
It is with great pleasure that we announce our new LIANZA president-elect and council members. Nominations for our next president-elect and the two nationally elected council members were unopposed, and no election is required.
The new LIANZA constitution came into effect on April 1. Our council composition changes from six regionally elected to four nationally elected council members and two appointed members. This year nominations for the first two elected council members and one appointed member were sought, in addition to the next LIANZA president-elect.
LIANZA President, Erica Rankin says she is delighted to have three new people joining the council on July 1.
“The energy and enthusiasm for contributing to LIANZA by becoming a member of the council is exciting and I am looking forward to the new ideas, networks and passion for our sector that Richy, Neda and Stephen will bring to our association.”
Three regional councillor roles for LIANZA Te Whakakitenga aa Kaimai, LIANZA Ikaroa and LIANZA Murihiku cease from June 30, 2022. We will farewell and thank Melanie Chivers and Amber Nicholson for their contribution to LIANZA at their last meeting in late June.
Current regional councillor roles for LIANZA Hikuwai, LIANZA Te Upoko te Ika a Maui, and LIANZA Aoraki continue until June 30, 2023. We are pleased to have Philip Miles, Stephnie Burton and Gail Cook continue as council members, during the transition to the new governance structure.
The new LIANZA constitution came into effect on April 1. Our council composition changes from six regionally elected to four nationally elected council members and two appointed members. This year nominations for the first two elected council members and one appointed member were sought, in addition to the next LIANZA president-elect.
LIANZA President, Erica Rankin says she is delighted to have three new people joining the council on July 1.
“The energy and enthusiasm for contributing to LIANZA by becoming a member of the council is exciting and I am looking forward to the new ideas, networks and passion for our sector that Richy, Neda and Stephen will bring to our association.”
Three regional councillor roles for LIANZA Te Whakakitenga aa Kaimai, LIANZA Ikaroa and LIANZA Murihiku cease from June 30, 2022. We will farewell and thank Melanie Chivers and Amber Nicholson for their contribution to LIANZA at their last meeting in late June.
Current regional councillor roles for LIANZA Hikuwai, LIANZA Te Upoko te Ika a Maui, and LIANZA Aoraki continue until June 30, 2023. We are pleased to have Philip Miles, Stephnie Burton and Gail Cook continue as council members, during the transition to the new governance structure.

LIANZA PRESIDENT-ELECT
We are delighted to announce that Richard Misilei will become LIANZA President-elect from July 1 and will serve three consecutive years as LIANZA president-elect, president, and immediate past president.
RICHY MISILEI
Richy Misilei has been LIANZA PIMN SIG co-convenor for several years and you may remember Richy in his role as the conference co-convenor at the LIANZA 2019 Conference in Manukau City.
Or perhaps you watched him deliver a convincing argument at the 2021 conference debate? Richy currently works as Connected Communities Lead and Coach (Ōtara-Papatoetoe), Auckland Council.
CANDIDATE STATEMENT
Talofa lava,
O lo'u igoa o Richard Misilei - My name is Richard Misilei. A summary of who I am: I love God because He loved me first (1 Jn. 4: 19). I am married to a beautiful woman by the name of Jolene Misilei and we have a wonderful daughter by the name of Grace. My parents are Misilei and Vaivasa Misilei, from the generation of Samoan's who came to NZ for better opportunities. I have two younger sisters, two nephews and a niece.
For work, my official title is the Connected Communities Lead and Coach. Essentially, I look after most of the Auckland Council sites in the Ōtara-Papatoetoe area, one of the local board areas in South Auckland. Of these sites, four of them are libraries. Before this role, I used to manage one of these four sites: Tupu Youth Library, which I absolutely adored. I never intended to work in libraries.
As a student in high school, I used the library to meet with girls from another high school, however as a uni student, the library became my safe haven to build my intellect as I was a very average learner (probably because of what I was doing in high school!)
Being here now, I'm so blessed by our industry and its commitment to our communities and society, and I intend to keep pushing that in this space.
We are delighted to announce that Richard Misilei will become LIANZA President-elect from July 1 and will serve three consecutive years as LIANZA president-elect, president, and immediate past president.
RICHY MISILEI
Richy Misilei has been LIANZA PIMN SIG co-convenor for several years and you may remember Richy in his role as the conference co-convenor at the LIANZA 2019 Conference in Manukau City.
Or perhaps you watched him deliver a convincing argument at the 2021 conference debate? Richy currently works as Connected Communities Lead and Coach (Ōtara-Papatoetoe), Auckland Council.
CANDIDATE STATEMENT
Talofa lava,
O lo'u igoa o Richard Misilei - My name is Richard Misilei. A summary of who I am: I love God because He loved me first (1 Jn. 4: 19). I am married to a beautiful woman by the name of Jolene Misilei and we have a wonderful daughter by the name of Grace. My parents are Misilei and Vaivasa Misilei, from the generation of Samoan's who came to NZ for better opportunities. I have two younger sisters, two nephews and a niece.
For work, my official title is the Connected Communities Lead and Coach. Essentially, I look after most of the Auckland Council sites in the Ōtara-Papatoetoe area, one of the local board areas in South Auckland. Of these sites, four of them are libraries. Before this role, I used to manage one of these four sites: Tupu Youth Library, which I absolutely adored. I never intended to work in libraries.
As a student in high school, I used the library to meet with girls from another high school, however as a uni student, the library became my safe haven to build my intellect as I was a very average learner (probably because of what I was doing in high school!)
Being here now, I'm so blessed by our industry and its commitment to our communities and society, and I intend to keep pushing that in this space.

