Bill Healey will retire as chief executive of the PIAA by May next year, with the search for his successor now underway to set up a gradual transition.
Healey, who is 61 this year, feels the time will be right to pass the torch after five years at the helm of the industry’s peak body.
“It's now time for someone else to take the reins and commit to implementing our long term vision for the prosperity of the industry,” he says.
Healey says an ad has just been placed in newspapers with an appointment to be made early in the second half of the year to ensure a smooth transition.
His contract expires in May 2016 but he will retire as soon as early next year if the time is right, planning to split duties between himself and his successor and gradually dial back his responsibilities until then.
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Healey’s successor will inherit a raft of fledgling initiatives started during Healey’s tenure as the association tries to stay relevant in a rapidly changing print landscape.
These include the $11.5m Future Print program, increasing research and industry transition projects, and numerous negotiations with the government to improve the lot of Australian printers.
Healey says how the responsibilities will be divided depends on the skills and interests of his successor.
“I am pretty well versed in government relations so I will likely keep doing that well into the transition, but I am pretty easy going so we can work it out however is best,” he says.
“The association has so many things on the boil right now that it supports the need for a long transition.”
Healey says the biggest challenge for the next chief executive will be to grapple with the changes sweeping across printing, and manufacturing in general.
“A shrinking industry makes it hard for associations to stay relevant, and you have to consider how best to provide value to members and where it fits in the industry,” he says.
“The PIAA will increasingly have to collaborate with other industry associations, both in print and related areas, on things like government negotiation, research and training.
“The future requires us to all work together on issues where we share common ground.”
Healey says beginning this process of collaboration is his proudest achievement as head of the PIAA, establishing closer relationships with Two Sides, Australian Graphic Design Association, and many others.
“I like to think I have built bridges across different associations in our diversifying industry, and the more we work together the better it will be for everyone,” he says.
“I am also proud of initiatives we have started, like Future Print which will better train the next generation of printers, and directly help small business be more productive and efficient.”
Healey also reflects on greater efforts to help printers with the PIAA’s webinar series, market research, and the revamping of the National Print Awards.
“The benefits of many of these things will not be fully seen until the future, but they have laid the foundations our members need to develop the future skill sets and business models necessary to successfully transition in the broader technology driven communication and information industry,” he says.
“It has been a tough time for the printing industry and you naturally always look back and think maybe I could have done some things better. I do regret that I wasn’t able to convince some of the older association members, who felt disengaged, to remain as members.
"But I have enjoyed my time and have found a great respect and affective for it.”
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Healey says he is looking at many options for life after the PIAA but has no plans to head another association, instead planning to work part time or on research projects.
“I am at a stage in my life where I want to do things that interest me and I have been approached with some opportunities to do that,” he says.
“I would like to be involved in fostering innovation, helping businesses be more productive, and helping young people fulfil their potential. Using research to find solutions in hard issues that Australia needs to face.”
PIAA president David Leach says Healey has dedicated a lot of time, passion and commitment to the association and the industry overall and would now like to take the opportunity to pursue other things in his life.
"Our industry and the association are on the verge of an exciting era through transformation from its traditional heavy metal manufacturing base to a broader, technology driven communication and information industry," he says.
“Bill has worked with the board in the development of an exciting strategy to support businesses to understand, respond and profit from these changes. The new chief executive will play a key role in delivering this strategy.”
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