AHT announces new Executive Director
It gives us great pleasure to announce that, after a global search for a new Executive Director, the Board has now made an appointment.
Francesca Eathorne will be taking up the role from 1 May 2023.
Francesca is familiar to many of you in the Trust’s community having working for Antarctic Heritage Trust for more than six years, most recently as Chief Operations Officer.
She’s an adept people leader who can design and refine business operations and is a strategic communications specialist whose passion for sharing the Trust’s mission is evident to all who meet her.
The Board went through a robust recruitment process to fill the role vacated by Nigel Watson. We had applicants from around the world so can say, with full confidence, that Francesca is the right person for the role.
Her foresight and insight have already delivered great value to the Trust in a number of areas, particularly with growth and engagement of new audiences globally.
We know that under Francesca’s leadership the team will continue to deliver our mission to conserve, share and encourage the spirit of exploration, and further grow the community of supporters that enables this work.
We trust you will be as pleased about this appointment as we are.
Mark Stewart MNZM
Chair
About Francesca
Francesca Eathorne is from Canterbury (New Zealand) and she grew up in Wellington and Auckland before completing her Masters at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch (NZ). She also holds a Licentiate from Trinity College London.
Her working life has given her valuable experience in not-for-profit and commercial sectors both in New Zealand and overseas.
Highlights from her time at the Trust include experiencing the historic hut sites while working on the conservation team at Ross Island (Antarctica) for part of a season and sharing the Trust’s stories through driving the creation of immersive digital experiences to bring Antarctica to the world.
Francesca is an accomplished public speaker who regularly gives presentations around New Zealand and the world.
She enjoys getting out into nature in New Zealand’s beautiful South Island and the odd dram of whisky.
“This is an enormous privilege to lead the Trust into its next phase. I’m looking forward to working with our wonderful supporters and partners that make it possible for us to bring our mission to life, and to keep evolving our vision of ‘Inspiring Explorers’.”
Francesca Eathorne © AHT/Jo Moore
