The Visual Media Association (VMA), with support from Ricoh Australia, recently hosted the NSW Industry Leaders Lunch, bringing together industry leaders from across Australia’s paper, print, packaging, mail and visual communications sectors.
The industry discussion, facilitated by Rodney Frost, chief executive officer of The Lamson Group; and Kellie Northwood, chief executive officer of the VMA, supported the importance of collaboration, advocacy and unified industry direction at a time of increasing economic and operational pressure.
Discussions highlighted mounting concerns around supply chain disruption, freight reliability, and the escalating impact of global instability – including the Middle East crisis – on fuel supply and logistics.
Leaders noted the increasing risk this presents to business continuity and the urgent need for coordinated industry planning and government engagement.
At the same time, the session reinforced the strength of the sector as a sovereign, non-subsidised manufacturing industry, employing hundreds of thousands of Australians and playing a critical role in the broader manufacturing ecosystem.
According to Northwood, the Industry Leaders Lunch series is a critical mechanism for ensuring the Association remains aligned to the real and evolving needs of its members.
“These forums are essential in bringing industry leaders together to openly discuss the pressures they are facing and to shape a unified, practical response,” said Northwood.
“The insights shared at the table directly inform our advocacy agenda and ensure we are representing the industry with clarity and purpose.
“We are seeing increasing pressure across supply chains, workforce availability, regulation and cost structures. It is more important than ever that we present a coordinated voice to government and position our industry as a critical, sustainable and sovereign part of Australia’s manufacturing landscape.”
A strong theme throughout the discussion was the need to strengthen lobbying efforts to ensure print and packaging work remains within Australia.
Leaders identified opportunities to better position the industry to government, particularly around local procurement, environmental credentials, and the role of print in a secure and sustainable communications framework.
Workforce challenges also remained a central focus, with leaders calling for a broader approach to skills development that extends beyond traditional print roles to include engineers, creatives and technical specialists. The need to better promote the industry as a modern, innovative and attractive career pathway was strongly reinforced.
Environmental and sustainability leadership was also discussed, with strong support for the continued expansion and promotion of the Sustainable Green Print & Sign (SGP+S) certification program.
Leaders identified the opportunity to further embed SGP+S into government and corporate procurement frameworks, alongside broader ESG considerations, including modern slavery.
“I found the entire afternoon insightful filled with innovative thinking and approaches to businesses with a sense of industry custodianship and passion for a strong industry future,” said Tina Economou, chief sales and marketing manager at Ricoh Australia.
“I thank all who shared their ideas and knowledge across the table; it was a wonderful event, and I thank the VMA for their support in bringing these valuable conversations into an industry forum like this.”
The NSW session forms part of a national Industry Leaders Lunch series, with the next event scheduled to take place in Melbourne, continuing the VMA’s commitment to engaging directly with members and industry stakeholders across the country.
Northwood said the ongoing rollout of these sessions is critical to building a stronger, more connected industry.
“These conversations are not one-off. They are part of a broader national program to ensure we are listening, responding and acting on behalf of the industry,” explained Northwood.
“The strength of our sector lies in its collaboration, and these forums are instrumental in bringing that to life.”
Attendees at the NSW Industry Leaders Lunch included representatives from Kwik Kopy Australia, IVE Group, Rawson Print & Packaging, Opus Group, SBM Communications, ActiveMail, Ball & Doggett, Carbon8, Allprint, E-bis Global, Imagination Graphics, The Lamson Group and Candida Envelopes.
The VMA will continue to progress the priorities identified through the session, with a focus on strengthening advocacy, supporting workforce development, promoting sustainability leadership, and ensuring the long-term viability of Australia’s visual media industry.