Library Council of New South Wales

Robert Thomas
President, Library Council
BEc, MSDIA, SF Fin

Robert Thomas

I have thoroughly enjoyed being a member of the Library Council after an initial introduction through membership of the Mitchell On-Line Capital Campaign Committee.

As an ex-Victorian I have only recently realised the enormity of the Library's collections and its contribution to understanding how the fabric of Australia's society developed. It is the understanding of our past that allows a nation to progress, and we have an unparalleled opportunity through atmitchell.com to bring our history alive.

I have recently retired from Citigroup after some 30 years in the financial services industry and am now enjoying the diversity that membership of the Council and public company boards brings.

I am married with four boys and apart from family activities play golf, have an interest in old maps and am a sudoku tragic.

Paul A. Murnane
Deputy President, Library Council
BEc, MBA, FFin

Paul A. Murnane

I first discovered the extraordinary richness of the Library's unique treasury of rare Australian collections as a university student. In my subsequent thirty five years in stockbroking, consulting and executive search, and investment banking, I have continued to use the Library's resources. My four years with the Council have therefore been both a pleasure and an opportunity to personally contribute, in a small way, to the continued growth of this great storehouse of Australian history and knowledge.

Apart from company directorships and business activities, I am a director of a number of non profit organisations involved in medical research, health and welfare services, public policy and postgraduate education in Australia. Other interests include theatre, music, travel, competitive sailing, photography, rugby, historical trekking, history, politics and current affairs.

Elsa Atkin
BA, MAICD

Elsa Atkin

I have spent most of my professional life working in and managing cultural institutions (ABC, Evatt Foundation and National Trust). Having recently left the National Trust after twelve years as CEO, I heartily welcome my latest appointment as a member of the Library Council.

My association with this treasure house began way back when I spent time there reading and researching for my university assignments. More recently my professional role in the Trust provided a number of opportunities for collaboration with the Library.

I have long been focused on Australia's cultural and social development and I currently serve on not-for-profit boards and committees involved in classical music, medical research, and social and educational programs. I am an avid consumer of the arts, especially music and the visual arts. I love reading, swimming and travelling and also enjoy cooking for my family and friends.

It is a great honour for me to be involved with the Library and to have the opportunity to contribute to its development, making use of my experience in caring for and enhancing the accessibility of our cultural heritage.

Dr John Barclay
BA, DipEd, DipLib, MEd, PhD, GradDipEmpRel

Dr John Barclay

My interests are eclectic — East Asia history, politics, international relations, music, art, nature, and my family. I have been, during the course of my career, professionally engaged as an educator, researcher, librarian, writer and human resource management practitioner. Libraries have long been, and continue to be, very important to me. My doctoral research was on the topic of research and the library school in the U.S. and I have also written a major work on Chinese library and information services. With my colleagues at the Australian Catholic University, where I am the Director, Personnel Relations and Equal Opportunity, I have been instrumental in advancing the national case for paid maternity leave. As a result the University was recognised in 2001 through the award of the HR Award for best provider of Work/Life Balance and subsequently as Joint Award Winner in the Single Innovative Initiative Category in 2002 in the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry National Work and Family Awards 2002. I was delighted to be appointed to the Library Council in 2002 and continue to enjoy the role.

Graham Bradley
BA, LLB, LLM, FAICD

Graham Bradley

I am honoured to have been a member of the Library Council since 2004, and to chair the atmitchell.com Capital Campaign. Over the last 2 years, the atmitchell.com project has captured the imagination of many generous benefactors and corporate supporters, and all of us on the Council.

My association with the Library goes back over ten years when, in my former role as MD at Perpetual Trustees, I was proud to sponsor some of the superb exhibitions staged by the Library. This led to my appreciation of the deep, diverse and priceless collection of absorbing materials held in the Mitchell Collection and too little known or accessed. Photography has been a lifetime passion for me and the Library's collection is one of its greatest treasures.

After retiring from executive life in 2003, I am now a professional non-executive director on a range of public company and non-profit boards. This leaves me with more time for my other passion - reading, especially Australian history and literature.

