Toitu Otago Settlers Museum acting director Jennifer Evans has been appointed the institution's next director.
Ms Evans (51) said she was ''very happy'', after the announcement was made yesterday. She joked she was a ''local girl made good'', having been born in Dunedin, and educated at Bayfield High School.
Ms Evans was chosen from a ''competitive field of 14 local, national and international candidates'' and takes up the post, which includes management of the Dunedin Chinese Garden, on Monday, a museum spokesman said yesterday.
Ms Evans had been visitor experience manager at the museum since January 2010, and was seconded to the role of acting director last October following the departure of Linda Wrigley.
Ms Evans said working at the museum was particularly meaningful because many of its treasures were an important part of Dunedin's past, and of the city's identity.
It had also been a privilege to be closely involved in the museum's $37.5 million redevelopment, she said.
''I look forward to bringing more innovation and community participation to the museum.
''We have had some great successes and I intend to build on those with the team here at the museum and garden,'' she said.
Before joining the settlers museum, she was exhibitions and building services manager at the Otago Museum.
