Board of Directors

Membership

The seven-member Board comprises:

  • President

  • Institutional Director - elected by Institutional Members

  • General Directors - 5 positions.

The President serves for a three-year term. Directors serve for a three-year term, with the option to stand for a second term.

One Director other than the President is appointed each year by the Board from the current Board membership to serve as the Vice-President.

The Association endeavours to assemble a Board with diverse experience and perspectives. 

Directors are elected by Members and successful candidates take office following the Annual General Meeting. 

Directors sit on Board Sub-Committees and liaise with ALIA Advisory Committees.

ALIA is governed by its Board of Directors according to the Association's Constitution and By-laws. ALIA Directors are bound by the Code of Conduct contained within the ALIA Board Charter.

More information about how the Board works and what it means to be a member of the Board can be found here.

ALIA Board Members 2023-26

Jane Cowell   President  

President 2023 AGM - 2026 AGM

Qualifications:

Curtin University of Technology Bachelor of Applied Science, Information Management

Current position:

CEO, Yarra Plenty Regional Library Service

Previous positions:

  • Executive Director Engagement and Partnerships State Library of Queensland

  • Director Regional Access and Public Library Services State Library of Queensland

  • Manager Community Research & Strategy Division, AECgroup Brisbane

  • Manager Library Services Caboolture Shire Council

  • Hinterland Services Librarian Caloundra City Council

Professional activities:

  • 2019-2023 Public Libraries Standing Committee (Elected) International Federation of Library Associations

  • 2021-2023 Libraries for Health and WellBeing Working Party (State Library of Victoria & Public Libraries Victoria

  • 2016–2017 New Media Consortium (NMC) Horizon Report: Libraries

  • 2016–2018 Director ALIA Board (Elected)

  • 2015–2016 National State Libraries Australasia (NSLA) (SLQ representative)

  • 2012–2013 ALIA Information Online Conference Committee (Chair)

  • 2011–2014 NSLA Literacy and Learning Committee

  • 2010–2012 National Year of Reading 2012, Founding Partners

  • 2010  ALIA Early Literacy Statement development committee

    I have presented at numerous Library Conferences nationally and internationally on Public Libraries, community inclusion, future challenges for libraries. I write accessible articles for library professionals ensuring the sharing of ideas and thoughts aimed at library professionals. I am also a current mentor for the ALIA mentoring program.

Statement of professional concerns:

As President, I will be a vocal advocate for libraries, build confidence for library professionals in the work they do, be an advocate for themselves in their career, and to ensure every ALIA member has the confidence to invest in themselves and their own selfcare. As President I also see a very important role for ALIA to build greater Thought Leadership in library practice and to ensure leading practice is shared nationally moving to a real Test, Try and Learn approach in the industry with best practice from aligned sectors to support future relevant libraries and resilient library professionals.

Emilia Bell

Director 2024 AGM-2026 AGM

Qualifications 

    • Foundations of Directorship, AICD
    • PhD Candidate, Curtin
    • Grad Cert, CSU
    • MLIS, CSU
    • BA, UQ

    Current Position

    Coordinator, Evidence-Based Practice

    Previous Positions

    • Manager, Research/Education Liaison (acting), UniSQ
    • Research Assistant
    • Library Assistant
    • Intern, Parliamentary Library

    Professional Activities

    • Speaker: ALIA (National, NSLX, LARK Symposium, & Research Seminar); ALA IRRT; IFLA ENSULIB; Arlis/ANZ; CAUL; Deakin Uni (incoming); Open Education Network; LibPMC; Northeast OER Summit
    • Publications: JALIA (reviewer), IFLA J. (reviewer); EBLIP J.; J. Doc; IFLA ENSULIB newsletter, Blogs (CAUL, LARK, & CSU); UniSQ Open Texts
    • Committees: Co-Founder (ANDPA); Member (ALIA LARK); Member/Co-Chair (NGAC - 2021-22); Co-Convenor (UniSQ Disability Network); Co-Chair (IDEA Advisory Committee, UniSQ Library)
    • Co-host: GLAMR Disability in Dialogue [Podcast]

