PIAA members are being called on to vote for the leaders they want to represent them in contested state and national seats on the association’s board. New blood is stepping up to be considered for two national positions and the Queensland and Tasmania seats, with players keen to influence the board’s direction for a two-year term. David Leach, national president of the PIAA, says the industry’s state of flux is bringing out different opinions on how the association should act for the future.
David Leach, PIAA national president
He says members have the opportunity to use their vote, due in by October 8, to determine the direction of the association and therefore the wider industry. He says, “There are some people on the board, myself included, who believe that the Printing Industry Association needs to change to be able to lead the membership into the future. “We are looking to reposition the association to deliver real value, purpose, passion and vision as the primary representatives of the industry in the economy.” He says this transformation is probably ‘ruffling a few feathers,’ and the upcoming election will decide whether the board is stacked to embrace change or bury its head in the sand. He says, “Change may be difficult but it is going to happen. It is about whether the association has people on the board who are prepared to embrace it and lead the industry into the future.” Three candidates will fight it out for the two national board positions, with Kieran May from Accross Business and Chris Segaert from Permanent Press stepping up for their chance at another term, joined in the race by Roy Aldrich, director of Eastern Studios, who has been recently active in industry training discussions.
Tom Eckersley and Susan Heaney, up for the Queensland seat
In Queensland Susan Heaney, director of Heaneys Performers in Print, long serving board member and former president, will fight for her seat against Brisbane’s Tom Eckersley, managing director of Print Approach. The Tasmanian position will also see a contest between current member Robert Yeates from Huon Valley News and PIAA newcomer Craig Pearce, managing director of Flying Colours Printing. Leach says PIAA members can choose to use their vote to support leaders who are willing to drive change for the industry and take it to a brighter future, or bury their heads in the sand. The PIAA national president is backing the return of Susan Heaney to the Queensland seat, saying, “Susan has made an amazing contribution to the board over several years. It would be a real shame to lose that passion and energy.” Leach also picks out Pearce as a candidate who could effectively represent members as a small to mid sized printer. He says, “Craig has been involved in the industry for a long time at a voluntary level with the National Print Awards and the judging of the Apprenticeships Awards.
Craig Pearce and Robert Yeates up for the Tasmania spot
“He has the optimism and passion to represent our membership in a realistic way, with a different view from the big end of town.” In the national race, he says May and Segaert have also been a “positive influence on a lot of the changes that have been made and are being proposed.” Other state nominees are running uncontested, with Stephen Edwards of Snap in NSW and the ACT, Graham Jamieson from Picton Press in WA, BJ Ball’s Ross Black in Victoria and Lane Print Group’s Peter Lane in SA and the NT. Leach says the fact that there are multiple candidates stepping up for some positions reflects the changes afoot in the industry. He says, “People need to make the decision whether they want the Association to change or stay the way that it has been. Some people resist change because they are afraid of it, others find it exciting. Some find it both exciting and scary. “Other associations, whether it be in the printing industry or any other industry, are having to change with the times to maintain or re-establish their relevance. “We can look at it and say, ok, how do we set the sails for the industry to actually create an even brighter future than what we have had over the last 200, 400, 500 years.”
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