SCONUL | Society of College, National and University Libraries

Events
SCONUL Autumn Conference 2026: Leading Libraries in a Changing World: Value, Trust and Transformation
Speaker biographies

Speaker biographies

Biography:

Dr Stephen Gow

Leverhulme Fellow, Department for Learning and Teaching Enhancement, Edinburgh Napier University

Dr Stephen Gow SFHEA has recently completed his role as lead researcher on the Leverhulme Trust funded Student Experiences on Generative AI Project (StudentXGenAI) with the Department of Learning and Teaching at Edinburgh Napier University. This project carried out the StudentXGenAI Survey with a response rate of over 7000 students at UK institutions and interviews with students across the UK in addition to integrating GenAI into the research process. Prior to this he worked in library and archives before moving to China to teach in transnational and national universities. This experience led to his research on the Chinese student perceptions of plagiarism, which he explored in his PhD at the University of York and fed into his ten years as institutional Academic Integrity Coordinator. He is an expert on academic integrity, assessment and GenAI, and the Chair of the Northern Academic Integrity Forum. He is now associate staff with the Department of Education, University of York and available for consultation and research projects related to GenAI in education.

Biography:

Robin Armstrong Viner

Associate Director: Head of Library, University of Swansea

Robin is Associate Director and Head of Libraries and Collections at Swansea University. Throughout his career, he has championed collaboration and partnership to enhance services for academic and research library communities. He is particularly interested in how partnerships can help libraries develop and deliver sustainable infrastructure and services.

Biography:

Anna Clements

Director Library Services and University Librarian, University of Sheffield

Anna is Director of Library Services and University Librarian at the University of Sheffield in the UK. She has more than 25 years of experience working in information technology, digital transformation and senior library roles in higher education and has a particular interest in the leadership role of academic libraries in the transformation of research and education culture through all facets of open scholarship. Prior to joining the University of Sheffield, Anna held positions at the University of St Andrews, and worked in the private sector, developing software and providing consultancy services. Anna is a member of the LIBER Executive Board and works collaboratively across SCONUL, RLUK, N8 and WRL [White Rose Libraries].

Biography:

Eleonora Gandolfi

Associate Director (Research and Innovation)/ UKRN Institutional Lead, University of Surrey

As Associate Director (Research and Innovation) at the University of Surrey, I lead the development of innovative digital Library services connecting collections with research and education priorities, ensuring that students and researchers learn from, contribute to and benefit from the same culture of curiosity, critical thinking, and discovery. As the University’s UKRN Institutional Lead, I help embed a positive, inclusive, and responsible research culture, ensuring best research practices are integrated from the outset and across all our activities and services. Before joining Surrey, I worked as a researcher on digital cultural heritage projects, and I have received UKRI funds connected to Open Research initiatives (current meta-science grant) and hidden narratives explorations in Archives (AHRC).

Biography:

Justine Rush

Head of Library Services, University of Kent

Justine Rush is Head of Library Services for the University of Kent Division within the London and South East University Group. With qualifications in both librarianship and teaching, she brings senior leadership experience spanning academic libraries, open research, collections management, special collections and archives, and frontline services. Justine leads transformation through strategic coordination, strong partnerships, and the development of resilient, responsive services. She collaborates closely with academic and professional-services colleagues, using governance, insight and data to support effective service management and shared decision-making. Her authentic, adaptable leadership style enables people to shape change, drawing on collective expertise to turn strategic ambition into lasting improvement.

Biography:

Kay Grieves

Deputy Director of Learning, Teaching and Research, Teeside University

Kay Grieves is Deputy Director, Teaching Learning and Research at Teesside University, with a remit for leading Library Services, Student Success Team and Student Life service within the Student and Library Services directorate. Kay is also the current Co-Chair of Academic Libraries North (ALN).

