Spencer Lilley

Spencer Lilley is an Associate Professor in the School of Information Management at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, where he has been employed since April 2021. He holds genealogical affiliations to Māori (Te Atiawa, Muaūpoko and Ngāpuhi), Samoa and the United Kingdom, which deeply informs his academic work. Prior to his academic career, he worked for 23 years as a library professional in special and academic libraries.

His educational background includes a PhD from Massey University (completed 2011), a Diploma of Librarianship from Victoria University of Wellington, and both a Master of Arts (Hons) and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Auckland.

Lilley's research focuses on Māori and Indigenous engagement with libraries and cultural heritage institutions, with particular emphasis on decolonisation and Indigenisation of galleries, libraries, archives, museums and records (GLAMR) institutions. His internationally recognized work has earned him three Royal Society of New Zealand Marsden Awards. He has also held academic positions at Massey University and served as the Dodson Visiting Professor at the University of British Columbia.

His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on Māori data sovereignty, decolonizing library collections, implementing te reo Māori in information institutions, and developing culturally appropriate research methodologies. His work consistently bridges theoretical frameworks with practical applications in information institutions.

Notable awards and recognitions include:

• Three Royal Society of New Zealand Marsden Awards (two as Primary Investigator)
• LIANZA Fellowship (2010) for outstanding service to the library profession
• Founding member and honorary life member of Te Rōpū Whakahau (Māori in Libraries and Information Management)
• Former President of the Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa (LIANZA)

Lilley actively supervises doctoral students working on projects related to Indigenous information behavior and librarianship. His current research is supported by multiple grants, including the Marsden-funded project 'Empowering Indigenous Knowledge: Decolonisation and Indigenisation Of Gallery, Library, Archival, Museum And Records (GLAMR) Institutions.' He serves on various committees including the Victoria University of Wellington Human Ethics Committee and has been involved in major conferences such as the Association of Critical Heritage Studies 2026.

His professional journey reflects a commitment to transforming information institutions through Indigenous knowledge systems, with a particular focus on creating spaces where Māori knowledge can thrive within contemporary information environments.