ALIA Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Expert Advisory Group

Lesley Acres

Advisor, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Collections and Services, University of Queensland

Lesley is a descendent of the Bidjara, Kairi tribes and Badugal people, Badu Island, Torres Strait Islands and she currently works with the University of Queensland Library as an Advisor. She worked at the State Library of Queensland Indigenous Services for nine years where she supported the operation and establishment of a network of Indigenous Knowledge Centres across Queensland. Lesley was a leader and educator in the Culturally Safe Libraries program that was rolled out by National and State Libraries Australasia (NSLA), and has some twenty-seven years’ experience working at different levels of government in a wide range of Indigenous affairs. Lesley's vision for the future is for the Libraries and Information Services sector to reform current industry practices to ensure their role as truth tellers of Australia's history is an integral one and a career choice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Rebecca Bateman

Director Indigenous Engagement, National Library of Australia

Rebecca is a Weilwan and Gamilaroi woman with family from Warren in North West NSW and connections to the Gunnedah region of NSW and Charleville in QLD.

She is the Director Indigenous Engagement at the National Library of Australia where the Indigenous Engagement Team at are working to transform the way in which the National Library engages with First Nations people to tell First Nations stories. Rebecca is privileged to have been entrusted with leading that change.

As a member of the NSLA First Nations Advisory Group and the ALIA Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Expert Advisory Group, Rebecca is privileged to work with other First Nations colleagues to bring cultural accountability and authority to the GLAM sector.

Rebecca is passionate about the rights of First Nations people to speak for their culture and have agency over the records that document it - she advocates for the restoration of cultural authority in all that she does.

Ryan Stoker

Team Leader, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Data Archive (ATSIDA), University of Technology Sydney

I am a Wiradjuri man based in Sydney and currently work as a Digital Collections Librarian. I hold a Master of Digital Information Management from the University of Technology, Sydney. I have over 10 years’ experience working in the Library sector specialising in Digitisation and Digital Collections.

I’m excited to be on the Expert Advisory Group and be able to contribute to the conversation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander priorities in the library sector. I’m also excited about the ways libraries can repatriate our mob’s culture and language through digital collections and make libraries more welcoming for all people.

Yanti Ropeyarn

Indigenous Library Liaison Officer, James Cook University

Yanti is a proud Angkamuthi, Yadhaykana, Woppaburra & Meriam woman from Injinoo, Cape York. Yanti is an information expert and currently an MBA student at the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) at the University of New South Wales Business School. Yanti was the National Library of Australia’s 2016 Indigenous graduate and Trove Outreach Officer. At the NLA, Yanti also worked in the Newspaper and Family History section and led the ‘Back to school at Bamaga High’ project.

Yanti also works at the James Cook University as Indigenous Library Liaison Officer where her work in cross-unit collaboration was recognised by the JCU Vice Chancellor’s Award for Excellence. Since beginning her graduate placement at the National Library of Australia, Yanti is passionate about creating inclusive libraries for First Nations peoples.

Kirsten Thorpe

Senior Researcher, Jumbunna Research Institute, University of Technology Sydney 

Dr Kirsten Thorpe (Worimi, Port Stephens) leads the Indigenous Archives and Data Stewardship Hub, which advocates for Indigenous rights in archives and data and develops research and engagement in relation to refiguring libraries and archives to support the culturally appropriate ownership, management and ongoing preservation of Indigenous knowledges. Kirsten has broad interests in research and engagement with Indigenous protocols and decolonising practices in the library and archive fields, and the broader GLAM sector. Kirsten advocates for the 'right of reply' to records and capacity building and support for the development of Living Indigenous Archives on Country.

Kirsten has extensive experience working in major collecting institutions across public libraries and archives to support Indigenous engagement and priorities. Kirsten was previously the Manager, Indigenous Services at the State Library of NSW where she led the development of strategies supporting state-wide information services for Indigenous people. This included support for Indigenous priorities and cultural competency across NSW Public Libraries, the launch of the Library’s first Indigenous Collecting Strategy, and projects that supported the documentation, return and revitalisation of Indigenous Australian languages through archival sources. Kirsten is an invited member of the International Council on Archives Expert Group on Indigenous Matters and a co-founder of the Indigenous Archives Collective.

Kirsten says: “I am looking forward to collaborating with the members of the group and ALIA to engage in deep dialogue about the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Australian library sector. We have a lot to be proud of in terms of existing programs and projects but still a long way to go to make libraries relevant and impactful for Indigenous people nationally”

Damien Webb

Manager, Indigenous Engagement Branch, State Library of New South Wales 

Damien is a proud member of the Palawa Diaspora, originally from Tasmania. He has worked in state libraries for over 10 years, including roles in Western Australia and New South Wales. He previously coordinated the State Library of Western Australia’s Storylines Project and has worked with Aboriginal artists, traditional owners and researchers across Australia. Damien’s current role is Manager of the Indigenous Engagement Branch at the State Library of New South Wales, where he works with a team of Indigenous and non-Indigenous staff to implement new ways of bringing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices to library collections. Damien has a passion for decolonising archives and library collections and has extensive experience working with researchers to understand the legacies of white explorers from an Aboriginal context and return authority over heritage materials to Traditional Owners and Aboriginal families.