    Janette Wright

    Director 2024 AGM-2025 AGM

    Qualifications:

    • Graduate, Australian Institute of Company Directors, 2023
    • Masters Knowledge Management, University of Melbourne, 2006 
    • Graduate Diploma Library and Information Science, Curtin University, 1979 
    • Bachelor of Psychology, University of Western Australia, 1980

    Current position:
    Director, University Library, Federation University Australia

    Previous positions:

    • Dean of Libraries, United Arab Emierates University, Abu Dhabi
    • Founder, Biblio Insights, Melbourne 
    • State Librarian, Queensland, Brisbane 
    • CEO, CAVAL Ltd, Melbourne 
    • Director, RMIT Publishing, Melbourne
    • Managing Director, Rowecom Australia, Brisbane
    • Director Library and Community Services, Waverley Council, Sydney
    • Director, Public Library & Network Services, State Library of New South Wales, Sydney Lecturer, RMIT University, Melbourne; and Curtin University, Perth
    • Manager, AWA Computer Services, Melbourne
    • Manager, Dynix Computers, Adelaide.

    Professional activities:

    • Director, ALIA, 2022-2024.
    • Director, CAVAL Ltd, 2023-2026.
    • Conference Committee Chair, ETD 2020 and ETD 2021.
    • Director, NDLTD (U.S.A.) 2020 to date.
    • Editorial Board, JALIA. 2017-2023.
    • Founder, CAVAL Executive Leadership Program, 2008-2012.
    • Founding Member of NSW Public Libraries Association, 1996.
    • LAA/ALIA Board of Education, 1982-88; elected General Councillor, 1989.
    • Council Member, National Film & Sound Archive, 1997-2003.
    • Founding member, LAA Special Interest Group on the Status of Women in Librarianship, 1984.
    • Secretary and Conference Committee for EdLib Section, LAA, 1982-1984.

    Karina Lamb   Institutional Director  

    Institutional Director 2024 AGM-2026 AGM

    Qualifications

    • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
    • Master of Cultural Heritage Bachelor of Arts (Visual Arts) Degree
    • AICD Company Director's Course

    Current Position

    Director Community and Corporate, Hepburn Shire

    Previous Positions

    • Director Community and Corporate, Hepburn Shire, 2023 — Present
    • Manager Arts and Libraries, City of Monash, 2021 — 2023
    • Manager Libraries, Arts and Culture, Mornington Peninsula Shire, 2019 — 2021
    • Director Consultancy, One Social Lamb 2013 — Present
    • Committee Member, National Trust (Victoria) Collections & Programming Committee, 2022 — Present
    • Vice President, Australian Museum and Galleries Association (AMaGA), 2020 — Present

    Professional Activities

    • Transformational Leadership: Leads high performing teams through organisational changes and restructures while building capability and driving continuous improvement with a focus on high level customer services.
    • Strategy Development: Proven ability to devise and enact strategic plans based on analyses of trends, and community/student needs to position organisations for success into the future.
    • Service Planning: Highly experienced in the planning of programs encompassing museums and galleries, library services, community events, cultural and arts activities, while continuously reviewing service provisions to ensure they align with organisational needs and strategy. 
    • Change Management: Leads transformational and cultural change within organisations with the ability to plan, implement, and communicate change, overcome resistance, and empower people to take ownership as agents of change.
    • Cross-Cultural Collaboration: Seeks meaningful engagement, collaboration, and relationship building with cross-cultural stakeholders to enrich creative activations and represent diversity at an organisational level.
    • Policy and Governance: Ability to interpret and apply legislation, operational frameworks, and organisational values while identifying and mitigating risks.
    • Budget Management : High level financial literacy to manage large budgets effectively while identifying revenue opportunities and cost-savings.

