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Iryna Kuchma is the Open Access Programme Manager for EIFL. Iryna has been managing the EIFL Open Access Programme (EIFL-OA) since 2008. Her responsibilities include the development, delivery and evaluation of a range of open access related activities.

Under Iryna's management, EIFL-OA has many achievements, including the establishment of more than 1,100 open access repositories and more than 4,000 open access journals in EIFL partner countries, opening up a wealth of new knowledge and research to the world. The programme also supported the development of 135 open access policies in EIFL partner countries.

An expert on open access in developing and transition countries, Iryna is frequently asked to speak at conferences and open access events around the world. Before joining EIFL, Iryna worked as an Information Programme Manager at the International Renaissance Foundation (part of Soros Foundation network in Ukraine) and also coordinated the Arts and Culture Programme there.

Iryna is a member of Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) Advisory Board, DSpace Community Advisory Team (DCAT) and the NDLTD (Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations) Board of Directors.

In 2013, Iryna received the Electronic Publishing Trust (EPT) for Development Annual Award, in recognition of her ‘efforts in the furtherance of open access to scholarly publications in the developing and emerging countries’.

Iryna has an M.A. in Cultural Studies from the National University ‘Kyiv-Mohyla Academy’, Ukraine.

Languages: Ukrainian, English, French, Polish, Russian

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Jean Fairbairn

Communications Manager

jean.fairbairn@eifl.net

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Jean Fairbairn

Communications Manager

Jean Fairbairn is the Communications Manager for EIFL. Jean manages all communication activities that engage and encourage stakeholders to support EIFL’s mission.

Jean upholds the organization’s reputation by ensuring there is consistency across communications channels, including EIFL website, newsletters and social media. She also helps place EIFL experts in the news and online media and produces marketing and communication materials, such as annual reports, videos, brochures, and presentations.

Jean joined EIFL in 2010, as part of the EIFL Public Library Innovation Programme (EIFL-PLIP) team, developing and writing case studies to showcase the impact of innovative public library services initiated with EIFL-PLIP support. The studies are based on evidence generated through impact assessment conducted by public libraries in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America.

Jean’s expertise is in communication for development. She has 30 years’ experience developing capacity of local journalists and community-based organizations to disseminate information that improves lives, working for Open Society Foundation for South Africa, Developing Radio Partners, Internews and Healthlink Worldwide. She has published several manuals and guides to support this work.

Jean holds an M.A. in Globalization and Communication from Leicester University, UK, and a post-graduate Adult Education Diploma from the University of Cape Town, South Africa.

Languages: English, Afrikaans

Twitter Id jean.fairbairn@eifl.net blogs resources https://www.flickr.com/photos/eifl/15691090797/

Milica Sevkusic

Guest blogger

edvaldas02@eifl.net

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Milica Sevkusic

Guest blogger

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Ramune Petuchovaite

Public Library Innovation Programme Manager

ramune.petuchovaite@eifl.net

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Ramune Petuchovaite

Public Library Innovation Programme Manager

Ramune Petuchovaite is the EIFL Public Library Innovation Programme (EIFL-PLIP) Manager for EIFL. Her responsibilities include the development, delivery and evaluation of a range of activities which support piloting innovative public library services that contribute to community development.

Since 2012, Ramune has worked with over 30 projects in more than 20 developing and transition economy countries focused on crucial community development needs, such as farming, health, employment, education and social inclusion. She also helped to develop the framework for public librarians’ capacity building initiatives in Africa.

Prior to joining EIFL, Ramune served as Chief Specialist at the Division of Information Society Development of the Ministry of Culture of Republic of Lithuania. There she was responsible for coordinating the implementation of the state-funded library renovation and modernization programme. During her term at the Ministry of Culture, a countrywide project ‘Libraries for Innovation’ was launched. This $36 million dollar project, co-funded with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, helped over 1,300 public libraries in Lithuania start or improve public access to computer and internet services, and provide ICT skills training to local communities. This effort significantly contributed to a 15 per cent increase of regular internet users in Lithuania, during the period of 2008-2013. Under Ramune’s leadership the Ministry of Culture initiated changes to library legislation, improving library management and services in Lithuania.

Ramune has also lectured library and information students on library management, project management and other subjects at the Faculty of Communication, Vilnius University.

Ramune holds a library postgraduate degree from Vilnius University, Lithuania.

Languages: Lithuanian, English, Russian

Twitter Id ramune.petuchovaite@eifl.net blogs resources https://www.flickr.com/photos/eifl/15689350368/in/photostream/

Rima Kupryte

Director

rima.kupryte@eifl.net

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Rima Kupryte

Director

Rima Kupryte is the Director of EIFL. Rima oversees the implementation of EIFL’s overall organizational strategy and operations. Rima has been managing EIFL since its inception. Under Rima’s leadership, EIFL has grown into a thriving international organization working in more than 60 developing and transition economy countries.

Rima’s deep knowledge of library infrastructure and international development has led to the strategic expansion of EIFL’s key programmes which help people to access and use information for education, learning, research and sustainable community development.

Rima joined EIFL from the Open Society Institute - Budapest (currently known as the Open Society Foundations), where she managed the Network Library Programme, supporting library development in approximately 35 countries of Central and Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, and Africa.

In 2008, the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) awarded Rima the IFLA Medal, one of the highest professional accolades, for her contributions to international librarianship.

Languages: Lithuanian, English, Russian

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Romy Beard

Licensing Programme Manager

romy.beard@eifl.net

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Romy Beard

Licensing Programme Manager

Romy Beard is the Manager of the Licensing Programme for EIFL. Romy negotiates with publishers to secure affordable access to commercial e-resources on behalf of EIFL partner countries and works with library consortia to encourage subscriptions and usage.

