Programme
Speaker
Group B
How Jisc implemented a publisher equity framework evaluation over multiple open access agreements
The How Equitable Is It? framework, developed by cOAlition S, Jisc and PLOS, provides a structured approach to evaluating publisher proposals against the principles of inclusivity and transparency in addition to open research practices.
In this session, we will share how Jisc applied the framework to multiple open access agreements, scoring agreements across 7 criteria. We will demonstrate how by working with publishers our evaluations informed negotiations, giving institutions and publishers a more holistic view of a publisher’s offer including progress over time. Finally, we will introduce a dashboard – designed to make our evaluations accessible and actionable for libraries and consortia.
Daniel Spence
Jisc
Biography
Spence is a business intelligence analyst from Jisc’s Licensing team. He specialises in preparing and visualising data to support Jisc’s work, such as negotiations with publishers and software vendors. Before Jisc he gained experience with things like trusted research environments, collection management, reading lists, and inter-library loans for the research and higher education sectors
Caroline Mackay
Jisc
Biography
Caroline is a licensing manager within Jisc’s research licensing portfolio. She has negotiated a range of licensed content more recently specialising in diamond open access and supporter membership agreements. Currently her priorities are highlighting essential open infrastructure to support and applying cOAlitionS’ How Equitable is it framework to Jisc’s open access agreements.
Leveraging Open Data to Evaluate Publisher Agreements: A Transparent Approach to Scholarly Communication
As institutions navigate increasingly complex negotiations with academic publishers, the need for transparent, data-driven decision-making has never been greater. This talk explores how open data sources and methodologies can be harnessed to critically assess publisher offers and agreements. This is achieved through enhancing and validating existing datasets and enabling comparisons across multifaceted deals. We also discuss the benefits and limitations of using open infrastructures and reproducible workflows in this context, and how these approaches can empower libraries and consortia to negotiate more effectively and transparently.
Charlotte Pinder
Jisc
Biography
Charlotte is a Senior Business Intelligence Analyst from the Licensing team at Jisc. She specialises in supporting Licensing’s content and software negotiations with data informed intelligence and insights. Previous to Jisc she has experience of providing bibliometric support in a higher education library.
Bethany Harris
Jisc
Biography
Beth is a Principal Business Intelligence Analyst from the Licensing team at Jisc. She leads the Business Intelligence team to deliver successful data support for content and software negotiations, and provides data and analytics to monitor and assess value and impact.
UWTSD Birmingham & GenAI: Are we STILL in this together?
This talk explores the collaborative journey of University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) Birmingham campus in embracing generative AI across academic and professional domains. Highlighting inclusive strategies that were first introduced at the 2025 UKSG Forum, it showcases how librarians, digital skills educators, and support teams are working together to navigate the opportunities and challenges of AI integration. From ethical considerations to practical applications, the session reflects on shared learning and the evolving role of academic liaison librarians and digital skills advisors in shaping AI literacy.
Olivia Edmonds
University of Wales Trinity St David
Biography
Olivia is currently an Academic Liaison Librarian at the University of Wales Trinity St David (Birmingham) Prior to that, she was a former Secondary English teacher of 10+ years and former Learning Resources Manager at Sixth Form level for 6 years. Her areas of interest include equality, diversity, and inclusion; digital accessibility and the use of Generative AI to support students and staff in a higher education context.
Assembling an Ecosystem around OER Publishing, Discovery and Adoption
This session will explore how Leeds University Libraries is working with partners Sylla and Pressbooks to support the creation, publication, discovery and adoption of Open Educational Resources (OERs). The University Libraries aim to provide all students with their reading list materials. Their approach to OERs is informed by the University’s commitment as a founding member of the Knowledge Equity Network to open and collaborative practices in knowledge creation and dissemination. The panelists will share how they are collaborating to broaden the use of OERs to improve access to relevant, inclusive learning materials in a cost-effective way.
Tom Mosterd
Sylla
Biography
Tom Mosterd is one of the co-founders of Sylla. He has worked for nearly a decade on supporting Higher Education – and libraries in the transition towards Open Science & Open Education. At Sylla, Tom works closely with its libraries and partners in HigherEd on advancing open and affordable learning for all.