NEW APPOINTED MEMBER
LIANZA is delighted to announce that the new appointed member to 2022/2023 LIANZA Council is Troy Tuhou.
Tēnā koutou katoa
Nō Ngāti Porou, nō Rongowhakaata tōku Papa
Nō Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti tōku kōka
Nō reira Nō Te Tairawhiti ahau
Greetings to you all my tribal affiliations on my fathers side are Ngāti Porou and Rongowhakaata, On my mother's side Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti therefore I am from the east coast of the North Island of Aotearoa New Zealand.
My name is Troy Tuhou. I have worked in tertiary libraries for the last eighteen and a half years and am currently the Team Leader of the Library Community Engagement Team at AUT South Campus Library.Some of my past experiences in leadership roles and governance include:
LIANZA is delighted to announce that the new appointed member to 2022/2023 LIANZA Council is Troy Tuhou.
Tēnā koutou katoa
Nō Ngāti Porou, nō Rongowhakaata tōku Papa
Nō Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti tōku kōka
Nō reira Nō Te Tairawhiti ahau
Greetings to you all my tribal affiliations on my fathers side are Ngāti Porou and Rongowhakaata, On my mother's side Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti therefore I am from the east coast of the North Island of Aotearoa New Zealand.
My name is Troy Tuhou. I have worked in tertiary libraries for the last eighteen and a half years and am currently the Team Leader of the Library Community Engagement Team at AUT South Campus Library.Some of my past experiences in leadership roles and governance include:
- Kaitiaki Pūtea Te Rōpū Whakahau (Treasurer)
- Te Rōpū Whakahau representative on LIANZA Council
- Co-sponsor of the Emerging Leaders Working group
- Māori representative on the AUT branch of TIASA (Tertiary Instutions Allied Staff Association)
ELECTED COUNCIL MEMBERS

NEDA ZDRAVKOVIC
Neda is the LIANZA TEL SIG co-convenor and is the librarian at Auckland Institute of Studies Library and Learning Hub. Her library and information career spans more than 20 years in public, tertiary and special libraries. Neda is experienced in managing and driving projects to a successful outcome, and - in developing collaborations and relationships with a broad range of stakeholders, clients and users with different learning needs and objectives.
She is a strong advocate for the development and survival of ‘librarianship’ through her work as LIANZA TELSIG Committee Co-Convenor, a coach for the New Zealand Libraries Partnership Programme (NZLPP). Neda is also involved with IFLA as an appointed business coach specialist and several philanthropic projects here and overseas. You can find her profile on LinkedIn here.
Neda is the LIANZA TEL SIG co-convenor and is the librarian at Auckland Institute of Studies Library and Learning Hub. Her library and information career spans more than 20 years in public, tertiary and special libraries. Neda is experienced in managing and driving projects to a successful outcome, and - in developing collaborations and relationships with a broad range of stakeholders, clients and users with different learning needs and objectives.
She is a strong advocate for the development and survival of ‘librarianship’ through her work as LIANZA TELSIG Committee Co-Convenor, a coach for the New Zealand Libraries Partnership Programme (NZLPP). Neda is also involved with IFLA as an appointed business coach specialist and several philanthropic projects here and overseas. You can find her profile on LinkedIn here.

STEPHEN PENNRUSCOE
Stephen is the Libraries Director, Hamilton City Libraries. He has 24 years of experience within the GLAM sector as a leader and mentor, promoting focused customer experiences and best practice collection management. Stephen is driven by a desire to achieve the best for libraries. He prides himself on his strategic thinking and business-focused mindset.
As Libraries Director/Te Manutaki Tuhirau at Hamilton City Libraries, he is responsible for the libraries’ strategic direction. He has been integral to adopting and activating their bicultural commitment, creating a hearts and minds campaign, developing a new model for staff induction, and “reframing our why”, achieved by first believing in and empowering the people around him.
Maa mua ka kite a muri Maa muri ka ora a mua
Those who lead give sight to those who follow
Those who follow give life to those who lead