ALS Public Libraries SA Conference 2017 Speakers

Fiona holds a BA in Film & Television and Creative Writing. Fiona has always worked in the arts – for fifteen years as an arts journalist, and theatre/cabaret/comedy critic for The Age, The Australian, and The Bulletin Magazine. Fiona is a print journalist but doesn’t have a single job description, she works as a columnist, satirist, comedian, deejay, cabaret director, and broadcaster. Anywhere she can cause some trouble using words and/or music. Fiona has a fortnightly satiric column ‘Culture Police’ that has been running in the Big Issue since 2006, and she contributes regular columns to The Age, and arts pieces to The Australian. ‘The Needle And The Damage Done’, her solo comedy show and a Top Ten of the worst records ever released in the history of the world, has been touring for three years. Fiona has performed her show at The Sydney Opera House, The Woodford Folk Festival, all over Australia from Alice Springs to Karatha, and in New Zealand and Hong Kong. When The Famous Spiegeltent is in town, Fiona is one of the resident DJ’s, and she also regularly deejays at corporate events, festival openings, birthday parties, and weddings. Back in the day, Fiona had two shows on 3RRR FM in Melbs. ‘Trash Is My Life’, where she played really bad music and had her celebrity guests sing karaoke (for example Joe Dolce singing YMCA), and ‘The F&K Show’, which was a sexy chat program with Kate Langbroek. Fiona does a summer fill every year on 3RRR on Sunday mornings, and co-hosts regularly with Derek Guille on the evening show at ABC 774 FM. She co-wrote and directed the award-winning cabaret shows ‘Cliff Hanger’, ‘Cling’ and ‘We’re All Going To Die’. She also produced, devised and MC’d ‘Just Came Out Of A Coma’, a cabaret reinvention of Paul Kelly.

A proud Kaurna and Narungga man Jack Kanya Kudnuitya Buckskin has dedicated his life to re-learning and passing on his knowledge and language to the future generations of Kaurna people, especially his own children, in which he speaks the once said ‘extinct Kaurna language’ of the Adelaide Plains. Through managing and performing song and dance with Kuma Kaaru Cultural Services, teaching Kaurna language and being a strong icon in the revitalisation process of Kaurna language, Jack has had the opportunity to promote and teach about his language and culture around the world. Jack now works with Tauondi Aboriginal College in Port Adelaide as an Aboriginal Cultural Service Mentor. Jack believes that the language has come from the land, this is the only place you will find this language in the world, the language was in the country before we were born, the language is still here today and will still be here tomorrow, as residents it is our duty to makes sure this continues, so we need to learn it and use it together.

James Bruce is the Chairman of the State Libraries Board of SA and was appointed to this position in 2011. James is also an experienced manager and business development professional in the fields of Fine Art & Real Estate Auction Services spanning three decades. As the current Managing Director of Theodore Bruce Auctions Pty Ltd, he leads a team of
nine auction professionals in Sydney and Adelaide providing auction valuation and sales service to the Commonwealth and State Governments, corporate clients and private individuals.

As a rare female leader in the world of Mad Men, Kieran Flanagan teaches companies and leaders how to harness the commercial power of human nature. She is a passionate advocate for the commercial power of creativity and leadership that is more agile, adaptable and engaging. Earlier in her career, Kieran was not only one of the very few female Creative Directors in the world of advertising but, at just 20, she was also one of the youngest Creative Directors to lead an award-winning advertising agency. A captivating speaker, Kieran has wowed audiences as diverse as the UN, Coca-Cola and TEDx. Her message, that our humanity is our biggest asset when it comes to influence, will deliver lasting change to your organisation.

Stephen Abram, MLS, a strategy and direction planning consultant for libraries and the information industry, is principal of Lighthouse Partners. He is also CEO of the Federation of Ontario Public Libraries.He is a library trend watcher, keynote speaker, innovator and author of Stephen’s Lighthouse blog. He has held executive leadership positions at Cengage Learning (Gale), SirsiDynix, Thomson, Micromedia ProQuest and IHS.

Jane Cowell has been with State Library of Queensland since 2010 and is the Executive Director of Engagement and Partnerships a role which she took up in January this year. Prior to 2015 Jane was the Director of Regional Access & Public libraries. Key projects during this appointment are Vision 2017 The Learning Strategy for public library workforce, Next Horizon Vision 2017 for Queensland Public Libraries, State Library’s Literacy Framework Libraries for Literacy every day, every way, and The Library Dividend: the socioeconomic value of Queensland Public Libraries. Prior to this role Jane was a Senior Consultant with the AEC Group, working with local governments and State Libraries across Australia on strategic planning, library service models and community consultation in the areas of library and community services. Jane has over 25 years public library management experience, and is currently a Board Director for ALIA. Jane is passionate about public libraries as creative community spaces and their role in connecting communities with technology trends and sees many opportunities for libraries presented by the rapidly changing digital, social and economic environment.

