After nearly 25 years at the National Library of Australia, including the past nine years as director-general,  Marie-Louise Ayres has announced that she will retire in April 2026.

Dr Ayres has held several senior roles at the Library, building collections, digital access and national services across multiple roles, during which she has been known a tireless advocate for the development and expansion of the library’s online archive, Trove.

Her contribution to the NLA will be formally recognised closer to her retirement, but in the meantime she will now support the recruitment of a new director-general.