Retirement of Philip Kent, University Librarian at the University of Sydney

August 11th, 2025

Congratulations to CSIRO alum Philip Kent, who retired last month from his position of University Librarian at the University of Sydney, following a 40 year career in the library and information sector.

Philip held various library, IT, and archives roles at CSIRO between 1986 and 2004, culminating in the position of Executive Manager, Knowledge and Information Management. He held this position during a period of rapid growth and change as information services began transitioning from print to digital, requiring complex negotiation, planning and international coordination. This was followed by two years as the Principal Advisor/Project Director Risk Assessment and Audit.

He then moved into University libraries, first at Victoria University, then the University of Melbourne, where he led large scale building infrastructure projects and acquired the Germaine Greer Archive. He then left Australia for a three year stint at the University of Bristol, where he again led estate planning projects for the library, and led a philanthropy campaign to acquire the judge’s copy of Lady Chatterley’s Lover used in the landmark 1960 obscenity trial. In 2020, he arrived in Sydney on the last Qantas flight out of London, as the global covid-19 pandemic began, to take up the post of University Librarian at the University of Sydney – making him the first person to have held the title at both Sydney and Melbourne. At Sydney, Philip led a major organisation change program, as well as a new 10 year strategic plan. He also oversaw a number of diversity and inclusion initiatives, including the development of the Library’s sector leading Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Protocols, and brought renewed focus to the growth and promotion of Rare Books and Special Collections.

Philip was sent off in style at a formal farewell event at historic MacLaurin Hall, with several members of the University Executive taking the stage and paying tribute to Philip’s transformative contributions across teaching, research, philanthropy and diversity and inclusion. He was also presented with a ‘memory book’, which colleagues from across his career had contributed their recollections and stories to.

Group of people smartly dressed at event

Philip Kent (third from right) with members of the University Executive (photo by Sarah Lorien)