QLD MEMBER MIXER FIRST OF MANY FOR PVCA

The Print and Visual Communication Association (PVCA) held its first Member Mixer, in Brisbane this week, which was the first of many member networking and industry community events to come across the country.

PVCA board officers and members came together to share insights into the future focus and projects the association will commit to across the next twelve months. With the merger of The Real Media Collective and the PVCA all but finalised, there is also a new name pending, and the Member Mixers represent a new phase for the industry’s biggest association, as it engages directly with members.

Rodney Frost, treasurer, and Kellie Northwood, CEO, of the PVCA, outlined to members and industry attendees the key pillars the association will prioritise following six months of member engagement, surveying and industry assessment.

Skills and training, environmental social governance and small business success programmes are the key areas of focus, with more members engaging and knowledge sharing to secure business strength.

Youth mentoring, school leaver and apprentice support programmes are being developed, supported by a reinvigorated sustainable green print with carbon mapping, well-being programmes and governance programmes.

To support small businesses, co-operative buying to deliver members operational savings across insurance, certification auditing, and energy are being implemented for members to use association membership to gain access to better buying opportunities.

“The merger process is all but complete and brings together a financially strong association for our industry,” commented Frost, CEO, The Lamson Group. “This financial security, along with good leadership across the team, and members committed to outcomes, will be the critical ingredients to building programmes that deliver results for member businesses.”

The Member Mixer event concluded two days of PVCA board officers joining together to develop a clear strategic purpose with aligned programs and activities for members. Matt Aitken, CEO, IVE Group and PVCA president said, “The PVCA board has come together and invested time to ensure beyond the merger we are implementing programmes for the industry that have tangible benefit to their business success.

“The strategic sessions were a success in developing a pathway for the future, which is important and I thank all the Board Officers for their support this week.”

The sessions were supported by Konica Minolta, which hosted six sessions across key industry needs, and a lunch, and learn to explore skilled labour and emerging talent support to facilitate retention across the industry.

Northwood said, “I would like to thank Konica Minolta for their support this week, the team is committed to education and skills across our industry, with its long-term investment in Holmesglen TAFE in Victoria and Sydney Institute in New South Wales.

“We want to extend this further than the classroom and build a stronger network for our emerging talent across the industry. Skilled labour remains a key concern across industry with 76 per cent of members communicating they have job vacancies, PVCA must, and will, assist members across this and are preparing to launch programmes of support.

“Working this week with members, board officers and stakeholders across the key pillars we need to focus on is a wonderful opportunity for the association to keep the momentum to deliver following the finalisation of the merger.

"I thank every member for their feedback leading up to this week, the board officers for their time and consideration, the Brisbane member cohort for coming together, and Konica Minolta for its support,” concluded Northwood.