Your committee members...

Hiba Kanj

Convenor

Hiba graduated from the University of Technology, Sydney with a BA in Communications (Information and Media) and is currently working as a Children and Youth Services Librarian.

She is passionate about creating spaces for young people and believes libraries are the perfect place to encourage social change.

When she is not working, she will most likely be found at one of the many international film festivals, developing her photography skills, or watching Anime.

Romany Manuell

Secretary

Romany graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Arts and a Graduate Diploma of Education (Secondary) in 2002. She spent several years travelling around the UK, Japan, and Canada, teaching English to support her adventures. Eventually she found herself outside Vancouver Public Library, wondering how she might get inside. On her return to Melbourne, she completed the Graduate Diploma in Information Management (2008), which led to a position as an Attendant and then Officer at RMIT University Library. She spent a year as a School Librarian in Vanuatu (through Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development) and is currently an Information Services Librarian at Holmesglen Institute of TAFE.

She is always online.

Noriko Kuchi

Treasurer

After teaching LOTE (Japanese) to VCE students for 8 years, it was 'time to change'. Noriko enrolled in the RMIT Graduate Diploma in Information Management in 2006 and started her first 'library' job at Vision Australia Library in 2007. She gets the most satisfaction whenever she manages to provide the exact information clients are looking for, from ready reference to finding academic papers, to finding information for a friend (scientist) who works in research.

She loves socialising, travelling (though the high cost these days makes it difficult), and playing (or bashing?) Japanese drums known as 'wadaiko'.

Alisa Howlett

Regional co-ordinator, QLD

Alisa has recently embarked on her career in library and information science as a Technical Library Co ordinator at Virgin Australia, where she is responsible for the maintenance of technical data, including aircraft maintenance manuals and service documents, as outlined in the Civil Aviation Act (1988). Prior to this, she worked at the regional airline, QantasLink, as a Data Management Officer (Technical Librarian).

She is a current student in the Masters (LIS) course at Queensland University of Technology (QUT). In 2008, she completed a Graduate Certificate in Business Information Management at University of South Australia, by distance. Her Bachelor of Business (Marketing) was completed in 2006 at QUT.

She loves to travel and discover places, history and cultures. Last year, her travels took her to Ireland and Europe. Highlights include visiting the Book of Kells and the old Trinity College Library in Dublin; watching the sunset at Giant's Causeway; having beers at the HofbrauHaus; seeing the Eagle's Nest in the Bavarian Mountains, and of course, seeing the ancient city ruins of Rome.

Kelly Johnson

Regional co-ordinator, QLD

An avid reader and library patron since she was a child in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in the US, Kelly never envisioned herself as a librarian. Instead she tried such various careers as movie theatre manager, ESL teacher, textbook writer and editor, bartender, and more. After moving to Queensland in 2009 it all finally fell into place. She enrolled in Queensland University of Technology's Master of IT-Library and Information Science program and will graduate in December 2011.

Starting in February 2011 she got her first library job at QUT as a virtual library adviser answering reference questions via live chat and email. This was a crash course in all types of academic library clients and client needs juggled simultaneously. Surviving that while studying full-time just made her want more. From semester two, she became a Cross Team Library Adviser at QUT working on the desk (virtually and face-to-face) as well as supporting the liaison librarians with collection management and special projects. Attending ALIA New Grads events from the start of her study, she has developed a wonderful support network. She wants to give back and help other new grads become advocates for libraries and themselves as librarians.

Outside of work she is a huge music and film fan, a voracious reader, and a traveler (She has also lived and worked in Japan, Taiwan and Jamaica).

Karina Tumon

Regional co-ordinator, TAS

Karina, a recent graduate with a master's degree in information studies has a background in client services, project management and communication technologies. She has worked in non-profit organisations, various library sectors as well as private companies. She is currently a member of the 6th New Librarians Symposium's organising committee.

When she's not 'working', Karina enjoys bushwalking, travelling, taking photographs, and looking after the 5th Wiggle - a very cute (yes she's biased) almost 4 year old son.

You can find Karina blogging at Smarty Squid and being a twit on Twitter - @Karina_Tumon

Tamara Capper

Regional co-ordinator, W.A.

Tamara has always been interested in helping people and realised that libraries are the place for her! In 2009 she graduated with a Bachelor in Graphic Design from ECU and was working at the ECU library during this time. Although she loves to be creative, she did not want to work in this industry but instead chose Libraries where she could work with the community and help teach and aid people in their information needs.

