Jamie Finch - Chair

Jamie is the current Chair of CILIP Cymru Wales (Nov 2023 - ), advocating and celebrating libraries in Wales. He is proud to be a Chartered Fellow of CILIP with 28 years’ experience in the library and information sector, the last 16 years of which in higher and transnational education. Board member of CILIP, with strong professional interests in business information and global librarianship.

Read Jamie's Volunteer Story

Jacquee Gabriel - Secretary and New Professional

Jacquee is an information and research administration professional with a background in data management and research administration. With a commitment to enhancing services through effective data visualisation and streamlined processes, she has developed a diverse skill set that includes managing schedules, document control, and project support. Currently a Research Officer at Cardiff University, her work involves collaborating with colleagues to improve established processes and gathering and analysing data to inform decision-making and create insightful reports. Jacquee has a post graduate Certificate in Counselling Skills and a post graduate Diploma in Information Science.

Sue Polchow - CILIP Cymru Wales Community Development Manager

Sue supports the CILIP Cymru Wales Committee in building a thriving community of CILIP members across Cymru/Wales through a range of events, opportunities and initiatives, supporting existing members professional development and attracting new members. Hailing from North Wales she has worked in the schools and library edtech sector including as a school librarian, schools library service manager and as a specialist for a library management software company. She is proud to be a Chartered librarian and has been a Chartership mentor, library NVQ assessor, Carnegie judge and represented the Youth Libraries special interest group both regionally and nationally.

Sian King - Professional Registration Support Officer

Sian has had a long career as an information professional in health, academic and special libraries in England. This has included much involvement with CILIP as a registration mentor (for 15 years) as well as participating in developing standards, and more recently, a member of the Steering Group for reviewing community strategy. She is currently vice-chair of the CILIP Special Interest Group RPG which is expanding its remit to include pre-retirement librarians, and running workshops in collaboration with other groups. Having retired to south Wales, Sian is hoping to give proactive support to all those aiming for CILIP Chartership or Certification in Wales.

Emma Harvey-Woodason - Welsh Government Representative

Emma is Head of Information, Library & Archives at the Welsh Government. Her varied background includes the legal and academic library sectors as well as a range of information management roles in the Civil Service. Emma took up her current post in September 2019 and enjoys a varied role as chief librarian and Departmental Records Officer. As well as being a Chartered Member of CILIP, Emma is an Accredited Member of the Information & Records Management Society.

Owain Roberts - National Library of Wales Representative

Owain is Director of Collections and Public Programmes and Deputy Chief Executive at The National Library of Wales. He has a backround in Physics and has experience in a wide range of areas including digitisation, library systems, change management, digital humanities, library and archival services as well as community engagement programmes.

Karen Pugh - SCL Wales Representative

Karen is Senior Manager, Libraries at Caerphilly library service. As well as a long career in public librarianship, Karen is a long-time chartered member of CILIP having revalidated her Chartered status in 2019. As the Society for Chief Librarians Wales representative on this group, Karen will liaise, share information and knowledge communicating between colleagues in both groups.

Jacinta Jolly - Further Education Representative

I am the College Librarian at Newtown College, part of the NPTC Group of Colleges. I have a background as a secondary teacher in Australia, but also have experience working in public, university and community libraries. I gained my MA in Library and Information Studies from Aberystwyth University in 2022. My role involves supporting both FE and HE learners and staff including through delivering information literacy sessions and creating digital content. I have a strong interest in the rapidly changing landscape of generative AI technologies and its impact on education. I am the chair of the JISC FE Library LRC Community of Practice. I am also an enthusiastic Welsh learner.

Alexander Roberts - Higher Education Representative

Alexander is the Digital Humanities and Research Data Management Team manager at Swansea University. He is responsible for translating vision and leading policy and process development in relation to digital preservation infrastructure, accreditation and compliance. He coordinates research information security, research records management, open publishing, and special collections content discovery. He leads on staff development within Library and Collections as chair of the Library Staff Skills Development Group and is also the institutional lead on Security Sensitive Research and the management of sensitive material, including research information disaster planning and mitigation.

Rachel Sully - Health Libraries Representative

Rachel is NHS Wales e-Library and Knowledge Service Manager at Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW), providing strategic leadership for the NHS Wales e-Library, working collaboratively with partners across NHS Wales, Welsh Government, and Social Care to ensure equitable, evidence-based access to high-quality knowledge resources. She specialises in collection development, procurement, budget management, and high-level negotiation, ensuring value for money and sustainability in delivering national knowledge services for the health and care workforce. Rachel is also interim Head of Research and Innovation, leading the development and delivery of DHCW’s Research and Innovation strategy, overseeing all aspects of R&I governance, operations, funding, and strategic partnerships and playing a key role in embedding a culture of innovation and research across the organisation.

Would you like to be part of the CILIP Cymru Wales Committee?

If you are interested in finding out about all the available committee roles and joining our friendly and dedicated group, please get in touch to arrange an informal discussion by emailing secretary.wales@cilip.org.uk