PIAA board member Susan Heaney has left after eight years - the latest in a long list of personnel changes since the arrival of new CEO Jason Allen earlier this year.
After eight years of dedicated service, long time Board member, Susan Heaney, has today announced her retirement from the board, said a PIAA press release. The move leaves Printing Industries with an eight-man board of directors until a replacement is named, and comes amid renewed calls for a quota system to boost the numbers of women on company boards in Australia.
Twenty-eight of the ASX 200 companies have no women on their boards and another 64 companies have only one woman. "When I started my career in the 1970s I never imagined that we would still be having this conversation 40 years later and the fact there has been so little change over time leads me to think there needs to be some action," Elizabeth Proust, new chair of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, told Fairfax Media. "If three years from now we have still not managed to achieve at least 30 per cent female directors on all ASX 200 boards then quotas is something that has to be put on the table as an option," Ms Proust said.
“I am pleased to have served the industry, leaving the PIAA in a far stronger position than when I joined,” said Heaney in a brief statement. “This was always my overall objective in taking on a Board role. I look forward to continuing to serve, albeit in some different ways and the exciting times ahead for PIAA in 2016.”
PIAA president David Leach said, “Susan has passionately pursued her vision for the PIAA, and has worked countless unpaid hours for and on behalf of the members of the association. Susan leaves us immediately to dedicate more time in developing her own business, Queensland based Heaneys Performers in Print, and will generously continue in her roles as board member for Media Super, and her honorary position with the National Print Awards.”
Printing Industries last week announced that the National Print Awards would move to Sydney next year.
“On behalf of the PIAA Board, staff and members I sincerely wish Susan all the success for her future and thank her for her enormous contribution over the years, both at National and State levels to our organisation,” said Leach. “She is truly one of those few people who are prepared to roll up her sleeves and get on with the job at hand. We will miss her counsel and contribution.”
The Queensland based PIAA Director role, replacing Heaney, will be sought by process, said the press release.