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.

Clare Thorpe (Vice President)

Vice President 2022-24 AGM
Institutional Director 2020 AGM-2022 AGM
Institutional Director 2022 AGM-2024 AGM

Qualifications:

BA, Grad Cert Higher Education, Grad Dip Lib & Info Studies, AALIA (DCP).

ALIA Board Committee Portfolio:

  •  Finance Committee (Chair)

Board Liaison for Advisory/Sector Committees:

  •  Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Expert Advisory Committee

Current position:

Director, Library Services, Southern Cross University Library.

Previous positions:

  • Acting Director, Library Services, University of Southern Queensland

  • Associate Director (Library Experience), University of Southern Queensland

  • Manager Visitor Experience 2015-2017, Project Officer 2013-2015, Access Services Coordinator, 2007-2013 (SLQ)

  • Campus Librarian 2005-2007 (USQ)

  • Information Literacy Librarian 2002-2005, Reference Librarian 2001-2002 (Griffith University).

Professional activities:

  • Mentor ALIA/QULOC Mentoring program 2019-2020

  • Queensland University Libraries' Office of Cooperation (QULOC) Deputy Convenor, Workforce & Organisational Development Working Group 2017-2019

  • Asia Pacific Library and Information Conference Program Committee 2017-2018

  • 8th International Evidence Based Library and Information Practice Conference Organising Committee 2015

  • Peer reviewer ALIA National 2020 Conference, Australian Library Journal 2009-2011.

Statement of professional concerns:

People are at the heart of our libraries and information services – the communities we serve and the staff who power our organisations. As an ALIA Board member, Clare hopes to contribute to the work that ALIA does in developing strong narratives to demonstrate the value and impact of our libraries to their communities.  A strong commitment to professional development has been critical in developing her career resilience. As ALIA implements the 2020 Pathway, Clare is keen to work with ALIA members and staff to explore innovative ways to provide essential education and professional development options to future proof our profession.

Kathryn Eyre

Director 2022 AGM-2024 AGM

Qualifications:

  • Master of Education - Teacher Librarianship
  • Diploma of Education - Secondary ESL/Japanese
  • Bachelor of Arts - Asian Studies - Japanese
  • AALIA

ALIA Board Committee Portfolio:

Finance Committee

Board Liaison for Advisory/Sector Committees:

New Generation Advisory Committee

Government and Special Libraries Sector Committee

Current position:

Head of Library and Coordinator of Overseas Students, Pittwater House

Previous positions:

  • Library Coordinator - Mater Maria Catholic College - Warriewood NSW
  • Teacher librarian - North Sydney Girls High, North Sydney NSW

Professional activities:

  • Judge CBCA Book of the Year Award Older Readers
  • Reviewer Panel NSW Premier's Reading Challenge years 7-9
  • Presenter Review Panel- IEU Inaugural Bookclub Review
  • Assessor on AIS NESA Accreditation panel for Experience Teacher
  • Published Reviewer

Statement of professional concerns:

The need for advocacy in support of the library world is great, as is the need to promote the library links across the different sectors. I'd like to continue the work started by the previous ALIA board members. It is important we leverage the combined knowledge and wealth of experience within the library world and its members. I'd like to represent school libraries within the wider library community to create closer and tighter links to benefit all. ALIA needs to be more inclusive of the sectors it represents. Diversity and Inclusivity of membership and access is vital.

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:

  • 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.

Hero Macdonald

Director 2022 AGM-2024 AGM

Qualifications:

  • Graduate Certificate of University Management - University of Melbourne (2016)
  • Masters of Information Management Queensland University of Technology (2007)
  • Bachelor of Arts/ Bachelor of Education - University of Queensland (2004)

ALIA Board Committee Portfolio:

Governance and Risk Committee  

Accreditation & Standards Committee 

Board Liaison for Advisory Committees:

Research Advisory Committee 

Current position:

University Librarian, Deakin University

Previous positions:

  • 2018-2020 Director, Learning Services, Digital Innovation and Library Experience - UNSW 
  • 2017-2018 Director, Digital Libraries and Repositories - Deakin University
  • 2016-2017 Biomedical Librarian & Program Leader, Scholarly Literacy Programs - University of Melbourne
  • 2013-2016 Arts Librarian - University of Melbourne
  • 2010-2013 Senior Client Services Librarian - University of Melbourne
  • 2010 Sessional Academic - Queensland University of Technology
  • 2008-2009 Learning Centre Manager - City & Islington College, London 

