The Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA Australia) is delighted to announce today the appointment of Lamia Dabboussy as Director of Engagement. Dabboussy will be responsible for the strategic direction and leadership for public engagement at MCA Australia. She will commence her new role on 6 November 2023.
Lamia Dabboussy is a media and cultural industries leader with over 20 years’ experience across arts, broadcast, marketing and advertising, and digital content strategy. As a strategist and consultant, Lamia has worked with cultural organisations, production companies and government bodies in the UK and Australia, recently including University College London, the Art Gallery of NSW and MCA Australia on strategic and creative projects.
Dabboussy was previously Director of Arts and Executive Editor for BBC Arts, where she commissioned programmes and led the broadcaster in digital production and distribution tranformation. She was responsible for commissioning, outreach and sector-partnerships as part BBC’s Culture in Quarantine initiative during Covid-19 lockdown – connecting audiences to arts and culture across the country from their homes. She also led the development of the BBC Introducing Arts outreach program, the BBC’s biggest commitment to generating new creative talent in a generation, with 600 commissions for emerging film and audio-makers over three years.
Prior to this role, Dabboussy was Head of Audience Planning and Brand Insight at the BBC, focusing on renewal of the corporation’s brand metrics and marketing, and putting audience-need at the heart of strategy.
Before moving to the UK from Australia, Dabboussy led the SBS Impacts Project, investigating the history of inclusion and diversity in broadcasting and changing audience behaviour. She is the co-author of The SBS Story: The Challenge of Cultural Diversity (UNSW Press, 2008).
Suzanne Cotter, Director Museum of Contemporary Art Australia said: “We are delighted to welcome Lamia Dabboussy to the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA Australia) as Director of Engagement. Lamia is a highly experienced and passionate arts professional and outstanding strategic thinker who will bring vision and energetic commitment to this vital pillar connecting audiences with contemporary art, on site, online and off-site. We look forward to her joining the dynamic MCA Australia executive team.”
Lamia Dabboussy said of her new appointment, “I am thrilled to take on the Director of Engagement role at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA Australia). Alongside its world-class exhibitions and collection, the Museum’s ambitious outreach, education and social impact programs are inspiring; driving access and engagement for audiences and communities right across Australia and beyond. I look forward to working with the team, communities, audiences and our partners to deliver MCA Australia’s vision and passion for contemporary art and artists.”
Dabboussy will be relocating back to her hometown of Sydney from London to take up this position.
