ALS Public Libraries SA Conference 2019 – Speakers

Adelady was born over delicious banana bread and watermelon juice at Nature’s Providore in January 2015. Having worked together for almost five years, Hayley and Lauren simply missed each other when they left brekky radio and wanted to mash up their skills and passion to create something that would make both of them spring out of bed each morning. Proud Adelaide gals, they’re passionate about seeing SA businesses boom and attracting visitors to their beautiful state. They love a luxe item, but their hearts also race for a bargain, and they want everyone to experience the joy of what’s on offer across SA. Whether the business is big or small, Adelady loves learning about what sets it apart and singing it from the rooftops. Exploring everything that’s style, fashion, food, art, health, fitness, fun and family… Adelady loves to platter up delightful slices of gorgeous SA for all to enjoy on their website, social, TV show, and now — magazine! Most of all, just like a juicy pineapple, Adelady is best enjoyed with friends.

Since early 2008 Kiikstart has specialised in business planning and development for the corporate, government and tourism sectors. Our purpose is ultimately build stronger businesses that are better positioned to meet the changing needs of the clients and future markets. In turn this results in better bottom lines with more engaged, connected teams. Kiikstart works with clients to deliver modern, innovative client experiences that connect with staff and are seen as valuable by clients now and more importantly into the future. Our clients regardless of size, aim to be the pace setters and influencers in their industries and keep ahead of the game. Much of our work is how to successfully imbed change and technology into workplaces with a strong focus on building robust talent within the skills needed for success beyond 2022. The last two years have seen Ali Uren play a key role in mentoring and developing teams to success as part of ECIC’s – Adelaide University E-Challenge program with a focus on wool innovation and agribusiness. This has taken Ali Uren to both Deakin University and Charles Sturt University as part of the E-Challenge program. In addition, Ali Uren has created and facilitated training for TICSA, has been a judge and mentor for the SA Tourism Awards and is currently coaching and mentoring young tourism professionals across Australia working in partnership with Australian Regional Tourism, as part of the Emerging Tourism Professionals Program.

Caroline joined the City of Canning team in February 2018 and has recently stepped into the role of Manager Community Learning, with oversight of the City’s libraries and Community Hub. Having graduated with a Post Graduate Diploma in Library and Information Science from Curtin University, Caroline has worked within the public library sector for eighteen years in both metro and rural libraries, single and multi-branch systems.

Chris Riedy is Professor of Sustainability Governance and Director of Graduate Research at the Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney. He is a transdisciplinary academic with a research interest in governance and social change for sustainable futures. Chris draws on sociological and political theory, narrative theory and futures thinking to design, facilitate and evaluate practical experiments in transformative change towards sustainable futures. He coordinates the Institute’s work on learning and social change. Chris is a Senior Research Fellow of the Earth System Governance project, Lead Steward of the Meta-Narratives Working Group under the SDG Transformation Forum, a member of the Sustainability Transitions Research Network and is on the Editorial Boards of Futures and the Journal of Futures Studies. He has published two books, more than 40 peer-reviewed articles or chapters, more than 60 research reports and hundreds of web articles. He writes a blog on living within planetary boundaries called Planetcentric.

Bolinda’s Commercial Director Cristina Lee is a highly experienced consumer marketer and retail expert with a passion for storytelling. Cristina joined the Bolinda team in March 2017. She has worked around the world for several global organisations such as Wella, Yardley, Walt Disney Company and, most recently, Harlequin. Cristina has a wealth of experience on driving organisational and market transformation in industries that are impacted by digital disruption.

At Bolinda Cristina is responsible for all customer relationships ensuring that the Bolinda sales team deliver and meet all customer expectations across Australia and New Zealand, working with existing customers, while also exploring new business development opportunities for Bolinda.

Edward Luca is a library practitioner and researcher. He currently leads a team of liaison librarians at the University of Sydney Library, providing teaching and research support to the Faculty of Medicine and Health. Throughout Edward’s career he’s applied a researcher perspective to his library work, advocating for user-centred approaches to research support, spaces, web design and overall user experience.

