Announcement of Treasurer Resignation and Call for Nominations

Dear APLAP Members

It is with much regret that the Association of Parliamentary Librarians of Asia and the Pacific Executive Committee (APLAP-EC) has accepted the resignation of our Treasurer, Nicole Cottrell  (New Zealand Parliamentary Library) effective 31 December 2024. Nicole took up the role of Secretary in August 2021 and moved to the role of Treasurer in early 2022. On behalf of the APLAP membership, the Executive Committee would like to wish Nicole well in her future endeavours and offer our sincere gratitude for her hard work and commitment to our organisation.

As a result of Nicole’s planned departure, the role of APLAP Treasurer will become vacant at the end of this year. This prompts the APLAP Executive Committee to open nominations for this position.

Being involved in the APLAP Executive Committee is a great way to get to know your colleagues from across Asia and the Pacific. Serving on the Executive allows you to help guide the direction of an organisation dedicated to developing the skills and service of its members, and to give back to a profession that we are all invested in.

Who’s eligible?

All employees of parliamentary libraries or research services that hold active membership of the Association of Parliamentary Librarians of Asia and the Pacific are eligible to stand for election.

What you need to know

The Parliamentary Library that takes on responsibility for the Treasurer role must be willing to facilitate the transfer of the APLAP bank account to their country, as well as undertake all the responsibilities of the Treasurer position. If you would like to know more about what this would involve, please contact the current Treasurer to discuss – nicole.cottrell@parliament.govt.nz.  

How do I nominate someone or get nominated?

Nominations can be made in two ways:

• individuals may nominate themselves
• a member may nominate another individual for election, provided the nominee certifies she/he is willing to stand

All nominees must complete the attached form and return it to Florida Tamu (florida.tamu@parliament.gov.sb), Secretary, by Monday 2 December 2024.

What's Next for APLAP?

If no nominations are received, APLAP faces a critical juncture. Without a new treasurer, the organization risks dissolution, as this role is essential for its continued operation. We implore our member countries, particularly those with more flexible banking regulations, to consider stepping up and nominating a qualified candidate.

Would you like to know more?

If you are interested in nominating for election and would like to discuss any aspect of serving on the APLAP Executive Committee, please contact any of our office bearers who are happy to discuss their experiences and answer any questions you might have.

APLAP Executive Committee

Boniface Supa
President
boniface.supa@parliament.gov.sb

Fairlyn Sarga
Vice-President Asia and Acting Secretary
fairlynsarga@gmail.com

Asha Kumar
Vice-President Pacific
asha.kumar@legislature.gov.fj

Nicole Cottrell
Treasurer
nicole.cottrell@parliament.govt.nz