M25 SpeedMeet
Welcome to M25 SpeedMeet. Every month we meet someone working in an M25 member institution and ask them to tell us a little bit about themselves.
One of the three strategic themes of the M25 Strategic Plan is connecting and collaborating through our network. Our aim is to provide a regional network whose members offer multiple perspectives that can inform decision making, and facilitate opportunities for networking and joint working on shared issues. What better way to do this than to meet?
Record it or write it
We’re keen to meet even more members so if you’d like to feature in the M25 SpeedMeet, please contact m25libadmin@london.ac.uk. You can send in your replies to our questions or alternatively video your answers and we’ll show the video here.
August 2025: Leah Gulley
Who are you, where are you based and what do you do?
I’m Leah Gulley and I am an Academic Liaison Librarian at Buckinghamshire New University. I am currently based in Uxbridge, but spend time traveling between our High Wycombe and Aylesbury campuses. I develop information literacy instruction for Nursing & Midwifery students and I also was responsible for daily operations and collection development for the Aylesbury campus library.
What do you most enjoy about your job?
I enjoy the varied aspects of my daily role. I really value the freedom and flexibility to step into roles that I haven’t had the opportunity to fill so far. This flexibility has allowed me to zoom out of my current role and hone in on career prospects and skills that I would like to further develop.
What motivates you in your work?
I am motivated by the stories of other librarians who are more experienced. I really love hearing the ways in which other library professionals have taken a meandering path to roles that they really love. It is always really encouraging – and inspiring even – to hear about projects that other university libraries have undertaken or initiatives that have been spearheaded by library teams. It motivates me to continue growing my own skillset and taking extra opportunities to develop skills that can further enhance the experiences of my colleagues and the students we serve.
How has the M25 Consortium supported you in your career?
M25 Consortium has been invaluable to me in my career so far. The M25 Consortium has provided a gateway into the sector outside of my university that I really value. I greatly appreciate the additional training and events where I get to learn from and connect with other motivated professionals.
What would it surprise people to know about you?
I used to be a choir teacher! I have a degree in music and my first career was teaching ages 3–18 general music, music history, and choir. After leaving that job, I spent a few years working in a public library where my teaching and music skills were really utilised for story time and other library events! There was some really nice overlap between my previous career and my current one in that job.
Complete the sentence: If I wasn’t working in a library I would be
If I wasn’t working in a library I would be a travel blogger because I love to see new places and curating perfect itineraries. While I don’t love the idea of being an “influencer”, I think I would really enjoy the perks of being a travel blogging like flying first-class and whatever else travel bloggers do.
Read more SpeedMeet interviews here:
2025
Dr Janice Fernandes former Academic Support Manager, University of West London
Helen Curtis, Director of Learning Resources and University Librarian at Oxford Brookes University
Dan Herbert, Library Buildings Development Manager, Queen Mary, University of London
Polly Mortimer, Library Manager and Learning Support Lead, British Psychotherapy Foundation
Ian Clark, Academic Services Manager, University of East London
2024
Chris Foreman, Associate Director of Library Services at University of the Arts, London
Vicky Robertson, Deputy Librarian, UCL School of Pharmacy Library
Laura Scullion, Administrator (Events & Programmes), M25 Consortium of Academic Libraries
Dave Puplett, Associate Director, Libraries and Academic Enhancement, University of Greenwich
Fiona Ainsworth, Head of Library and Archives at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Dianne Shepherd, The British Museum, Senior Librarian
Jill Howard, M25 Consortium of Academic Libraries, Operations Manager
Cliff Van Dort, National Archives, Kew, Head of Library
Camilla Churchill, British Medical Association, Library and Archive Lead
Chloe Carson-Ashurst, The National Gallery, Library Assistant
2020-2023
Birgit Fraser, Anglia Ruskin University, Assistant Director – Academic and Content Services
Sarah Pipkin, UCL – Outreach and Exhibitions Coordinator, Special Collections Library
Anna Gillis, Royal Veterinary College – Research Support Librarian
Rachel Geeson, Anglia Ruskin University – Assistant Director, Customer Services
Jennifer Domingo, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine – Library Assistant
Emma Wisher, University of Essex – Assistant Director for User Engagement
Louise Ellis-Barrett, British Museum – Librarian Acquisitions and Projects
Paul Johnson, University of Surrey – Director of Library and Learning Services
Sara Burnett, Kingston University – Information Specialist
Robert Atkinson, Birkbeck, University of London – Director of Library Services
Laura MacCulloch, Royal Holloway, University of London – Curator
Rowan Williamson, UAL – Associate Director of Library Services and Support
Frances Willis, National Art Library at the V&A – Assistant Librarian
Robin Armstrong Viner, Courtauld Institute of Art – Head of Library Services
Adam Edwards, Middlesex University – Library Liaison Manager
Linda Coombs, Buckinghamshire New University – Library and Learning Resources Manager
Liz Pinel, Royal College of Nursing Library and Archive – Customer Services Manager
David Allen, Royal Society of Chemistry – Librarian
Russell Burke, LSHTM – Assistant Librarian
Verity Allison, St George’s, University of London – Journals and E-Resources Librarian