Linda Royles, CEO of the
British Association of Picture Libraries and Agencies, is stepping down after a decade-long tenure. Also moving on is membership manager Christina Berry. BAPLA views the departures as an opportunity to review the organization's strategic direction.
Royles has guided the British industry body through an industry-wide change from analog to digital workflow. In addition to a substantial contribution to developing standards and guidelines, she has served as director on the Digital Content Forum and the British Copyright Council, Picture Industry Council, British Photographers Liaison Committee, Creators Rights Alliance and numerous intellectual-property strategy groups.
Under her direction, BAPLA launched the world's largest industry event, the Picture Buyers' Fair, which took place this year for the third time. In 2006, BAPLA presented Royles with an award for her contributions to the industry.
Berry joined BAPLA after graduating college and was quickly promoted to association administrator. She subsequently rose to become membership manager, handling public relations, communications, production of the BAPLA Directory and day-to-day management of PBF. While Royles' plans for the future have not been disclosed, Berry is moving to The Travel Library as its new picture researcher.
"The industry is in the midst of a time of change, and BAPLA needs to develop to meet the challenges facing our industry. Linda and Christina's departure, though sad, is just the catalyst we need to make those changes happen," said BAPLA chairman Paul Brown of the Mary Evans Picture Library. BAPLA has engaged the services of Simon Cave of Spencer Cave Consulting to conduct a strategic review of the organization and recommend its future direction.
While the review is ongoing, industry veteran Angela Anderson will be managing BAPLA activities as its interim operations manager. Anderson's 22 years of industry experience include working at Dorling Kindersley, Barnaby's Picture Library, Art Archive and Science Photo Library.