Catriona McIntosh AMA

Visitor Services Supervisor – Engagement, National Trust for Scotland – Culloden Battlefield

I have been in various roles in museums, from cataloguing zoological collections to learning and managing a historic site. When I started my AMA I worked in a role equivalent to a learning officer. Over the three years it took to complete there were major staffing changes and the AMA flexed to suit my circumstances.

I don’t have a museum studies qualification and I found that the AMA allowed me the opportunity to fill the gaps in museum theory knowledge. It gave me the opportunity to meet more people in the sector and the confidence in my professional abilities.

Having a mentor was really helpful – I was able to ask questions and get advice – she steered me to people I should chat to and it was great to have someone who was incredibly supportive.

During my AMA I became the support group coordinator for Scotland and I volunteered at the conference in Brighton and Belfast – invaluable experiences for networking and listening to brilliant speakers.

My final AMA project stretched me in areas where I had not had the opportunity to develop professional skills. The support from Tamsin, my mentor and the learning sector in Scotland was brilliant. I liked that it was a real project which genuinely made a difference.

The AMA has given me a recognised professional qualification and has opened doors to exciting opportunities, it has boosted my confidence and challenged my thoughts on the museum sector. It is what you make it and I highly recommend it to anyone in the field.