Library Board

Photograph of the State Library forecourt and columns

The Library is governed by the Library Board of Victoria, which is overseen by the Victorian Minister for Creative Industries.

The Board's functions are set out in the Libraries Act 1988 and include:

ensuring the maintenance, preservation and development of a state collection of library material, including a comprehensive collection of library material relating to Victoria and the people of Victoria
ensuring that the state collection is available to Victorians, subject to any conditions the Board makes
ensuring the availability of services and facilities in relation to library matters and library material (including bibliographic services)
arranging the publication and sale of reproductions of any library material in the state collection
overseeing the exhibition of material from the state collection for information, education and entertainment
overseeing cooperation in programs with libraries and information organisations to promote access to library and information services and resources
exercising leadership and promoting high standards in the provision of library and information services
providing advice to the minister on any matter concerning libraries and information organisations
performing any other functions appropriate to the Board that the minister may approve

The Board's functions should also contribute to the cultural, educational, social and economic development of Victorians.

About the Board members

Board members are appointed by the Governor in Council on the recommendation of the Minister for the Arts. Members represent interests in academia, business, government, information technology and the humanities. Up to 11 members serve on the Board for up to three years. Members are eligible for reappointment.

Christine Christian AO, President

Christine Christian AO was appointed to the Board in August 2013 and reappointed in May 2019. She was appointed President of the Library Board of Victoria in May 2021. Christine is Chair of the Appointments and Remuneration Committee, and member of the Foundation Council.

Christine is the Chair of Auctus Investments Limited (AVC.AX) and Self Wealth Limited (SWF.AX) and currently holds non-executive director roles with Lonsec Group, MaxCap Group Ltd. and Arcus Partners. She is a council member of La Trobe University and Head of the Corporate Risk and Governance Committee.

Previously, Christine was CEO of Dun & Bradstreet Australia and New Zealand from 1997 to 2011. In 2005, she was appointed to the additional roles of Chair of D&B Consumer Credit Services (a joint venture between Dun & Bradstreet and Macquarie Bank) and the Dun & Bradstreet Worldwide Board, and in 2010 was appointed Executive Director of Dun & Bradstreet India.

Her previous directorships include serving as Chairman and Non-Executive Director of Humm Group Limited (HUM.AX), Independent Chair of Tanarra Credti Partners, Chairman of Kirwood Capital and non-executive director of ME Bank, Credit Clear Limited (CCR.AX), the Victorian Managed Insurance Authority (VMIA), Scottish Pacific Business Finance, Teach for Australia, Melbourne International Comedy Festival and the ASIC Business Advisory Council. She was co-founder and Director of New York based Powerlinx Inc., an innovator in the emerging partner economy.

She was Founding Chair of the Business Information Industry Association – Hong Kong and Middle East, and Director until 2012.

Christine is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Strategic Management Society and member and former president of Chief Executive Women.

In June 2020 Christine was appointed Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia in recognition of her distinguished service to the financial and investment sectors, to women in business, and through support for emerging entrepreneurs.

Maria Myers AC, Deputy President

Adam Lewis

Adam Lewis was appointed to the Board in May 2018 and reappointed in 2021. Adam served as a member of the Vision 2020 Redevelopment Project Steering Committee and is currently a member of the Audit and Risk Management Committee and the Appointments and Remuneration Committee.

Adam is an alumnus of McKinsey & Company, where he spent 20 years as an advisor to major firms and governments around the world. He was a partner for 14 years, a managing partner for Australia and New Zealand for seven years, and a member of McKinsey’s Asia council and global Senior Partner election committees.

Since leaving McKinsey in 2010, Adam’s roles have included Chair of Palette, Deliciou, HPS Technology and Southern Innovation. Adam has previously been a Director of the Melbourne International Film Festival, a member of the Australia Council for the Arts, and an advisory board member of the Smith Family. He is also the former Chair of Aconex Pty Ltd and Message Media Limited. He holds a B.Eng (Hon.) from Curtin University and an MBA (Hon.) from the University of Illinois.

Maxine McKew AM

Maxine is a member of the Library's board and Honorary Fellow at the University of Melbourne. A published author, her books include Class act, a study of the key challenges in Australian schooling, and Tales from the political trenches. As a journalist, for many years Maxine was anchor of ABC TV’s 7.30 report and Lateline. Her work has been recognised by her peers with both Walkley and Logie awards.

