Kim Williams AM to be guest speaker at the inaugural Redmond Barry Society Dinner

State Library Victoria has today announced Kim Williams AM, Chair of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, will be guest speaker at the inaugural Redmond Barry Society Dinner, to be held on 19 June.

The dinner will celebrate the legacy of Library founder Sir Redmond Barry, who established one of the world's first free public libraries 170 years ago - envisioned as 'the people's university'.

Sir Redmond Barry was a key figure in the development of Australia's cultural and intellectual life. He served as President and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Melbourne Public Library (now State Library Victoria) from 1856 until his death in 1880.

Since the Library's establishment, many generous donors have made bequests, helping to preserve the treasures of the State Collection. The inaugural Redmond Barry Society Dinner honours benefactors who, through a bequest or living legacy, support the Library's collections, conservation work, free programming and free exhibitions – for now and for future generations.

Mr Williams is a leading figure in Australia's creative industries, serving as the former CEO of NewsCorp Australia and Foxtel, the Australian Film Commission and Southern Star Entertainment. He is currently co-chair of the State Library of NSW Foundation Board.

In his speech, Mr Williams will address the role of public institutions in defending the good society:

"In a world increasingly challenged by populism, reason is needed as never before. And in Australia, the most powerful upholders of reason are our great public and private institutions: our libraries, museums, galleries, universities, schools, and media organisations, including the ABC. In this speech, I want to highlight their crucial importance to democracy and encourage Australians to value them, support them, contribute to them, and fund them."

President of the Libraries Board of Victoria, Christine Christian AO said:

"The Board of State Library Victoria is thrilled to have Kim Williams speak at our inaugural Redmond Barry Society Dinner. Kim has been involved in the arts and media, two of the major foundations of democracy, his whole career.

"His ongoing and active support of the State Library of NSW and agreeing to speak at our special.

Redmond Barry Dinner demonstrates his love of and commitment to the role of public libraries in the community.

"Libraries have been enriching our lives and enabling progress since 2600 BCE. And State Library 170 years young, is the oldest public Library in Australia.

"We are proud to celebrate 170 years of Australia's oldest free public library, now the third busiest in the world. We will continue to strive to inspire all those who visit and offer a vibrant and welcoming community space.

"We look forward to hearing Kim's views on how we ensure our essential community service remains fit for purpose for generations to come."

State Library Victoria CEO Paul Duldig said:

"For 170 years, State Library Victoria has been committed to the principles of universal education, social justice and participative democracy. The inaugural Redmond Barry Society Dinner honours donors who have pledged to leave a bequest to the Library. These important bequests have significantly transformed the Library and the State Collection for all Victorians."

Recent significant bequests to the Library

• A pocket watch stolen by the Kelly Gang from bank accountant Edwin Living, during the gang's hold up of Jerilderie in 1879. The gang returned the watch to Living when he agreed to deliver Kelly's Jerilderie letter to a newspaper publisher. The pocket watch was donated to the Library in 2023, through the will of descendants of Edwin Living, an important collection item in the Library's extensive bushranger collection.
• An extremely rare and significant first edition of Robert Herrick's Hesperides (1648), donated by former SLV Rare Books expert Derrick Moors. Hesperides is a collection of Herrick's poetry, which includes the famous poem "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time". Derrick Moors was well known internationally for his wealth of knowledge in rare book cataloguing and worked for the Library for over 40 years. His collection of rare books was donated to the Library after he passed away in 2022.
• The John Emmerson collection is one of the world's largest collections of rare British printed works from the 15th to the 18th centuries. The collection was amassed over 40 years by the late John McLaren Emmerson QC (1938-2014), a bibliophile and brilliant scholar who had careers as both an Oxford physicist and a Melbourne barrister. His family generously donated the collection to the State Library in 2015.

About Kim Williams AM

Kim Williams AM has had a long involvement in the arts, entertainment and media industries. He has held various executive leadership positions, including Chief Executive of News Corp Australia, FOXTEL, Fox Studios Australia, the Australian Film Commission and Southern Star Entertainment, and as a senior executive at the ABC.

Mr Williams has also held numerous Board positions over more than three decades, including Chair of the Australian Film Finance Corporation, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Musica Viva Australia, the Sydney Opera House Trust, the Thomson Reuters Founders Share Company, Commissioner of the Australian Football League and co-Chair of the State Library of NSW Foundation.

He was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia in June 2006 for his services to the arts and public policy formulation in the film and television industries. In January 2024, the Honourable Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister of Australia, appointed him as the twentieth Chair of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, with effect from 7 March for a five-year term.