Members of the Library Board of Queensland
Professor Emeritus Roland Sussex | dr dale spender | Professor Stuart Cunningham | Max Lenoy | Matthew McDonnell | Dr Grace Sarra | Helen Brodie | Ruth Drinkwater | Lyn McLaughlin | Jane Power | Scott Reid | State Librarian
The Library Board is the governing body of the State Library of Queensland. Biographical details for its current membership are listed below.
Chairperson
Professor Emeritus Roland (Roly) Sussex, OAM
Roly Sussex is a Professor Emeritus of the University of Queensland, Research Fellow at the Centre for Educational Innovation and Technology, and at the School of Languages and Comparative Cultural Studies.
Professor Sussex received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2012 for his services to the development and understanding of languages in Australia.
His research interests cover the triangle formed by languages, society and culture, and technology. He is a language enthusiast, and is deeply engaged in languages and language policy, in both second and mother languages, and especially English. He has also been involved in research and development on technology and literacy, language learning and communication since 1983.
Professor Emeritus Sussex has been a regular weekly contributor to language talkback radio with the ABC in Queensland and other parts of Australia since 1997, and he writes a Saturday column on language in The Courier-Mail.
He is an Australia Day Ambassador, a visiting professor at the Xinjiang Normal University in China, and a Queensland Ambassador of the National Year of Reading 2012.
Members
dr dale spender (Deputy Chairperson)
dale spender has been an author, feminist, educator and public speaker for most of her life. She started her career as a high school teacher, went on to become a university lecturer at James Cook University, and received her PHD from the University of London. She taught 'teachers to teach' at the London University Institute of Education and became a professional writer and lecturer.
dr spender is currently working with teachers at Djarragun College and with James Cook University. A former Chair of CAL (Copyright Agency Limited), she has served on numerous boards and advisory bodies in the public and private sectors and has worked with AOL, Microsoft, Apple and Fujitsu particularly in areas of teacher training and support.
She has written/edited more than 30 books - including Nattering on the Net - one of the first books to examine internet culture and its impact on education and society.
dr spender is a founding member and current chair of the Second Chance Program that raises money for homeless women.
Helen Brodie (leave of absence whilst Acting CEO, State Library of Queensland)
Helen Brodie has more than 26 years’ experience with Australia Post. As the former Commercial Manager, Ms Brodie brings extensive experience and knowledge of the communications and retail and services industry. Her highly successful career at Australia Post includes highlights such as being part of the ground-breaking project team that led the transformation of Australia Post into the largest retail network in the country.
Ms Brodie is currently a board member of the Southbank Institute of Technology, and Chair of its Remuneration and Nominations Committee. She is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and Chair of the Starlight Children’s Foundation Advisory Board (QLD). She has held board positions including Australian Institute of Management, Chairperson of the Australian Post-Tel Institute Queensland and the Australian Federation of Business and Professional Women, QUT Faculty Academic Board (Business), and in 2010 was President of Fostering Executive Women, QUT Alumni. Ms Brodie formerly chaired the AIM Audit Committee and chaired AIM Management Excellence Awards from 2006-2009.
She holds a Bachelor of Business, a Graduate Diploma in Business Administration and a Company Directors Course Diploma. She has participated in leadership programs with the Leadership Consortium, Mt Eliza Business School and in 2008, Harvard Business School.
Ms Brodie is passionate about education and the arts and its importance in society.
Distinguished Professor Stuart Cunningham
Stuart Cunningham is Distinguished Professor of Media and Communications, Queensland University of Technology and Director of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Creative Industries and Innovation. He is President of the Council for Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences.
He is well known for his contributions to media, communications and cultural studies and to their relevance to industry practice and government policy.
Professor Cunningham was awarded a Centenary Medal (Australian Honours list) 2003 in recognition of contribution to the humanities in Australia.
Ruth Drinkwater
Ruth Drinkwater is CEO of the Australian Association of Angel Investors Ltd with previous roles in investment management, business development and research management across university, private business and government sectors. Ms Drinkwater has practical experience in investment, knowledge and technology business development spanning technology and creative industry sectors.
Ms Drinkwater has experience working with and advising companies developing their intellectual property into marketable and commercial products and services and packaging them for investment. She has worked with over 80 technology-based businesses. This includes working with entrepreneurs, service providers, universities, venture capital providers, angel investors and government addressing issues and challenges facing the public research, public and private innovation, technology and investment sectors. Ms Drinkwater is experienced in knowledge product development as well as delivering programs on commercialisation to business and researchers in Australia.
