Penny Carnaby

Penny is Chief Executive and National Librarian of the National Library of New Zealand, a position she has held since 2003. In this role Penny has led the Organisation’s digital strategy focused in three key areas covering digital content, connection and preservation to deliver a New Generation National Library. Penny is also Deputy Chair of the ICT Steering Committee for Education, a member of the Learning State Industry Training Board, the Library and Information Advisory Commission (LIAC), a member of National State Libraries of Australasia (NSLA), and Adjunct Professor in the School of Information Management at Victoria University of Wellington. In August 2008 Penny was re-appointed to chair the Conference of Directors of National Libraries (CDNL) internationally.

Prior to returning to New Zealand in 2003, Penny was University Librarian and Deputy Librarian at Macquarie University in Sydney. Previous to this she enjoyed a long career in the tertiary sector in several roles at Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology (CPIT), including leading integrated education delivery services in library and learning services, e-learning and staff development. In 1999-2000 she served as National President of the Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa (LIANZA), and was awarded a Fellowship of the Association in 2001.

She has a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Diploma of Education from the University of New South Wales.

Penny’s professional interest is in creating national frameworks and strategies to enhance the flow of information to all parts of society. She believes that New Zealand Aotearoa has the potential to become a leading information democracy.

Her personal interests include the environment and wildlife of Australia and New Zealand, and the management of a small farm on Banks Peninsula, growing native trees