The ALIA National Conference is the flagship event for the Australian Library and Information Association, bringing together library and information professionals from all sectors and career stages. Held every two years, this conference is a vibrant in-person forum for knowledge-sharing, networking, and professional growth.
In 2026, we’re taking a fresh approach—there will be no single overarching theme for the conference. Instead, we’re keeping the program open to allow for a wider, richer exploration of the issues, ideas, and innovations shaping our profession. The conference will nonetheless spotlight the many ways the library and information sector continues to create positive impact—by connecting communities, supporting lifelong learning, advancing digital inclusion, fostering innovation, and more.
So join us as we come together to share knowledge, celebrate achievements, and shape the future of our field. Expect engaging keynotes, thought-provoking sessions, hands-on workshops, and meaningful conversations that reflect the strength and diversity of our sector
Stan Grant
Stan Grant is one of Australia’s most respected and awarded journalists, authors, and thinkers. A Wiradjuri, Kamilaroi and Dharrawal man, he has forged a groundbreaking four-decade career across news, current affairs, and international reporting.
Stan was the first Indigenous Political Correspondent, Foreign Correspondent, and prime-time news presenter in Australian commercial television. He spent a decade as a senior correspondent for CNN in Asia and the Middle East, reporting from more than seventy countries and covering the defining stories of our time — from the end of apartheid and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to the rise of China and the death of Princess Diana.
A three-time Walkley Award winner, his honours also include multiple Asia TV Awards, Logie and AACTA Awards, two US Peabody Awards, and the Columbia University DuPont Award. Stan wrote and produced the acclaimed documentary The Australian Dream and is the best-selling author of seven books exploring identity, justice, philosophy, and world affairs.
Currently Professor of Journalism and Director of the Asia-Pacific arm of the Constructive Institute at Monash University, Stan continues to write, lecture, and challenge Australia to pursue a more just and united future.
Dr Caroline Butler Bowdon
Dr Caroline Butler-Bowdon began in the role of State Librarian in November 2023. She is a published author and curator of architecture and urban history and has 20 years of executive leadership experience in public institutions, including the Historic Houses Trust and the Art Gallery of NSW. Her career has been dedicated to leadership that connects citizens and visitors to special places, culture and heritage through a broad range of statewide public engagement programs.
Before starting at the Library, she was Deputy Secretary for Cities and Active Transport for NSW Government, where her work focused on major policy and a program of investment in NSW addressing the wellbeing, walkability and activation in our streets, and civic places. She led a Premier’s Priority, Greener Public Spaces from 2019-2023. She also serves on a range of committees and boards to promote the power of place, culture and community in Australia.
Beth Wahler
Beth Wahler, PhD, MSW is founder and principal consultant at Beth Wahler Consulting, LLC. She is an internationally-recognized consultant, trainer, and researcher whose primary focus is trauma-informed librarianship, library strategies for addressing visitors’ social service-related needs, supporting library staff with serving high-needs visitors and reducing work-related stress/trauma, and various kinds of collaborations, services, and programs to meet visitor, staff, or community needs.
She has worked with a wide variety of libraries internationally- urban, suburban, and rural- as well as large library systems and state library associations to provide personalised training opportunities, conduct needs assessments, evaluate library programs/services, and/or develop individualised plans to help meet the needs of their visitor populations and staff.
She has also published and presented internationally on library visitor and staff needs, trauma-informed librarianship, and library/social work collaborations. Her book, “Creating a Person-Centered Library: Best Practices for Supporting High-Needs Patrons,” focuses on strategies for supporting visitors with complex needs while simultaneously supporting library staff. She also co-hosts the podcast, Surviving the Stacks, aimed at providing support to library staff across the globe.
Larissa Behrendt
Distinguished Professor Larissa Behrendt AO is a Eualayai/Gamillaroi woman and Laureate Fellow at the Jumbunna Institute of Indigenous Education and Research at the University of Technology, Sydney. She is a graduate of the UNSW Law School and has a Masters and SJD from Harvard Law School. She has published numerous textbooks on Indigenous legal issues.
Larissa won the 2002 David Uniapon Award and a 2005 Commonwealth Writer's Prize for her novel Home. Her second novel, Legacy, won a Victorian Premiers Literary Award. Her most recent novel, After Story (2021, UQP) won the 2022 Voss Literary prize. Larissa is also an award-winning filmmaker. She won the 2018 Australian Directors Guild Award for best Direction of a Documentary Film for After the Apology and the 2020 AACTA for Best Direction in Factual Television for her documentary, Maralinga Tjarutja.
She is a Trustee of the Australian Museum, a Director of Sydney Dance Company, Chair of the Community Spirit Foundation, Chair of the Writing Australia Council and Chair of the National Library of Australia. She was awarded an Order of Australia (AO) for her work in Indigenous education, the law and the arts in 2020. Larissa received the Human Rights Medal 2021 from the Australian Human Rights Commission. She is the host of Speaking Out on ABC Radio.
The Australian Library and Information Association would like to acknowledge and thank our industry partners for their generous support. Without the help of our industry partners ALIA would not be able to produce an enriching conference to our dedicated members.