For immediate release:
EDMONTON, AB, May 10, 2016 – Two new members have been appointed to the Edmonton Public Library (EPL) Board of Trustees.
Jennifer Huntley, a consultant supporting the Public Interest Executive Search team at Conroy Ross Partners, and Zainul Mawji, leader of the Market Strategy and Execution team for TELUS Broadband, commenced their roles on May 1, 2016.
With a Master of Arts in English Literature from the University of Victoria, Huntley brings her writing skills and a nuanced expression to her daily work and everyday communication. A lifelong learner, she has an extensive academic background, as well as recent experience working directly with elected officials in a research and communications capacity.
“I consider public libraries to be our most human and democratic of public institutions,” said Huntley. “I look forward to serving on the EPL Board of Trustees and assisting in continuing to move Edmonton’s model library system forward.”
During 14 years at TELUS, Mawji has held various positions in Corporate Strategy, Marketing, Business Transformation (IT) and Technology Operations. Prior to joining TELUS, she completed her MBA degree at the University of Western Ontario’s Richard Ivey School of Business, worked in management consulting and also held numerous roles in her family’s Alberta-based hotel business.
“Community service is a responsibility and few do it better than our public library system,” said Mawji. “I am thrilled to be part of the EPL Board of Trustees, and look forward to supporting further innovation and excellence through one of the city’s most important organizations.”
The EPL board consists of 10 trustees, including one member of City Council. Trustees are appointed annually by City Council and can serve a maximum of six years. In addition to governance, one of the board’s primary functions is advocacy to ensure stakeholders understand and support library initiatives. Board responsibilities include recruitment and performance evaluation of the CEO, approving board policies, ensuring compliance with financial and legislative requirements, identifying and mitigating risks, and establishing the library’s strategic directions.
EPL would like to thank departing trustees Ellen Calabrese-Amrhein and Jeff Reynolds, who most recently served as chair and vice-chair respectively, for their commitment.
At the April 26 EPL Board Meeting, Brian Heidecker was elected Board Chair and Nazir Mulji was elected Vice-Chair.
“We are pleased to welcome both Jennifer and Zainul to our board, and I’d like to congratulate Nazir on being elected vice-chair,” said Heidecker. “Their varied expertise and interests only add to and further strengthen EPL’s governance responsibilities.”
“A strong passion for education and a commitment to community mean our two new board members are a great fit with EPL,” said EPL Chief Executive Officer Pilar Martinez. “We look forward to having both Jennifer and Zainul serve on the Board, as EPL continues to be the leader in innovative, community-led library services.”
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About the Edmonton Public Library
The Edmonton Public Library (EPL) is proud to be 2014 Library of the Year! We’ve come a long way since 1913 when books were all you could find on our shelves… and we’re just getting started! Today, EPL carries everything you care about. We are Edmonton’s largest lender of all manner of information and entertainment. Our professionally trained staff take you beyond Google with the knowledge, discernment and desire to help you navigate a universe of information. The second most visited place in Edmonton, every year EPL hosts over 14 million in-branch and online visits across our 20 branches and website. We deliver our incredible content to you everywhere – in the library, at home or on your handheld device. Unmatched access and unrivalled value – that is today’s EPL. EPL is a registered charity and relies on donations to enhance services. Spread the words. www.epl.ca/donate.
For more information, contact
Heather McIntyre
Marketing Communications Specialist
Edmonton Public Library
780-496-7055
hmcintyre@epl.ca
