A Well-Deserved Retirement: Honouring Kathleen Brown

Kathleen's mentorship, leadership and dedication has left an indelible mark on our team, our projects and countless organizations. In her 30 years with us, she's been an integral part of over 250 projects, including the Museum of Northern Arizona, the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science, the Museum of Latin American Art, the Natural History Museum of Utah, La Brea Tar Pits and the Long Beach African American Cultural Center.

We had a chat with Kathleen about her 20+ years with us, the changes she's seen in the cultural planning sector, and what she’s most looking forward to in retirement.

What have been your favourite types of projects?

"Not that I haven't loved all of them, but I would say mostly outdoor or natural history museums, as my background is in science and I’ve always been a keen outdoor enthusiast."

Are there any projects that stand out?

"There are many! But I have to say the California Academy of Sciences, because that's the job that got me out to California. Plus, it was such an important project, helping them to decide whether they should remain in Golden Gate Park or go downtown, seek LEED Platinum certification for the new Academy, and how to serve a changing visitor base in new and engaging ways."

What’s changed the most since you started doing this work?

"There’s a lot more community engagement now. When I started in planning work in 1989, the acceptable practice at the time was you do your plan, and then you have a public meeting. It had a really high potential for conflict, because people have a strong sentimental attachment to local resources. Of course, as we know now, that model's been flipped on its head. Also, there is a level of business sophistication that has come into museum work that didn't used to be there -- and the need to be more business savvy has emerged because of the increasing complexity of museum operations – and challenges in generating funding."

What’s next? What are you looking forward to doing?

"I’ve got a retirement notebook with about 20-ish things that I want to do. Some of them are involved in travel – my first stop is Italy in March. Some of them are about learning more about local organizations that I admire. I've always wanted to join a book club! I intend to become an avid football fan – I started following Pep Guardiola, so Man City is my team. And, I have a personal catalog project that I want to do for all the art that I own…I’d love to do a “real” gallery in my house where you can use a QR code, hold your phone up and get all the information on the works!"

What will you miss the most about working?

"I'll miss the people - Lord people, all my lovely clients and colleagues across the globe. Absolutely."

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