Dr. Vanda Vitali

Former Chief Executive of the Canadian Museums Association

Dr. Vanda Vitali, scientist and art historian, award winning institutional leader, known for transforming organizations into dynamic centers for public engagement.  Dr. Vitali is an international museum executive.  She was executive director and the Chief Executive of the Canadian Museums Association from 2019 through 2021.  She has been director and chief executive at the Auckland Museum in Auckland, New Zealand, from 2007 through 2010, the first and only woman ever appointed to that role.  She was Vice president, public programs and director, content development at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, in Los Angeles, California, from 2002 to 2007.  

Dr. Vitali studied both fine arts and physical chemistry as an undergraduate at the University of Toronto, before receiving her Ph.D. in materials science at that university. Her research involved  the application of physics  to archaeological objects and works of art.   This was followed by postdoctoral studies in epistemology at the Ecole des Haute Etudes en Science Sociales, Paris, France.  Among her many awards and honors were Commander of the Order of Merit for Culture, Tunisia and Bausch and Lomb Merit Award for Physics.