Director’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Life and Community of the Museum 2024

Patrick Baum has demonstrated a deep commitment to the National Museum of Australia, to his colleagues and to the visitor experience in the quarter of a century he has been with the organisation. He exhibits an enduring pride in the work of the Museum and the teams that he feels privileged to work with.

Patrick epitomises collaborative culture, where any opportunity to engage with and support his colleagues across the Museum is met with great enthusiasm and dedication. He approaches varied collection work with equanimity, no matter the scale or complexity.

In his various registration and project roles, Patrick has been involved in some way with every major collection-related activity of the Museum. Many of the collections he has worked with have been foundational and transformative to the Museum, such as the two thousand objects that form the Springfield–Faithfull family collection and the three-and-half thousand objects comprising the Trevor Kennedy Collection.

Patrick has served the Museum with honour and integrity. He is exceptionally dependable, showing up when and where he is needed most. He accommodates the long hours, early mornings, late nights and the long-haul trips when it is required and does so with great appreciation and professionalism.