She is currently a Reference and Information Services Librarian at Murdoch University and completing her Masters Degree in Information Architecture. Tamara is also committed member of ALIAWest and a enjoys her role as a Regional Coordinator for New Grad committee as it gives her the chance to meet others within Libraries.

Tamara has worked in the Family Planning WA Library, Greening Australia Library and ECU library, during this time she managed to travel and lead an active social life. She loves going to the gym, spending time with her family and heading out to restaurants with friends.

Nyss Parkes

Regional co-ordinator, Victoria

After studying Classics at the University of Melbourne and the RMIT Grad Dip in Information Management (2008), Nyss now works as an Online Projects Librarian at Swinburne Library where she divides her time between publishing support for online journals and various repository projects.

This area of libraries corresponds surprisingly well with her personal interest in online publishing within crafting communities. To spend some time away from the keyboard she likes firetwirling and juggling.

Tim Ormsby

Regional co-ordinator, South Australia

"After getting sick of working in IT as a programmer, Tim completed a Bachelor degree and Honours in Archaeology at Flinders University. As it turns out, the archaeological job market was not very obliging. Given his lifelong love of reading and libraries, becoming a librarian seemed like a very good idea. Tim completed his Grad. Dip in Libraries and Information Management from UniSA in 2011. He is now employed as a casual librarian at the Mitcham Library in Adelaide. He is finding working in a library to be very rewarding and lots of fun. Tim is very interested in the future of libraries in the digital information age.

When not buried in the stacks, Tim is an avid runner, loves to go hiking, and usually has two or three books on the go (most likely sci-fi, history or Russian literature)".

Lesa MacLean

Regional co-ordinator, Victoria

Lesa is proud to be a librarian. She is so excited about the profession that she named her dog Dewey, collects librarianna, and oddly enough, reads library science material for fun. Some might classify her as a workaholic, but she would prefer to be known as a passionate librarian who enjoys experiencing the many facets the profession has to offer. She currently works as a Metadata Specialist at Deakin University, a Reference Librarian & Team Leader at Wyndham Library Service, and coordinates the new graduates column Energise>Enthuse>Inspire for ALIA's InCite magazine. Lesa sees it as a vital part of her role as a librarian to promote the profession to future library professionals, to be involved in inspiring librarians to be proud and passionate about their profession and encourage them to be active within it.

Karina Oliver

Regional co-ordinator, W.A.

After working as a LOTE teacher for over 10 years, needed a career change, so went to Edith Cowan University and completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Information Science, graduating in 2008. I haven't completely escaped children, as I'm currently working as the Youth Services Librarian at the City of Bayswater. The greatest perk about working at a public library is getting access to all the great YA books as they come in.

Molly Tebo

Regional co-ordinator, W.A.

Molly went into Librarianship as a way to combine her passion for literacy and technology with her background in training. She has a BSc (hons) from the University of Sydney with majors in molecular biology and computer science. She has co-authored a number of scientific papers. More recently she has worked as a trainer for a large internet provider before going back to uni to study a Master of Information Management at Curtin University.

In 2010, Molly won a student award to attend the Special Libraries Association conference in New Orleans. In 2011, she was accepted into the graduate program at the State Library of Western Australia. Molly is currently employed as the eLearning Librarian at the State Library of WA. This position allows her to share her love for new technology with State Library staff as well as developing new programs for clients. When not at work she expends her creative energy knitting, spinning and weaving with a rainbow of colours.

Liz Stokes

Regional co-ordinator, NSW

Liz Stokes graduated from the University of Technology, Sydney with a MA (Information and Knowledge Management) in 2011. Her major project (social media strategies for digital humanities projects), was completed while she was working as a Data Officer on the Design and Art Australia Online project at the University of New South Wales Library. Liz currently works as a Research Officer at the National Perinatal Epidemiology and Statistics Unit, UNSW.

Liz also moonlights as a drag king-who's-really-a-queen Sister Muscle Mary, MCing community events and mentoring young people in the gentle art of drag. She's fond of the odd spot of cycling/ kayaking/ camping too.

Liz Wiese

Regional co-ordinator, NSW

Liz currently works in the Support Services team for Chatswood Public Library and is completing her Master of Information Studies through Charles Sturt University. Her interests in librarianship and information studies grew out of her experience as a research assistant and undergraduate tutor at University of Wollongong. Liz joined the ALIA new graduates group as a coordinator to help provide opportunities for students and new graduates to meet others in similar positions - be it applying for their dream job or getting through the work/life/uni balance!