Responses to election questions:

What are your skills and experience in strategic planning and leadership?

Strategic Planning

Working for a large government organisation strategic planning is an important necessity. I have been involved in many strategic planning meetings and SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis of the library’s current and future role within the department and its wider community.

During my term on the ALIA Board of Directors (2001 – 2005) I participated in preparing and approving ALIA’s 2003 – 2004 Plan: Making the difference, ALIA: Towards 2010 plan and 2005 – 2006 Plan, a strategic program that covered ALIA’s main areas of activity, members, communication, education, innovation and learning and finance. I have participated in all National Policy Congresses (NPC), from the inaugural one in 2000 through to the most recent National Advisory Congresses (NAC).

Additionally, during the years when I ran my own small business planning was an important component for its sustainability. Although, the planning required is not as formal as organisational strategic planning. You have to be thinking about where your business is, where you would like it to go and how you are going to get there.

Leadership

I have been involved in leadership all my adult life. Whether it was with a previous employer at management level, community groups or ALIA groups. You do not have to be a manager to display leadership skills and qualities. Leadership is about your ability to understand the big picture, relate to people around you, motivate and inspire as a colleague, evaluate a situation or system and recommend improvement.

Inspired by a session conducted at the Council on Library (and Media) Technicians (COLT) Conference I devised a professional development program on leadership for members of the profession. The activity, which contained segments of experiential learning, was designed to provide some basic information about leadership styles and skills. The feedback from the participants was positive and it will be conducted for other members of the profession in 2008. A follow-up/extension program for participants is being prepared for 2008.

What are your skills and experience in financial management?

From my experience in the finance sector where I was required to understand corporate financial records, self employment and on the ALIA Board of Directors, I consider I have the appropriate understanding of budget analysis, income and expenditure statements and the balance sheet. These skills are vital to ensure that the financial assets of the association are handled correctly, providing maximum return in investment of members funds. Without a thorough working knowledge of financial matters it is difficult to responsibly fulfil Board Member’s legal obligations as they relate to the finances of the organisation.

In addition to my experience with corporate level financial management, I also have practical experience with project management budgeting and financial planning. This includes performing the role of treasurer of the ALIA next 2005 conference committee and I am currently the treasurer of the ALIA New Librarian Symposium

What other skills do you bring as a potential Board Member?

Through ongoing contact with a wide range of members throughout Australia over the last 10 years I have been instrumental in designing and implementing a wide range of initiatives. These have included professional development programs, networking opportunities including establishing links with international colleagues (LATIN elist) and other international professional associations and online communication. During my tenure on the ALIA Board of Directors I initiated the decentralised National Policy Congress model and also recommended the introduction of the ALIA Silver Pin in recognition of service to the Association.

What specific issues interest you, or that you are hoping to address during your time as a Board Member?

If the Association is to truly represent the profession there needs to be increased active involvement in members in all aspects of the Association. Over recent years approximately 15% of ALIA members have chosen to participate in the Board/Presidential election process. Ever fewer members participate in ALIA’s groups. Engaging a greater number of members will ensure a dynamic and relevant Association.

Additional links

Blog – http://www.auslibrarytechnician.blogspot.com

This blog was originally commenced to detail some of the activities that I do as a member of the library and information profession and an ALIA member. It is hoped that if others read some of activities available and the positive experiences gained they too might be encouraged to participate in other types of professional development activities. The blog has also enabled me to express my views on certain issues that are of interest or concern to me. There are links to some of the Youtube videos about the profession and videos I took when I attended the American Library Association (ALA) conference in 2007. There are also links to 2 other blogs I created One details the training process to become a library technician in Australia. The other recounts my experiences attending the 2007 COLT and the ALA conferences.

Website – http://www.parramattafilms.info

Many years ago I commenced the Western Sydney Film Society and became involved with the film society movement. In recognition of the Centenary of the Cinema in 1995 members were encouraged to research the history of cinema in their localities. After lengthy research I had amassed all this information relating to the history of the cinema in Parramatta. Ideally, I would have liked to publish my research in a book but that was not to be. Then, I decided to publish the material on a website. Like most websites this one is a work in progress. Through analysing the search terms used when the website is accessed it is satisfying to know that my website is the only place where this information is available.