Staff Development Award recipients report from Conference 2025

Janice Fernandes and Leah Gulley were both recipients of M25 Staff Developments Awards this year. They received free places to attend our annual Conference which took place on 24 June at the University of Greenwich.

Leah said of the Keynote presented by Lawrie Phipps and Donna Lanclos:

“The opening keynote was a welcome interruption to the “race to imbed AI” that has taken place across higher education institutions. This presentation reminded me that libraries can and should be the leaders in their academic institutions for implementing new technology. Librarians are uniquely equipped to address concerns about widening equity gaps, the dehumanisation of education, and other unforeseen challenges raised by hastily purchasing and adopting digital alternatives to traditional formats … Additionally, as our sector makes decisions about the future of subscription models, library management systems… the speakers presented valuable language to aid librarians in injecting a much-needed slow thoughtfulness that reintroduces the reality of student and staff needs. I also appreciated the nuanced exploration of the tension between expediency and meaningful progress. Tech companies operate with a “move fast and break things” mentality – often at odds with the careful stewardship values of libraries.”

Janice summed up the benefits of attending Conference:

I am truly grateful to the organisers of the conference for granting me a bursary place. Attending the M25 conference not only connected me to new people but also to new thoughts and ideas that I could implement in my organization. One of these was the thought of being known hence forward as “The kind recruiter”.  I shared insights with other librarians about how recruitment was not an exam but a showcasing of skills and experience to fit the job description.”

For Leah, the Conference experience was: “a great opportunity for me to learn and engage with the evolving landscape of academic libraries. The conference explored the evolving landscape of academic libraries, focusing on the tensions between technological advancement, equity, environmental sustainability, and the wellbeing of library staff. Across keynotes, lightning talks, and panel discussions, the central idea behind the theme “Shaping the Future” emerged: libraries have a responsibility to prioritise humanity. I left the conference with a more tangible idea on how to adapt to rapid digital shifts while remaining human-centred, inclusive, and environmentally responsible.”

You can read their full reports here: Staff Development Awards