Professor Mark Thompson

Professor in Digital Economy at University of Exeter

Mark is Professor of Digital Economy at University of Exeter Business School and part of DIGIT Lab, an EPSRC Next Stage Digital Economy Research Centre. He is closely associated with the push for adoption of open standards and digital platforms in the public sector. He chairs a variety of digital conferences, and his work has appeared in Government Information Quarterly, Public Administration, Journal of Public Administration, Research and Theory, The MJ, Computer Weekly, Government Computing, The Guardian, Financial Times, Digital Leaders, and The Economist.

Mark was also co-owner and Strategy Director at public services transformation specialists Methods Group for 25 years, which he took to a corporate sale in 2022, and a Main Board member at TechUK, blending the roles of academic, practitioner, and policy commentator. In 2010-2012 Mark was Cabinet Office IT Futures Advisor, specialising in adoption of open standards and data across UK government; member of the Cabinet Office Digital and Data Advisory Committee, 2015-17; and he co-authored Section 5 of UK Digital Transformation Strategy, on common platforms and components. He was Senior Advisor on Digital to Scottish Government, 2016-2020, was on the NAO’s Digital Advisory Panel, 2014-16, and has contributed to both Labour and Conservatives digital policy (cited contributor to Labour Digital review, 2014, senior tech policy advisor to George Osborne, 2008-9) has keynoted Departmental Awaydays for Home Office, DfE, DEFRA, DWP, GDS, and MHCLG, as well as many senior audiences (e.g. General Staff, British Army, Cabinet Office Round Tables).

In addition to various academic articles on public services and technology, Mark’s co-authored book, Digitizing Government, appeared in December 2014, and Manifesto for Better Public Services launched at the Institute for Government in April 2018. Mark worries a LOT about how much precious public funding is wasted on non-value-added activity – waste that could be halted if we used digital thinking to redesign our public services.

Anna O’Neill

Librarian at University of Warwick

Anna O’Neill joined the University of Warwick in November 2022 and was previously Director of Library Services & Arts Strategy (University Librarian) at the University of Southampton (2019-2022). Anna has worked in the library sector for over 35 years and has a range of experience across a number of sectors, including the NHS, heritage, charities, law and financial services. She has been responsible for a wide range of services throughout her career including IT Services, E-learning, Academic Skills, Print Services, Galleries and a Concert Hall. Anna is co-chair of the SCONUL Technology and Markets Strategy Group.

Ann Rossiter

Executive Director at SCONUL

Ann Rossiter has been the Executive Director of SCONUL since September 2010. She works closely with the SCONUL co-chairs on the development and delivery of the organisation’s strategy. She has a long-standing interest in the scope for collaboration and shared services to deliver value for members having worked on these issues in government. She sits on a number of external advisory groups, including the UUK and Jisc groups overseeing content negotiations; JISC's Library Hub Advisory Board; and the EThoS Advisory Board.

Ann is a public policy expert having spent the majority of her career working a variety of such roles including as a researcher at the BBC and in Parliament, in public policy consultancy; as director of the think-tank, the Social Market Foundation; and as Special Adviser to Rt. Hon John Denham MP on higher education policy. She has edited and contributed to a number of books and pamphlets on public service issues.

Liam Earney

Managing Director for Higher Education and Research, and Executive Director of Digital Resources at Jisc

Liam Earney is Managing Director for Higher Education and Research at Jisc where his portfolio includes Licensing, Research Management, Content & Discovery, Digital transformation, Consultancy and Jisc’s strategic response to the needs of higher education and research. Liam’s worked at Jisc since 2003, mainly in the licensing side of Jisc’s work, which has enabled him to work across areas such as library systems, open access, copyright and increasingly infrastructure. More recently his work has focused on how collaboration within and across institutions can improve outcomes – something he has observed in practice in the negotiation space – and help address the challenges facing universities at the present time.

Fiona Greig

Director of Knowledge & Digital Services at University of Winchester

Fiona Greig is the Director of Knowledge and Digital Services, a role that encompasses University Librarian, CIO and CTO at the University of Winchester. As well as strategic leadership in those areas and “enjoying” the challenge of managing 68 team members one of the pressing things at the moment is the handover of the final phase of the £8.1m refurbishment of the Martial Rose Library … now where did we put those books? Fiona has worked in the library/digital teams in three UK universities and before that worked in the information services departments of two large UK central government departments. In each role the purpose and futureproofing of the services and spaces available has been a core focus. And while she may stray towards the information science side of the profession she did, “back in the day” go to “library school”, believe it or not.

Mark Hughes

Head of Libraries at Cardiff Metropolitan University

Mark has been working in Libraries, both public and academic, across a range of different roles and institutions for over 20 years, and is currently in post as Head of Libraries at Cardiff Metropolitan University. He has a longstanding interest and depth of experience in the realm of digital services and technology-led service development.

Mark’s professional community involvement includes the role as Chair of the Wales Higher Education Libraries Forum (WHELF) group, membership of JISC’s Library Hub Advisory Board, and membership of Sconul’s Technology & Markets Strategy Group, within which he Chairs the sub-group focussing on AI for Libraries.

Mark was part of the team who won a Times Higher Education Leadership & Management Award (THELMA) in 2015 for their work on the shared Welsh Library Management System, and in the same year, he was also the recipient of the CILIP Cymru Wales ‘Welsh Librarian of the Year’ award.

