Sue McKerracher
Executive Director, Libraries Tasmania

Sue McKerracher has been a CEO and Board Director working across government, business and the not-for-profit sectors in the UK and Australia, with special expertise in Australian libraries, library education and literacy. From 2012 to 2022, she was CEO of the Australian Library and Information Association. In February this year, she became Executive Director of Libraries Tasmania, responsible for the state’s State Library and Archives, 44 public libraries, prison library, adult learning and literacy programs, and Allport Library and Museum of Fine Arts.

Session overview:
Time to take control

The world has been turned upside down and as everything settles back into position, there are two ways to go: let others decide what the new normal for libraries should be, or create and embed our own vision, shaped by the extraordinary events of the last two years.

Libraries have an unparalleled opportunity to rebrand their service, reframe their image and re-establish their significance in a society that is disillusioned by misinformation, fake news and advertising-driven algorithms. Our keynote speaker says now is not the time to defer to others. Now is the time to speak up – because no-one knows better than librarians, what libraries are destined to deliver. We have a critical role to define and we must be ready with a compelling vision.

Greg Melick AO SC
Deputy President, Administrative Appeals Tribunal 

Greg Melick is a Hobart based Senior Counsel who practices nationally and was a Principal Crown Counsel and then a Partner in a Hobart firm before going to the bar in 1996.

He is a former Statutory Member of the National Crime Authority and the NSW Casino Control Authority and is currently a part time Deputy President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, Chief Commissioner of the Tasmanian Integrity Commission and Council Member of the Australian War Memorial.

He has conducted numerous investigations including the Beaconsfield mine collapse, match fixing in international cricket and the Covid outbreak in North West Tasmania.

He served for 52 years in the Army Reserve, retiring as a Major General and has a very large disorganized library.

Session overview:
How COVID19 has changed the way law is practiced.

This session will discuss:

Examples of appearing remotely before courts and tribunals (as party or tribunal member) and associated issues including;

• Telephone hearing with 7000 pages of evidence.
• Difficulties when applicant in gaol or detention centre.
• Issues of attempting to determine credit.
• Issues of having paper work with all the parties whereas in live hearing can be tendered and passed around.

Lord Mayor Councillor Anna M. Reynolds
Lord Mayor of Hobart

Lord Mayor Councillor Anna M. Reynolds was elected Lord Mayor of Hobart in November 2018, the third woman to be elected into the role. First elected as an Alderman to the City of Hobart in 2014, she was Chairperson of the Parks and Recreation Committee during her first term.

Anna began her career establishing a community legal centre in North Queensland, after completing her degree at the Australian National University. She has held senior roles in advocacy, policy development and management, including:

• Managing the Australian Conservation Foundation’s Parliament Liaison Office
• Deputy Director of WWF International’s Global Climate Change Program
• Chief Executive Officer of the Multicultural Council of Tasmania

As Lord Mayor, Anna is focused on a range of issues including affordable housing, climate change, active transport, and protecting Hobart’s heritage.

Session overview:
Official Opening Address