Natural History Museum appoints first director of collections

JESSICA BRADFORD is to become the Natural History Museum’s first director of collections.

Currently the Science Museum’s head of collections and principal curator, a role she took up towards the end of 2022, Bradford will begin the newly-created position at the Natural History Museum in March.

A trained historian of science, medicine and technology, Bradford is also a former co-head of public engagement and programmes at Oxford’s History of Science Museum. She recently led the Science Group’s One Collection programme, involving the relocation of over 300,000 objects from London to the Hawking Building at Wiltshire’s Science and Innovation Park.

In her new role, Bradford will be responsible for leading the collections and acquisitions strategy at the London museum.

Natural History Museum executive director of science, Dr Tim Littlewood, said the team were “thrilled” to welcome Bradford.

“Her remarkable experience in museum leadership and her dedication to making collections accessible will enhance our quest to identify solutions from and for nature,” Littlewood added.

“This is an extraordinary opportunity to work with world-class collections and contribute to the museum’s vital mission,” Bradford said. “I am passionate about unlocking the potential of these collections for research, education, and public engagement, and I look forward to working with the talented team at the Natural History Museum to achieve this.”