Heidi Jõks challenges climate ministry over museum director contest

Heidi Jõks, director of Estonia’s Natural History Museum, has sued the Ministry of Climate over a director selection process, and a court has suspended the competition’s final decision until September 23, ERR reported, citing Postimees.

Jõks, who was not reappointed in the July competition, challenged the process in an administrative court after it drew public criticism.

“The court issued an interim legal protection decision today, giving hope that we are moving closer to a compromise that could restore working peace at the museum,” Jõks said.

The competition selected Riina Roosipuu, a former director of the TV tower and Eesti Loto, as the museum’s new head.

The Museums Association criticised the decision, saying the new director had no experience in museum work and was an official at the Ministry of Climate. It also said the selection committee consisted only of ministry managers and employees, without any independent experts in museums, memory institutions, nature education or the natural sciences.

The association noted that the selected candidate’s direct supervisor was on the selection committee, as was an employee subordinate to that supervisor.

Several Estonian museum directors said the competition raised questions about its purpose, transparency and legality.

Jõks’s five-year contract ends on November 30. She has led the museum for nearly 15 years.