The two big industry supplier associations are now one, with the new entity Visual Connections officially launched on Thursday night following its second board meeting. Visual Connections says it will be united force to help better the industry and move it towards a sustainable future in a changing world. The new supplier group is formed from GAMAA, whose members traditionally supplied the commercial print industry, and Visa which comprised suppliers to the sign and display industry. The two associations have been running co-located exhibitions recently. Former GAMAA executive Karen Goldsmith will be general manager Association, while Peter Harper from Visa will be general manager Trade Shows.
Merged: New Visuakl Connections president Mitch Mulligan with Karen Goldsmith, general manager Association
The launch evening at the Pennant Hills Golf Club was attended by more than 60 guests, including representatives from the group’s 94 members, along with media and other print figures. They included top executives from manroland, HP, Currie Group, Roland DG, Ferag, Screen, Graph-Pak, DES, Bottcher, Halifax Vogel, Mutoh, and Epson, along with new PIAA chief executive Jason Allen. Visual Connections president Mitch Mulligan addressed attendees, proclaiming the organisation’s mission and thanking key board members for helping the merger happen ‘without too much histrionics’. “The new association will continue to foster the ethos of both GAMAA and Visa, which has been to promote synergy between vendors for the betterment of the industry as a whole,” he said. “With the combined memberships of both associations, Visual Connections is representative of all the major suppliers across the print, graphic and signage industries. “The mandate for Visual Connections was firmly based on the objectives of both GAMAA and Visa to give back to the industry. “The board of Visual Connections is committed to contributing to a sustainable future for our industries by continuing to invest in education, sponsorship, exhibitions and grants programs.”
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