Iziko Museums of Cape Town Council Announcement

The Council of Iziko Museums is pleased to announce that Ms Rooksana Omar has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (Designate) for Iziko Museums.

Ms Omar holds an MBA and BA (Hons) degree and is currently the Director of the Luthuli Museum, a National Cultural Institution in KwaZulu Natal. In this capacity she has provided leadership on both a strategic and operational level, successfully delivering a relevant and dynamic programme whilst ensuring strong governance, compliance and unqualified audits.

Ms Omar previously worked in senior leadership roles as the Acting Director of the eThekwini Heritage Department and Director of the Local History Museums, Durban. She is the past President of the SAMA (South African Museums Association), serves as a member of ICOM (International Council of Museums) South Africa’s Executive Board, is currently the 2nd Vice President of the Commonwealth Association of Museums and has proven skills, expertise and knowledge, acquired through extensive and diverse experience working in the Heritage Sector for 29 years, since 1981.

The Council of Iziko Museums is confident that with this appointment, Iziko will continue to have both the leadership and the staff to build on its existing strengths and develop in new directions. Ms Omar’s energy and inspiration will enable her to lead and direct Iziko in an exemplary manner and to deliver future sustainability and growth. We are optimistic that our key objectives as a respected national heritage institution including our strategic focus going forward on making Iziko increasingly accessible to diverse audiences and becoming a heritage destination of choice will be achieved during her tenure.

Ms Omar will join Iziko as from 1 May 2010 and will work together with outgoing CEO Professor HC (Jatti) Bredekamp for several months as she prepares for her new role.

Ms Omar issued this statement following the announcement of her appointment last week: “I am honoured to be appointed in the leadership capacity as CEO (Designate) of the Iziko Museums of Cape Town, one of the two national flagship museums of the Republic of South Africa. This position will allow me to continue to strategically and professionally position the Iziko Museums as a national, continental and international role-player in the museum sector. I see myself affirming current partners and leveraging new partnerships to entrench the value of the Iziko Museums using my leadership, vision, professional strengths and networks. I want to create a responsive, positive institution through long-term sustainable and well managed resources, public programmes, exhibitions and research to enhance the participatory experiences of Iziko's stakeholders.”

Professor Eltie Links
Chairperson of the Third Council of Iziko Museums of Cape Town

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