Open to opportunities

Brian Maina

@brianmaina3

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Digitisation project lead specializing in cultural archives modernization.

Kenya

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What I'm looking for

I seek roles leading digitisation and digital preservation projects in culturally-driven organizations where I can apply metadata, DAM/CMS expertise and exhibit curation to broaden access to heritage collections.

I am a digitisation project lead with extensive experience managing large-scale cultural heritage and archival digitisation projects across Kenya and with international partners.

I have led digitisation and metadata programmes for institutions including the National Museums of Kenya, Camerapix/The Mohamed Amin Foundation, and Google Arts & Culture, delivering large collections online and creating structured catalogues and preservation workflows.

My hands-on approach combines technical expertise in digital asset management, metadata modelling and quality assurance with a research-driven commitment to uncovering and preserving hidden histories.

I am passionate about making collections digitally accessible, building scalable DAM/CMS/EDMS configurations, and producing compelling online exhibits that increase public access to cultural heritage.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Research Assistant

Current

Louise Rytter

Jan 2025 - Present (1 year)

Collaborated on research and artisan scouting for the Loewe Foundation Craft Prize 2026, supporting and coordinating applications for 131 African and 84 Nordic artisans.

Research Artisan Scouting Data Collection Project Coordination Reporting

Current

Digitization Consultant

Current

Camerapix

Jan 2021 - Present (5 years)

Led digitization of 6,000+ historical Kenyan athletics images for Google Arts & Culture and curated 20 online exhibits; developed metadata systems for 1,000+ historical films and a 1,716-book digital catalogue for the Mohamed Amin/Jomo Kenyatta collections.

Metadata Google Arts & Culture Quality Assurance

Digitization Officer

National Museums of Kenya

Jan 2018 - Dec 2019 (1 year 11 months)

Supported delivery of the Utamaduni Wetu Google Arts & Culture project, managed metadata structuring and QA for 10,000+ museum objects, and produced 100+ online exhibits using digital storytelling tools.

Metadata Management Digital Preservation Google Arts & Culture QA Collections Management

PR & Communications Intern

Kenyatta University

Jan 2016 - Dec 2016 (11 months)

Wrote press releases for national newspapers and university newsletters and contributed to the editorial team for the 25th anniversary magazine Celebrating 25 Years of Cultural Convergence.

Internal Communications Media Relations Content Production

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

KASNEB

Level 3 Certificate, Data Management & Analytics

Enrolled in a Level 3 Data Management & Analytics program (in progress).

Chinese Red Cross National Training Centre

Certification, Youth Leadership and Humanitarian Capacity Building

2025 - 2025

Completed certification in Youth Leadership and Humanitarian Capacity Building at the Chinese Red Cross National Training Centre.

Kenyatta University

Internship, Public Relations

2016 - 2016

Activities and societies: Wrote press releases for national newspapers; contributed to editorial team for 'Celebrating 25 Years of Cultural Convergence' magazine.

Completed an internship in Public Relations & Communications contributing to press releases and the editorial team for the university magazine.