Kim Sajet on standing up to Trump and leading with courage

Australian art expert Kim Sajet, former director of the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery, will speak on courageous leadership after being targeted by former US President Donald Trump. She resigned in May 2025 amid political pressure over her past Democratic donations and rejection of a pro-Trump portrait. Trump called Sajet "highly partisan" and a supporter of diversity programs, while Vice President JD Vance branded her a "left-wing crazy person." The administration released a 162-page report criticising Smithsonian exhibitions, and Trump ordered signs warning visitors about ideologically tainted interpretations of history. Sajet now leads the Milwaukee Art Museum and argues museums should move away from blockbuster entertainment models toward their educational mission. She advises cultural leaders to align personal values with institutional missions, citing evidence-based history and knowledge as core principles.