VISUAL CONNECTIONS FINALISES NEW BOARD

Visual Connections has finalised its new board for 2024, with the new-look leadership group gathering this week to formulate the supplier association’s strategy for the next five years.

Board members attended the strategy session, which was convened to set the direction for the supplier association into the medium-term future, guided by its mandate to support a sustainable future for the sector.

Mitch Mulligan, managing director of Böttcher Australia, will lead the board as president, supported by Andrea Trumble, marketing manager of Pozitive Sign & Graphic Supplies who will assume the vice-presidency, and immediate past resident, John Wall, managing director of Roland DG, who takes over as treasurer.

The trio will lead a team which represents a broad spectrum of the print, sign and wider graphic communications sector.

This includes long-term board members Russell Cavenagh, managing director of Mutoh Australia, and Ian Martin, general manager – Trade, for Ferag. Luke Wooldridge rejoins the leadership group following his appointment as national product manager for HVG Graphics Media, as does Mark Canavan, marketing & vendor relations manager at Graphic Art Mart, and Alex McClelland, managing director at Orafol Australia.

“We are fortunate to attract such high calibre people to our board, and this group is certainly no exception,” said Mulligan today, paying tribute to the steady hand and guidance of his predecessor, John Wall, who led the board until the end of the year.

Mulligan said, “I would like to thank John in particular for his leadership over his term as president, and look forward to continuing to work with him as he serves as treasurer, and I welcome Andrea Trumble to the executive, where I know she will deliver some important new insights and fresh ideas.

“As a representative organisation, it is absolutely vital to ensure we accurately understand the views and needs of our rapidly evolving sector, and continue reflect the priorities of our members.

“To deliver, it is important to have consistency and stability, as well as new perspectives and insights. The balance in this group is excellent, with a number of valued, long-term board members, as well as a group of talented and enthusiastic more recent appointees,” he said.

The association says 2023 was an exciting year for Visual Connections, with achievements including the Visual Impact show held in Sydney, and an expanded 2024 careers programme – Sign & Print Career Connections – announced in October.

While the careers initiative is locked in, as is the Visual Impact Expo to be held in July in Brisbane, Mulligan says there are also a number of other exciting initiatives on the agenda following the strategy retreat.

“The board, together with the leadership of the Visual Connections operational team, have had some interesting and positive discussions over the past couple of days, and we are keen to get started,” he said.

“2023 was an exciting year, and we are set to build on that momentum as we deliver more exciting initiatives in the year to come.

“As always, we will be taking a collaborative approach, and look forward to working with our colleagues, and fellow industry associations, to continue to deliver the exhibitions, events, education and other initiatives which play such an important role in supporting a sustainable future for our industry.”