Melissa Jackson, President

Melissa Jackson is of Bundjalung decent with family links to the Baryulgil area near Grafton. Born in Crown Street Women’s Hospital she spent all of her life to date in Sydney.

Melissa worked in various government departments, including Department of Housing and Attorney Generals Department before starting work at the State Library of New South Wales in 1991. One of two Indigenous Services Librarians, she has a background in teaching and obtained her librarianship qualifications from University of Technology Sydney.

Kathy Frankland, Vice President

Kathy Frankland is the Manager of the Community & Personal Histories Team, Reconciliation and Reconnections Unit, Indigenous Programs and Partnerships Branch at the Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships. Community and Personal Histories was established in 1992 and is responsible for making accessible records relating to Indigenous peoples created by the Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy and Development and its predecessor agencies. Kathy has been a member of ATSILIRN since its inception since in 1993.

Ronald Briggs, Treasurer

Ronald Briggs (Kamilaroi) has worked as an Indigenous Services Librarian at the State Library of New South Wales since 1991. Ronald has also worked at the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies.

Judy Martin, Secretary

I was born in Peakhill, Central West New South Wales, Wiradjuri Country where many of my family members still live.

I have worked at the Family History Unit for approximately 13 months as a research officer. For me, it is both rewarding and challenging in helping people discover who they are and where they come from.

I have done a lot of health and community work for the Canberra region and have a background in research and administration. I have a certificate 4 in Community Advocacy. I am currently doing Cert 3 in Library Studies.

Tania Schafer, Queensland (QLD) and Newsletter Editor

I am an Australian Aboriginal from the Mununjali people on my mother’s side and Bundjalung people on my father’s side. I work at the State Library of Queensland, Heritage Collection, as an Indigenous Resource Officer. One day I hope to be employed as a librarian or archivist.

Achievements

I have been the ATSILIRN newsletters editor for several years. If you can provide me with some useful information for the newsletter, I’d appreciate it. I have tried other positions at ATSILIRN such as the president, Queensland Representative and treasurer.

Alana Garwood-Houng, Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

Alana Garwood-Houng is a Yorta Yorta woman with Wergaia and Wamba Wamba heritage. She is a librarian with the Library of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies. She was one of the founding members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Library and Information Resource Network and its President from 1994-1998. She was the Coordinator of ALIA's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Recruitment and Career Development Strategy for the Library and Information Sector in 1996. In 1999 she was appointed to the Australia Councils Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board for three years. She is also one of the co-authors of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander protocols for libraries, archives and information services and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Thesaurus.