Michael Dixon (museum director)

Sir Michael Dixon
Director, Natural History Museum
Incumbent
Assumed office 2004
Preceded by	Sir Neil Chalmers
Personal details
Born	16 March 1956

Sir Michael Dixon (born 16 March 1956) is the Director of the Natural History Museum in London, England.

Early life

Dixon was born on 16 March 1956. He was educated at Tiffin School, a boys grammar school in Kingston upon Thames.^[1] He studied at Imperial College London, graduating Bachelor of Science (BSc) and was awarded Associateship of the Royal College of Science (ARCS). He undertook postgraduate studies at the University of York, completing his Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) degree in 1984.^[2]

Career

He was Director General of the Zoological Society of London and became Director of the Natural History Museum on 1 June 2004.^[3] The appointment of Dixon at the NHM is noteworthy in its marking a break with tradition in which the Director has been an eminent practising scientist.

As of 2015, Dixon was paid a salary of between £160,000 and £164,999 by the Natural History Museum, making him one of the 328 most highly paid people in the British public sector at that time.^[4]

Dixon was knighted in the Birthday Honours for 2014 in recognition of his services to museums.^[5]

Personal life

In 1988, Dixon married Richenda Milton-Thompson. Together they had two children; one son and one daughter. They divorced in 1999. In 2001, he married for a second time to Deborah Mary Reece (née McMahon). Together they have one son.^[2]

References

1. "TIFFNEWS No. 226", 22 December 2005.
2. "DIXON, Dr Michael". Who's Who 2014. A & C Black. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
3. "New director for the Natural History Museum". Sciencecentres.
4. "Senior officials 'high earners' salaries as at 30 September 2015 - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. 2015-12-17. Retrieved 2016-03-13.
5. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 60895. p. b2. 14 June 2014.

Notes

• 'Dixon to head Natural History Museum', The Independent (10 January 2004)
• National Museum Directors Conference