Richard Fisher
LLB, MEc

Richard Fisher

I am a partner of Blake Dawson Waldron and its immediate past Chairman of Partners. A commercial lawyer for many years, I have specialised in the areas of corporate reorganisation and insolvency. I am also an International Consultant to the Asian Development Bank conducting projects on the development and harmonisation of insolvency laws in the Asian region. My written work includes Corporate Insolvency Law (LBC, 2000) and the chapters on Corporate Reorganisation and on Receivership in The Laws of Australia. Other appointments held include directorships of InvoCare Limited and Baosteel Australia Mining Company Pty Limited. I am a member of the Sydney Law School Advisory Board. Beyond my involvement with the establishment of the BDW Prize for Business Literature, which the Library administers, I have been very gratified to become involved with the most impressive programs undertaken by the Library to support both the Public Library Network and Specialist collections.

Dr Bridget Griffen-Foley
BA(Hons), PhD

Dr Bridget Griffen-Foley

I am an ARC Queen Elizabeth II Fellow in the Departments of Modern History and Politics at Macquarie University. I specialise in media history, having written "The House of Packer", "Sir Frank Packer" and "Party Games: Australian Politicians and the Media from War to Dismissal". I am now completing a history of commercial radio in Australia, which, like my earlier books, draws on the State Library's rich manuscript and periodical holdings. I have been a member of the Friends of the State Library for several years and in 2000 I was also fortunate to be awarded a Harold White Fellowship by the National Library of Australia. I serve on the New South Wales Working Party of the "Australian Dictionary of Biography", which meets in the State Library, and the board of "Australian Book Review". I write for a range of other publications and my interests include current affairs, theatre and food.

Robert Knight
BA

Robert Knight

I am now in my second term as Local Government appointee to Library Council, and am enjoying the opportunity to contribute to the growth and development of the State Library and the NSW Public Library network.

I have a longstanding commitment to the recognition and development of public libraries in Australia. I am employed as Director of the Riverina Regional Library, one of the largest regional libraries in NSW providing services to 9 member Councils, and am the Chairperson of Public Libraries Australia.

As the recipient of the 2000 Albert Mainerd Scholarship, I undertook a 3 months overseas study tour during mid 2001. I visited libraries in rural and remote USA, Canada and England to research the effects of geographic, demographic and economic influences on the provision of library services in these areas.

I have a professional commitment and a personal interest in assisting in the development and maintenance of strong networks that promote equity of service provision and optimum lifestyle choices to rural and regional residents. I have been associated with a number of regional cultural and educational organisations as a board of management representative, am a keen house renovator and a dedicated socialiser.

Ian Smith
BA (Social Sciences)

Ian Smith

I am the CEO at Yahoo!7, the joint venture between Yahoo! Inc and the Seven Network in Australia. I joined Yahoo!7 in July this year after more than twenty years in the advertising industry. As CEO of Yahoo!7 I am enjoying the challenge of mixing my old media experience; with my enthusiasm for new media.

I have been involved with the State Library of NSW since the inception of the atmitchell.com Project and am energised by the potential to make the State Library of NSW a world leader in the areas of digitised resources and services.

In addition to my role on the Library Council, I am on the board of the Garvan Research Foundation — the Garvan Institute's marketing, communications and fundraising arm.

I hold a Bachelor degree in Sociology and Psychology from La Trobe University, Melbourne and am married with three children.

Regina Sutton
BSci, MBA

Regina Sutton

My local library helped to shape my view of the world and what I could accomplish with my life as a young child. So, personally, libraries occupy a special place in my heart as they provided me with the tools to envision a future that has had no boundaries. I believe in what the State Library represents and the unique value it provides to our community. As the custodian of the treasures that form the historic fabric of this nation, it is unrivalled. I am honoured and especially delighted to be leading an institution that provides such value to our community. I believe that the State Library is well positioned to be an innovative leader within the information world.

I have spent over 25 years of my professional career in senior leadership roles within the private sector in the USA and Asia. I have worked for global corporations that have included General Motors, Kodak, Telstra, and IBM. All of this experience has focussed on some element of providing services in the form of images and information to customers. My husband and I live on a heritage property site and our hobbies revolve around restoring the gardens and dwelling. I love to read historical fiction, travel whenever I can, cook for others, and then attempt to work it off with a lot of exercise as often as I can.