New national president takes the reins of Printing Industries

Jim Atkinson is a local identity throughout the Tasmanian printing industry. Now that he's been elected national president of Printing Industries, his reputation is about to expand.

Atkinson takes up the role from the start of the new year and is thrilled by the appointment. "It's an honour," he said modestly.

With 40 years of experience in printing, the decision to run for national president was a way for Atkinson to impart his wisdom back onto those in the industry - especially the young.

"I want to give something back to the industry that I've worked in for more than 40 years," he said. "I am a big believer in the need for a strong association and I want to build on the work done by staff to revitalise the association and continue its relevance for the industry."

Atkinson's first involvement in printing stretches back to England from where he hails. Undertaking a management traineeship with Thomas De La Rue, he went on to work in a number of production and marketing positions before flying to Australia, the state where his wife was born.

"I like the lifestyle in Tasmania," he said, "you can get things done in a small state."

At the once Mercury Walsh, (now GEON), he became a sales representative and, despite offers from other companies in other states, remained in various sales roles for the rest of his career. Retiring one-and-a-half years ago, he opened his own business, Print-Related Consultancy Services.

As Australia gave the Liberals the boot in this year's election, Atkinson now sees it as a challenge to develop an on-going connection with the new federal government. "We have to strengthen our position on industrial relations, the environment, training and industry development," he said.

The young hold the key to the future, according to Atkinson, who is keen to blow out the cobwebs of a profession that has copped something of a bad reputation.

"We need to counter some of the negative perceptions that are out there, like the belief that printing is old-fashioned. It isn't," he said. "It is a technology-driven industry but it is not threatening the environment in any way."

Atkinson believes that printing reverberates throughout almost every facet of our lives; even when he is not working he is still engaged with print as reading is his favourite hobby.

"What people print is useful and every order has a purpose, whether it is packaging material or a business card," he said. "Other businesses can't survive without the printing industry in one form or the other."