Fiona has held a number of senior management positions in local and State Government and is now consulting across a range of businesses, both commercial and in government, specialising in retail consultancy.

A librarian by profession, Fiona recently held the position of Executive Director of Public Library Services with the State Library and before that was a member of the Management Team with Brisbane City Council Library Services, managing Collection Services. It was while holding this latter role that Fiona's team introduced innovative methods of procurement, retail technologies and secured a further 3 million dollars for the collection through the creation of an Asset Management Programme.

Before emigrating to Australia, Fiona held posts in both local government and the Lothian Education Service as a school librarian. During this time she contributed actively to the Library Association, the Edinburgh International Book Festival and many community projects.

Contact: fiona@johnstanley.cc

Before graduating in 1998 with a Bachelor of Business, Information Management and Library Studies at RMIT University, Natalie worked with RMIT Publishing and the National Meteorological Library. She began working fulltime with the National Meteorological Library after graduating, working on developing and maintaining an historical archive on the subject area of tropical cyclones.

Once completing the archive, Natalie began working for ALDIS as a Library Consultant. Most recently, Natalie has held the position of Regional Electronic Sales Manager for Thomson Gale.

Natalie is also the convenor of ALIA's New Generation Policy and Advisory Group (NGPAG). NGPAG has been formed to generate interest in the Library and information industry and association among new and recent graduates and students. In August 2002, Natalie delivered a paper at the IFLA conference in Scotland discussing NGPAG and the need for transition programs between more experienced and new librarians.

Born in South Africa to Italian/Russian/English parents. Moved to Australia at the age of 15. Enjoyed three cushy years in a Fine Arts degree, majoring in printmaking and ceramics. Discovered that a Fine Arts degree was all but useless for gainful employment in the graphics and commercial arts industries, and didn't possess the stamina to be a starving, struggling artist.

After a few years of dabbling in various short term vocations (waitressing, home-made crockery production, multi-level marketing...ewww!), met someone who was enjoying work at Brisbane City Council Library Service (BCCLS) as a casual library assistant. Through the dazzling glare of the lightbulb that suddenly blazed over my head,realised that my calling was as a librarian!

Discovered to my horror that, not only does one have to aquire a suitable Graduate Diploma to be a librarian, but one also has to know a fair deal about computers to even be eligible for the course.

Skulked around an "Introduction to Computers" course for six months learning DOS-based programmes. Exited non-too impressed about computers, but qualified to do my Graduate Diploma of Library and Information Studies.

Spent a tortuous year ploughing through the Grad Dip. Not having been experienced in the rigours of theory-intensive study, the workload in the degree mowed me down like a truck over a snail. I survived, but ever-changed - both scarred and reformed.

After whinging for the first six months of the degree about the DemonComputers, and vowing to start up my own library service where people could enjoy a library free of the damned useless things, unexpectedly encountered the real world in librarianship. That is to say, had my first experience working in a library during the mid-year holiday break. Also introduced to the joys of the internet in one of my subjects. The rest, as far as automation goes, is history. Nowadays, am a fervent - even rabid - advocate of computers in libraries, and tirelessly educate all my library customers about its benefits. Am still learning how to use the things.

Happily gained a position as casual library assistant with BCCLS after finishing the Grad Dip. The kind staff in the libraries recognised my enthusiasm for working in reference, and gave me many invaluable opportunities to practise and expand my librarian skills.

After a few months, unfurled my wings and fluttered overseas for four years. Spent most of my time in London, working through employment agencies at various libraries, including a number of public libraries, a City Business Library, a school library, and the British Broadcasting Corporation's research service. Had rather a lot of fun.

Regularly dashed back to Australia and my family in between all of this for a breath of fresh air (literally). During my last visit back home, was offered the opportunity for free travel and accommodation in the USA. The only hitch was that it came with the job of nanny to three children under the age of six.

