An advocate for change and innovation, Lesley Castens has been the Director of Library & Educational Development at the University of Plymouth since September 2019 following leadership roles at Plymouth, Gloucestershire, Cranfield and Bristol and experience in the financial sector.

She believes in libraries that are collaborative, innovative and pioneering to enhance the learning experience, the institutional reputation and facilitate students’ transition into a digital workplace. Lesley challenges libraries to develop new areas of expertise, stepping out of their comfort zone into new and exciting opportunities.

A Fellow of the Leadership Foundation, Lesley has recently been a member of the SCONUL Leadership Task and Finish group and is a role model and mentor for the LFHE’s Aurora programme. The day she stops believing in libraries, she will do something else – but after twenty eight years of inspiration, that’s unlikely!