Jenni Brammall

Chief Executive Officer

Jenni Brammall was Manager of the Australian Opal Centre / Lightning Ridge Opal and Fossil Centre from 2004 until early 2019, overseeing its development from an idea to a substantial reality, and from reliance on local government seed funding to being a self-funding, nationally significant not-for-profit entity. In 2019-2021 Jenni was the AOC’s Special Projects Officer and from 2022, its Chief Executive Officer.

Jenni has developed and implemented AOC programs; fostered relationships in the opal, gemstone industry, tourism, scientific research, education, museum and cultural sectors; secured and delivered local, NSW and Federal government grant-funded projects; curated, managed and presented more than 30 exhibitions and events, and managed the AOC's nationally significant museum collection. She is now CEO, Principal Representative for the AOC on the AOC building project team, and serves on the AOC Building Subcommittee.

Jenni is a palaeontologist, gemmologist, opal valuer, and valuer of fossils and opal-related items for the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program. Her 35 year career also includes postgraduate research and fieldwork in vertebrate palaeontology; scientific photography; work as a scientific research assistant and university tutor; business administration, bookkeeping, journalism, photography, writing, graphic design, publishing, event management and exhibition development; opal cutting, carving, sales, marketing and jewellery design.

A former board member of Lightning Ridge Tourism Association, Jenni serves on the Reserve Trust for Lightning Ridge Historical Reserve, the Opal Committee of the Gemmological Association of Australia and editorial committee of The Australian Gemmologist. She is a Life Member of Lightning Ridge Historical Society and Life Member and Founder of the AOC. Jenni holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons 1), a Diploma in Gemmology, Post Certificate in Scientific Photography, Certificates II and IV in opal cutting, and National Council of Jewellery Valuers accreditation.