Biographies of ALIA directors

[ Margaret Allen | Vanessa Little | Graham Black | John Bayliss | Julie Rae | Kathryn Cass | Joseph Cullen ]

Margaret Allen

President

until 2012 Annual General Meeting

BA (Lib Stud) AALIA

Present position
CEO and State Librarian at the State Library of Western Australia

Previous positions
Associate Director, State Library of South Australia and a variety of roles in both public and special libraries. Margaret spent some 15 years working with a Library management systems vendor in all aspects of the business including support, development, marketing and consulting roles in Australia and overseas.

Professional activities

• ALIA member since 2002
• Presenter, Libraries Australia Forum 2009
• Member, Curtin University, BA Media & Information Advisory Board
• Member, ECU Library, Archives & Records Consultative Committee 2008-2009
• Industry Leader, CAVAL Horizon Leadership Institute 2009
• Member, National and State Libraries Australasia (NSLA)
• Member, writingWA Board (to April 2009)
• Member, State Library Foundation Board
• Member, Telecentre Steering Committee 2009
• NSLA Representative, Australian Digital Alliance
• NSLA Representative, Australian Libraries Copyright Committee
• Judge, Literacy Awards, Department of Education and Training 2008
• Member, Department of Education and Training Literacy and Numeracy Taskforce - Early Years Working Group 2007
• State Government representative, Digital Content Working Group - National Broadband Strategy Implementation Group meeting, Canberra 2007
• Member of the CLICK06 Conference Organising Committee and Chair of the Social Committee

Vanessa Little

Vice-president

until 2012 Annual General Meeting

Present position
Director, Libraries ACT, was appointed to the position in October 2007. She developed with the community and staff a vision for the ACT as a learning city, which has been presented to the ACT Government for consideration

Previous positions
Previously Vanessa was the General Manager, Learning Community with Hume City Council in Melbourne. She was recruited to lead a unique program adopted by Hume to address social and economic disadvantage through libraries and learning called the Hume Global Learning Village. Hume won the 2005 National Award for Excellence in Local Government, for the program. Vanessa has been guest speaker in Canada, New Zealand, Scotland and Australia on this program. Vanessa was Senior Policy Advisor to the South Australian Government on internet uptake in various sectors. In the mid 90's, Vanessa was Associate Director of the State Library of South Australia, managing South Australia's Public Libraries Information Network (PLAIN).

Professional activities

• Member, Public Libraries Advisory Committee ALIA
• Deputy Chair National Year of Reading; Member
• ACT Government Homelessness Accord

Professional Concerns
More than ever our profession involves adding value to our clients and making a significant contribution to the strategic objectives of our organisations.

We are at a time when there are many opportunities unfolding for librarians in all sectors. The lifelong learning movement, increasingly important to the social and economic agendas of our governments, offers libraries and librarians from academic, special, state, national public and school library sectors a potential policy framework within which to collaborate.

A number of local and regional areas have already implemented place-based local development, involving collaboration across universities, TAFEs, private companies, state and national government agencies and local councils. All of these organisations have libraries and in a number of cases it is the librarians who are the driving force behind the policies and collaboration to benefit local communities and economies.

Therefore, I don't have 'professional concerns'. Instead, I see an unprecedented chance for our profession to collaborate across sectors to address local and national issues and further embed the library profession in the strategic objectives of governments and communities.

Graham Black

Board Member

until 2012 Annual General Meeting

BA, Grad Dip Lib, MBA, AALIA

Present position
Director, Division of Library and Academic Learning Services, CQUniversity Australia

Previous positions
Director, Division of Library Services, Deputy University Librarian, Associate Librarian

Professional activities
Convenor, Queensland University Libraries Office of Cooperation; member of ALIA for many years & have held various positions at state and regional level; mentor Aurora Leadership Institute

John Bayliss

Board Member

until 2012 Annual General Meeting

Present position
Director, Macquarie Regional Library

Previous positions
My professional experience of 27 years in public libraries is extensive including management positions, project development and financial management. I have also been involved on a variety of Council and community based committees and heritage projects in this time.

I am currently the Director of the Macquarie Regional Library Service which is a consortium of four Local Governments areas, Dubbo City Council, Wellington Council and Narromine and Warrumbungle Shire councils.

I am currently the Secretary of the Public Libraries NSW - Country, Central West Zone and a member of the PLNSW-Country Executive Sub Committee (Library Manager Representative). I am a member of the State Library NSW Public Libraries Network Research Committee, representing Public Libraries NSW Country. I have also been a recipient of the Public Libraries NSW - country Colin Mills Scholarship Award.