Başak Büyükçelen
Pressbooks
Biography
Başak Büyükçelen is the Chief Executive Officer of Pressbooks, an open-source digital publishing platform widely used in higher education to create and share interactive learning and scholarly materials. Başak leads Pressbooks in advancing open-source digital publishing solutions that support teaching and learning. With more than a decade of experience in organizational leadership and strategy, she brings a global perspective shaped by cross-cultural collaboration and speaks four languages.
Jane Saunders
University of Leeds
Biography
To follow
Kirstine McDermid
University of Leeds
Biography
To follow
Knowledge Under Attack: Defending Research in an Era of Censorship
Since February 2025, US authorities have systematically removed, modified and censored research data, affecting global access to public health, climate science, and social research. This session examines these developments through three perspectives:
findings from a scoping study mapping types and patterns of knowledge censorship;
insights from the Defend Research movement mobilising international resistance; and
the experience of a US library leader navigating compliance pressures whilst upholding institutional mission. Attendees will understand the scale of these changes, learn about coordinated responses, and explore implications for information professionals worldwide, including practical actions our community can take to counter censorship
Rob Johnson
Research Consulting
Biography
Rob Johnson is the Managing Director of Research Consulting, a mission-driven business which works to improve the effectiveness and impact of research and scholarly communication. He began his career with KPMG, the international professional services firm, before working in a senior research management role at the University of Nottingham. Since founding Research Consulting in 2013 he has led more than 150 projects in the fields of research and scholarly communication. Rob is Vice Chair of UKSG, a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and holds an MSc in Higher Education Management from Loughborough University.
Sara Rouhi
DefendResearch.org
Biography
Sara Rouhi is a co-author of the 2025 Declaration to #DefendResearch from US Govt Censorship, released Feb 13, 2025. With 15 years of experience in scholarly publishing, she has undergraduate and graduate degrees in political science and political theory. She brings a social science lens to the challenges of building an open science future in a shifting socio-political landscape, one very much under financial, legal, and governmental pressure. Her scholarly publishing work primarily focuses on making access to knowledge creation as sustainably open as possible by exploring partnership and non-traditional business models to enable greater participation in knowledge creation. Sara’s work with DefendResearch.org is done privately and has no relationship with her employer.
In February 2025 she joined with Lisa Schiff, Catherine Mitchell, Alice Meadows, and Peter Suber as a co-author of the Declaration to #DefendResearch Against US Government Censorship. The DefendResearch.org group is dedicated to educating the public on the dangers of censorship in science. The website includes testimonials from researchers, toolkits for lobbying and educating in local communities, and resources around data rescue and cataloging of public statements/positions that #DefendResearch against government attack. Follow the team @DefendResearch.bsky.social and Sara, herself, @RouhiRoo.bsky.social on Bluesky
Doug Way
Biography
Doug Way is the Dean of Libraries and William T. Young Endowed Chair at the University of Kentucky. He has previously held positions at the University of Wisconsin Madison and Grand Valley State University. Doug has written and presented widely on topics related to the use and management of library collections and scholarly communications. He has a bachelor’s degree from Grand Valley State University and a Master’s degree from Wayne State University
‘I Got 99 Problems and Researchers are Number 1’: My failed attempts to convert and wrestle researchers from their ‘top’ commercial open access publishing options
Open access advocates across the scholarly communications landscape shout loudly to encourage researchers to think more widely about where they publish. Yet, those on the ‘coalface’ of open access advocacy often see researcher colleagues gravitate towards the same commercial places to publish.
How can we change advocacy so researchers value ‘other’ options? How do we help authors see the truth behind trawling emails? How can we dismantle dependence on ‘routine’ publishing options? This will be an honest discussion on failures encountered, frustrations of open access advocacy, ways to avoid advocacy fatigue and routes to staying positive about openness, when you frequently fail
Katherine Stephan
Liverpool John Moores University
Biography
Katherine Stephan is the Open Research Librarian (Development) at Liverpool John Moores University in Liverpool, United Kingdom. She is an advocate for open research, responsible metrics, and author choice in publishing. She is the co-organiser of Open Research Week with Liverpool, Edge Hill and Essex Universities. She is a member of the UKSG Outreach and Engagement Subcommittee and is the librarian member of Think.Check.Submit. A keen gig goer, most years Katherine goes to more gigs than her age. Inconceivably, she has seen Liverpool legend Michael Head 37 times, with Bill Ryder-Jones a distant second
Diversifying Library Collections: Planning for Change
This session explores how to move from a commitment to authentically representing missing voices and perspectives from your library collection, to real, actionable steps that can address Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) goals in collection development.
