#IAW2025 Webinar – Digital Memory of the Nation: Security, Access, and Technology

In an increasingly digital world, the reliance on electronic records has become central to the operations of modern institutions. Ensuring the long-term accessibility and integrity of these records requires a strategic and sustainable approach. This paper explores the essential steps for effectively managing and preserving digital records, highlighting best practices for their implementation and continued access over time. Moreover, it examines the critical measures necessary to safeguard archival systems against evolving cyber threats, emphasising the importance of resilience, risk management, and cybersecurity frameworks in digital preservation strategies.

Dr Hamad Al Mutairi is the Director of the Archives Department at the National Archives of the United Arab Emirates, a position he has held since joining the organization in 2009. An IT professional and technology enthusiast, he brings extensive practical experience in strategic planning, risk management, and the integration of advanced digital solutions into archival practices.

In his role, Dr. Al Mutairi oversees the operations of five key sections: Government Archives, Historical Archives, Presidential Archives, Electronic Archives, and Preservation & Restoration. His work is primarily focused on advancing archiving technologies and solutions, while also leading strategic projects aimed at enhancing archival processes and accessibility.

As Library and Archives Canada (LAC) advances toward its Vision 2030—to be a trusted, connected, and digitally enabled memory institution—it is reimagining how Canadians access and engage with the nation’s documentary heritage. Librarian and Archivist of Canada Leslie Weir will explore how LAC’s digital transformation is grounded in this long-term vision, with a focus on inclusive access, technological innovation, and community collaboration.

Through initiatives such as the “Listen, Hear Our Voices” initiative, which supported Indigenous communities in digitizing and preserving language and cultural materials, and LAC’s collaboration with Internet Archive Canada to digitize up to 100,000 out-of-copyright publications, LAC is making its collections more accessible, discoverable, and representative of Canada’s diverse communities. These efforts reflect the principles of Vision 2030: openness, inclusivity, and digital leadership.

Leslie Weir is the Librarian and Archivist of Canada, leading Library and Archives Canada since August 2019. Leslie is overseeing LAC’s work on Reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation and the implementation of Vision 2030 with a focus on transformation of service and IT infrastructure, as LAC looks forward to the upcoming move of its public services into Ādisōke in 2026, in partnership with the Ottawa Public Library, all in support of achieving LAC’s mandate with a focus on people and access.

As University Librarian at the University of Ottawa, Leslie played important roles in many transformative moments at the Canadian Research Knowledge Network and in research libraries and archives in Canada. Leslie served as President of Canadiana.org, the Canadian Association of Research Libraries and the Ontario Library Association. She is currently a member of the FAN (Forum of National Archivists) Steering Committee, Vice-Chair of CDNL (Conference of Directors of National Libraries) and President-Elect of IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations), taking on the role of IFLA President in August 2025.

The Norwegian Health Archives (NHA) is undertaking one of the most ambitious mass digitization initiatives in the public sector in Norway, transforming millions of paper-based patient records into secure, accessible digital assets. This presentation will explore how NHA balances the demands of digital preservation, data protection, and long-term accessibility. It will highlight the technological infrastructure behind the digital preservation, the benefits of being a national health register, and the strategies used to ensure an effective digitization of patient records. A new large-scale digitization of archives is now being established in addition to NHA, further strengthening the national capacity for digital preservation and access.

Bjørn Børresen is Director of the Norwegian Health Archives (Norsk helsearkiv), where he leads the development and operation of a national health registry dedicated to preserving historical patient records. His work focuses on enabling new knowledge and improving public health through secure, ethical, and long-term access to health data.