Jaenine Parkinson

Jaenine Parkinson is Chief Executive of Museums Aotearoa, bringing a career shaped by a deep commitment to the role museums and galleries play in helping people understand themselves, their worlds, and their histories.

Her leadership spans some of Aotearoa New Zealand's most influential cultural institutions. Before joining Museums Aotearoa, Jaenine was Head of Art at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, where she worked at the intersection of collections, exhibitions, public engagement and strategic leadership. She has also held senior roles as Arts, Museums and Heritage Advisor at Kāpiti Coast District Council and Exhibitions Project Coordinator at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, building a reputation for connecting creative vision with practical delivery.