ASIS&T is the pre-eminent professional association for thousands of researchers, developers, practitioners, students, and professors in the field of information science and technology from 50 countries around the world. For more than 80 years, ASIS&T has been leading the search for new and better theories, techniques, and technologies to improve access to information.
The James M. Cretsos Award for Leadership aims to recognize a new ASIS&T member who has demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities in professional ASIS&T activities.
Speaking about the announcement, Namali said “It is truly an honour to be receiving this award. I joined ASIS&T in 2021 and since then, I’ve been inspired by the association’s culture of inclusion, generosity, and global collaboration. This recognition is both humbling and inspiring, as it reflects not just my efforts but the collective energy, support, and encouragement I’ve received from the ASIS&T community.
“This award also reflects people and places that have shaped me—especially the culture at Te Herenga Waka, where connection, collaboration, and community are truly fostered. I’m deeply grateful to the team at CAD and the wider University community for consistently encouraging my growth and inspiring me to undertake meaningful challenges.”
Namali is also a Principal Fellow of Advance HE (UK). Previously, she served for over 16 years in Sri Lanka as a Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of Library and Information Science at the University of Kelaniya. She also led key university initiatives as Director of the Inter-Faculty Centre for Coordinating the Modular Systems (ICCMS) and the National E-Learning Resource Centre (NELRC).
Since joining ASIS&T, Namali has been an active and impactful contributor, initially through the South Asia Chapter and later through Special Interest Groups such as SIG-USE and SIG-III. She has authored over 50 academic publications and presented widely across South Asia and Oceania. She continues to contribute to the global academic and professional community through leadership, research, and mentoring, and by serving as a reviewer, editorial board member for peer-reviewed journals, co-chair, and committee member for numerous international conferences.
“Namali has had a long and fruitful relationship with the University, and with CAD. She joined CAD as an academic developer on completing her PhD at Wellington School of Business and Government, after which she left to take up a leadership role in her home country Sri Lanka. We’ve been very fortunate to have her come back to rejoin the CAD team and share the same energy and experience, in her CAD academic development, that this award recognizes.”
Namali will receive the James M. Cretsos Award for Leadership during ASIS&T’s annual meeting, to be held in November in Virginia, USA.