ORDINARY MEMBER

DR ETHEL VILLAFRANCA

With nearly three decades of international experience across the Philippines, USA, and Australia, Dr Ethel Villafranca has made lasting contributions to museums and cultural institutions worldwide. She has held roles at the Ayala Museum, Lopez Museum and Library, and Museum of Chinese Australian History, and completed graduate internships at institutions including the Smithsonian, Florida Museum of Natural History, and Harn Museum of Art.

As an Academic Engagement Fellow at the University of Melbourne, Ethel collaborates across nine faculties to deliver transformative student experiences through Science Gallery Melbourne. Her work bridges academia and cultural institutions, encouraging interdisciplinary engagement.

A Fulbright alumna, she holds a PhD from the University of Melbourne and an MA in Museology from the University of Florida. Ethel co-designed and delivered a UNESCO Philippines-funded museum training program, reaching over 200 museum professionals across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. She also authored Making Museums Work: A Zero In Handbook, the first comprehensive guide to museum practice in the Philippines.

Ethel is President of Education Network Victoria (ENVi) and a committee member of the Council of Australian University Museums and Collections. Her contributions have been recognised with awards including the Asian Cultural Council Fellowship and Melbourne International Research Scholarship.