RIMPA Global Board Election Results

2025 was the first year to introduce voting rights for individual members who have maintained membership for over 12 months in addition to our 173 professional members. This change was considered necessary in order to provide a more democratic and diverse voting pattern for these important roles. This change allowed 373 members to participate in the vote which equates to approximately 13% of the membership. Close to 50% of this number voted and the results were close.

Re- Elected for 2026- 2027

Bonita Kennedy CERIM ARIM (Life)

RIMPA Global's current Chair of the Board, has been a dedicated volunteer for more than 20 years. With over 25 years’ experience across both public and private sectors, she brings strong communication skills, fairness, empathy, and a practical, solutions-focused approach. Passionate about strengthening the association, Bonita is committed to continuing the progress made in member services, strategic initiatives, and financial stability, while exploring new opportunities for growth.

Meryl Bourke CSRIM MRIM (Life) 

Meryl is a current RIMPA Global Board Member with 39 years in the Records and Information Management profession. She leads the Records Management Program at Logan City Council, managing a team of 20 professionals, and is a Life Member of RIMPA Global. Recognised with multiple industry awards, including the 2023 J Eddis Linton Outstanding Individual Award. Meryl also holds CSRIM certification. Passionate about mentoring and advocacy, she continues to shape the future of the profession locally and globally, including through her involvement in the KARMA Mentorship Program.

Newly Elected for 2026- 2027

Stephen Clarke CSRIM MRIM

Stephen has more than two decades of leadership in the Records and Information Management industry. His career includes senior executive roles such as Chief Archivist of New Zealand, Chief Data Officer at the New Zealand Transport Agency, and Director of Information Management at Inland Revenue. A long-standing advocate for the profession, Stephen is deeply connected to the global standards community, serving as an ISO technical expert and chair, where he has helped shape internationally recognised standards that influence practice worldwide. Awarded the J. Eddis Linton Trophy in 2012, he also serves as a RIMPA Global Ambassador. Stephen is passionate about ensuring that RIMPA Global and its members are active voices in global conversations, advancing both professional value and the future of information management through strong governance and international collaboration.

Chris Colwell FRIM (Life)

Chris has worked in the information management profession in the UK and Australia for more than 35 years, with much of his career spent in senior public sector roles. Alongside his professional leadership, Chris is also an educator and academic, bringing rare industry experience into the classroom. His doctoral research explored the impact of organisational and professional culture on recordkeeping, providing valuable insights into human information behaviour. Chris has shaped curriculum and shared knowledge with both practitioners and students, helping to align education with the evolving needs of the profession. A Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia and a qualified Chartered Secretary, he combines strong governance expertise with a passion for advancing education and the development of the next generation of information professionals.

Welcome

We are delighted to welcome the four elected Directors to the RIMPA Global Board and look forward to their contributions over the next two years. The upcoming Board meeting on 27 October 2025, held just prior to RIMPA Live, will see the appointment of executive roles, portfolio leads, and GIC Liaison positions.

With the Board now strengthened to the constitutional requirement of seven elected members, we are better positioned to deliver on the eight strategic pillars that guide our work:

• Governance and Risk

• Industry Education

• Member Engagement

• Advocacy and Collaboration

• Innovation and Sustainability

• Social and Environmental Programs

• Standards

• Business Development

If you have the chance, we encourage you to connect with one or more of the RIMPA Global Board members and introduce yourself.