Maggie Appleton
{{Short description|Museum director}}
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Margaret Mary Appleton (born 21 August 1965) is an English museum director. She has been the Chief Executive Officer of the RAF Museum since 2015.{{Cite web |title=CEO RAF Museum Press Release |url=https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/documents/press_releases/cosford/CEO_RAF_Museum_Press_Release.pdf |website=www.rafmuseum.org.uk}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.museumsassociation.org/museums-journal/news/2014/10/27102014-luton-culture-chief-moves-to-head-royal-air-force-museum/|title=Luton Culture chief to head RAF Museum|website=Museums Association|date=27 October 2014 }}
Early life and education
Appleton was born in Wyndham and brought up in Kirkham, Lancashire. Her father died when she was six. She and her sister were brought up by their mother.
Appleton attended Willow Road Catholic Primary School. Her secondary education took place at Lark Hill Newman College.{{Citation needed|date=August 2021}} In 1984, she accepted a place at Liverpool University where she studied medieval and modern history. After graduating, she worked as a medical sales rep and volunteered at Peterborough Museum{{Cite web|url=https://blooloop.com/museum/in-depth/raf-museum-maggie-appleton/|title=Maggie Appleton on the RAF Museum and the challenges of COVID-19|date=August 5, 2020|website=Blooloop}} Appleton completed a MSc in Heritage Management from Birmingham University's Ironbridge Institute.{{Citation needed|date=August 2021}}
Career
Appleton began her career in museums at the Royal Armouries.{{Cite web|url=https://www.alva.org.uk/details.cfm?p=413&codeid=336116|title = ALVA | Association of Leading Visitor Attractions}} In 1991, she moved to Stevenage Museum and was there for 11 years. She left in 2003 to become the director of museums for Luton Museum Service. While there, she oversaw a major renovation of Stockwood Discovery Centre and the acquisition of the medieval Wenlock Jug.{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/beds/bucks/herts/4743400.stm|title=Luton fights New York in jug war|date=23 February 2006}} In 2008, she set up Luton Culture, an independent charitable trust, and became its first chief executive. Appleton was appointed CEO of the RAF Museum in October 2014.{{Cite web|title=Maggie Appleton to lead Royal Air Force Museum|url=https://www.artsprofessional.co.uk/magazine/278/faces/maggie-appleton-lead-royal-air-force-museum|access-date=2021-08-31|website=ArtsProfessional|language=en}} As the CEO, she led the Museum's £26M transformation to mark the centenary of the Royal Air Force in 2018. She served as the president of the Museums Association between 2018 and 2021.{{Cite web|date=2018-02-08|title=RAF Museum CEO appointed President of The Museums Association • The Military Times|url=https://www.themilitarytimes.co.uk/news/uk/raf-museum-ceo-appointed-president-of-the-museums-association/|access-date=2021-08-31|website=The Military Times|language=en-GB}}
Awards
Appleton was awarded an MBE for services to museums and heritage in 2011.{{Cite web|author=Guardian Staff|date=2011-12-31|title=New Year honours list: Order of the British Empire, Member (MBE)|url=http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/dec/31/new-tear-honours-list-mbe|access-date=2021-08-31|website=The Guardian|language=en}} She is an honorary graduate of the University of Middlesex.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mdx.ac.uk/about-us/our-people/honorary-graduates|title=Honorary graduates | Middlesex University London|website=www.mdx.ac.uk}}