Memorial farewells Nola Anderson

The Australian War Memorial’s acting Director, Nola Anderson, today concludes her 25 year long career at the Memorial.

“On behalf of the Council, staff and volunteers at the Memorial, I thank Nola for her outstanding contribution and dedicated professionalism”, said Rear Admiral Ken Doolan AO RAN (Ret'd), Chairman of the Council of the Australian War Memorial.

“Nola’s passion and vision for the Memorial’s collection has been an important part of ensuring it is and remains a world-class museum. During her tenure as acting Director, Nola has provided remarkable leadership in extraordinary circumstances while deftly managing the many complexities of a most demanding position”, said Rear Admiral Doolan.

Nola is the author of Australian War Memorial: treasures from a century of collecting, a best-selling book telling the story of the Memorial’s collection from its humble beginnings in the trenches of the First World War to the war in Afghanistan. Published in October this year, the book was a labour of love for Nola over the past three years.

“Australian War Memorial: treasures from a century of collecting is a remarkable achievement and a fitting legacy of Nola’s extraordinary career at the Memorial,” said Rear Admiral Doolan.

Nola Anderson has been Assistant Director and Branch Head National Collection since September 2003 and acting Director since November 2011. During her time at the Memorial, she had a variety of roles in collection management and exhibition development, including being Head of Photographs Film and Sound and curating a number of successful exhibitions. In 1998 Nola was awarded a 12-month residential Smithsonian Research Fellowship in Museum Studies. 

The Hon Dr Brendan Nelson will take up the position of Director of the Australian War Memorial on Monday 17 December.