Queensland Library Foundation Council

Patron

Her Excellency the Honourable Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM, Governor of Queensland is the 27th Governor of Queensland and representative of His Majesty King Charles III, Queensland’s Head of State. View the Governor's full biography via the Government House website. 

Foundation Council

Ms Courtney Talbot (President) is a company director who holds voluntary positions in various community and arts organisations. Courtney was awarded the Queensland Community Foundation’s Emerging Philanthropist of the Year Award for 2018. She is also a member of Philanthropy Australia’s New Generation of Giving program. In 2023 she was appointed to the Library Board, the governing body of State Library of Queensland.

Mr Jim Briscoe is General Manager and Investment Committee Member for MPrivate Capital. Jim has an extensive background in private investment fund management across prominent multi-family offices. Jim holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) degree, a Diploma of Financial Services (RG146), is a Chartered Accountant, and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. 

Ms Helen Barnard is a former secondary school educator. Helen has over 20 years’ experience working with community and not-for-profit organisations within the education sector.

Ms Susan Hocking is a writer and former Courier-Mail columnist and who has lived and worked across the globe throughout her career. The Queensland Literary Awards Children's Book category has been supported by Susan’s family for many years through The Hocking Mackie Fund. Susan is an experienced advocate for the advancement of disadvantaged women and girls locally and internationally.

Adjunct Professor Michael Hogan is the convenor of the Thriving Qld Kids Partnership initiative, hosted by ARACY and is an Adjunct Professor at QUT. Michel has over 30 years of executive experience in the public and community sectors. Michael has held CEO roles in two government agencies as the Director-General of the Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women and the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability services in Queensland, as well as at the Public Interest Advocacy Centre in NSW.

Mr Tony Kinivan is a financial adviser with Morgan Stanley with more than 25 years’ experience in financial markets globally. Tony specialises in advising not-for-profit organisations, social enterprises and philanthropic private clients to achieve their mission.

Mr Ken MacDonald AM practiced corporate/ resources law with Allens for over 40 years, heading the Queensland Practice at that firm,  and was a Queensland Resource Industry Ambassador.  He has also served as a director of several companies, including QIC and MIM , and was awarded the 2017 Queensland Gold Medal by the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Mrs Debbie Best (Chairperson, Library Board of Queensland) has extensive executive leadership experience in the Queensland State Government. This includes as Director-General, Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural Affairs and other executive positions in water resource management (rural and urban), natural resource management, environment management, community engagement and education.

Ms Vicki McDonald AM FALIA (State Librarian and Chief Executive Officer, State Library of Queensland) is a respected senior executive with extensive experience in the library sector, state and local governments and tertiary education.  She previously held senior positions at the State Library of New South Wales and Queensland University of Technology.