Our People

Senior Leadership Team

LUCINDA BLACKLEY-JIMSON

  • Lucinda brings 25 years Museum experience to her position as Chief Executive. Past career highlights include senior visitor experience roles at Te Papa, Auckland Museum, MOTAT and Auckland Zoo. She is a current Board Member of Museums Aotearoa.

    Prior to joining the culture and heritage sector she worked in broadcasting. She has numerous qualifications in strategic leadership, people and project management, and an academic background concentrating on cultural anthropology and information studies.

    She believes that intrinsic to heritage inclusiveness in Aotearoa New Zealand are the principles that proceed from the Treaty of Waitangi, acknowledging tangata whenua and tangata Tiriti, partnership and rangatiratanga. Lucinda is passionate about creating meaningful experiences for museum visitors of all ages and backgrounds, innovative community engagement, and breaking down barriers to participation.

KELLY O’LEARY

  • Kelly is the Museum’s Kaiarataki Mātauranga – Lead Educator. Kelly, known as “Whaea Kelz” to the students, has been a kaiakō to many young people in this region during her 25 years of classroom teaching.

    Kelly brings with her a wealth of experience, including many years in both Māori and English Medium teaching, Educational Team Leadership, as well as curriculum and resource development. She has taught at every level of Primary School from Y0-Y8.

    Kelly aims to engage, enlighten and empower students in their learning. She is a creative and passionate teacher, a wonderful storyteller, and loves including te reo Māori in all her lessons. As a local Nelsonian, Kelly feels proud to deliver the stories of her hometown to the student of the Museum.

HANNAH DELL

  • Hannah has a background in libraries and customer service. A love of books inspired her to gain her bachelor’s degree in library and information studies and saw her working in various bookstores. Hannah spent several years overseas, where she was the manager of libraries at a large International school. Hannah also has experience in visitor information services and education and is a talented musician.

    Hannah looks after our Front of House team, the Museum Shop, and is Assistant to the Chief Executive. Hannah is responsible for the everyday administration and human resource needs at the museum, and is passionate about nurturing creative, positive, and productive relationships within teams.

HAMISH PETTENGELL

HAMUERA MANIHERA

Tūranga mahi | Jobs

Jobs

Visitor Host

Part time / Permanent

Applications close: 10 April 2026, 5pm.

Please email your cover letter and CV to
Jolie.Degaia@museumnp.org.nz

Our Visitor Hosts are the main point of contact with our visitors. Your role is to engage with visitors, offering information, and enhancing their experience. You will actively work in the Museum Shop, sharing with customers our unique range of products, as well as assisting with a wide range of duties. 

Manaakitanga / hospitality - showing generosity, respect and care in welcoming others.

The ideal applicant will have:

  • Outstanding people and communication skills. 

  • Enjoys working with people of all ages. 

  • Problem-solving on the spot.

  • A ‘going the extra mile’ customer service focus and approach. 

  • Retail experience.

  •  Experience in the use of Microsoft Office applications and POS system. 
    Interest in museum and cultural history. 

  • Good organisational skills and attention to detail. 

  • Team spirit Understanding of the role of a museum in a community. 

  • An appreciation of tikanga Māori. 

  • Understanding and appreciation of cultural differences, and ability to communicate well across cultures. 
    Some fluency in te reo Māori would be welcome.

Please note: as this position will work with children, the successful candidate might need to undergo a full Safety Check (including police check).

This is a part-time permanent role, two days a week (Sunday, Monday) with further hours available to cover illness and leave.

Find out more

Tūao

Volunteer

Volunteers are an important part of the Museum whānau

Volunteering at Nelson Provincial Museum can be a valuable way to get work experience, develop interests and share skills within a museum environment. We welcome volunteers in many areas of our operations and are always looking for all types of skills and experiences.

We want our volunteers to have a rewarding and enjoyable time working at Nelson Provincial Museum so the interests and skills of all applicants are carefully matched with suitable volunteer vacancies. Applicants should be aware that after registering their interest with us, there may be a wait for an appropriate role to become available.

Priority is given to volunteers who are making a long term commitment to volunteering, and all applicants must be prepared to accept a police check of their background. Before you apply for a position, please think carefully about your reasons for volunteering, and also how it will fit in with your other commitments.

Nelson Provincial Museum currently have eight volunteers who contributed more than 1,400 hours of collection and research support in our last financial year!

Would you like to apply?

To more information about volunteering at Nelson Provincial Museum email us at: enquiries@museumnp.org.nz