Introducing our newest SLANZA National Executive Regional Representative - Ellie Nicholson for Wellington

We welcome Ellie Nicolson who joined National Executive as the new Wellington representative in March. Ellie has been chair of SLANZA Wellington, but nationally you may recognise her as the organiser of the Wellington online conference Whakaohooho. Previously a teacher, Ellie retrained with a post-graduate library diploma and worked as Library Manager at St Patrick’s College in Wellington.  

When I was a small bookworm, tucked in a corner reading a book, my Grandad predicted I was destined to be a teacher or a librarian. I have now proudly been both. I started my career as a teacher but put it to one side for children and travel and when I returned discovered I would have to retrain. Given I wasn’t sure that I could be the teacher I wanted to be and the mum I needed to be in the number of hours there are in a day, it was time for a rethink. What I did know was that I wanted to stay in education, so I completed a post-graduate library diploma and started my new career as Library Manager at St Patrick’s College in Wellington. As Chair of SLANZA Wellington, and organiser of the online conference Whakaohooho, I have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to work with amazing people who share my passion for libraries. Most recently I have accepted a new role as a facilitator for the National Library and can’t wait to meet and work with librarians all around Aotearoa. As NE rep for Wellington I look forward to bringing my passion, experience and knowledge into continuing to support my amazing fellow librarians.  

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Clare Forrest as our previous SLANZA National Executive Wellington Representative.
After a ten-year tenure as National Executive representative for Wellington, Clare Forrest has stood down from the role. Clare worked tirelessly on the betterment of school librarians. As a NZEI union representative, she was on the negotiating team representing SLANZA for our pay equity from the beginning, and it was a tribute to the work she put in on our behalf that she was there for the historical signing of the Pay Equity Settlement in March 2023. Clare spent many years creating, delivering, and facilitating our Connected online professional development modules. She has also been an integral and leading member of our SLANZA social media team, as content researcher, poster, and moderator. 
​Clare’s views were honest, sage and astute, and we admired and respected her knowledge and guidance. NE are profoundly grateful for all that Clare has contributed to National Executive and the whole school library sector. 

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