Kathy Doan from Corrective Services Industries was named the recipient of the Geoff Selig Scholarship at the 2025 ProPrint Awards.
Held on Friday 17 October 2025 at the Shangri-La Sydney, the ProPrint Awards celebrated and honoured excellence in the Australian printing industry. This year’s event reported record numbers, with more than 380 guests in attendance.
Geoff Selig, who tragically passed away last year, was the former executive chairman of IVE Group, and at the 2023 ProPrint Awards he was recognised with the peer-voted Industry Achievement Award for service to the industry.
The scholarship is dedicated to Geoff’s passion for encouraging emerging talent within the industry, and his desire to see people grow and thrive as well as the enjoyment he received from seeing people develop and succeed.
The scholarship provides a financial value of up to $10,000 for personal and professional development and is funded jointly by ProPrint and IVE Group.
“It’s wonderful to be here again tonight to celebrate the Geoff Selig Scholarship – an award created to honour Geoff’s remarkable legacy and his lifelong commitment to people and excellence across our industry,” Matt Aitken, managing director of IVE Group said at the 2025 ProPrint Awards.
“Geoff was a visionary leader whose passion for the print and communication sector was matched only by his belief in people. He led with energy, optimism, and generosity and he truly believed that success in business comes from helping others thrive.
“The scholarship was established in that spirit to recognise individuals who not only excel at their craft, but who demonstrate curiosity, leadership, a commitment to learning and a drive to make a meaningful impact – the very qualities Geoff valued the most.
“Last year we acknowledged our inaugural recipient Jacinta Allen, whose passion for the industry set a very high benchmark. This year, the tradition continues with another outstanding recipient whose submission impressed us with the depth, clarity, and vision for the future of our industry.
“Congratulations to all this year’s applicants – we received many outstanding nominations, and there were so many deserving candidates.
“This year’s successful applicant presented an inspiring case – grounded in leadership and community impact. Their application reflected a genuine desire to grow as a professional, to lead with empathy, and drive meaningful change in how the printing sector evolves and supports others.
“They emphasised that their success is not only about personal development, but also about lifting others – mentoring colleagues and creating opportunities for growth.
“The applicant highlighted a deep understanding of how our industry is changing through automation, digital innovation, and sustainability and how great leaders help others navigate that change with confidence and purpose,” Aitken said.
“What particularly resonated with the judging panel was the applicant’s commitment to social good and workforce development. Through their work they play a critical role in equipping individuals with real world printing skills, giving many a second chance at building meaningful careers and improving their lives through the power of education, opportunity, and rehabilitation.
“Their proposed use of the scholarship funding also reflected Geoff’s own values – combining professional growth and community benefit,” he said.
“The submission captured everything the Geoff Selig Scholarship stands for – personal growth, leadership through service, innovation, and a deep belief in the potential of people to make a difference.”
Accepting the award Doan said, “I want to thank everyone for supporting the development of people who deserve a second chance. I believe that many individuals in the corrections system are highly skilled – and right now, skilled workers are something the industry is in need of. My hope is to be a conduit between corrections and the print industry”.
Thanks to our 2025 sponsors:
Platinum sponsor
- Durst Oceania
Gold sponsors
- Ball & Doggett
- Celmac
- Easy Signs
- FUJIFILM
- HP Australia
- IVE Group
- Koenig & Bauer
- Konica Minolta
Silver sponsors
- Cactus Imaging
- Canon Production Printing Australia
- Graphic Art Mart
- Kurz Australia
- Mimaki Australia
- Omnigraphics
- PAKKO
- Ricoh Australia
- Spicers Australia
Auditing partner
- PKF
Spirits Bar sponsor
- Archie Rose Distilling Co
Read more about the 2025 ProPrint Awards in the upcoming December issue of ProPrint magazine.
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