Ms Clare Valentine
Collections Leader
Division: LS Department Operations Team
Summary
Roles:
Head of Life Sciences Collections
I lead the strategic development and management of the collection and associated staff within the Life Sciences Department to deliver the objectives of the Museum and Science strategies. I am expected to benchmark our collections and collections management standards against other international institutions, to deliver ‘research ready’ and ‘exhibition enabled’ collections for the future. Working together with colleagues across the Science, Public Engagement and Development groups, I am expected to deliver major cross-museum projects, secure external funding and represent the collection and the Museum to scientific, public and corporate audiences. I work closely with staff to prioritise activities and resources to ensure collections are expertly curated and both the specimens and the associated data are accessible to users.
Main Accountabilities:
Collection development
• Lead and deliver a long-term, sustainable vision for development of the Departmental collection guided by the Museum and Science Strategies
• Derive an international benchmark for the relevant collections in consultation with other equivalent collections leaders on the international stage
• Develop and implement a strategy for moving the NHM collections towards greater international relevance and excellence, working towards a ‘research ready’, ‘exhibition enabled’ collection for the future
• Lead the acquisition and digitisation strategies for the Department
Management of collection, staff and resources
• In conjunction with the Head of Department and Heads of Division, oversee the integration of research and curation activities and the delivery of income targets
• Line manage the Principal Curators-in-Charge to ensure delivery of targets and performance expectations, establishing a culture of performance management
• Prioritise and manage collection resources and budgets in line with Departmental plans
• Lead major collection-oriented projects within the museum’s project management framework
• Work with HR to develop a strategy for succession planning, talent management and development for growth
• Work with the Registrar in developing and reviewing collections policies and procedures to ensure legal compliance and relevance
• Work to ensure Departmental collections are housed under acceptable minimum standards, including those relating to conservation and security
• Leads Departmental collection management input into Museum disaster and business continuity plans.
Cross-museum leadership, projects and income generation
• Play an active role as senior leader and manager in the Museum, establishing strong relationships with other senior managers across the organisation
• Represent collections in cross-museum activities and work with colleagues across the museum to deliver major projects and activities and secure external support for Museum strategic priorities
• Represent the Museum to promote the use of the collection for both internal and external research, public outreach and exhibitions
I have expertise, personal interest and involvement with a number of cross-departmental projects such as the collections store room refurbishments and collections moves; curator competencies and Integrated Pest Management risk zones.
Qualifications
- MSc, University of Leicester, U.K., 1988 - 1989
- BSc, Queen's University of Belfast, U.K, 1984 - 1988
Degrees
Employment history
Non-academic
Head of Life Sciences Collections (permanent appointment), Natural History Museum, United Kingdom, 2017 - ongoing
Deputy Chair of Collections Committee (3 year term), Natural History Museum, 2015 - 2016
Head of Life Sciences Collections (3 year term), Natural History Museum, Life Sciences, 2015 - 2016
Chair of Collections Committee (3 year term), Natural History Museum, 2012 - 2015
Head of Life Sciences Collections (3 year term), Natural History Museum, 2012 - 2015
Head of Zoology Collections, Natural History Museum, Zoology Department, 2003 - 2012
Collections Manager, Lower Invertebrates, Natural History Museum, Zoology Departmert, 2001 - 2009
Curator of Recent Porifera, Invertebrates 1 Curation Group, Natural History Museum, Zoology Departmert, 1993 - 2010
Curator working jointly for the Mammal Group and Invertebrates 2 Curation Group, (Employed on 2-year contract), Natural History Museum, Zoology Departmert, 1992 - 1993
Assistant Curator, Natural Sciences, Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery, 1990 - 1991
Other projects
Acquisition of the Magnano Collection of Beetles
Role: Member
Funding: Museum development
Committees
Chair, Collections Committee, 2012 - on going.
Other, Integrated Pest Management Group,
Member, Board of Trustees,
Publications
Valentine C, Long SL (2017) Case Study: Natural History Collections, In: Valuing Your Collection: A Practical Guide for Museums, Libraries and Archives., Matassa F (Eds). Facet Publications : 170 - 173.
Kelly M, Edwards AR, Wilkinson MR, Alvarez B, de C Cook S, Bergquist PR, Buckeridge JS, Campbell HJ, Reiswig HM, Valentine C (null) Porifera., In: New Zealand Inventory of Biodiversity. Volume 1. Kingdom Animalia: Radiata, Lophotrochozoa, Deuterostomia., Canterbury University Press :
Valentine C, Long S, Collins C (2008) Assessing Standards of Collections Care in a multi-disciplinary institution.. ICOM-CC Natural History Working Group Newsletter, February 2008.,
SABIN RC, ADAMS MP, VALENTINE CA (2004) Elephants in the attic. :
KLAUTAU M, VALENTINE C (2003) Revision of the genus Clathrina (Porifera, Calcarea). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 139 (1) : 1 - 62. doi: 10.1046/j.0024-4082.2003.00063.x
John DM, PATERSON GLJ, EVANS NJ, Ramírez ME, SPENCER JONES ME, Báez PD, FERRERO TJ, VALENTINE CA, REID DG (2003) Manual de biotopos marinos de la region de Aysén, sur de Chile. (A Manual of marine biotopes of Region Aysén, Southern Chile. The Laguna San Rafael National Park, Estero Elefantes, Chonos Archipelago And Katalalixar). Biodiversity Aysén Project : London.
Desqueyroux-Faundez R, VALENTINE C (2002) Family Phloeodictyidae, In: Systema Porifera., Hooper JNA, van Soest RWM (Eds). Plenum Press : 893 - 917.
Desqueyroux-Faundez R, VALENTINE C (2002) Family Petrosidae, In: Systema Porifera., Hooper JNA, van Soest RWM (Eds). Plenum Press : 906 - 917.
Desqueyroux-Faundez R, VALENTINE C (2002) Family Niphatidae, In: Systema Porifera., Hooper JNA, van Soest RWM (Eds). Plenum Press : 874 - 889.
Desqueyroux-Faundez R, VALENTINE C (2002) Family Callyspongidae, In: Systema Porifera., Hooper JNA, van Soest RWM (Eds). Plenum Press : 835 - 851.
Rapp HT, Klautau M, Valentine C (2001) Two new species ofClathrina(Porifera, Calcarea) from the Norwegian coast. Sarsia, 86 (1) : 69 - 74. doi: 10.1080/00364827.2001.10420462
Klautau M, Valentine C (2000) Book Review: Sponges of the New Caledonian Lagoon. (Edited by Claude Lévi.). Journal of Natural History, 34 : 157 - 158.
Hooper JNA, List-Armitage S, Kennedy JA, Cook SD (null) Sponges of the Low isles, Great Barrier Reef: an important scientific site, or case of mistaken identity?. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum, 44 : 249 - 262.
Valentine C (1999) My favourite specimen.. NHM: The Magazine for Members of the Natural History Museum,
Valentine C, Andrew K, Lampard D, Valentine C (1996) Report on the Second World Congress on the Care and Preservation of Natural History Collections, University of Cambridge, 20-24 August 1996.. The Biology Curator,
Kelly-Borges M, Valentine CA (1995) The Sponges of the Tropical Island Region of Oceania : A Taxonomic Status Review., In: Marine and Coastal Biodiversity in the Tropical Island Pacific Region. Volume 1. Species Systematics and Information Management Priorities., Maragos JE (Eds). null :
Valentine C (null) Review of the Pest Control Course held at Luton Museum.. UKIC Natural Sciences Section Newsletter.,