CEO of Carriageworks, Lisa oversaw an increase in overall attendances from 110,000 in 2011 to 1.32 million in 2017.

Since 2011 Lisa has overseen significant expansion of the Carriageworks multi-arts hub in Redfern. Previously she built her career in western Sydney as Director of Campbelltown Arts Centre, and as Deputy Director at Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre.

Lisa has been a champion for Western Sydney arts and a successful collaborator with the NSW Coalition government, which has often praised Carriageworks’ success with audience engagement at relatively small cost to taxpayers.

MAAS has existed for 129 years and been located at Ultimo, in inner Sydney, since 1988.

The announcement of the new MAAS Chief Executive comes as Create NSW takes the next step in determining the new Powerhouse Museum’s architectural design.

SAMAG looks forward to hosting you to hear the discussion with Edwina and Lisa and celebrating the start of 2019 with a drink and networking opportunity.​