The National Gallery of Australia has appointed its first deputy director since 2013, in the first sign of restructuring at the gallery under director Gerard Vaughan.
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Shepparton Art Museum director Kirsten Paisley will take up the position on August 10.
The gallery has been without a deputy director since Alan Froud retired in August 2013, with the senior management team consisting of four assistant directors who will remain as part of the changes.
Mrs Paisley said she was looking forward to being part of the "excitement and energy" surrounding the gallery, since Dr Vaughan's appointment last November, and the "interesting changes in the wings".
"I'm sure more will be revealed in respect to Gerard's vision," she said.
"I need to get my feet under the desk first, but I look forward to being part of the developing program Gerard and the directors are working on."
At a time when allegations of stolen antiquities still mar the gallery, Mrs Paisley said Dr Vaughan was well placed to handle the global issue.
"The thing that is really revealing itself to the public on this issue is that it's an international issue facing many museums around the world, the NGA is just one of them unfortunately," she said.
"The NGA will provide some leadership on how to deal with these issues going forward."
As director at Shepparton since 2007, Mrs Paisley led the organisation through a period of change and growth.
"Kirsten brings significant expertise in arts management and a successful career in fundraising and we are very pleased to be welcoming her to the NGA in Canberra," Dr Vaughan said.
Mrs Paisley said she had a particular passion for contemporary Australian art, but it was too soon to reveal what impact she may have on the gallery.
"My background is certainly not in Asian antiquities, my interest is Australian art and I'm very excited about the NGA for its potential to be the home for Australian art and in many ways it is already as it should be," she said.
Mrs Paisley has held positions at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art and the Art Gallery of Ballarat and has worked in the visual-arts sector since joining Heide Museum of Modern Art in 1998.
She has a masters in curatorship from the University of Melbourne and a senior executive MBA from the Melbourne Business School.
