Welcome to Our Wise Leaders (OWLS)
A distinguished group of records and information practitioners who have played an integral role in shaping the history and progress of RIMPA Global since its establishment in 1969. Comprised of visionary pioneers, the OWLS have come together to form a dedicated committee aimed at assisting the RIMPA Board and Ambassadors in charting a course for the organisation and its members in the years to come.
With their profound insights into the evolution and transformation of the industry over the past 50+ years, these esteemed OWLS bring invaluable knowledge and experience to the table.
Selected by the Board based on their remarkable contributions to both the industry and RIMPA Global, the OWLS are coordinated by the Standards and Innovation Portfolio Lead, ensuring a harmonised and forward-thinking approach.
Through their collective wisdom, this select group holds the keys to our past, enabling us to unlock the doors to a bright and prosperous future.
To view the OWLS Terms of Reference, please click here
Chris Hurley MRIM
Chris has worked in government and private sectors. He was in charge of PRO Victoria (1981-1990) and occupied senior positions with the national archives of New Zealand (1996-2002), much of the time as the Acting Chief Archivist. From 2003-2010, he was Archives Manager at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Chris has specialised in archival description, legislation, and accountability. He was a Research Associate in the Records Continuum Research Group at Monash University, a member of the Advisory Board for the InterPARES 2 Project, and an Affiliate with the Center for Information as Evidence at the University of Southern California.
Chris Simpson MRIM (Life)
Chris has over 50 years of experience in records and information management both as a practitioner and as a leader. He was an active member of RIMPA until his retirement and has maintained a strong interest in our profession and the activities of RIMPA Global.
Chris has a passion for helping RIM practitioners overcome the tyranny of distance. He is a keen advocate of linking the bush to the city, to help both sides of the Great Divide realise that they share the same issues in managing information.
Debbie Prout MRIM (Life)
Debbie is a retired Records / Information Manager with over 35 years’ experience. She worked primarily in the Local Government Sector and specialised in EDRMS implementations, training, change management, policy, and strategy. She also has extensive experience in archives and privacy. She worked with seven different council’s before operating her own consultancy for 12 years before retiring in 2023. Debbie also spent over 20 years volunteering for RIMPA, held positions as a Branch President, Local Government Chapter President, and nine years as a Board Member with four of them as the Chair of the Board.
Gunta Bajars CSRIM MRIM
Gunta has been a RIMPA Global member since 1976, when Queensland Branch was formed. She completed the first Records Management Course run at TAFE in Queensland, along with Jim Shepherd. She has been involved with all facets of R/IM, starting with manual systems of the day to implementing and working with EDRMS systems currently in use. She has worked with Legacy systems resulting from organisational restructures, and past sins. Advice was given to Management on R/IM. Policy and Procedures written. Gunta has worked in both the private and public sectors including MIM Holdings, Peppercorn Childcare, Fileforce and various State Government Departments.
Helen Onopko ARIM (Life)
Helen Onopko practised in recordkeeping since 1980 and consulted from 1988 to retirement in 2021, primarily in Australia, but also in Asia and the Pacific. Her undergrad degree (Psychology, Politics), was followed by a Masters Degree (Archives & Records) and she participated in many interstate study programs. Helen was a member of a Technical Writing Committee for AS 4390 - Australian Standard - Records Management.
In private enterprise she worked extensively in the resources industry across Australia and Papua New Guinea. She designed courses in records management, and lectured at the UniSA and at the University of Papua New Guinea. Helen addressed international conferences in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Port Dickson in Malaysia, Fiji and Adelaide.
She held several positions in RIMPA including State President and Federal Director and was a member of the Australian Society of Archivists. Helen is proud to remain connected to RIMPA in retirement.
John Sim MRIM (Life)
John had over 40 years experience in the records and information management industry. He has worked in multiple business sectors including education, petroleum, research, finance, insurance, not for profit and all 3 tiers of government. His experience includes strategy development, project management, digital transition and the design, development, implementation and post-implementation reviews of Information, Records and Enterprise Content Management solutions. John worked as an information management consultant for 17years and manage a team of consultants across multiple Australian states. He also fulfilled a part time role as a records and information management lecturer at Swinburne University of Technology and a guest lecturer at RMIT.
Peter Smith FRIM (Life)
After 38 years managing Records and Information in local government, Peter became a teacher and course developer at TAFE NSW. He was promoted to Information Industry Services Specialist in Computing and Industry Training Division, developing and implementing Commercial Programmes.
