Mary-Jo Fisher has been promoted to director of government relations to increase communications with the Australian government, a newly created position in the PIAA as it seeks to ramp up its government engagement.

Fisher was previously PIAA Senior workplace relation adviser, and prior to that a Federal Senator.

Fisher says this position is an initiative of PIAA CEO Andrew Macaulay. “This was one of the structural changes made by the CEO. The main aim is to drive policy and lobby as one of our fundamental activities,” she says.

Fisher says this role is important because those in government are surprised to learn of the importance the printing sector has on the economy.

“It is important for decision makers to recognise the importance of the sector and once we have established that in their minds that becomes the foundation of representing the industry more broadly,” she says.

[Related: Govt looks to shrink print]

Fisher has a number of plans for the next year with her new role, these include increasing engagement with decision makers, she says, “The sorts of issues we will be talking to them about energy security, reducing red tape, workplace relations, making employment easier essentially, workers compensation, being involved in the debate about our move to electronic voting and opposing Australia’s Post position."

The PIAA has three tiers of strategy which are policy and lobbying, workplace relations services and advise and services of members generally.

One of her first acts in the new role was meeting with 15 members of Parliament and letting them know who the PIAA is.

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