Emilia C. Bell (they/them) Hear my name
I’m Emilia C. Bell (pronounced emi-lee-ah). I also go by Scout.
I’m a board director, library and information science (LIS) professional, and PhD candidate passionate about inclusive, evidence-based, and impactful leadership that creates positive change for individuals, communities, and organisations.
My doctoral research at Curtin University explores open knowledge diplomacy, investigating how Australian university libraries contribute to open and collaborative scholarship on global challenges such as climate change. More broadly, my work sits at the intersection of knowledge production, open scholarship, and libraries in local and global contexts.
My professional experience has included the Australian Parliamentary Library Internship program in 2019, and I later worked as Coordinator (Evidence-Based Practice) and Manager (Research & Education) at UniSQ Library.
I currently serve as Manager, Research and Digital Services at Murdoch University, as part of the Library Executive team, where I oversee the strategic development of library research services, the institutional repository, discovery interfaces, library systems, and social media and communications.
My contributions to research and professional practice focus on evidence-based practice, open knowledge, and inclusive leadership. In recognition of my work, I received the ALIA Metcalfe Award (2024) and was a recipient of a governance scholarship for leaders with disability through the Australian Institute of Company Directors’ Disability Leadership Program (2023), completing the Foundations of Directorship course.
Alongside my research and professional roles, I am deeply committed to community and not-for-profit leadership. I currently serve as a Board Director for Ballet Without Borders (2025–present) and previously as a Non-Executive Director on the Board of the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA). I’m also the Co-Founder and President of the Alliance for Neurodiversity and Disability in GLAMR Professions Australia Inc. (ANDPA), a registered charity dedicated to promoting the acceptance of disability and neurodiversity in the GLAMR sector.