I like variety and adventure in my life, so accepted the position, and spent three months in Washington DC swimming in a seething mass of demanding, noisy, adorable children. Three months was more than enough. Made my escape back to the generous and welcoming arms of library employment in London, where I enjoyed a number of months as researcher in a School Library Service. Was offered the position permanently, but despite the wonderful position and package, couldn't stay away from my country, Australia (aww, shucks!).

On the way back home, travelled to Pakistan and Bangladesh with Pakistani friend from London. Stayed with her relatives and attended a traditional three-day Muslim wedding extravaganza. Most amazing and interesting experience I've ever had, and also the most awful. I'd recommend it to anyone.

Back in Brisbane, started working as casual library assistant with BCCLS again, and with encouragement from colleagues, applied for, and was offered, the Graduate Opportunity position of librarian at Sunnybank Hills Library. Have worked for BCCLS in this capacity for the last 1 1/2 years, with a three-month hiatus at State Library of Queensland in the Reference Library.

Currently working as Team Leader at Fairfield Library, and enjoying every challenging minute of it.

Beth likes to be called an Information Professional but will also happily answer if someone calls for a librarian. Her life or experience within the profession over the past thirty years has covered business, government, academic and even toy libraries. She also took the role of National Director of Knowledge Sharing for one of the major legal firms before looking in the mirror one day and giving herself a darned good talking to!

She considers the profession to be one were you can experience such a depth of challenge within different sectors that anyone who doen't take every opportunity offered is doing themselves a great disservice.

Her professional colleagues have been generous enough to nominate her for several awards. In 2000 she was gob smacked to receive not only the Queensland Special Librarian of the Year but also the Queensland Library Achiever of the Year.

Currently, she is employed as a Cluster Team Leader and Branch Librarian with the Gold Coast City Council.

Alison is currently the Melbourne Library Services Manager for the law firm, Blake Dawson Waldron. Her interest in libraries began at an early age when she would stick call numbers on her family's books and wouldn't allow her sisters to take a book from the shelves unless it was checked out, and had been stamped with a picture of a bear. Needless to say this caused many fights!

Alison completed a degree in Information Management at RMIT and graduated in 1998. Her first library position was in a medium size law firm as library/records management assistant during her studies and then as the Librarian. In 1998 Alison joined the library at Blake Dawson Waldron as the Assistant Librarian. The position was originally only for 6 months, however she has been there ever since!

In October 1999 Alison took on the position of Melbourne Library Services Manager - at the grand old age of 22. Career highlights include attending AURORA, and working on the LISEKA project. She is currently a member ALIA New Generation Policy and Advisory Group, and is the national convenor of the ALIA New Graduates Group. Outside of libraries Alison can be found rowing on the Yarra or sweating it out at the gym.

Kate Sinclair is Liaison Librarian for Law and Legal Studies at Flinders University Library, South Australia.  She graduated in 1999 and has worked in a range of positions in academic, special and public libraries.  She is a co-founder of SALIN, the South Australian Library and Information Network, Co-Convenor of ALIA SA and Convenor of the ALIA Special Libraries Group (SA), and is also a member of the ALIA New Generation Policy and Advisory Group.

Most recently, she has taken on the role of Convenor for the 2nd ALIA New Librarians' Symposium which will be held in Adelaide, South Australia in December 2004.

Contact: kate.sinclair@flinders.edu.au

David is the Manager - Electronic Publishing Services at Queensland Health. The EPS unit manages Queensland Health's Internet and Intranet sites. In addition, David is part of the Information Management unit which reviews and develops IM strategies for Queensland Health.

Originally trained as a librarian, David has worked in a range of roles in both public and special libraries, always with a strong emphasis on technology-enabled information delivery. He completed an MBA at QUT in 2001.

Kate currently works in Collection Development and Systems Administration at Rockhampton Municipal Libraries. She has previous experience working in school and university libraries and is currently studying towards her Masters of Information Technology.

She is a member of the Next Generation Policy and Advisory Group, Secretary for the New Graduates Group, and List Administrator for ALIAs New Grad e-list. When she escapes library-land Kate loves to go outrigging, clubbing with friends and watching anything rugby!

Contact: watsonk@rcc.qld.gov.au