Sebastian Chan

Sebastian Chan has a diverse and extensive work experience in various roles and industries. Sebastian currently serves as the Director & CEO at ACMI, a position they have held since August 2022. In this role, they are responsible for overseeing the holistic experience design at ACMI, including visitor experience, marketing, brand & communication design, and digital products. Sebastian is also leading the overall experience design and technology in ACMI's $40 million Renewal project. Prior to this, Sebastian worked at ACMI as the CXO/Chief Experience Officer from September 2015 to August 2022.

Aside from their role at ACMI, Sebastian has also been an Adjunct Professor at RMIT University since July 2017, teaching in the School of Media and Communications within the College of Design and Social Context.

Sebastian's previous experiences include working as a museum consultant, providing strategic digital planning for cultural heritage institutions. Sebastian has worked with various organizations, including the Australian National Maritime Museum, Balboa Park Online Collaborative, Auckland Museum, and Questacon, among others.

Sebastian has also held senior executive positions at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum and Powerhouse Museum. At Cooper Hewitt, Sebastian served as the Director of Digital & Emerging Media from November 2011 to August 2015, managing the design, production, and development of all digital content and experiences. At Powerhouse Museum, they held multiple roles, including Head of Digital, Social and Emerging Technologies, Manager of Web Services, and Systems Administrator.

Prior to their work in museums, Sebastian founded and served as the Editor-in-Chief of Cyclic Defrost, an electronic and experimental music magazine. Sebastian also worked as a freelance journalist and founded Frigid, a music project dedicated to independent music makers and labels.

Sebastian's work experience showcases their expertise in experience design, digital strategy, and leadership roles within museums and cultural institutions. Sebastian'sextensive background in academia, consulting, and media highlights their versatility and passion for the arts and technology.

Sebastian Chan completed a Bachelor of Social Work (First Class Honours) in Social Policy at UNSW from 1991 to 1994. Later, in 1995, they pursued a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree at UNSW, although it remains incomplete. In 2016, they attended the Museum Leadership Institute, but no specific degree or field of study was mentioned.