Library Board Members

Ministerial appointment | Appointed in 2019 under Section 5(3)(a) of the Library Board Act | Term ends 2027

John Day was a member of the Western Australian Parliament for 24 years until 2017, representing the Darling Range and Kalamunda electorates successively.

He served in a wide range of roles when in Parliament, including as Minister for Culture and the Arts from 2008 to 2017. Other portfolios for which he was responsible included Planning, Health, Science and Innovation, Police and Emergency Services.

In government, John was a strong advocate for the role of public libraries, and for revitalisation of the Perth Cultural Centre. He is also a member of the board of the Art Gallery of W.A and is an Honorary Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia. 

John is a graduate of the University of W.A. in Science and Dentistry, and practised as a dentist with the Perth Dental Hospital and in private practice. 

City of Fremantle Representative | Appointed in 2018 under Section 5(4)(c) of the Library Board Act | Term ends 2026.

Jenny obtained a BSc in Science (Geology) from the University of Western Australia. She has worked in various roles, including Palaeontology at the Western Australian Museum, in the petroleum industry and later as a part owner of three businesses in the mineral exploration and geothermal industry.

She has also held several other positions including Mayor of the City of Fremantle, Chair of the Rottnest Island Authority, Chair of Spare Parts Puppet Theatre, Inaugural Chair of the Fremantle Prison Trust (following the decommission of the Fremantle Prison) and Deputy Chair of Fremantle Press.

Jenny joined the Board of the State Library in 2018 and is a councillor for the City of Fremantle.

Sandy Anghie City of Perth Representative | Appointed in 2018 under Section 5(4)(b) of the Library Board Act | Term ends 2026

Architect Sandy Anghie is actively engaged in the Perth community.  

Alongside her residential architecture work, Sandy is President of the Australian Institute of Architects WA Chapter, editor of The Architect magazine and co-creator of Perth Design Week. 

Sandy’s commitment and contribution to architecture has been recognised in two awards – the 2020 WA Emerging Architect Prize and the 2018 NAWIC Social Responsibility Award. 

In addition to architecture, Sandy holds degrees in law and commerce, starting her career as a lawyer in 1997 before returning to university to pursue her passion and become an architect. 

She has served on not-for-profit boards for over a decade, including the Constable Care Child Safety Foundation and the West Australian Ballet.  

Sandy is currently a Councillor at the City of Perth. 

WALGA Representative | Appointed in 2021 under Section 5(4)(d) of the Library Board Act | Term ends 2025

Michelle Brennand has over 30 years’ experience working in senior leadership roles in both state and local government and is the Director Community Development for the City of Fremantle.  In this role Michelle oversees the community development, customer services and arts and culture portfolios for the City. Her prior role was that of Director of Collection Services at the State Library of WA.

Michelle is a Past President of Public Libraries WA (3 terms) and a past National Director on the Australian Library and Information Association Board of Directors (2 terms).

She holds a Bachelor of Arts (UWA)  an MBA, and a Graduate Diploma in Library and Information Science, both from Curtin University.

Appointed in 2021 under Section 5(3) of the Library Board Act | Ex Officio, Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries

Lanie Chopping is interim Director General of the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries. She has extensive experience in regulatory and citizen-focused roles across WA’s public sector. Ms Chopping was formerly the Commissioner for Consumer Protection and the Acting Executive Director for Consumer Protection at the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety. She has also held senior positions at the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, the Economic Regulation Authority, and the West Australian Council of Social Service.

Dene Cranwell Appointed in 2022 under Section 5(3) of the Library Board Act | Ex Officio, Department of Education 

Dene is proud to have worked in public education for over 20 years. She has held school leadership and teaching positions in both metropolitan and regional Western Australia. Dene also has leadership experience in a range of service provision portfolios within the Department of Education, including teaching and learning, disability services, and student wellbeing. Dene is currently Director, Service Design and Support, in the Department of Education’s Statewide Services Division. She holds a Bachelor of Arts, Graduate Diploma of Education and Master of Education Leadership from the University of Western Australia.
 

Ministerial appointment | Appointed in 2023 under section 5(3)(a) of the Library Board Act | Term ends 2027

Jodie is committed to, and passionate about public libraries as community spaces, hubs of innovation, knowledge, and connection. Her career spans not-for-profit organisations, and all tiers of government, with a strong focus on advocacy, community engagement and policy. With qualifications in communications and public policy, she understands the power of literacy. Jodie is Deputy Chair of Gowrie Western Australia, who provide early years education, care and support for WA children and their families across WA. Currently, Jodie is the WA State Manager for the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency who work with 15 National Health Boards to regulate Australia's 870,000 registered health practitioners.

WALGA Representative | Appointed in 2020 under Section 5(4)(e) of the Library Board Act | Term ends 2028

Matthew Gilfellon has spent over ten years as a Chief Executive Officer in rural local governments. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting and Business Law), a Graduate Diploma of Legal Studies and an Executive Master of Business Administration. Matthew is currently based in Albany as the City’s Executive Director Corporate and Commercial Services. Matthew’s love for libraries comes from his passions of books, building community and learning.

Ministerial appointment | Appointed in 2021 under Section 5(3)(a) of the Library Board Act | Term ends 2025

Anna has worked for Traditional Owners and with writers, storytellers and artists from across the Kimberley for more than 20 years, most recently as the CEO of Magabala Books for nearly 10 years. She has a background in arts management and law, having specialised in business development, organisational change, government advocacy and policy development.

Ministerial appointment | Appointed in 2020 under Section 5(3)(a) of the Library Board Act | Term ends 2024

Wayne is passionate about communities and the people who live and work in them. He has spent his career working for them, both individually and collectively, on both the east and west coasts, across all spheres of government, to improve their economies, environments and general wellbeing. Critically, he knows the valuable role that libraries play in securing these things.

Experienced in policy development and advocacy, he knows government process at all levels and how to get a message across to the intended audience. More importantly though, he knows how to listen and make sure that important messages aren't lost in the big noise that often accompanies passionate debate.

With a Degree in Business and postgraduate qualifications in Regional Development, his working life has seen him in a wide range of roles, from casual labourer to CEO and most things in between. He has travelled extensively throughout Australia and occasionally in Europe, America and Asia. He loves cycling, guitars and...libraries!

ALIA Representative l Appointed in 2021 under Section 5(4)(a) of the Library Board Act Term ends 2025

Constance Wiebrands is University Librarian at Edith Cowan University, having been appointed to the role in 2014. She is responsible for ECU’s three West Australian campus libraries, and ensures that the library works collaboratively with the University’s Student Life and Centre for Learning and Teaching teams in order to deliver high quality, responsive student support services.

Con also chairs ECU’s Disability Access and Inclusion Sub-Committee and the Pride @ ECU committee. Con graduated from Murdoch University with a Bachelor of Asian Studies (Chinese) (Honours), and has a Graduate Diploma in Library and Information Studies from Curtin University, and a Master of Applied Linguistics from the University of New England.

She has been a member of the Board of the Council of Australian University Librarians (2016 – 2022), formerly holding roles as Chair of the finance, risk and audit committee and is currently Program Director for CAUL’s Respecting Indigenous Knowledge work. She is the current chair of the OCLC Asia Pacific Regional Council.