M25 SpeedMeet
Welcome to M25 SpeedMeet and Spotlight. Every month we meet someone working in an M25 member institution or who is involved with an M25 Consortium Group, Network, or Committee and ask them to tell us a little bit about themselves and how the Consortium has benefited them.
What’s your role?
We’re keen to meet even more members so if you’d like to feature in the M25 SpeedMeet or Spotlight 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.
October 2025: Natalie Brown
Who are you, where are you based and what do you do?
My name is Natalie Brown. I am a Library Customer Services Team Leader for Anglia Ruskin University. I am based at their Chelmsford campus. My role is to support the library team in the day to day running of the service on site and online.
Aside from line managing and helping develop team members, I head up the Interlibrary loans team, I run User Experience projects about our library space and service and I am part of the library social media team. Outside of my library role I facilitate EDI training sessions for all staff and help staff get to where they want to be in their careers through the professional services development framework program.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy that my role is multi-faceted. No day is the same. Overall, I enjoy getting to work with a diverse team across the university and getting to see the positive impact we have on students is great.
What motivates you in your work?
I think what motivates me in my work is that no matter how much I learn there is always something new to develop and learn in.
The fact you can always keeping growing and developing is a great motivator when times are hard. It’s one of the reasons why I enjoy contributing to the EDI training team. We are always learning and then able to pass our knowledge onto staff.
How has the M25 Consortium supported you in your career?
I am part of cdp25 Task Group 4 and when there was an opening to send in expressions of interest, I had no idea how it would impact and support me in my career. Task Group 4 helped me further my enthusiasm to help staff develop in their careers.
I have been very fortunate to run online training sessions as well as assist with the running of three SLA conferences to date. M25 has opened up my network to be able to work with some amazing passionate individuals which I am grateful for. I have recently been appointed as Chair of Task Group Four and I am looking forward to carrying on with all the hard work my predecessor, Sally Brock, has put in.
What would it surprise people to know about you?
I am a rock and metal head! It can be deceiving being 5ft 2 and having blonde hair!
If I wasn’t working in a library I would be
a therapist because I enjoy listening to and helping people.
Read more SpeedMeet interviews here:
2025
Eloise Carpenter, Collection Services Manager at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Leah Gulley, Academic Liaison Librarian at Buckinghamshire New University
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