SCONUL Announces Appointment of Ann Rossiter as new Executive Director

3 August, 2010

The Society of College, National and University Libraries (SCONUL) is delighted to announce the appointment of Ann Rossiter as Executive Director from 13 September. Ann has considerable experience in policy development and public communications. Her most recent role was as a special adviser in government where her work included higher education and intellectual property policy. Previously she ran the think-tank, the Social Market Foundation, and was a director of the communications consultancy Fishburn Hedges. She began her career conducting research for the BBC.

Ann Rossiter said:

"SCONUL has a well-deserved reputation for delivering value for its members, and I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to build on the excellent work done by out-going Secretary, Toby Bainton, and the SCONUL team.

"The current policy and fiscal environment presents significant challenges for national and academic libraries. I and the Board are keen to ensure that SCONUL works with, and on behalf of, members to help meet these challenges in a creative way."

Fiona Parsons, Chair of the SCONUL Board said:

"We are delighted to welcome Ann to a new role as Executive Director. Ann's extensive background in public policy and communications will be invaluable in supporting our members and ensuring that their voice is heard on the national stage."



Notes to editor

• SCONUL is the representative association for the directors of library and information services in all the universities, and in many other institutions of higher education, in the UK and Ireland. SCONUL also represents the directors of the national libraries on both sides of the Irish Sea. SCONUL's mission is to promote excellence in library services in higher education and in national libraries by influencing government and strategic bodies to develop policies that support innovation, efficiency and best practice in our institutions. We also actively promote and collaborate in the development of efficient and novel ways to support our students and researchers of all kinds. More information about SCONUL can be found at www.sconul.ac.uk.
• Fiona Parsons is the University of Wolverhampton's Director of Learning and Information Services, and took over the Chair of SCONUL in June 2010.