Join the science and humanities coordinators for one of North America’s largest library collections to talk about the University of Toronto Library’s Collection Diversity Plan. The session covers strategies and challenges for gathering collections-focused user feedback, using that feedback to identify gaps in print and electronic library collections, and action-oriented strategies to build a library collection that supports all community members in fulfilling their academic, research, and employment goals. Participants will leave with adaptable strategies they can implement in their own local contexts.
Naz Torabi
University of Toronto
Biography
Naz Torabi serves as the Collections Coordinator, Sciences at the University of Toronto, where she is responsible for overseeing the development of a coordinated and sustainable approach to library collections across the university’s extensive library system. Her responsibilities include the acquisition, management, and assessment of electronic resources, vendor relations. She works closely with science librarians to support the evolving information needs of students and faculty. She is a 2022–2023 Association of Research Libraries (ARL) Leadership and Career Development Program (LCDP) fellow and currently serves as co-chair of VimLoC (Visible Minority Librarians of Canada
Exiting the Roundabout: career navigation through peer networks
Being in information and education centered fields, there are nearly endless training sessions and webinars. One of the tools to help you survive and thrive through change and stages of advancement is to develop a Professional Peer Network. These networks can offer more consistent and interpersonal engagement that support your journey of growth and learning. More than friendship, less than coaching, a peer network provides connection to people at the same career stage, a support system that understands your work, and two-way learning giving as much as you receive. At this interactive session, attendees will have the opportunity to share their experiences with networking and crowdsource additional advice for developing their networks.
Sarah Sogigian
Massachusetts Library System
Biography
Sarah Sogigian, based in Marlborough, MA, U.S., is the Executive Director at the Massachusetts Library System (MLS). Sarah leads MLS in the offering of critical and signature services for over 1500 libraries, working closely with library staff and local, national and international organizations. She brings experience from previous roles at public libraries and nonprofits to her work. Sarah holds an MLIS in Library and Information Science from the University of Rhode Island and has been honored by local and national library organizations for her collaborative and leadership work. Sarah recognizes that interpersonal relations and ongoing professional learning are crucial to professional success.
Denise Lyons
Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives
Biography
Denise Lyons serves as the State Librarian and Commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives in Frankfort, Kentucky. She brings extensive experience in library administration and management, strategic planning, family literacy, and advancing library leadership and resiliency during disasters. Over the past 30 years, she has worked in a wide range of libraries and nonprofit organizations and remains active in several library associations. Denise holds a MLIS from the University of South Carolina and a MS in Public Services Management from DePaul University. She has also taught as a lecturer in the Information Science program at UNC Greensboro.
Matt McLain
Salt Lake County Library
Biography
Matt McLain has worked in libraries for 29 years, including academic, public, and state libraries. His experiences connecting with colleagues at conferences and expanding his peer network have been re-energizing. He delights in sharing the experiences of others and incorporating the best ideas in his work
Michelle Willis
Scotch Plains Public Library
Biography
Michelle Willis currently serves as the Director of the Scotch Plains Public Library, where she oversees library operations, staff development, and strategic initiatives to meet the evolving needs of the community. Before stepping into the director role, she served as the library’s Youth Services Manager, establishing a strong reputation for innovative programming and collaborative partnerships. She holds an MLIS in Library and Information Science from Rutgers University. Michelle is active in the Public Library Association, the Association of Library Services to Children, and serves on the executive board of her local library consortium.
How do clicks become COUNTs
Another in the popular series of practical UKSG breakouts on COUNTER, in this session we’ll take a tour through a few publisher websites to look at how user activity gets tracked and turned into COUNTER metrics. We’ll cover searches, denials, and of course investigations and requests. On the way we’ll gather some insights into how browse is different from search and why books get special treatment.
Tasha Mellins-Cohen
COUNTER Metrics
Biography
Tasha Mellins-Cohen, Executive Director at COUNTER Metrics and Founder of Mellins-Cohen Consulting, joined the knowledge community in 2001. She has held roles within learned societies and commercial publishers across operations, technology, editorial and executive functions, while donating time to key initiatives and bodies such as UKSG, COUNTER, ALPSP and STM. In 2020 she started consulting in response to requests for help in developing and implementing OA business models in not-for-profit groups. In 2022 she stepped up from volunteering to run COUNTER, the standard for usage metrics, alongside her consulting work.