Peter's achievements include; Member of original Standards Development committee. Developed and formalised national Records and Information modules for all states. Keynote Speaker at national and international conferences. Provided training in developing countries. Member of the NSW Library Association Branch Council for course modules. Past President of RIMPA, Life member and Fellow, Past President International Records Management Council. Peter was also a signatory for the original Constitution for the Records Management Association.
Peter was awarded the Emmett Leahy International Award and the Eddis Linton Outstanding Individual award.
Phil Taylor MRIM (Life)
Philip Taylor commenced his career in the records management industry in 1970 and joined the former RMAA in 1974. Graduating from RMIT and Monash University he worked in various Victorian Government agencies. In 1992 he relocated to Queensland and joined the Queensland Branch Councillor in 1993 and in 2001 became Branch President, a position held until 2007. Philip is currently a member of the Editorial Committee of iQ. With a career in records management spanning both state government and higher education. Now retired, he still maintains an interest in records management especially in the area of public policy interaction with records management. He was awarded Life Membership of the RIMPA in 2006.
Roger Buhlert Honorary
For 50 years Roger has provided customer centric records, information management and governance services, within State and Local Government entities in Victoria, in operational and midlevel management. These services have provided strong value for business operational, management and financial management needs within professional industry standards in legislative and regulatory environments.
He has achieved this by:
• Being a strong team participant and advocate for change within the records and information management /digital world.
• Having strong communication , collaboration, training and team building skills that have produced lasting business relationships within Government, internally and the private sector.
• In conductiing business information and process analysis that has lifted efficiencies in business operations, customer service response times/satisfaction levels and the streamlining of business administrative practice.
• Management of in house operated Records Storage facilities containing secondary value, archival and vital records in accordance with industry practice in line with Public Record Office Victoria standards and transfer requirements
On the 6th February 2019 in recognition of Roger,s contribution and commitment to the profession, he was awarded an Honorary Membership to RIMPA with all associated privileges.
Stephanie Ciempka-Kaufhold MRIM (Life)
Stephanie has been involved in the RIMPA profession since 1971. In 1979 she joined the ACT Branch Council, RIMPA.
Stephanie worked in 15 Federal government agencies from 1971 through to 2019 during her Public Service and Private enterprise career. She held mostly managerial roles during these years focusing on records and information management.
Stephanie held many positions on Branch Council, from Marketing and Seminars coordinator, President/Vice president, Secretary, Treasurer. She has been awarded many Awards during her career in particular the Prestigious Eddis Linton Award for her work in the Department of Education. Stephanie received her Life Membership in RIMPA, Melbourne Convention 2019.
Stephanie has been a passionate advocate for RIMPA and the profession and remains passionate in her retirement.
Thomas Kaufhold MRIM (Life)
A highly respected figure in records and information management, Thomas served as Chair of the Records and Information Practitioners Alliance Global (RIMPA Global) for six years and Federal Treasurer on the RIMPA Board for a total of nine years. A foundation member of the ACT Branch since its inception in 1975, Thomas is a Chartered Member (Life) and has been honored with induction into the Associations Forum’s Hall of Fame in 2020 and the RIMPA Global Hall of Fame in 2023.
Currently, Thomas is an Executive Member of the Global Information Consortium (GIC) and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Administration (Law Major).
Thomas had a long career as a public servant in various Commonwealth government agencies, with a primary focus on information and records management at a senior level. This work involved providing information services, developing frameworks, policies, procedures, and retention schedules, implementing EDRMS systems, and offering advice to senior management. Other areas of expertise included human resources policy, property management, security, and corporate services.
In addition to public service, Thomas worked as a consultant and contractor for government agencies, including the ACT Government, and for private sector organisations for more than five years.
Now semi-retired, Thomas remains dedicated to supporting the profession and sharing their wealth of knowledge and experience.
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Veronica Pumpa MRIM (Life)
Veronica has provided strong leadership through middle management in all Government sectors spanning more than 25 years including the development and implementation of recordkeeping systems, strategic policies, procedures, guidelines and training. In 1996 Veronica was awarded Chartered Member of RIMPA, and in 2012 Life Membership. Veronica has been an advocate and leader for best practice records management in agencies such as Parliament House, Medicare, Department of Education, Australian Communication and Media Authority, Department of Health, CSIRO and CASA.
Veronica was a representative for RIMPA on the inaugural ACT Records Advisory Council 2002 – 2010 and held various positions with RIMPA as ACT President and National Board representative.
Veronica now resides on the Gold Coast and had provided support as a Business Analysis for Queensland State Archives to support the records appraisal program and implementation of disposal authorities in 2014.