Heather Norton, President/CEO

Heather Norton has had a passion for education since her career began. At the start of her career, Norton worked at Sea World Orlando and as an English teacher in Gunpo, South Korea, but quickly found herself leading educational programs and operations at some of the most recognized and respected science centers in the United States.

Norton joined the Orlando Science Center in 2007 as a Science Interpreter. During her early years at the science center, she became enthusiastic about experiential, hands-on learning and enjoyed aligning her work to the mission of the museum. Over the course of 12 years at Orlando Science Center, she was promoted to Vice President of Education, overseeing a staff of 80 and generating revenue of $7.9 million on an operating budget of $3 million. She managed all educational departments including school services, camp and classes, overnights, offsites, a STEM preschool, science competitions, teacher professional development, reservations and birthdays.

From Orlando Science Center, Norton continued to pursue her passion for science education when she joined Discovery Place in Charlotte, NC in 2019. As Vice President, Learning Experiences, Norton managed all museum experiences, educational programs, and established general operating procedures to ensure the timely, cost-effective, and high-quality execution of fee-based programs from concept to the final product.

Most recently, Norton was Discovery Place’s Chief Science Officer. In this role, Norton oversaw Discovery Place’s Science and Nature museums, generating $8.7 million in operating revenues and attracting more than 395,000 visitors annually. Norton’s responsibilities included management of all operations, experiences, programming, staffing, and activities for both museums, which included up to 80 employees. She also led traveling exhibitions, collections, IMAX theater, school programming, adult programs, and event rentals.

As Chief Science Officer, Norton also worked closely with the museum’s advancement team, managing donor relationships, fostering connections with potential donors and community leaders, and securing $3.5 million in funding during her six years with the organization. She also managed major capital projects and improvements including the Charlotte Museum of Nature and adjoining campus which includes outdoor animal habitats, a tree canopy walk, exhibit galleries, and a public plaza.

Norton has a master’s degree in museum education from the University of British Columbia and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from University of Central Florida. Her educational background and professional experience, combined with her passion for inclusive learning experiences, make her ideally equipped to lead The Discovery into its next phase of innovation and growth.