Biography:

Paola Marchionni

Head of Engagement (Digital Transformation), Jisc

Paola is head of engagement (digital transformation) at Jisc. She leads digital transformation programmes in the higher education sector, with a particular focus on libraries and senior institutional stakeholders across academic, student, information, and research services. She has held a variety of roles at Jisc, heading up teams that delivered programmes, products, and services in areas such as content and discovery, scholarly communication, and digital preservation. She first joined Jisc as programme manager for its flagship national digitisation initiatives.

Biography:

Lisa McLaren

Head of Library and Archive Services, University of Westminster

Lisa McLaren is Head of Library and Archives Service at University of Westminster and took part in the Jisc DTLL pilot in 2025-26. She was previously Deputy Director at SCONUL.

Biography:

Deborah Munro

Deputy Director of Library and Learning Services, Aston University

Deborah Munro is Deputy Director of Library and Learning Services at Aston University, where she leads the Content and User Services teams and has a particular interest in improving the student experience through staff development. Having started her career in customer service before moving into academic libraries, Deborah is passionate about creating inclusive services and developing people. Her recent work includes supporting digital transformation through the Jisc Digital Library Lens pilot and developing approaches to workforce development. Deborah is also Chair of the Mercian Collaboration EDIA Working Group and enjoys bringing together her passions for communication, education and the role libraries can play in creating opportunities for everyone.

Biography:

Jane Saunders

Head of Collections Services, University of Leeds

Jane is Associate Director for Content and Discovery at Leeds University Libraries. She supports sector-wide initiatives that promote collaboration in relation to collections and open scholarship. Instrumental in setting up the UK Print Book Collection (UK PBC) she sits on the UK PBC Board and is also a member of the Jisc Library Hub Community Advisory Board and the Open Journals Collective Library Board. As a member of SCONUL's Markets and Technologies Group she chairs the subgroup for Supplier Relationships and is a co-convenor of the UK Open Bibliographic Metadata Group.

Biography:

Rachel Schulkins

Head of Subscriptions and Publisher Relations, University of Manchester

Rachel Schulkins is Head of Subscriptions and Publisher Relations at the University of Manchester, with more than 20 years’ experience in academic libraries. Her work focuses on improving access to knowledge, strategic publisher engagement and exploring new approaches to collections and scholarly publishing

Biography:

David Clover

Director of Library Services and Digital Skills, Middlesex University

David Clover is the Director of Library Services and Digital Skills at Middlesex University and Co-Chair of SCONULs Organisational Development Strategy Group. He also sits on the Steering Group of the M25 Consortium of Academic Libraries, for which he co-facilitates the M25 Leadership Briefings and is a member of CILIPs Professional Registration Panel. David is an active coach and mentor and (among other professional interests) is concerned with staff and workforce development, change management and digital transformation.

Biography:

Dr Gianfranco Polizzi

Assistant Professor in Digital Media and Communications, Department of Linguistics and Communication, University of Birmingham

Dr. Gianfranco Polizzi is an Assistant Professor in Digital Media and Communications in the Department of Linguistics and Communication at the University of Birmingham, UK. His academic interests include media and digital literacy, media education, digital inequalities, civic engagement and democracy. Gianfranco is a member of Ofcom’s Making Sense of Media Research, Evidence and Evaluation working group, providing advice on media and digital literacy provision in the UK. In addition, he sits on the Academic Advisory Group of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Political and Media Literacy.

Biography:

Gary Elliott-Cirigottis

Director, Library and Knowledge Services, The Open Univeristy

Gary Elliott-Cirigottis is Director of Library and Knowledge Services at the Open University. With more than 30 years experience in higher education, he has held leadership roles spanning library services, research operations, academic development, organisational change and business improvement. His current interests focus on knowledge infrastructure, organisational capability, AI readiness and the role that libraries can play in helping institutions navigate strategic change. Gary has previously been member of the SCONUL Executive and is member of the University Senate and elected member of the University Council.

