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Museum Chief's Bold DNA Project & Clean Up Legacy
14 Jul
Summary
- McKay spearheaded the Genographic Project with 100,000 DNA samples.
- She co-founded Clean Up Australia and Clean Up the World.
- Under her leadership, museum visitation increased significantly.
Kim McKay, the director and CEO of the Australian Museum, has a career marked by ambitious initiatives, including a significant role in the Genographic Project. This project aimed to map early human migration by collecting 100,000 public DNA samples, leading to the creation of the world's largest DNA database funded by kit sales that support cultural preservation.
Prior to her museum leadership, McKay co-founded Clean Up Australia and Clean Up the World in the 1990s, inspired by witnessing widespread pollution. This environmental advocacy became a major focus for nearly a decade.
Since taking the helm of the Australian Museum in 2014, McKay has overseen a major renovation and made admission free. This strategy has dramatically increased annual visitation from 340,000 to 1.5 million, boosting revenue from other sources.
McKay has also prioritized scientific research and Indigenous history, leading to the discovery and naming of 293 new species last year. The museum established a First Nations division and is developing a cultural collections and research center.