Statement of professional concerns
I am a committed supporter of libraries. I believe that promotion of their value and vital role in the enrichment of all facets of the communities they serve is the key to their ongoing success.

There are many issues of concern for libraries across Australia. These include equity in access to services; our responsiveness to changing community needs; the provision of cost-efficient, quality library services and ensuring a commitment to the continued support and development of library staff.

It is important that Libraries are continued to be recognized and supported as core community facilities and their role in the delivery of successful educational, cultural, informational and recreational outcomes for their service base.

Julie Rae

Board Member

until 2012 Annual General Meeting

Present position
General Manager Community Information Access, Vision Australia

I joined Vision Australia in January 2008 as the National Manager Information Library Service and became General Manager Community Information Access in August 2008.

Previous positions
Prior to joining Vision Australia I worked for 6 years as Chief Executive of the Central Highlands Regional Library Corporation and had extensive experience in both the private sector and local government arena over 30 years. My work required strategic and operational leadership and had particular emphasis with environments undergoing change and in using innovative technological solutions to improve and enhance services to the community.

I have extensive experience on both local and international committees and have been instrumental in and proud of my involvement in the development of Gulliver, ERA, LibraryLink Victoria.

Professional activities

• Chair of the IFLA Section - Libraries Serving Persons with Print Disabi8lities.
• Board Member of Australian Radio Stations 5RPH and 6RPH and Secretary of RPH Australia.
• Member of the Round Table for Print Disabilities Steering Committee.
• Member of the international Global Accessible Library Steering Committee.

Statement of professional concerns
I believe that in working together we can achieve improved services for all. I am keen to look for opportunities to further collaborate within and outside the sector. I am committed to seeing ALIA grow and be successful in all it sets out to do and to work positively to counter the criticism our professional association receives for its activities, or lack of them.

I would also like to see libraries not only talk about inclusivity, but practice it.

Kathryn Cass

Board Member

until 2013 Annual General Meeting

Present position
Coordinator, Library Operations, Marrickville Library and History Services (2009 - )

Previous Positions
Local Studies Librarian, City of Botany Bay Library Service (2007 - 2009); Library Assistant, Library Officer and Acting Local Studies Librarian, Randwick City Library and Information Service (2004 - 2007); Part-time Teacher Library Studies, Sydney Institute of TAFE (2005); Part-time Library Assistant, ACP Magazines (2005)

Professional activities
Member, Professional Development, Education, Research and Publishing Sub-Committee. (PDERP) (ALIA)
Member, Membership & Awards Standing Committee (MASC) ALIA
Member, Public Libraries Advisory Committee (PLAC) ALIA
Member, ALIA (Sydney Convenor)

Professional Concerns
My professional concerns include free access to information for all Australians through the provision of appropriate technology and education (e.g. broadband rollout particularly to country areas, internet safety education rather than an internet filter and blacklists). I am also passionate about lobbying for increased funding and recognition of public, school and academic libraries. I believe that all libraries in every sector play an important role in their respective organisations, and the on-going professional development of library, records and information agency staff, as well as excellent representation and lobbying by ALIA of politicians and other stakeholders is the best way to ensure their continued success.

Joseph Cullen

Board Member

until 2013 Annual General Meeting

Present Position
Chief Executive (5 years) of the Eastern Regional Libraries Corporation, Victoria's largest public library

Previous Positions
Chief Executive, South Gippsland Shire and East Gippsland Shire Councils. Prior to those roles I worked in planning and economic development, marketing and sales in publishing and as a taxation consultant with a Big 4 accountancy practice.

Professional activities

• Treasurer and Public Officer, Public Libraries Victoria Network Inc.
• Member Advisory Committee on Public Libraries for the State Library Victoria
• Member of various statewide project working groups.
• Member SWIFT Consortium of Public Libraries.

Professional Concerns
We must constantly innovate to enhance the opportunities and services for our communities. At the same time we must ensure the highest levels of service by providing professional development opportunities for our staff through associations such as ALIA.

I believe that libraries must be socially, culturally, environmentally and economically sustainable if we are to continue to provide relevant services and to being the "third" place for our communities.

I believe that we can achieve these outcomes through co-operation, partnerships and alliances within the library profession and with our external stakeholders, and through the leadership and advocacy of ALIA.