I am a libraries development manager. My Fellowship was about investigating the delivery of school library services in a comparative multicultural country – the USA. I was very interested in book stock that reflected diversity on the learning curriculum and programmes that were committed to supporting literacy.

The Fellowship helped me to develop my career to become Strategic Lead for Library Services and Programming with Brent Libraries. My successes include my role in 2014 as a national champion for diversity in children's literature, which was recognised by appointment to a panel of experts selecting a list of 50 books for children for the National Centre for Children's Books (Diverse Voices). I have also been a judge for Empathy Lab's Read for Empathy guides for children and young people (CYP) and I have had successful funding applications in partnership with arts organisations for cultural programming supporting literacy.

I am a passionate advocate for the role of libraries in developing science, technology, engineering and maths for CYP and have promoted this at national level. In 2020 I was awarded a British Empire Medal for services to public libraries in recognition of my achievements.