Fiona has over 15 years of experience working in libraries and educational organisations, working with customers, students and internal clients to design information services that meet business and individual needs. Through her innate communication and human relations skills, proactive attitude and lateral problem solving approach she creates innovation and improvements in any workplace.
Fiona is driven by providing opportunities for all library clients to engage with information and learning through mediums and language that are relevant, accessible and attractive. She loves witnessing how the one space is experienced as many different libraries by many different people, and the profound impact a good library can have on the individual.

Steve is a seasoned national and international speaker, workshop presenter, editor, writer, consultant and, of course, librarian. He wrote the book on scenario planning for libraries and other organizations (Imagine Your Library’s Future: Scenario Planning for Libraries and Information Organisations (Chandos Information Professional Series) which is now also being published in the Chinese language by the National Library of China). His latest book is titled Library Management in Disruptive Times (published by Facet). He is a long standing journal editor (Library Management), the author of over 70 articles and a frequent presenter at international library and information management conferences. Most recently, he has been working on a feasibility study for advanced leadership at Charles Sturt University where he is an Adjunct Professor. Steve’s passion is to foster creative and dynamic imaginative communities that deliver positive and measureable results for their Library’s customers. Understanding that there are many paths to the Future is crucial for choosing well and to dealing, in an engaged fashion, with change management.

Jenny Paradiso started her professional career working in public libraries, at both Tea Tree Gully and West Torrens Council, before taking on library software with a role at Ex Libris. Fast forward a few years and Jenny was named 2016 Telstra Australian Business Woman’s Entrepreneur of the Year. Awarded for her role as co-founder and Managing Director of Suntrix, Jenny was recognised as being the driving force behind the local brand that is now charging into national and global markets.

Suntrix has grown from the kitchen table into a multi-million dollar company, successfully navigating years of industry uncertainty and diversifying into new markets. Today, Suntrix has evolved from a residential solar company to a predominantly commercial solar business, servicing SMEs and local government councils.

Adam is co-founder and Creative Director of Children’s Discovery Museum, a non-profit educational charity seeking to improve outcomes for children through innovative educational experiences that encourage the ‘5 C’s’: creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, communication and a can-do attitude. Inspired by the global children’s museum movement, Adam and his team developed the concepts and experiences for the Early Start Discovery Space, a unique venture of a children’s museum integrated within a university research and teaching facility. Adam is now implementing a national STEM initiative, the Little Bang Discovery Club in collaboration with public libraries and community partners.

Ellen Lowrey is the Manager Programs and Learning for the City of Sydney Library responsible for overseeing all programming activities across the City’s nine libraries.
Having completed a Bachelor of Creative Industries – Interdisciplinary, in 2009 at the Queensland University of Technology, her career to date has been aligned towards the creation, administration and management of experiential learning programs, places, spaces and people.

Kevin Richardson is currently Principal of Immanuel College at Novar Gardens, a position he has held for fifteen years. Kevin established the internationally acclaimed Technology School of the Future. Kevin has held senior executive positions in education in WA, NSW and South Australia. Kevin has been a leader nation-wide with respect to changes in teaching and learning, particularly in the area of technology. He is highly regarded for his work on futures oriented thinking and the implications for leaders. As a result, Kevin has been a keynote speaker at several national and international conferences, including being an inaugural speaker at the first International Principals’ Conference in Geneva. He has been a member of several boards both commercial and not for profit, chair of several national education committees and has been invited to participate in several global “think tanks” on education. Kevin was awarded the Australian Centenary Medal in 2001 for significant contribution to Education, in particular in the field of technology. He has received several fellowship and national awards in recognition for his work in leadership, technology and indigenous education. Most recently he was awarded the McKillop medal by the Australian College of Education.

Matt Pinnegar was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the LGA in September 2015. Before coming to the LGA, Matt was the External Affairs Manager and principal contact in South Australia for BP’s Great Australian Bight Exploration Program. Matt worked for the South Australian State Government for seven years, including nearly three years as Chief of Staff to the Minister for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure. He has also been a Senior Adviser in various portfolio areas including local government, energy and transport. Matt has a Bachelor of Law from the University of Adelaide and a Bachelor of Arts (Communication Studies) with an Economics Major from the University of South Australia.

Alison Lester (Australian Children’s Laureate, 2012–2013) is one of Australia’s most popular and bestselling creators of children’s books. She has won many awards, including the 2005 Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Picture Book of the Year Award for her much-loved classic Are We There Yet? and the 2012 CBCA Eve Pownall Book of the Year Award for One Small Island. Her picture books include Running with the Horses, a story based on the evacuation of the world-famous Lipizzaner horses from the Spanish Riding School in Vienna during World War Two; One Small Island, about the possibility of hope and environmental preservation for a World Heritage listed island and for the world itself; Sophie Scott Goes South about a little girl’s voyage to Antarctica and the sense of wonder that it brings; Kissed by the Moon, a lyrical celebration of the natural world and all that it has to offer a child; and My Dog Bigsy – to name just a few.

Alison lives on a farm in the Victorian countryside. She spends part of each year travelling to schools around Australia, helping students and teachers develop their own stories.