Library Council of NSW
The Library Council of New South Wales is the governing body of the State Library of New South Wales. The nine members of Library Council are members of the public nominated by the State Government and appointed for a three year term by the Governor of New South Wales. The Council's responsibilities relate to the promotion, provision and maintenance of library and information services for the people of New South Wales; and advising the Minister and local authorities on matters of policy and administration relating to library services.
Robert Thomas
President, Library Council
BEc, MSDIA, SF Fin-
Robert Thomas
2007 has been a year of education for me after assuming the Presidency of the Library Council from Belinda Hutchison. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Regina Sutton and her team who are so passionate and committed to our Library.
I still have not grasped the enormity of the Library’s collections and its contribution to understanding how Australian society developed. Our atmitchell.com, or online exhibitions project continues to bring our history to life for everyone but there is still so much potential to expand this further.
What I also had not fully appreciated were the tremendous contributions made by our Volunteers, Friends, Benefactors and the smaller groups such as our Library Circle. We could not operate without their support.
One of the Library's most important roles is to support and collaborate with the Public Library network. The contribution of Libraries to education and social and cultural development within communities is very much underestimated which we need to redress.
Apart from the Library Council, I have some Public Company Boards and other non profit interests which provides a very enjoyable diversity of interests.
I have a very understanding wife Kyrenia, and four great boys. Golf, collecting old maps, reading, and Suduko remain my other interests.
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 now investment banking, I have continued to use the Library's resources. My five 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, philanthropy, health and disability services and public policy. 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 12 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 non 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.
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 3.5 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 AM
LLB, MEc-
Richard Fisher AM
I am General Counsel to the University of Sydney and an Adjunct Professor in its Graduate School of Government. Prior to my appointment at the University I was a partner of Blake Dawson Waldron and am 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. Beyond my involvement with the establishment of the BDW Prize for Business Literature, which the Library administers, it has been very rewarding to become involved with the most impressive programs undertaken by the Library to support both the Public Library Network and Specialist collections.
Associate Professor Bridget Griffen-Foley
BA(Hons), PhD-
Associate Professor Bridget Griffen-Foley
I am the Director of the Centre for Media and an ARC Queen Elizabeth II Fellow at Macquarie University. My books, all of them drawing on the State Library's rich manuscript and periodical holdings, include 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, and embarking on the production of A Companion to the Australian Media.
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 I write for a range of other publications. 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 nine member Councils, and am the Chairperson of Public Libraries Australia.
As the recipient of the 2000 Albert Mainerd Scholarship, I undertook a three month 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 a Partner at Heidrick & Struggles and most recently the CEO at Yahoo!7 and prior to that the head of Australia's largest marketing communications group. 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 boards of the Garvan Research Foundation and ShareLife Australia.
I hold a Bachelor degree in Sociology and Psychology from La Trobe University 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.
Dr John Vallance
BA, MA, PhD-
Dr John Vallance
I was born in Sydney, and went to North Sydney Boys' High School and the University of Sydney where I studied classics and archaeology. After that I went to Cambridge on a scholarship and did an MA and PhD in ancient philosophy. On graduating I became a Fellow of Gonville and Caius College Cambridge and taught in the Faculty of Classics at Cambridge for eight years before returning home to Sydney. I am currently Headmaster of Sydney Grammar School.
My published work centres on ancient Greek science and medicine. I have also worked as a musician and have a deep interest in art, especially sculpture.
The State Library has been part of my life since I was a child, and I am delighted now to have the opportunity to support its work in a practical way.
The Public Libraries Consultative Committee, a sub-committee of the Library Council of New South Wales, provides policy advice to Library Council and acts as a consultative framework for key public library stakeholders in NSW.
