Meet our IFLA WLIC 2025 Emerging Leaders

Once again, IFLA has been happy to be able to offer support for a range of emerging leaders to participate in our World Library and Information Congress. 

These individuals will not only have the chance to engage and share their perspectives at the world’s most international library event, but will also bring home insights and lessons to their own work. Their participation is made possible through the generosity of the Gates Foundation, via Stichting IFLA Global Libraries.

In particular, they will be taking the lead in developing follow-up materials to IFLA’s Trend Report for 2025, keeping an eye out for ‘weak signals’ – potential future trends that could shape our field.

In this article, we encourage you to get to know them! Each was asked to share three key points about themselves, and an idea of what they wanted to get our of their participation.

Naira Atshemyan, Armenia

I bring over 12 years of experience in children’s librarianship, currently serving as Head of Development and International Cooperation at the Khnko Aper National Children’s Library in Armenia.   I am actively involved in national and international networks, including as a Board Member of the Armenian Library Association and Executive Director of IBBY Armenia, through which I coordinate cross-cultural literacy initiatives. I’m committed to lifelong learning and knowledge sharing, regularly participating in global events such as the IBBY Congress, Bologna and Sharjah Book Fairs, and contributing professional articles to Armenian library journals.

What do you want to gain from your participation in WLIC?
“I’m excited to take part in WLIC 2025 because it’s a unique opportunity to exchange ideas, amplify Armenia’s voice in the global library community, and grow as a leader in youth-focused librarianship”.

Makpal Aussadykova, Kazakhstan

I work as a librarian and actively participate in various events.  I strive to develop my leadership skills and contribute to the future of the library field.  I manage the library’s social media, create content, and thanks to this, the number of views has significantly increased over the past year.

What do you want to gain from your participation in WLIC?
“I am excited to take part in WLIC 2025 to expand my knowledge, exchange experiences with colleagues, and get inspired by new ideas for developing the library field.”

Denis Chakov, Uzbekistan

I am a YouTube blogger, a nature lover, and a snowboarding addict!

What do you want to gain from your participation in WLIC?
“I would like to share my experience and bring new practices in our library”

Sarah Gardiner, Australia

I am a champion of early childhood! Prior to coming to Libraries, I had 10 years’ experience as an educational leader and Kindergarten teacher, with a passion for Reggio Emilia inspired practice. In 2023, I presented at the 2023 Australasian Reggio Emillia Information Exchange conference on how children’s interactions with landscapes can inspire learning, storytelling, and deeper relationships with the environment.

In my current role, I lead the Early Years programs at Brimbank Libraries in Melbourne (Australia), focusing on emergent literacy through arts and play based learning, culturally responsive programming, and building community connections through libraries.

I’m passionate about developing creative, and impactful early years library programs that draw on best practice pedagogy from Early Years spaces. I draw from how literacy develops from birth to focus on helping families engage meaningfully with their children to build strong early language foundations.

Outside of work, I’m a musician who plays piano, accordion, and ukulele, and I love weaving music into my children’s programs and storytelling. I’m also a keen board gamer, and puppetry enthusiast and enjoy writing children’s stories.

What do you want to gain from your participation in WLIC?
“I’m thrilled to attend WLIC 2025 as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel to Kazakhstan, network with like-minded global leaders exploring the changing ecosystem of libraries, and gain insights that will inspire and innovate my own practice”.

Madina Kerimova, Kyrgyz Republic

My name is Madina Kerimova, and I am excited to be joining the IFLA Emerging Leaders program at WLIC 2025 in Astana. I work as a Reference and Instruction Specialist at the American University of Central Asia (AUCA) Library in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. I am a huge believer in teamwork.

I spend my days helping students and faculty at AUCA, and recently we had a blast helping organize the ALTI 2025 Conference. That event brought together over 100 library and teaching professionals from 20 countries in Kyrgyzstan and proving that awesome things happen when we work together.

Connecting libraries across borders is something I’m really passionate about. Our team at AUCA is always looking for ways to link up with other libraries globally. We’ve shared our work on Open Access and even showcased rare materials from Kyrgyzstan at international conferences. I’ve also had amazing opportunity to visit libraries in Turkey and Austria to swap ideas on digital resources and scholarly communication. Finally I am genuinely excited to bring new ideas and connections back home.

What do you want to gain from your participation in WLIC?
“I am excited to attend WLIC 2025 as it offers a fantastic opportunity to learn new skills, gain a global perspective, and collaborate with peers to strengthen libraries across Central Asia.”

Adama Kone, Côte d’Ivoire

I am Head of the Documentation and Archives Center at the National Assembly of Côte d’Ivoire. From 2017 to 2022, I served as President of the Association for the Promotion of Information and Documentation Sciences in Côte d’Ivoire (APSID-CI), the country’s leading professional organization for libraries and archives. I am an active member of the Standing Committee of IFLA’s Management of Library Associations Section (MLAS), and am involved in various African and international initiatives focused on capacity building, digital transformation, and the promotion of parliamentary documentary heritage.

What do you want to gain from your participation in WLIC?
“I am excited to rake part in WLIC 2025, because it is a unique opportunity to connect with global leaders and share ideas.”

Tolgonai Kozhokanova, Kyrgyz Republic

I am a lifelong learner, responsible and love collaboration with colleagues around the world.

