Paper merchants and suppliers unite for new industry body
The new Australasian Paper Industry Association (APIA) is a result of an official amalgamation of the two existing industry bodies. It was formed with the aim of comprehensively promoting the entire paper industry, including the merchants, suppliers and manufacturers.
Tony Wood, managing director of Daiei Paper (pictured right), will head up the new organisation as chairman. Other directors will include Tony Dragicevich, managing director of Red Paper Group; Bernard Cassell, managing director CPI; Martin Fothergill, group general manager for PaperlinX; Nick Harvey from Asia Paper Marketing and John Walker from Paper Agencies.
According to Wood, the two organisations had both a different focus and membership before they were brought together. Membership of the National Paper Council was mostly comprised of merchants, while the Independent Paper Group was made up of suppliers and manufacturers.
“Their operations were quite different in that sense,” says Wood. “After a considerable amount of discussion, it was decided that it be better for the industry if the two bodies came together with a much clearer focus, instead of the two continuing to pursue their own separate objectives.”
This comprehensive focus of APIA is reflected in its board of directors. Half of the six directors are representatives from merchant companies, while the others are from suppliers and manufacturers.
Wood points to the need for a body that could effectively promote the paper industry as another motivation for bringing the two organisations together.
“APIA has a clear focus on promotion of the industry,” says Wood. “Paper business are facing a number of challenges at the moment, whether they be environmental, technology related or changes to advertising expenditure. All of these issues impact the industry, and will be addressed by the new organisation.”
Wood confirms APIA aims to forge strong links with other paper and industry organisations, including the Printing Industries, to allow for a common approach to the issues facing the industry.
Tony Wood, managing director of Daiei Paper (pictured right), will head up the new organisation as chairman. Other directors will include Tony Dragicevich, managing director of Red Paper Group; Bernard Cassell, managing director CPI; Martin Fothergill, group general manager for PaperlinX; Nick Harvey from Asia Paper Marketing and John Walker from Paper Agencies.