President for 2022, Kate Robinson, has taken up her role and will use her year in office to focus on workforce development and the benefits it can bring to organisations and their staff.

Kate is University Librarian at the University of Bath, and has worked in public, private and corporate libraries during her career. She has been involved with CILIP’s Professional Registration scheme in various roles, including as an Assessor and in her current role as a CILIP mentor for members who are going through Professional Registration. She has also been both Vice-Chair (2011-2012) and Chair (2013-2020) of the Professional Registration Board, during which time she led the comprehensive review of Professional Registration as CILIP looked to ensure it remains relevant and fit for purpose – both for employers and individuals.

Kate says: “I have been heavily involved with Professional Registration and workforce development for more than 20 years and so it was a natural focus for my time as CILIP President. Over the years, it has been such a privilege to read and engage with the journeys and achievements of others right across our profession. I want to showcase and share these stories as I think they demonstrate the real value of professional registration for your own development and for our organisations and employers. Professional registration and workforce development are not just nice things to have, they bring real benefits. No profession can move forward without them.”

With the information, knowledge and library professions on the cusp of major and opportunity, driven by data and the fourth industrial revolution, workforce development will help to ensure that those opportunities are not wasted.

You can keep up to date with Kate’s Presidential year through her regular President’s View column in Information Professional.