Keith Ferrel, co-founder and general manager of operations of Sydney-based grand format production company Cactus Imaging, has claimed the top spot in this year’s Printer 50 at the 2025 ProPrint Awards – marking his second consecutive win.
The highly respected, peer-voted Printer 50 award recognises senior leaders and innovators driving progress in the Australian printing industry.
This year’s flagship categories – Printer 50, Supplier 50, and Emerging 50 – all recorded their highest-ever number of submissions.
The event, held at the Shangri-La Sydney on Friday, 17 October, also attracted its largest-ever audience, with more than 380 guests in attendance.
Accepting the award, Ferrel said, “This award isn’t about me – it’s about the team. Without you, we’re nothing. It’s a tremendous achievement for Cactus Imaging”.
After launching operations in Auckland, Ferrel moved to Sydney to establish Cactus Imaging Australia’s sales division. Its rapid success led to the opening of a full-scale production plant in 1996, positioning Cactus as one of the world’s premier grand format print companies. Ferrel became group sales director in 2000 and later general manager, playing a key role in expanding the company into India with a facility in Chennai.
A respected global figure in print, he has travelled extensively across Asia and the Middle East, regularly speaking at international events. He has served as Asia Pacific/Japan Chairman and Global Board Member for Dscoop and currently sits on the Dscoop Asia Pacific/Japan and FESPA Australia boards.
Ferrel’s industry impact has earned him international recognition: he was inducted into the FESPA Hall of Fame, awarded FESPA World Printer of the Year (2014), and received the Media Super Lifetime Achievement Award (2021). He also topped the ProPrint Printer 50 in 2022 and 2024 and was runner-up in 2023.
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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