    Lisa Bateman

    Director 2024 AGM-2026 AGM

    Qualifications

    • Bachelor of Arts - English Language and Literature - UniSQ
    • Graduate Diploma Library Science - Library and Information Science – QUT

    Current Position

    Library Services Manager – City of Moreton Bay – appointed 2021

    Previous Positions

    • 2016 - 2021 - Library Branch Services Coordinator - Moreton Bay Regional Council
    • 2015 - 2016 - Hub Team Leader Chermside Library - Brisbane City Council
    • 2014 - 2015 - Inclusive Communities Project Coordinator - Access and Inclusion - Brisbane City Council
    • 2013 - 2014 - Principal Program Officer - Customer Focus - Brisbane City Council
    • 2012 - 2013 - Hub Team Leader Chermside Library - Brisbane City Council
    • 2010 - 2012 - Branch Librarian Redcliffe Library - Moreton Bay Regional Council

    Professional Activities

    • 2018 - 2020 - President Elect - Queensland Public Libraries Association (QPLA)
    • 2020 - 2022 - President - Queensland Public Libraries Association (QPLA)
    • 2020 - 2023 - QLD Representative and Expert Member - Australian Public Library Alliance (APLA)
    • 2021 - Winner - ALIA Queensland Library Achiever of the Year
    • 2023 - Current - ALIA Representative - National Early Language and Literacy Coalition (NELLC) 2023 - Current - ALIA Mentor - ALIA Mentoring Scheme
    • 2023 - Awarded - ALIA Silver Pin in recognition of services to ALIA

    Lisa Capps

    Director 2024 AGM-2026 AGM

    Qualifications 

    BA Honours – Information Management, 1991-1994 – Northumbria University (UK)

    Current Position

    Education and Outreach Librarian – NT Health

    Previous Positions

    • Special Collections Coordinator, Alice Springs Public Library, Alice Springs
    • Library Manager,Central Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide
    • Library Manager, Supreme and Local Courts, Darwin
    • Library Manager, Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education, Batchelor (NT)
    • Library and Information Services Coordinator, Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville
    • Senior Librarian, Courts Administration Authority, Adelaide
    • Librarian, Aequus Counsel, Adelaide
    • Training Consultant, Lexis Nexis AU, South Australia and Northern Territory

    Professional Activities

    • ALIA Certified Professional
    • Director - Australian Law Librarians Association, 2021 to present
    • Northern Territory President - Australian Law Librarians Association 2021 to present

    Nicole Johnston

    Director 2023 AGM-2025 AGM

    Qualifications:

    • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
    • Masters of Applied Science (Library & Information Management)
    • Grad Dip (Library and Information Studies)
    • BA

    ALIA Board Committee Portfolio:

    • Accreditation and Standards Committee

    Board Liaison for Advisory/Sector Committee:

    • VET Libraries Australia (VLA) Sector Committee

    Current position:

    Associate University Librarian - Digital Literacy and Library Experience, Edith Cowan University

    Previous positions:

    • Lecturer and Course Coordinator, Library and Information Services, (2016-2018) Edith Cowan University

    • Lecturer, Library and Information Studies, (2013-2016) University College London, Qatar

    • Faculty Librarian/Faculty, (2009-2013) Higher Colleges of Technology, UAE

    • Liaison Librarian (2007-2009), James Cook University

    Professional activities:

    • Previous member of ALIA Research Advisory Committee

    • Previous member of ALIA West Committee

    • CAUL conference 2022 project lead

    • ALIA research grant recipient, 2018, 2021

    • Ray Choate ALIA Scholarship, 2007

    • ALIA mentor, 2021-2023

    • Previous chair/member Information Literacy Network Gulf Professional Development committee

    • Reviewer: European Council of Information literacy conference, Journal of Information Literacy, JALIA, EBLIP journal, Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, JELIS

    Statement of professional concerns:

    I would like to use my combined expertise and experience as a LIS researcher, educator and practitioner to support ALIA and our profession deliver the professional pathways project.

    I’m also passionate about building capacity and opportunities for practitioners to engage in research that improves our practice and allows our profession to meaningfully showcase our value and impact to our institutions and communities.

    My recent research, focussed on mis/disinformation, has shown the important and distinct role libraries play in teaching information and media literacy skills and I would like to further highlight our role in combating mis/disinformation on a national stage.