Dr Paul Bayliss

Dr Paul Bayliss has served in the role as Absa Senior Specialist Art Curator since 2011. His role as Absa Art and Museum Curator includes the management of Absa’s extensive art collection; coordinating the Absa L’Atelier; and, managing the Absa Gallery, the Money Museum, and Absa Archives. He was responsible for the conception and design of the Money Museum that opened in Absa Towers West, in the Johannesburg cbd, in 2011, and is regarded as one of South Africa’s leading numismatic specialists. He has written and / or edited several, books, articles and scientific papers and has made various presentations and delivered papers at conferences internationally and across South Africa.
His prior role in Absa includes: General Manager, Consumer Education (2009 – 2010); Manager, Corporate Social Investment (2006 – 2009); Employee Community Involvement and Heritage (2004 – 2006) and Absa Group Museum and Archives (2003 – 2004).
Prior to joining Absa, Dr Bayliss served as Acting CEO at Ditsong Museums of South Africa (DMSA) in 2002. He also held a number of senior management positions at DMSA.
He has curated more than a hundred and twenty visual art exhibitions to date. He is registered for his second PhD in Visual Art at the University of Pretoria, South Africa.
His opinion on heritage matters is constantly sought both locally and abroad. He is presently museum advisor to the South African Reserve Bank, on their head office redevelopment project. He is also currently vice-chair of the Iziko Museums of South Africa Council and Chairperson of their Core-Functions Committee. He also forms part of the IQOQO Visual Art Technical Team, an initiative by the French Embassy in South Africa and the French Institute in South Africa (IFAS) for the South African creative and cultural industry.