Professional activities:

  • 2022-2024 - Trove Strategic Advisory Committee
  • 2022-2024 - CAUL Content Procurement Committee
  • 2019-2022 - CAVAL Products and Services Committee
  • 2017-2021 - CAVAL Cross-Institutional Mentoring Program
  • 2016-2017 - CAVAL CRIG Committee

Statement of professional concerns:

As an ALIA Board member, I look forward to driving the continued strategic transformation of our profession by:

  • Working with the Board to leverage synergies across the sectors to amplify our voice within national debates
  • Building on Pathways program, and expanding our commitment to diversity with the aim of creating truly diverse, inclusive and culturally safe organisations, collections and services
  • Deepening our capabilities and critical engagement with new technologies, and exploring strategic professional alliances, to strengthen the LIS voice within the tech sector
  • Building our future leaders’ capabilities to guide the transformation of our organisations, services and profession

Amy Walduck

Director 2023 AGM-2025 AGM

Qualifications:

  • Graduate Diploma in Information Studies, CSU Graduate Diploma in Education, QUT
  • Masters of Music Studies, GU
  • Bachelor of Music, GU

ALIA Board Committee Portfolio:

  • Finance Committee
  • Governance and Risk Committee

Board Liaison for Advisory/Sector Committees:

  •  Australian Public Library Alliance

Current position:

Lead, Projects, Office of the State Librarian, State Library of Queensland

Previous positions:

  • 2018 - 2022, Lead, Digital Library Initiatives; Senior Project Officer; Research Librarian, State Library of Queensland

  • 2017 - 2018, Outreach Librarian, Gold Coast City Council

  • 2016 - 2018, 2022 - Sessional/Guest lecturer, QUT / CSU

  • 2016 - 2017, Queensland State Manager, ALIA

  • 2014 - 2017, Research Librarian, State Library of Queensland

  • 2012 - 2013, Social Media Officer; Digital Hub Coordinator, Brisbane City Council

Professional activities:

  • 2022 - 2023, Mentor, ALIA Mentoring Scheme
  • 2017 - 2019, Co-host I Turbitt & Duck: The Library Podcast
  • 2017, Co-Convenor I ALIA New Librarians' Symposium
  • 2016, Co-Convenor, IAML National Conference
  • 2015 - 2022 Conference speaker: ALIA QLD, ALIA NLS, ALIA Online, APLIC, LIANZA, IGeLU, VALA, eResearch Australasia, RezBaz QLD, Search Solutions

     

Statement of professional concerns:

I have a passion for libraries and information, and a strong desire to give back to the ALIA community who have been welcoming, open and supportive of my career from the beginning. As I an ALIA Board member, I will continue to build on the Professional Pathways Initiative to unite the library and information sector, build our skills as professionals, and develop capable leaders who embrace diversity, cultural safety, and inclusivity. I will ensure that advocacy is a priority across all sectors and ALIA has a voice that is heard in national debates.

Janette Wright

 

Director 2022 AGM-2024 AGM

Qualifications:

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

ALIA Board Committee Portfolio:

Governance & Risk Committee (Chair) 

Accreditation & Standards Committee 

Board Liaison for Advisory/Sector Committees:

Health Libraries Advisory (HLA) Sector Committee 

Current position:

Director Library, Federation University Australia

Previous positions:

  • Dean of Libraries, United Arab Emirates 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:

  • Conference Committee Chair, ETD 2020 and ETD 2021. 
  • Editorial Board, JALIA. 2017 to date. 
  • Founder and Continuing Mentor, 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.

Statement of professional concerns:

As the world changes to become more virtual we need to leverage our networks to improve the visibility of library services in government and the wider community. We need to demonstrate the importance of public libraries as co-working and recreational spaces which support individual and family wellbeing, pathways to employment and local enterprise. In the education sector, we can promote and explain the value of scholarly research and publication to combat the epidemic of 'fake news'. I hope to lead that advocacy on behalf of libraries across all sectors and in all parts of Australia.