Confirmed EDGE Speakers

Gillian Docherty OBE – The Datalab, Edinburgh

Gillian Docherty is chief executive of The Data Lab, an innovation centre with a mission is to help Scotland maximise value from data and lead the world to a data-powered future. The Data Lab believes Scotland can lead the world to a future where data powers scientific progress, economic prosperity and social good. The Data Lab helps accelerate the journey to impact by fuelling innovation through collaboration, building skills and growing talent, and strengthening Scotland’s thriving data science community. The Data Lab acts as a catalyst, using our expertise, network, funding and platforms to change how Scotland, and the world, innovates with data. Gillian is passionate about the opportunity for using Data to drive economic and social benefits. Gillian was appointed an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2019 for Services to Information Technology and Business. Formerly of IBM, Gillian is a visiting professor at Robert Gordon University, a TED speaker and was named Digital Leader 2018 for the UK. Gillian was named CEO of the year at the Digital Technology Awards 2017 and was also in the UK’s top ten most influential people in data according to DataIQ. Gillian is on the Board of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, a trustee of Beyonder Involve Charity and an Industry advisor to Previse. Gillian has a degree in Computing Science from the University of Glasgow, an Honorary Doctorate from Robert Gordon University and is married with a daughter.

Sue Williamson – The Arts Council, England

Sue joins from St Helens Library Service, where she most recently delivered their award-winning Cultural Hubs Arts in Libraries programme and oversaw the successful application to the Arts Council’s National Portfolio.

‘I am thrilled to be joining Arts Council England as Director: Libraries and Birmingham and to have the opportunity to support and champion the role of Libraries in delivering the wider cultural offer to the communities they serve. With the recent announcements of Coventry as the next UK City Of Culture and Birmingham as host for the 2022 Commonwealth Games, this is a time of great challenge and opportunity for the whole of the cultural sector in this area.’

Angela Hursh – Super Library Marketing, Cincinnati & Hamilton County

There once was a girl who loved libraries so much that she grew up to promote them! I worked for more than 20 years as a broadcast TV journalist before leaping to library marketing. I love my job, I love libraries, and I’m passionate about making sure everyone uses their library. Other fun facts about me:
* I love to write, especially profile pieces and speeches.
* I nurture my staff and inspire them to do great things.

Donatas Kubilius – Nacional Library of Lithuania

During this year’s General Conference of IFLA, organization that unites the world’s libraries, the poster of the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania was selected as the Best IFLA Poster 2019. The poster introduces the creative space at the National Library. When presenting activities of the National Library’s creative space Pats sau (Do-It-Yourself), the administrator of the space Donatas Kubilius also spoke about shifts in the users’ perception of the traditional library during the digital era, the way how traditional library activities are transforming into new services and what practice is applied to strengthen the community of the users of innovative library services.

Jason Tutin – Leeds

Jason has worked in digital leadership roles in Leeds Library and Information Service for over ten years. In his current role as Digital and Learning Development Manager, he leads on the innovative development of digital strategies and learning programmes across Leeds libraries. Jason and his team explore new ways that libraries can use digital technologies to benefit individuals and communities.

Vickery Bowles – City Librarian, Toronto

Vickery Bowles is the City Librarian at Toronto Public Library (TPL), which delivers services through a network of 100 branches and online channels. Vickery has worked in a number of leadership positions, spearheading service development to support capacity building, civic engagement, economic development and social cohesion. She is working to advance TPL’s strategic plan and its digital strategies that support new service models, digital literacy, the customer experience, e-learning, staff development and innovation.

Vickery is the Board Chair for the Urban Libraries Council (ULC) based in Washington, D.C., a member of the Canadian Urban Libraries Council (CULC), the Federation of Ontario Public Libraries (FOPL) and the Toronto Region Board of Trade Smart Cities Working Group.