Biography:

Libby Homer

Chief Student Experience Officer, Buckinghamshire New University

Libby Homer joined Buckinghamshire New University in March 2026 as Chief Student Experience Officer, overseeing the student journey from admissions to alumni. Before that she was Director of Student and Library Services at Anglia Ruskin University for eight years. Libby started her career at the University of Surrey, moving to work in public libraries for Southwark Council, and subsequently worked in roles at the University of East London (UEL) and the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). She is a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals and a Principal Fellow of Advance HE. She previously co-chaired the Society of College, National and University Libraries (SCONUL) and a number of groups for the digital infrastructure body Jisc, where she is currently a member of the Enterprise and Education Licensing Strategy Group.

Biography:

Professor Stephanie Schnurr

Professor in Sociolinguistics and Director of Postgraduate Research Studies in Applied Linguistics, University of Warwick

Stephanie Schnurr is Professor in Sociolinguistics at the University of Warwick. In her research, she explores the forms and functions of stories in organisational contexts. Stephanie is particularly interested in the role of stories for advocacy and activism. She has published widely and is also the author of The Language of Leadership Narratives (with Dorien van de Mieroop and Jonathan Clifton, Routledge, 2017).

Biography:

Ant Brewerton

Associate Director for Academic Library Services, Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford

Ant Brewerton is Associate Director for Academic Library Services at the Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford. He has previously worked at Reading University Library, Oxford Brookes and the University of Warwick. Staff development has been a key focus of Ant’s professional career and he has worked closely with SCONUL for many years. He was the Editor of SCONUL Focus for ten years and has been active on many SCONUL committees and working groups, most recently as a member of the Organisational Development Strategy Group and the co-Chair of the Succession Planning Group.

Biography:

Martina McChrystal

Director of Library Services, University of Glasgow

Martina McChrystal has been Director of Library Services at the University of Glasgow since 2017, responsible for supporting learning and research through library services and collections which are global in reach. The University of Glasgow is one of Scotland’s four ancient universities. Martina joined University of Glasgow in 2015 as Deputy Director and Head of Academic Engagement. She is the current chair of the Scottish Confederation of University and Research Libraries ( SCURL ) and external examiner for the School of Creative and Cultural Business at Robert Gordon University. Martina was CILIP in Scotland president in 2020 and was awarded CILIPs Honorary Membership in 2021. Martina was one of the leads in setting up RLUK’s New Directors’ Network and co-convened the NDN 2019-2021. Martina has served on a number of boards, including Edinburgh’s City of Literature Trust. Prior to joining the University of Glasgow, Martina’s experience includes the role of Head of Libraries at City of Edinburgh Council, community engagement, and local governance through neighbourhood partnerships. Martina was asked by the Scottish Government to chair the National School Library Strategy Advisory Group, leading to the publication of Scotland’s first national strategy for school libraries, Vibrant Libraries, Thriving Schools.

Biography:

Sarah Pittaway

Director of Library and Learning Resources, Birmingham City University

Sarah Pittaway is Director of Library and Learning Resources at Birmingham City University. Previously, she was Head of Libraries at the University of Gloucestershire, and Head of Library Academic Engagement at The Hive in Worcester, Europe’s first integrated public and university library. She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and holds a PhD in Medieval Studies, having flirted with an academic career prior to embracing life as a librarian. Sarah is currently Vice Chair of the Mercian Collaboration and has published and presented widely about student engagement, partnership working and the changing nature of librarianship. She is passionate about ensuring that libraries matter to universities, and that library staff have the confidence and skills they need to adapt to and thrive within the ever-changing climate of higher education.

SCONUL Autumn Conference 2026: Leading Libraries in a Changing World: Value, Trust and Transformation

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Speaker biographies
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Knowledge Hub

Jobs Bank

Services for Members

Supporters Showcase

CPD Hub

Dr Stephen Gow

Robin Armstrong Viner

Anna Clements

Eleonora Gandolfi

Justine Rush

Kay Grieves

Paola Marchionni

Lisa McLaren

Deborah Munro

Jane Saunders

Rachel Schulkins

David Clover

Dr Gianfranco Polizzi

Gary Elliott-Cirigottis

Libby Homer

Professor Stephanie Schnurr

Ant Brewerton

Martina McChrystal

Sarah Pittaway