The new Printing Industries Association of Australia board met for the first time this week, and immediately discussed strategy over a raft of issues facing the print industry.
All nine members took part, seven in person at the Stamford Hotel at Sydney Airport, two by telephone hook-up. PIAA CEO Andrew Macaulay and finance manager Matt Schembri were also present.
PIAA President Walter Kuhn said, “It was a pleasure to host the first new Board meeting. The board directors are leaders in the industry, and are brimming over with ideas. Printers across the land can be assured that the Board is fully aware of the issues they face, fully committed to generating solutions, and fully engaged with each other and the various stakeholders. The industry is in good hands.”
Though the items on the agenda have not yet been revealed they would be certain to include energy, training, casuals and other IR matters, sustainability, and Australia Post pricing.
For the first time in many years all nine board members are printers, and with the exception of president Walter Kuhn the entire board is new for the two year term. The industry is anticipating it will bring more fresh ideas and impetus to print’s peak association, which comprises almost 500 of the country’s leading print businesses.
Along with Kuhn who owns Kuhn Corp in Qld is fellow Queenslander Tom Eckersley from Eckersley Group, Richard Celarc from multi-state Opus Group, Theo Pettaras from Digitalpress and John Georgantzakos from Spotpress in NSW, from Victoria is Lithocraft’s Kevin Pidgeon, Tasmania’s newly elected Martin Guilliamse from Mark Media is in, the SA member is Sarah Leo formerly from Openbook Howden, and from WA it is Anthony Pittaway from multi-award winning digital printer Discus on Demand.
A wide range of printing is represented on the board, including offset, digital, general commercial, packaging, books, and community newspapers.