Wendy White

Director Library and Learning Services (University Librarian) at University of Southampton

Wendy White is Director of Library and Learning Services (University Librarian) at the University of Southampton. She is a member of the SCONUL Technology and Markets Strategy Group, with a particular focus on AI for Libraries and Technology Enhanced Learning Spaces. She also sits on the Research Libraries UK (RLUK) Board. Her areas of interest focus on libraries in the context of cultural change and socio-technical innovation, and in enablers for ethical research, educational and civic practice.

Dominic Dixon

Head of Assessment and User Experience at Cambridge University Libraries

Dominic Dixon is Head of Assessment and User Experience at Cambridge University Libraries, where he leads efforts to improve evidence-based decision-making through data and user research. His work spans quantitative and qualitative methods, supporting strategic planning and service design across the university’s library network. He is also a PhD candidate in Library and Information Science at City, University of London, exploring the application of social epistemology to LIS research and practice.

Michelle Halpin

Digital Services and Content Developer at University of Sunderland

Michelle Halpin is a graphic designer with a HE engagement and impact background. After studying to change career direction, she is now working in engagement, analytics and data visualisation at University of Sunderland. She has a strong interest in using data analytics/visualisation to deliver business solutions and improve student experiences. She is currently studying for a MSc Computer Science.

Thomas Kistell

Systems Support Specialist at Sheffield Hallam University

Tom Kistell is Systems Support Specialist in the Library at Sheffield Hallam University, where he has worked since 2013 in a variety of roles. Tom's professional interests include user experience, communication about systems and data, the formation and development of communities of practice, and cross-disciplinary knowledge management in organisations. Outside of work, he loves exploring the countryside with his wife and children, and is very keen on electric bikes.

Amy Stubbing

University Librarian at Solent University

Amy Stubbing is the University Librarian at Solent University. She has held roles across the sector, with her core areas of expertise and focus being data-driven decisions, inclusive practices, and management and organization. Her book ‘Data-Driven Decisions: A Toolkit for Information Professionals’ was published in 2022. As well as her role as University Librarian, Amy is a consultant and trainer on using data within the workplace and making data-driven decisions. She is internationally active in the library and information profession, working with key professional bodies around the world to improve data usage and literacy.

Adnan Adil

Systems, Subscriptions and Licensing Manager at London South Bank University

Syed Adnan Adil is the Systems, Subscriptions, and Licensing Manager in Library, Skills, and Customer Services at London South Bank University. He has extensive managerial experience in both university and public sector libraries across the UK and Pakistan. Adnan's professional interests include library technologies, continuing professional development (CPD) for the library practitioners, and international librarianship. Since 2015, he has held managerial positions in UK higher education libraries, successfully leading migration projects for library management systems (LMS) as well as implementing discovery and reading list systems. He has also served in senior management roles within NHS libraries.

In 2018, Adnan was awarded a CLAHRC fellowship from The Health Foundation. As part of this program, he completed a practice-based M.Sc. in Improvement Sciences at the University of West London. Currently, he is pursuing a PhD at the UCL's Department of Information Studies, and his research area is on UX design of library technology systems (LMS).

Caroline Cooke

Deputy Director, Library Services at Royal Holloway, University of London

Caroline Cooke is Deputy Director of Library Services at Royal Holloway, University of London, leading library digital transformation initiatives. Caroline is a co-chair of the SCONUL Future of Systems Librarians Community of Interest Group and has a keen interest in supporting the development of practical solutions for the evolving challenges facing library services and systems. With over 17 years’ experience in higher education, Caroline has expertise in digital infrastructure development and in leading successful student-facing services.

Georgina Dimmock

Head of Library Systems, Skills, Collections and Archives at University of Northampton

Georgina (George) Dimmock is Head of Library Systems, Skills, Collections and Archives at the University of Northampton. As well as leading the library’s academic liaison and information skills team, George’s role gives her oversight of the library’s collections, systems and technical teams, and she has recently led the implementation of the Ex Libris LMS product suite (Alma, Primo VE and Leganto) at the University of Northampton. George started her career as a library graduate trainee at the University of Northampton, working across the systems, subject librarian and collections teams, before moving to the Open University in 2002 to work as a Library Project Officer on a project exploring the development of AI FAQ systems.

George then returned to the University of Northampton, initially as an E-Learning Librarian, and has since also held various subject librarian and management roles. George is currently a board member of the SCONUL Technology and Markets Strategy Group, where she is chair of the Future of the Systems Librarian sub-group. George is a CILIP Fellow and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Sue Egleton

University Librarian at University of Reading

Sue has been University Librarian for just over a year, having previously been Associate Director (Systems & User Services) with strategic responsibility for delivery of the library’s frontline service, facilities, and various systems for nine years. She has over twenty-five years of experience working in academic libraries in both FE and HE institutions in roles covering a variety of professional activities. She is a member of SCONUL’s Technology and Markets Strategy Group, Jisc’s International Senior Leaders Forum, Jisc’s Digital transformation Library Lens working group and outgoing Co-Chair of Jisc’s Transnational Licensing Advisory Board. Sue has particular interests in the collection and use of library data and the user experience of our systems and spaces.