She replaces Noel Murphy who is leaving the
organisation to take up a new position in London with Yale University Press.
Ms Ferguson joins the Book Council from
Creative New Zealand where she has held the position of Arts Advisor:
Literature since December 2009.
“The Board of the Book Council is delighted
with the appointment of Catriona,” Peter Biggs, Chair of the Book Council
Board, said. “Throughout her working life, literature has always been her
passion. She’s been a book seller and a book shop manager; a literature
development officer for a UK local authority; and a literature event programmer
for the British Council. All of this, combined with Catriona’s most recent role
at Creative New Zealand, gives her a fantastic understanding of the literature
space – both in New Zealand and around the world.
“Under Catriona’s leadership, the Book
Council has an exciting future as we build on the great platform Noel has built
and begin to fulfil our mandate as an arts leadership organisation within
Creative New Zealand’s Toi Totara Haemata programme.”
Mr Biggs added that Ms Ferguson was the
stand-out candidate from a short list of six “exceptional candidates.”
Ms Ferguson said: “I am thrilled to be joining
the team at the Book Council, an organisation with readers and writers at its
core. New Zealand has plenty of both – and the Book Council has always been a
great supporter and advocate for them. I look forward to being part of the
organisation’s wonderful work in the future.”
Ms Ferguson will be based in Auckland and
commute between Auckland and Wellington where the head office of the Book
Council is located.
She begins her new role on Monday 24 September
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