Holly Godfree taught in primary schools for 15 years before moving to senior secondary in 2015. She ‘slid’ into a school library in 2006 and completed her MEdTL in 2015. For years now, she has been very active in local and national efforts to advocate for improvements in school library resourcing. She has published articles in ACCESS, Public Education Voice, and The Canberra Times relating to these efforts. She is the coordinator of the national Students Need School Libraries campaign and was recently awarded the Australian Teacher Librarian Award (2019) by the Australian School Library Association.

Although her current role is as the Coordinator Library Services at the beautiful City of Perth Library, Joanna has also worked in community programming and young people’s services for many years, in public libraries and at the State Library of Western Australia. She is actively involved in Public Libraries WA, the WA Branch of the CBCA, and IBBY Australia. Joanna is an enthusiastic reader, and books influence many aspects of her life, from recipes to try, to places to visit when travelling.

John has developed concepts that include conversational leadership, The Creative Thinking Sandpit, and StoryComms. His initial career was a Ranger with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and experiencing the wilds of Alaska with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. He now enjoys working with an exciting and interesting array of projects, companies, organisations and individuals interested in drawing out and empowering the intrinsic talent of their people. John also works with Indigenous People within both Australia and New Zealand and was recently invited to be a Mentor for a Future Leaders and Elders program with the Ngunnawal Aboriginal community around Canberra. He also spent time as a television presenter on the popular children’s show Ridgey Didge and on the lifestyle show Good Morning Sydney, and has published 3 books.

Professor Marek Kowalkiewicz is an academic and industry leader with extensive global experience in conducting academically sound research, co-innovating with industry and university partners, and delivering innovative products to the market. Leader of the Embracing Digital Age research theme, he leads QUTs research agenda to inform and influence a robust digital economy. Marek manages a contemporary research portfolio, has undertaken significant library research and converts industry driven opportunities into research outcomes of global relevance. He is an invited government expert, university lecturer and project lead, as well as an inventor and author.

Matt Finch helps communities, companies, and institutions to create new and exciting activities, programmes, and partnerships. His work spans policy consultation and strategic direction, community outreach, collection & events development for cultural institutions, and professional development for staff at all levels. From 2016-2017, Matt was the first ever Creative in Residence at the State Library of Queensland and a Creative/Researcher at British Library Labs. He is currently delivering a series of strategic planning workshops for libraries and NFPs across Australia and New Zealand in Partnership with Brendan Fitzgerald from 641 DI.

Matt has had a long, varied media and digital history as a journalist, film maker, web programmer, game developer, entrepreneur, and digital media & technology specialist for local government and libraries in particular. Since taking responsibility for collections Matt has been implementing a variety of successful content development and marketing strategies with a goal to delivering the best performing resources for the Ipswich community. Matt remains convinced that the real potential of Library collections remain untapped and that paper-based books are the most important part of the future of Public Libraries.

Michael O’Brien is a Senior Aboriginal Man. He is a descendant of the Kaurna (Adelaide Plains) and Narrunga (Yorke Peninsula) people. He has been sharing cultural engagement for a number of years. It is a role handed to him by his Father, Uncle Lewis Yurla Burka O’Brien. It is a position, he honours and respects greatly.

Sam Telfer is the Mayor of the District Council of Tumby Bay and the President of the Local Government Association of South Australia. He was elected to Council in 2010 and is the youngest Mayor in South Australia. Sam is a farmer by occupation, and is also President of the Eyre Peninsula Local Government Association which is the regional subsidiary of all the Councils located on the Eyre Peninsula.

Stig has worked in the entertainment industry for 30 years as an actor, writer, director, editor, narrator and producer. His company Mezzanine Films, specializes in corporate video, television programs and commercials as well as web-based video content for corporate and entertainment purposes. Last year Stig produced, directed and edited a ten-part series for Network Ten entitled Photo Number 6 which is now being screened in New Zealand, Thailand and the UK.

Over the last 25 years, Stig has narrated close to 200 books, including such acclaimed authors as Tim Winton, Paul Jennings, Margaret Clarke, Markus Zusak as well as being the voice of all the Andy Griffiths books. Last year at the ABIA awards Stig won best audio book of the year for his interpretation of Boy Swallows Universe. To find his true passion for the narration, it’s worth catching his performance of Bolinda/BorrowBox Stig Live @ The Library, which he has showcased all over Australia, New Zealand and UK.