High-profile industry notable resigns from her roles as Victorian and Tasmanian state manager as well as general manager for Innovation, Training and Employment.
Two years after she moved across the Tasman following a long tenure as CEO of PrintNZ, Grace's sudden departure leaves Victoria and Tasmania without a permanent manager. Jenny Berry, member services manager for Victoria and Tasmania will take over her state manager role on an acting basis.
Joan Gracenwas instrumental in building from the ground up the successful Future Print Apprenticeship Program and Future Print Business Transformation Project. Always passionate about training and the transformation of the industry to deal with the changing environment, she determinedly pursued her vision through a turbulent time in the Association, especially in Victoria.
“These projects are now well established and ahead of target, making the decision to leave an easier one,” she said today. “An industry cannot be transformed from the ‘top down’ – real change is made by the individuals, in their own businesses, making decisions, day after day, week after week, year after year. The decision makers who are taking a proactive approach to transforming their businesses to meet the market are the ones who ultimately will change the focus and future of our industry, and it’s been a privilege to help resource them in this important transition phase.”
Michelle Lees, former manager of the Ricoh Printing Innovation Centre and Robert Black, former Director of the International Centre for Graphic Technology, RMIT (Victoria) will share Grace’s roles in Future Print as project officers.
Lorraine Cassin, national secretary, Print Division, AMWU and Bill Healey, CEO Printing Industries, both paid tribute to the work Joan Grace has done to get the Future Print Project up and running during the past two years. Ms Cassin said the whole industry was benefitting from the work of Future Print and Joan could take a lot of satisfaction for this.
According to a statement from Printing Industries, Future Print is moving into a new developmental phase with the expansion of the project and staff changes. Significant online training resources will be developed to support the new focus on apprentice training with the provision of online training modules supplementing workplace and institution based learning.
Additionally, pathways to encourage school students into industry careers will be created as part of a school-to-work transitioning program that will include exploration of expanding the scope of higher education qualifications for successful apprentices.
Although there were many challenges in her time with the Association in Australia, Grace is philosophical about her departure. “I’m looking forward to having the first really substantial break in my working life and to the new opportunities which I’m sure will come my way in the future, whether in print or in a completely new sphere,” she said.