GAMAA grad grabs honours at gala industry celebration
Ben Hickey, Sony Music Entertainment, took the prize for the GAMAA–LIA graduate of the year.
The PrintNSW Awards focus on excellence in particular aspects of business during the previous 12 months. A development in 2005 was the introduction of separate recognition for smaller companies as well as an Award for Occupational Heath and Safety.
Award winners included several of the biggest companies in the industry as well as a small, regional operation.
Winners of the PrintNSW Business Achievement Awards 2005 were:
The Judges found McMillan's to be a thorough, innovative and detailed submission covering all aspects of benchmarking and best practice strategies, business tools, e-commerce and logistics. Forward thinking and a strong focus on step-by-step-change resulted in their submission receiving the highest praise.
- Small Business - North Coast Print Solution.
- Large Business - Focus Press.
The Judges found that in a relatively short timeframe Penfold Buscombe had achieved a reduction in its workers' compensation premiums of $70,000. The company had also achieved several individual months with no lost time through injuries.
In announcing the Graduate Scholarship Prize, Bruce Lowery of GAMAA, said, "This award is evidence of the commitment that GAMAA has to education in the industry at many and varied levels. The prize, valued at $15,000, will enable Ben to further his education and as a result contribute to the future development of our industry."
Greg Grace, chairman of the judging panel said that while choosing the winning graduate proved to be a difficult task, in the end it was unanimously agreed that Hickey had distinguished himself from the competition.
"The selection process is an extensive one, requiring all the graduates to make a written submission, outlining their perspective of the industry, their personal objectives and commitments to making a contribution to the industry, their employer and to their own personal growth and development," says Grace.
Interstate graduates were flown into Sydney, with all accommodation and meals provided by Heidelberg Australia.
(L to R: Robert Black, LIA judge; Jennifer Batt-Rawden, NSW Graduate; Darren Neindorf, WA Graduate; Paul Moengaroa, Vic Graduate; Joey Mandile, Vic Graduate; Lee Gradisar, SA Graduate; Daniel Quinn, Qld Graduate; Ben Hickey, NSW Graduate and winner of the scholarship award; Greg Grace, LIA judge and selection committee chair; James Tibbott, WA Graduate; John Golding, WA Graduate; Glenn Flower, Heidelberg (partially hidden); Bruce Lowery, GAMAA judge; Mitch Mulligan, GAMAA judge)