Ottawa, June 18, 2021
Departure of CMA Executive Director & CEO, Vanda Vitali, Ph.D.
On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Museums Association (CMA), I wish to advise members of the pending departure of CMA Executive Director & CEO, Dr. Vanda Vitali, at the end of her current contract. Dr. Vitali will continue to guide the transition period into the fall.
We wish to thank Dr. Vitali for her tremendous leadership in the role of Executive Director & CEO.
The CMA has undertaken multiple, successful initiatives under Dr. Vitali’s leadership since her arrival as Executive Director & CEO in 2019, including the following:
- Development and execution on a new multi-year strategic plan for the CMA, which includes areas of social responsibility for the organization. The strategic plan was the result of a comprehensive consultation process with members and key stakeholders.
- Multiple museum community building initiatives, including roundtables with emerging museums professionals, research leaders, universities and government leaders across Canada.
- Strengthening professional communications and training, by expanding professional standard and contributions to The Muse, CMA annual conferences and other forms to better connect with both pan-Canadian and international experts in museums and other disciplines.
- Forging of a new unified, accountable and efficient CMA organizational structure designed to improve organizational and financial efficiency and transparency, including improved financial oversight, increased financial certainty regarding grant funding, and the adoption of new organizational technologies and work-from-home approaches through the difficult COVID-19 period.
- Incorporation of innovative government advocacy and policy development on major fronts, including the CMA’s Reconciliation Program, a new National Museums Policy Framework, and other key policy spheres in partnership with the Department of Canadian Heritage and other federal departments.
The CMA Board of Directors will soon be announcing further details on the transition plan for a new Executive Director & CEO. In the meantime, Dr. Vitali unquestionably leaves the CMA in a strengthened position to serve members and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Canada’s museums.
We are grateful for her multiple contributions to the organization, and we wish her well in her future endeavors.
Michael Wallace
President, CMA Board of Directors
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