Each mentoring session accommodates 100 participants on a first-come, first-served basis. Attendees will be divided into four groups of 25 per mentor. Please arrive early to secure a seat with your preferred mentor.

DR. CAROL ANN SCOTT
Title: Future-Proofing Museums: Strategic Planning in An Uncertain World

As much as we would like to prevent unforeseen events from happening, in today’s uncertain
world we can expect the unexpected.
In this climate, existing and emerging museum leaders need to be prepared. Challenges will
arise and crises may occur but through a combination of environmental scoping and anticipatory
planning, disruption can be minimised, risk mitigated and opportunities maximised.
‘Future- proofing’ is the process of ‘anticipating the future and developing ways to minimize the
impact of unforeseeable events’. In this workshop, we will identify key environmental factors
which could impact museums over the next five years, explore potential risks and think
strategically to reduce the potential of negative impacts and find opportunities in the process.

GAIL LORD
Title: Strategic Planning for Your Museum Building Project

Museums are always growing and changing - expanding, adapting, and reimagining its spaces
to meet evolving needs. But, all too often museum managers are told “just leave it to the
architects, don’t get in the way”. Successful museum projects, however, require more than
design; they need vision and direction from the start, they need strategic planning.

In this session, we will explore key tools for strategic building planning, including: visioning,
people-centred design, heritage, education, and community engagement. Together, we will
consider how to anticipate future needs, align physical spaces with institutional missions, and
ensure your building remains responsive for decades to come.

DR. CHARALAMPOS CHAITAS
Title: Rethinking International Collaborations: Mutual, Multidirectional, Empowering

Museums have long been vehicles of international exchange and soft power. However, in a
rapidly changing world, how can collaborations go beyond the familiar formats of loans,
exhibitions, and tours? To remain relevant, museums need to view partnerships as dynamic,
multidirectional, and mutually empowering.
This mentoring session explores how collaboration can serve as a strategic tool for growth,
networking, and capacity building. Through shared discussion and practical exercises, we will
identify opportunities to create equitable, sustainable models of partnership. By rethinking
collaboration as co-creation rather than exchange, we will uncover how museums can leverage
shared knowledge, resources, and influence to strengthen their global presence and purpose.

DR. ANNE MARIE-GILIS
Title: Systemic Museum Leadership and Agile Management in Practice

Museums today face a crossroads - confronting ongoing challenges in funding, fundraising,
governance, and talent management, alongside rapid social, digital, and institutional change. To
maintain relevance and resilience, museum leaders must evolve beyond traditional hierarchies
and adopt leadership models emphasising adaptability, collaboration, and systems thinking.
This session introduces Systemic Museum Leadership: an agile, integrated approach that views
the museum as an interconnected ecosystem. We will explore how agile management tools
enable leaders to respond strategically to change, align stakeholders through shared vision, and
reframe challenges as opportunities for innovation.
Through discussion and reflection, we will identify practical ways to embed agility and systemic
awareness into everyday practice, helping museum teams cultivate resilience, creativity, and
relevance in a complex world.