International museums council makes UK leadership appointments

The International Council of Museums (ICOM) has named MARIA BLYZINSKY as co-chair of ICOM UK and KRISTINA BROUGHTON as the branch’s strategic director.

A trustee for ICOM UK since 2023, Blyzinsky is co-founder of The Exhibitions Team, director of arts and heritage consultancy Blyzinsky Ltd, curator emeritus at Royal Museums Greenwich and series editor of Museum and Gallery Essentials for Facet Publishing.

She succeeds NICK MARCHAND, who stepped down as co-chair of ICOM UK in December 2024 after four years in the post to pursue a new role as director of global engagement at Museums Victoria in Australia.

Broughton joins ICOM UK from recent roles as CEO of Wessex Museums Trust and chair of the South West Federation of Museums & Galleries. She takes over from KATE ARTHURS, the organisation’s interim strategic director over the past year.

Working alongside her, CHRISTIAN BAARS, the other co-chair of ICOM UK, said, “The co-chair model has proved very successful for ICOM UK since its introduction in 2021. Having already worked very closely with Maria in the past couple of years, I admire her energy, can-do attitude and wisdom. I very much look forward to working with her on the next phase for ICOM UK.”

Blyzinsky added: “It’s an honour to be handed the baton of co-chair for ICOM UK. I’m looking forward to working with the wider team to help make ICOM UK even more engaging, relevant and dynamic for our UK members, as well as finding new ways to support the global ICOM community.”