Securing funding to develop the Golden Dragon Museum will be the first priority for the museum's new chief executive officer.
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The museum on Friday announced Hugo Leschen will take on the first chief executive role from mid-January, following the departures of Russell Jack as director and Anita Jack as general manager.
"It's a very exciting opportunity for me to work with the board, to work with council, to work with the staff and volunteers at the Golden Dragon Museum through its next phase of growth and transition," Mr Leschen said.
"Often, what you see with museums is they have great collections but their infrastructure lags behind. That's really the case here.
"The collection is magnificent and the building, when it was built, was state of the art. But that's now many years ago, so there are opportunities to grow and really move it forward."
Mr Leschen has previously worked in both government and private enterprise, including roles in the Northern Territory government and the Melbourne International Film Festival.
With the museum searching for state funding to transform the Dai Gum San precinct into a 'China Town', museum chair Doug Lougoon said it was important the organisation formalised its structures.
"It became evident to us in the years gone by that we need to make sure that our governance is tip top," Mr Lougoon said.
"We've moved the governing of the organisation from an incorporated association into a company limited by guarantee.
"Of course, that brings with it a greater level of governance and oversight, which governments expect when they're providing funding and talking millions.
"In the short to medium term, we want to make sure we're doing as much as we can to present ourselves in the best possible light to governments to make sure we're a great target for funding."
Mr Leschen said he believed he could help make the plans for the precinct a reality.
"A lot of planning is already in place and I look forward to being briefed with Doug, the board, and other stakeholders," he said.
"There's a real opportunity to lift the museum up well beyond where it is already. It has a proud and strong history, but the opportunity to move it forward is right here and right now."
Mr Leschen said he would bring his experience in strategic planning and community investment to help develop the project.
"It's important not to fall in the trap of imagining that I have all of the answers," Mr Leschen said. "It's a team effort and the best leaders know where they're not as strong.
"So I look forward to working as one in a team to deliver on the ambition."
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