What do you want to gain from your participation in WLIC?
“I am excited to take part in WLIC 2025 to connect with library professionals from around the world, learn from their experiences, represent my country, and take the first step toward future collaborations—while learning, sharing, and building friendships under the IFLA umbrella.“

Alper Menemenlioğlu, Türkiye

I am an academic librarian at Kadir Has University in Istanbul, specializing in e-resources management and research support. I lead initiatives on AI literacy and the integration of emerging technologies into academic libraries, including the GenAI-HUB project. I am passionate about fostering international collaboration among libraries and empowering communities through access to knowledge.

What do you want to gain from your participation in WLIC?
“I am excited to take part in WLIC 2025 to exchange ideas with global colleagues, share our experiences on AI adoption in libraries, and contribute to shaping the future of our profession.”

Dany Miller-Kareko, New Zealand

Tēnā koutou katoa and warm pacific greetings! Ko Dany Miller-Kareko tōku ingoa, ko Ngāpuhi tōku iwi. I am Dany, a Māori woman from Aotearoa, New Zealand. My cultural values of whanaungatanga (connectedness), kaitiakitanga (stewardship) and manaakitanga (respect and kindness) shape my worldview and my work.   I lead a suite of community wellbeing services in one of the most diverse parts of Auckland, New Zealand. I am passionate about the role of libraries in supporting social equity, radical inclusion, and participative democracy.   I strive to lead with authenticity and humility. I view reciprocity as essential to achieving meaningful connection and collective progress.   He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata. What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people.

What do you want to gain from your participation in WLIC?
“To learn from my colleagues, contribute to the profession and bring new skills home to my community”

Imogen Negomi, United Kingdom

My biggest passion is easy access to information which is why public libraries are my chosen career path and why I continue to advocate for their improvement so all aspects of a community can benefit from them. In 2023 I was one of the CILIP125 Recipients, which celebrates future leaders in the profession and has spurred me on to work towards my Chartership. She also has a keen interest in Green Libraries & how public libraries can be sustainable and have run training sessions for colleagues on this topic.

What do you want to gain from your participation in WLIC?
“The chance to exchange knowledge on a global scale will give me invaluable insight to help improve my own public library service (& hopefully influences others)”

Damilare Oyedele, Nigeria and Rwanda

I am Co-Founder and Chief Executive Library Aid Africa, a Librarypreneur with a decade of experience in the library ecosystem in Africa and the global library field. My work focuses on digital technology and community engagement approaches to transforming libraries into key drivers of sustainable development through connectivity, capacity building, innovative design, data-driven advocacy, policy, and research.

Library Aid Africa, is a not-for-profit organization that harnesses digital technology and community engagement approaches to transform libraries into vibrant spaces. Through a programmatic approach on Technology Innovation for Libraries, Innovation Co-Creation and Community Engagement, and Library Advocacy, Policy, and Research, I work with my team support the strategic improvement of libraries across African countries, working collaboratively with in-country library partners, library institutions, library associations, library NGO and non-profit organizations.

Over the years, he has been actively engaged in implementing various programs to improve library usage, strengthen advocacy for libraries, improve the capacity of young library professionals, and build multi-stakeholder partnerships and collaborations. This has identified a strategic need for a more dynamic approach to promoting libraries and the contribution they could make to society.

What do you want to gain from your participation in WLIC?
“I am excited to take part in WLIC 2025, to connect, engage and co-create pathways that unite knowledge and build the future of librarianship”

Elena Pintilei, Republic of Moldova

I love my country, my profession and my children!

What do you want to gain from your participation in WLIC? “To meet new people, experiences and innovative models!”

Madiareni Sulaiman, Indonesia and United Kingdom

I am a research data librarian, open science advocate, and lifelong learner.

What do you want to gain from your participation in WLIC? “I’m excited to participate in WLIC 2025 because it’s a powerful opportunity to grow from an emerging voice to an emerging leader, connecting with global changemakers and amplifying ideas that shape the future of libraries and knowledge sharing”.

Merve Yavuzdemir, Türkiye

I’m passionate about redefining libraries as spaces of social innovation and early childhood empowerment. With a background in urban planning and public policy, I see libraries not just as places of books, but as public platforms for inclusion, imagination, and learning. Through the Kütüp-Anne Platform I founded, I’ve worked to introduce preschoolers—especially from underserved communities—to public libraries, helping spark a national shift in early literacy services in Türkiye.

I represent an institution that bridges libraries, national publishing, and cultural heritage. As Head of Foreign Relations at Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism- Directorate-General for Libraries and Publications, I work at the intersection of public libraries, the National Library, and the publishing sector. This gives me a unique position to connect policy, practice, and international collaboration. I actively build networks, lead international projects, and advocate for stronger global ties between library professionals.

I am an advocate for innovation in librarianship—and I have turned ideas into impactful, award-winning projects. I believe that libraries can be engines of social change when combined with creative thinking and community-driven design. I’ve developed and led initiatives that tackle issues like misinformation, rural access, and early literacy through unique library models. These projects have been nationally and internationally recognized for their innovative approach to public service and continue to inspire new ways of thinking about what libraries can do.

What do you want to gain from your participation in WLIC?
“I am excited to take part in WLIC 2025 to connect with library professionals from around the world, learn from their experiences, represent my country, and take the first step toward future collaborations—while learning, sharing, and building friendships under the IFLA umbrella.”