ROM Board of Governors Announces Dianne Lister as President and Executive Director

The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) Board of Governors announced today the appointment of Dianne Lister as its new President and Executive Director, beginning on May 16, 2011.

Ms. Lister is a lawyer and seasoned philanthropic professional with a wide range of leadership experience in health care, philanthropic consulting and education. From 1993 to 2003 she was the President and CEO of The Hospital for Sick Children Foundation and prior to that its Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. This is the largest hospital foundation in North America and during her tenure the foundation grew its annual revenues from $6 million to $50 million, its asset base from $100 million to $425 million, and its annual donor base from 70,000 to 110,000.


Most recently she served as Vice-President, External Relations and Advancement at Trent University in Peterborough from 2006 to 2011, where she created the first External Relations Portfolio comprised of specialists in government relations, communications, marketing, branding, alumni affairs, advancement and stewardship. Ms. Lister was also responsible for establishing a ground breaking campaign to realize $50 million in new investments by Trent’s 50th anniversary in 2014. This project is the largest philanthropic campaign in the history of the University.


Prior to joining Trent University, Ms. Lister was Principal of The Dianne Lister Group, a national consulting business for the non-profit and philanthropic sectors.


“I’m delighted that Dianne Lister has accepted this critical leadership role with the ROM Governors,” said Janet Carding, ROM Director and CEO. “Dianne’s extensive philanthropic experience will be of enormous benefit to the ROM Governor’s current mandate, which includes focus on the areas of visitor accessibility, digital content, education, programming and exhibits, research and collections, and gallery development.”


“The ROM Governors are delighted to welcome a new leader with such a depth and breadth of philanthropic experience,” said Robert Farquharson, Chair of the ROM Board of Governors. “Dianne brings a wealth of knowledge and passion for the ROM to her leadership role. We are looking forward to working with her and achieving new heights of success for the Royal Ontario Museum in the years ahead.”


The ROM Governors are committed to the long-term financial health of the Museum, raising and directing funds for its highest priorities and fostering sustainable relationships of exceptional value both to the institution and its donors. The ROM Governors are also accountable for a variety of the Museum’s philanthropic, sponsorship and patron programs.


“The opportunity to join a remarkable cultural institution like the ROM is truly exciting,“ said Dianne Lister. “I’m looking forward to generating support for the Museum, especially at this transformation time as the ROM approaches its 100th anniversary in 2014. I’m honoured with the prospect of working with an outstanding group of staff members, volunteers, donors and patrons to reach out to new communities in Canada – and around the globe - and build upon the tremendous achievements to date.”


Ms. Lister earned an Honours B.A. in English Literature from Trent University in 1976 and an LL.B. from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1980. She holds a Certificate in Magazine Journalism from Ryerson University, completed the Harvard-MIT Program in Negotiation, and is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE).


She was the first Canadian to receive the International Outstanding Fundraising Executive of the Year Award by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) in 2002, and the first Canadian to assume the position of Chair of the International Ethics Committee of AFP in 2008. Ms. Lister holds professional memberships in the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the Law Society of Upper Canada, and the Canadian and Ontario Bar Associations.


The Royal Ontario Museum is an agency of the Government of Ontario under the leadership of Janet Carding, Director and CEO together with a ROM Board of Trustees. The ROM Board of Governors is a private-sector board made up of 30 diverse business and civic leaders primarily from communities across Ontario. A full list of Board members and more information about the ROM Governors and the ROM Trustees is available at click here.


About the ROM
The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is one of Canada’s largest museums and one of the world’s most prestigious cultural institutions dedicated to world cultures and natural history. With a collection of more than six million artifacts and research activities that span the globe, the ROM has established itself as a must see destination in Toronto.


In 2007, the ROM was dramatically reenergized with the addition of the extraordinary Daniel Libeskind designed Michael Lee Chin Crystal, a provocative new landmark that sparked city wide excitement and fundamentally altered the cultural landscape. The ROM continues to expand its new galleries with four new permanent galleries opening in July 2011, including the Eaton Gallery of Rome, the Joey and Toby Tanenbaum Gallery of Byzantium, the Joey and Toby Tanenbaum Gallery of Rome and the Near East, and the Galleries of Africa: Nubia.


The ROM is committed to leadership in ensuring accessibility for all visitors, while making innovative enhancements in the areas of digital content, education, programming and exhibits, research and collections, and gallery development.