Ms Drinkwater holds a Bachelor of Science degree from James Cook University, an MBA from the University of Queensland, is a Director of Queensland University of Technology’s Creative Enterprise Australia, graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a member of Brisbane Angels and Women in Technology.
Max Lenoy
Max Lenoy holds an Education Masters from Harvard University Graduate School of Education and a Bachelor of Education, James Cook University of North Queensland.
He is an Education technology lecturer at the School of Education, James Cook University.
Mr Lenoy is currently a member of the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Council; the Queensland Indigenous Arts and Marketing Export Agency Advisory Committee; Editorial Board Member, Journal of Indigenous Issues and an Editorial Committee Member, Journal of Indigenous Policy.
Mr Lenoy is currently residing in Townsville; his family are from Yarrabah and Palm Island.
Matthew McDonnell
Matthew McDonnell holds a Bachelor of Economics degree from Macquarie University, is an associate member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and is a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia.
Mr McDonnell is a chartered accountant and has 17 years experience in the accounting profession. He is currently a Partner at KPMG providing audit, accounting and advisory services to clients both in the private and Government sectors. In this role, he has also been responsible for the deployment of key project management initiatives including IT software and various regulatory requirements.
Lyn McLaughlin
Lyn McLaughlin was elected Mayor of Burdekin Shire in March 2004 and again in 2008. She had previously been elected as a Councillor in the 1994 and 1997 elections.
Cr McLaughlin’s involvement in community, recreational and sporting groups has been a part of her life for many years, and she has served as President, Secretary and Treasurer of numerous organisations.
Her commitments as Mayor include her role as Chairman/President of: North Queensland Local Government Association; North Queensland Development Alliance; Regional Development and Relationship Reference Group for the Local Government Association of Queensland; NQ5 Local Farmers Market Steering Committee; Burdekin Water Futures Group; Burdekin Cultural Complex Board and Burdekin Shire Local Disaster Management Group and as Deputy Chair of: Regional Development Australia and Burdekin Shire Rivers Improvement Trust. Cr McLaughlin is also a member of numerous district and regional committees.
Jane Power
Currently Executive Manager, Direct Life for Suncorp, Jane Power has extensive experience in retail banking, wealth management, life insurance, events and tourism. She has strong commercial instinct and judgement and broad marketing expertise across multiple brands, markets and product lines.
Ms Power has previously held positions as Executive Manager, Wealth Management Marketing for Suncorp; Head of Product & Marketing for Atherton (prior to its merger with Suncorp); MasterKey Platform Distribution Manager for MLC Limited; Loyalty Manager, Retail Investments, for MLC Investments; Market Segment Manager for the Commonwealth Bank of Australia and Loyalty Manager and Marketing Manager for Westfield.
Ms Power holds a Bachelor of Business from the University of Southern Queensland and a Master of Business Administration from Queensland University of Technology.
Scott Reid
Scott Reid is Regional Manager for Cisco Systems, responsible for its entire operations in Queensland, the Northern Territory and Papua New Guinea, including business strategy development and execution for the region and high level corporate and government relationships within the region.
A seasoned ICT executive, Mr Reid has over 22 years experience in the ICT industry in Queensland and has held management roles with national and international companies such as Dell Computer Systems and Volante. He previously owned and operated a large local ICT firm, Silicon Data.
Mr Reid is dedicated to ensuring the ICT industry’s participation in social responsibility and continues to be a strong advocate for the industry.
He is a member of the Australian Information Industry Association and head of its Infrastructure Sub-Committee, a member of the Infrastructure Advisory Committee to the Lord Mayor and a committee member of the Smart Connected Transportation Centre of Excellence.
Mr Reid holds a Diploma of Education from Launceston State Institute of Technology.
Dr Grace Sarra
Grace Sarra is presently a Senior Lecturer and a researcher within the YuMi Deadly Centre at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). Born and raised in Townsville, Dr Sarra is of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage and the eldest of five children. She has been teaching in schools and universities for over 20 years. She completed her Doctor of Creative Industries at QUT. Her interest is in the area of Indigenous education with a particular focus on school change and leadership, social justice and inclusive education.
Dr Sarra is the Chair of the Indigenous Advisory group, State Library of Queensland; a member of the Indigenous Advisory Board for the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) and a member of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory group for ACARA.
In attendance
State Librarian
The State Librarian is responsible for the proper and sound management of the State Library of Queensland, under the authority of the Library Board of Queensland. The State Librarian provides strategic advice and direction to the Library Board; plans and develops new initiatives, services and programs; manages the resources of the State Library; initiates strategic partnerships and leads the State Library of Queensland.
Last updated: 3rd February 2012
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