Romy joined EIFL in 2014, bringing experience in academic online publishing that spanned nine years. Romy started her career in 2005 when she joined Oxford University Press as a Sales Representative in their Online Products department, liaising with libraries and library consortia across Europe. Romy moved to ebrary in 2008 as Regional Sales Manager for Europe where she worked with resellers and consortia in Europe, including EIFL.

From 2011 - 2014, Romy worked in the ebrary business unit at ProQuest as Publisher Relations Manager, signing agreements for e-book distribution with new publishing partners and advising existing publishers on their digital strategy and the different business models on offer to libraries. She is a member of UKSG and is on the UKSG Outreach & Engagement Committee.

Romy holds a First Class honours degree in English Language and Literature from the University of Glasgow, UK, and a postgraduate MA in English Literature from the University of Warwick, UK.

Languages: Luxembourgish, English, French, German, Spanish

Twitter Id romy.beard@eifl.net blogs resources https://www.flickr.com/photos/eifl/15689407368/in/photostream/

Susan Schnuer

Public Library Innovation Programme Capacity Building Manager

susan.schnuer@eifl.net

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Susan Schnuer

Public Library Innovation Programme Capacity Building Manager

Susan Schnuer is the Public Library Innovation Programme Capacity Building Manager for EIFL. Her responsibilities include working with library authorities in Africa on institutionalizing continuous professional development for public librarians.

Before joining EIFL in 2018, Susan was the Associate Director at the Mortenson Center for International Library Programs, located at the University of Illinois. For more than 25 years Susan created and implemented high-quality professional development programmes for librarians world-wide. Susan received multiple grants that allowed her to focus on specific regional library needs. Working with local partners, she implemented successful and sustainable library projects in countries such as Costa Rica, Ghana, Haiti, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Most recently Susan has been focused on the development of library leadership materials for public libraries. Supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the project Strengthening Innovative Library Leaders (SILL) is a freely-available training programme designed to build leadership and innovation skills for anyone who works in a public library.The training materials were co-developed with librarians from Armenia, Bhutan, Haiti, India, Myanmar, Namibia, and Nepal.

Susan has received numerous awards including the IFLA Scroll of Appreciation and the John Ames Humphry/OCLC Forest Press Award for International Librarianship.

Susan has a Bachelor’s degree from Tufts University, an education postgraduate degree from Boston University, and a library postgraduate degree from the University of Illinois, USA.

Languages: English, French, Spanish

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Teresa Hackett

teresa.hackett@eifl.net

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Teresa Hackett

Teresa Hackett is the Copyright and Libraries Programme Manager for EIFL. Since the launch of the programme in 2005, Teresa has successfully overseen the development and delivery of a unique, specialist service for libraries in developing and transition countries.

Through her leadership, the creation of multi-lingual library copyright resources and the provision of bespoke technical assistance, Teresa has helped grow a dynamic network of specialist librarians, many of whom have achieved success in improving national copyright laws that are helping to maximize access to knowledge in the digital environment. Her commitment and strong advocacy skills have helped make EIFL a leading voice for copyright law at the international level. With extensive experience working with libraries on legal information issues and participating in negotiations at political institutions, Teresa is a frequent contributor at conferences and events around the world.

Prior to joining EIFL, Teresa held a number of policy, advocacy and technical positions. From 2000-2003, she was Director of the European Bureau of Library, Information and Documentation Associations; before that she provided support to the European Commission library research programme, and was part of the team that established electronic information centres at the British Council in Germany. Teresa was a member of the Committee on Copyright and other Legal Matters of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) from 2011-2015 and the World Blind Union (WBU) Marrakesh Strategic Advisory Group.

In 2015, Teresa was awarded a Flash Grant as an agent of social change by the Shuttleworth Foundation for her work on copyright. In 2018, the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) awarded Teresa the IFLA Medal in recognition of her distinguished contribution to IFLA and international librarianship, particularly in the field of copyright and for her commitment to enabling equal access to information.

Teresa has an honours degree in German, History and Politics from University College Dublin, Ireland, a postgraduate Diploma in Library and Information Studies from the University of North London, UK, and a postgraduate Diploma in Legal Studies from Dublin Institute of Technology, Ireland.

Languages: English, Irish, German, Dutch

Twitter Id teresa.hackett@eifl.net blogs resources https://www.flickr.com/photos/eifl/15876864405/

Ugne Lipeikaite

Public Library Innovation Programme Impact Manager

ugne.lipeikaite@eifl.net

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Ugne Lipeikaite

Public Library Innovation Programme Impact Manager

Ugne Lipeikaite is the Impact Manager for EIFL’s Public Library Innovation Programme (PLIP). Ugne oversees impact planning and evaluation for EIFL-PLIP. For the last several years, Ugne has built the impact evaluation framework and tools that are now being used by EIFL-PLIP grantees. She is also supporting the development of the librarians’ capacity building programme in Africa.

Before joining EIFL in 2011, Ugne was responsible for impact planning and evaluation of a nation-wide project, ‘Libraries for Innovation’, a $36 million dollar project co-funded by the Ministry of Culture of Lithuania and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The project helped almost 1,300 public libraries in Lithuania to develop public access to computer and internet services.

Ugne has worked on ICT diffusion and adoption projects for the Open Society Fund-Lithuania and on the e-Inclusion project ‘Rural Internet Access Points’, funded by European Union Phare Programme. She also served as a consultant to several international research projects. Ugne is a member of Statistics and Evaluation committee at the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA).

Ugne holds a Ph.D in Communication and Information from Vilnius University, Lithuania.

Languages: Lithuanian, English, Spanish

Twitter Id ugne.lipeikaite@eifl.net blogs resources https://www.flickr.com/photos/eifl/15689349978/in/photostream/

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