Tasmanian Library Advisory Board

Mary Bent, PSM (Chair) 

Mary has been Chair of the Tasmanian Library Advisory Board since 2012. She is also a President of Relationships Australia, Tasmania and a Director on the Board of Primary Health Tasmania.

She has post graduate qualifications in health economics and librarianship and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. In 2010 she was awarded the Public Service Medal for outstanding public service particularly in public health and human services in Tasmania.

Jan Butler    

TLAB member since 2016. Representing the interests of state-wide library users.

Jan taught mathematics and computing for over 20 years at secondary and tertiary level in various parts of Australia. Most recently, Jan was Executive Officer of the Alliance of Girls' Schools Australasia, responsible for managing all aspects of the organisation including finance, compliance, conference organising and publicity.

She is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a senior member of the Australian Computer Society. Previous board positions include Musica Viva Tasmania and St Mary's College, Hobart.

Jan has an Honours degree in Mathematics and Statistics and postgraduate qualifications in education, educational computing and French. As an IT expert, Jan is interested in the development of digital technologies, the future of books, and how libraries are adapting to the changes brought to the Internet.

Dr Dianne Snowden 

TLAB member since 2008. Representing the interests of state-wide library users.

Dr Snowden is a professional historian, heritage consultant and genealogist. She served as Chair of the Tasmanian Heritage Council from 2012-2014 and lectured in online Family History at Utas from 2014 to 2016. Dianne taught Adult Education classes in family history for more than 25 years.

Dianne is Chair of the Cascades Female Factory Community Advisory Committee and founding member of the Female Convicts Research Centre. She is a former Director of the National Trust of Australia (Tasmania) and the National Archives of Australia Advisory Council.

Dianne's most recent publication (with Irish historian Joan Kavanagh) is Van Diemen's Women: A history of Transportation to Tasmania.

Hilary Schofield  

TLAB member since 2014. Representing the interests of state-wide library users.

Hilary has worked in state and commonwealth government roles for the last fifteen years and has over ten years' experience in a range of senior management positions in the Commonwealth Department of Environment.

Most recently, Hilary has held roles responsible for the management of National Parks and Commonwealth Marine Reserves with a particular focus on planning and tourism. Prior to that Hilary worked on climate change policy and programs with a focus on renewable energy in Australia and overseas. Hilary holds an Honours degree in Science (Geography and Zoology) and  a postgraduate qualification in Energy Studies.

Hilary is particularly interested in adult literacy support and library services for families.

Jen Fitzgerald   

TLAB member since 2011. Representing the interest of state-wide library users.

Jen came to the Board after working as an Adult Education tutor, and describes herself as a passionate library user. She is an enthusiastic supporter of the increased provision of digital items and digital access and believes that the broad learning opportunities and accessible services available at local Libraries work to improve quality of life for community members.

Jen's previous board experience has focused on education and local community development. Her employment history has been predominantly in the non-government sector.

Kay Thompson

TLAB member since 2014. Representing the interest of library users in north Tasmania.

Kay has worked in community and government organisations across Tasmania. A life member of the Tasmanian Council of Social Services, Kay is a past General Manager of Family Bases Care (North) and has served as a Director on a number of Boards, including TasCoss, Skills Tasmania and EquityIntoWork, as a local councilor in northern Tasmania and as a past member of the UTas Human Research Ethics Committee.

Whilst working across Tasmania, Kay's main interests have always focused on issues of equity and education. Particularly relevant to Libraries Tasmania is her 8 year Directorship with Skills Tasmania, the Tasmanian State Training Authority.

Amanda Davison

TLAB member since 2016.   Local Government Association of Tasmania nominee

Amanda is the Information Management Coordinator for Waratah Wynyard Council in North West Tasmania.   She has worked in the records and information management environment in a range of sectors including not for profit, automotive, health and local government.

Amanda has a particular interest in the implementation of Electronic Document and Records Management Systems and archiving of printed documents and records through digitization.

Sue Chapple

TLAB member since 2012. Representing the interest of library users in south Tasmania

Sue has a lifelong association with libraries in Australia and before that in New Zealand and is passionate about the provision of information and education services in the community. Sue has retired from State Government having worked in the services for nearly 14 years. Sue's experience working for the government has provided a good overview of the Tasmanian public sector environment and understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing government providers such as Libraries Tasmania.

Early in her career Sue worked as a library assistant in NSW prior to gaining university qualifications and pursuing a varied career in management and policy.

Dr Mark Briggs

TLAB member since 1997. Representing the interest of library users in north-west Tasmania

Dr Mark Briggs is a teacher and author. He has long seen the library as a key cultural and social institution in Tasmania. A particular interest is in ensuring Libraries Tasmania continues to provide Tasmanians with access to knowledge and information not easily available elsewhere in the state. With a background as a historian, he is also a strong supporter of the preservation of Tasmania's historical record through the Tasmanian Archive and Heritage Office.

Alderman James Walker 

TLAB member since 2016. Local Government of Tasmania nominee - representing south Tasmania  

James has been a Clarence City Council Alderman since 2012. He has over 17 years' experience in the health sector (NSW, ACT, Republic of Ireland and Tasmania) in a variety of roles including clinician, senior workforce planner and practice manager. James continues to work as a podiatrist in outer suburban and rural settings. He is currently a board member of Health Recruitment Plus and the Australian Podiatry Council. Former board positions include both the ACT and Tasmanian podiatrist registration boards as well as the Australian Association of Practice Managers. A proud Tasmanian, James is interested in economic and community development.

Councillor Dick Adams

TLAB member since 2016. Local Government of Tasmania nominee - representing north Tasmania

Dick has a lifelong interest in adult literacy and is a lift Member of the Adult Literacy Council. He is well known for his advocacy for adult learners in Tasmania. Dick was a National Ambassador of the National Year of Reading for 2012 and is a member of the Tasmanian Book Council.

Dick has sat in both State and Federal Parliaments, the latter for 20 years finishing in 2013. He has been involved in many committees included chairing the Parliamentary Library Joint Committee and was the Federal Parliament representative on the National Library Board. On leaving Federal Parliament in 2013, Dick was elected to his local council in Northern Tasmania.

Alderman Sandra French, AM

TLAB member since 1997. Local Government Association of Tasmania nominee - representing north-west Tasmania

Sandra was the first female Mayor elected by popular vote in 1991 - 1996 and is the longest serving elected representative on the Burnie City Council. Sandra sits on several boards and committees including some representing organisations for people with disabilities and other not-for-profits. Sandra was inducted into the Tasmanian Honour Roll of Women in 2009 for her service to the community and in 2011 received an Order of Australia Award as a Member of the Order, an AM.

Formally trained as an Infant Teacher and then as a Special Education Teacher, Sandra is still involved in education, as President of the School of Special Education, Burnie Campus School Association and the Romaine Park School Association.

Elizabeth (Liz) Jack

TLAB member (Secretary's nominee) and Executive Director Libraries Tasmania since December 2016

Liz has over 20 years' experience working within the Tasmanian Government in leadership roles across a range of sectors, including small business, community development and sport and recreation. She is a current Leadership Champion with Tasmanian Leaders Inc and a former Chair and Director of the Fahan School Board. Her previous board positions include Service Tasmania, Tasmanian Leaders Inc and the Australian Innovation Research Centre.

Liz graduated with an Honours degree in Modern Languages from McGill University in Montreal and has a keen interest in genealogical research.