Sharjah Maritime Museum & Aquarium

Between 2006 and 2009, I project managed the building and fit-out of Sharjah Maritime Museum and Aquarium, a twin attraction that would become a cornerstone of the emirate's cultural offer.

I served as the client co-ordinator for an extensive delivery team that included site engineers, building and exhibition design contractors—ensuring that creative vision and practical execution moved forward in harmony.

The role required me to work across multiple disciplines simultaneously. I coordinated intricate project schedules, training and managing a curatorial team whose responsibilities spanned research, oral history recording and conservation. One of the most rewarding aspects was sourcing and purchasing collections for the museum. I built relationships with collectors and craftspeople, acquiring maritime artifacts and traditional craft that would form the heart of our interpretive programme.

As the project moved toward completion, I developed comprehensive business plans for the museum's long-term sustainability, then recruited and selected the operational management team who would welcome its first visitors. The museum and aquarium opened in 2010, attracting over 200,000 visitors in its first eighteen months.