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 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queensland’s Head of State. View the Governor's full biographyopen_in_new via the Government House website. 

Foundation Council

Ms Helen Brodie FAICD (President) is a company director and corporate adviser with a proven track record in leadership, management, strategy, corporate governance and transformation. Helen’s experience spans more than 30 years, leading diverse teams through change programs.

Ms Courtney Talbot (Vice 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.

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.

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.