Kia ora Koutou,

I am posting this morning with the very sad news that Tomo Shibata, our friend and colleague, has died in Japan after a yearlong illness.

Tomo held roles as a team leader and acting Manager for ELS over the past three years. As you will all know, he had many great qualities which means he has had a huge and beneficial impact on his own and the wider UC Library team. In the days to come, we will all have moments where we remember his honesty, courage, drive, determination (sometimes stubbornness), but always his compassion, humanity, quiet humour, and intelligence. As we think on how his life has touched ours in many different ways, we will also have moments where we reflect upon what his absence will mean for us now too.

His loss will be keenly felt here, and I think also with our colleagues at CCL where he worked before joining UC. I know that he will be sorely missed by all of us. and I want to encourage all of you to talk with each other and remember Tomo; talk to your manager, to myself, Dale, or Isabella. Remember too that there are good, free professional services available to us through EAP should you wish to do so.

As Tomo and his family are all in Japan now, I am afraid I have no information to forward at this stage regarding any service or funeral, but we hope to find out more in due course.

Our thoughts are with Lesley and baby Viktor and Tomo’s family.

Simon