The 2014 VALA Student Award for a student at Monash University goes to Greg Rolan.

Following a 30-year career in IT, Greg returned to Monash to study community informatics and qualified as a librarian. He then went on to complete his Master of Business information Systems (Honours) degree in the archives stream. During this time, Greg was a recipient of the Dean’s Achievement Award for postgraduate study, the Australian Society of Archivists Mander Jones award for the ‘best academic work on archives or recordkeeping produced by a student in any Australian university course’, and the Penny Fisher Memorial Prize for the ‘most outstanding masters thesis in archives and records’. Greg also participated in research regarding the Australian Government’s Digital Hub programme in a public library setting, and presented the resulting paper at VALA 2014.

Greg is now a doctoral candidate, investigating archival systems interoperability. His research comprises design-science investigations of systems interoperability; conceptual modelling in information informatics; metadata standards-setting; and organisational/social factors in information systems design and implementation. As well as studying, Greg works as a Teaching Associate and Research Assistant at Monash University in the Faculty of Information Technology in the Centre for Organisational and Community Informatics.

Congratulations, Greg, and good luck!

The 2013 VALA Student Award for a student at Monash University goes to Ailie Smith.

Ailie Smith achieved outstanding results in the Masters of Business Information Systems (MBIS) at Monash University, having undertaken the archives and records management specialisation. Studying as a part-time, distance student, she has been adept at juggling study and work commitments. Among her notable achievements she prepared a research report analysing the 2012 ICA (International Council on Archives) Congress, analysing sample papers from the various conference themes against the literature in order to draw out professional issues and concerns, and using visualisation techniques to see what the titles of papers could reveal if treated as a data set.

Ailie is currently a Research Archivist at the University of Melbourne eScholarship Research Centre. Her work ranges from describing archival collections to building and maintaining databases, implementing websites, and managing data storage and virtual machine servers. She previously worked at the Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre, Bethlem Royal Hospital Archives and Museum, and the Corporate Records Unit, Imperial College London.

Congratulations, Ailie, and good luck!

The 2012 VALA Student Award for a student at Monash University goes to Kirsten Thorpe.

Kirsten Thorpe has worked as a Professional Archivist for the past decade creating spaces of engagement for Aboriginal people to connect archival sources documenting their history. Kirsten recently completed a Masters of Information Management and Systems (Professional) at Monash University, which included a Minor Thesis on ‘Creating an Aboriginal Community Archive in NSW’. Kirsten first completed Post Graduate archival studies at Edith Cowan University in 1999, and was encouraged to complete the Masters course at Monash by Professor Sue McKemmish. Kirsten was a successful recipient of the Monash University Indigenous Archives Scholarship, an initiative linked to the Bringing Them Home report, which recommended that Indigenous Australian archivists be involved in archival projects that enable Indigenous people to be able to locate records relating to their families and communities. Kirsten studied part-time at Monash, while working full time, to increase her knowledge on archival science and theory and its implications for Indigenous Australian communities and archives. Kirsten thoroughly enjoyed working with the Monash IT faculty, in collaboration with staff at the Monash Indigenous Centre, to explore Indigenous perspectives in the information field.

Kirsten is the current Project Officer for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Data Archive (ATSIDA), based at the Library of the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). This role is responsible for working with researchers and communities to manage Indigenous research data deposited into the Australian Data Archive (ADA), of which ATSIDA is a thematic node. Previously Kirsten worked as the Senior Archivist – Aboriginal Liaison at State Records New South Wales. Kirsten’s work involved assisting Indigenous people to gain access to historical records held as NSW State archives. Kirsten was also a part of the exhibition team that created ‘In Living Memory, an exhibition of surviving photographs’ from the records of the NSW Aborigines Welfare Board, from 1919 to 1966. Kirsten also contributed to the research undertaken to validate claims submitted to the NSW Government under the NSW Aboriginal Trust Fund Repayment Scheme.

Kirsten is actively involved with ATSILIRN (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Library Information Resource Network) and the Indigenous Issues Special Interest Group of the Australian Society of Archivists. Kirsten’s professional and research interests relate to the return of archival sources of material to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Kirsten is also interested in the opportunities that the digital domain present for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to be actively involved in managing their cultural heritage resources. Kirsten is a descendant of the Worimi people of Port Stephens, NSW.

Congratulations, Kirsten, and good luck!

The 2011 VALA Student Award for a student at Monash University goes to Linlin Zhao.

Linlin has a passion for learning, education and research. In China, she completed a Bachelor of Arts degree and a secondary teaching certificate. In 2001 and 2002, she worked as a secondary school teacher in China, and in 2003 was course coordinator of a Chinese as a Foreign Language course, teaching international students Chinese.

Linlin came to Australia in 2004, undertaking an English language course and then a Master of Education degree at Monash University. Linlin completed her Master of Education in 2005. Linlin is a ‘born teacher’, with a natural ability for imparting knowledge to those of all ages and from diverse backgrounds; she is a great communicator, with a contagious enthusiasm for learning, and a strong creative flair. From teaching secondary school students and adults, Linlin broadened her education base by completing a Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education at RMIT in 2006. Since 2006, she has worked as a kindergarten teacher in Melbourne, as well as a private tutor for students studying Chinese as a Second Language.

In 2009, Linlin decided to extend her education career into the field of information management. While still working full-time as a kindergarten teacher, she enrolled in the Monash Graduate Diploma in Information and Knowledge Management (GDIKM), completing her course in mid-2011. She wanted to further develop her research and information skills. Linlin envisaged a career in academic libraries or public libraries or in archives. On her course, she had a variety of work experience in academic and public libraries. Since completing her course, she has had several short-term contract positions and ongoing part-time work at Monash University Library, Deakin University Library and Hobsons Bay Libraries in information services and technical services roles.

Linlin’s academic performance in the GDIKM has been exceptional, achieving seven High Distinctions and one Distinction in the eight course units, and an overall average of 84.75%, and the highest grade in the class for several of her units. With her strong motivation to learn and explore new areas, her dedication and perseverance, she was a delight to have in class, a great contributor of original ideas and insights. Linlin’s special qualities have also been widely recognised by the information professionals, managers and clients she has interacted with/ worked with. She is a very deserving recipient of the 2011 VALA student award, and will make a significant contribution to the information management professions.

Congratulations, Linlin, and good luck!