In 2007 Maxine made the switch to politics and defeated Prime Minister John Howard in the Sydney seat of Bennelong. In government she was Parliamentary Secretary for Early Childhood and later, for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government.

Maxine is a board member of Respect Victoria and New Energy Solar, an ASX listed company, as well as a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Donata Carrazza

Donata Carrazza was appointed to the Board in May 2019 and is also a member of the Advisory Committee on Public Libraries and Audit and Risk Management Committee.

Donata has more than 20 years’ experience in the hospitality and tourism industry, notably at the Mildura Grand Hotel working with Stefano de Pieri. She is one of the founding members of the Mildura Writers Festival which celebrated 25 years in 2020 and since 2021 has been the festival’s artistic director. In 2023 she was appointed to the board of WomenCAN Australian, an organisation providing skills and job support to women since 2019. Donata has served on the board of Arts Mildura (2004–2009) and Writers Victoria as a committee member (2017–2019). She has edited four books and has been published in several literary and art journals. Donata lives in Mildura in northwest Victoria where she owns and operates a bookshop.

Donata is a graduate of Italian language and literature at the University of Melbourne (1990) and the CELTA language course at La Trobe University (2010), and holds an Associate Degree in Professional Writing and Editing from RMIT University (2019).

Cheri Ong

Cheri Ong was appointed to the Library Board in May 2019. Cheri is a member of the Audit and Risk Management Committee, and Foundation Council.

Cheri is the founder and Chair of the Asian Australian Foundation. She was a member of the governing council of International House, University of Melbourne, and the Chair of its Risk Committee. Cheri was previously a board member and Chair of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee of Multicultural Arts Victoria. She was formerly Head of Regulation and Compliance at KPMG Australia and the Asia Pacific Chief Operating Officer for KPMG Risk Management. She has held various legal counsel roles at a number of financial institutions.

Cheri has a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Law from Monash University, and is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Hugh Williams

Karen Wood

Karen Wood was appointed to the Board in May 2019. Karen served as a member of the Library’s Foundation Council 2016–2023 and continues to serve as a member of the Appointments and Remuneration Committee.

Karen is the chair of South 32 Limited and a non-executive director of Djerriwarrh Investments Limited. She serves on the board of the Robert Salzer Foundation and is an ambassador for the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation. Until 2014 Karen was a member of the senior executive team at BHP and held a number of global roles in governance, people and corporate affairs. She joined the company in 2001 as group company secretary. She served as chair of the BHP Foundation from 2015 until 2019.

Karen was general counsel and company secretary at Bonlac Foods Limited before joining BHP. She served as a member of the Takeovers Panel from 2000 to 2012, was a member of the Committee and Vice President of the Melbourne Cricket Club from 2009 to 2021, a member of the Business Regulatory Advisory Group from 2005 to 2007, the ASIC Business Consultative Panel from 2006 to 2008 and the JD Advisory Board University of Melbourne from 2002 to 2005. She is a fellow of Monash University and a member of Chief Executive Women.

Mark De Ambrosis

Alex Cartel

Inala Cooper

Inala Cooper was appointed to the Board in March 2022 and is a member of the Foundation Council and Advisory Committee on Public Libraries.

Inala is a Director, Murrup Barak, Melbourne Institute for Indigenous Development, Director of the Emmanuel Foundation, and Director of the Adam Briggs Foundation.

Inala’s earlier roles include Senior Adviser in the Yulendj Indigenous Engagement Unit at Monash University and Board member of Jesuit Social Services.

Inala has a Master’s degree in Human Rights Law (2012) from Monash University and is a social commentator, change-maker and advocate for Indigenous rights, social justice and human rights. Her undergraduate degree at Deakin University was in Drama and Contemporary Dance (1998), and she holds a Diploma of Arts, Small Companies and Community Theatre from Swinburne University of Technology (2002).

Inala is a Yawuru woman from Broome in the Kimberley, Western Australia. She grew up in south-west Victoria on Gunditjmara land and has lived on the land of the Kulin Nations in Melbourne for over 25 years.

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