(Above:) The Velflex team against the imagery backdrop to honour rising star remembered Harry Nicholls

Winners in the Emerging 50 category of the 2023 ProPrint Awards were announced at a gala event at Shangri-La Sydney on 3 November – the cohort represented a broad and diverse array of print industry talents.

Congratulations to all the winners. This award recognises rising stars from all parts of print with around five years’ experience. This includes graphic designers, prepress operators, production assistants, post-press supervisors and finishing specialists as well as employees responsible for distribution, sales, administration, and account management with approximately five years or less experience working in the industry. 

Recipients of the Emerging 50 were judged on the quality and the detail provided within their submission and the supplementary materials provided. In this category it is possible to nominate more than one person and to have more than one Emerging 50 recipient from the same company. Self-nominations were accepted. 

Trophies for 25 of the Emerging 50 winners were handed out by Kwik Kopy Australia CEO Sonia Shwabsky and the remaining 25 winners received their trophies from Starleaton CEO and Visual Connections vice president Ben Eaton. All winners were announced by MC Sam McCool.

A special mention was given by McCool to honour deceased rising star Harry Nicholls, with his parents Dean and Lisa Nicholls accepting the trophy.

Harry Nicholls is acknowledged for his unwavering dedication, vibrant spirit, and the lasting effect he left on the printing industry.

A print apprentice at Velflex who came from a printing family, he possessed an exceptional enthusiasm for learning and an innate talent for mastering printing processes and techniques. Harry Nicholls embraced every opportunity to enhance his skills and knowledge, immersing himself in the intricacies of the printing industry. His commitment was evident in the quality of his work, earning him the respect of his colleagues and superiors.

Emerging 50 winners:

• Adam Crellin, Sales Manager, CACTUS IMAGING 

• Amy Abdilla, Innovation & Process Improvement Manager, EASY SIGNS 

• Amy Vernon, Operations Manager, VELFLEX 

• Angus McGrath, Security Printer, NOTE PRINTING AUSTRALIA 

• Anna Lobashkova, Assistant Accountant, DURST OCEANIA 

• Ben Clarke, Sales Manager, CACTUS IMAGING 

• Bihiraj Gurung, Engineer, DURST OCEANIA 

• Bradley Pow, Prepress Apprentice, MULTI-COLOR BRISBANE 

• Cassandra Farrugia, Operations/Account Manager, CREATIVE PLASTIC CARDS 

• Celine Cook, Centre Owner, KWIK KOPY CANNING VALE 

• Chris Williams, Prepress Manager, CACTUS IMAGING 

• Christine Louise Gardiner, Graphic Reproducer/Typesetter, STUDIO LABELS 

• Christopher La Greca, Business Development Manager, IVE GROUP 

• Christopher Thompson, Printer, VELFLEX 

• Corey Fry, Systems Developer, PAKKO 

• Courtney Newman, Graphic Designer, BALL & DOGGETT 

• Eleni Panayi, Service Engineer, DURST OCEANIA 

• Emily Waterson, Client Services Manager, CACTUS IMAGING 

• Evan Gill, Sales Manager, KWIK KOPY EAGLE FARM 

• Felicia Parigi, Prepress Operator, VELFLEX 

• Jacinta Allen, Graphic Prepress Coordinator, BREEN PRINTING 

• Jack McAullay, Security Printer, NOTE PRINTING AUSTRALIA 

• Jaden Perumal, Trainee Field Service Engineer, DURST OCEANIA

• Jazz Jurgensen, Prepress Operator/Production Planner, ULTRA LABELS

• Jervis Tsui, Digital Print Operator, SBM MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS

• Justin Tout, Dispatch Coordinator, BREEN PRINTING 

• Kyle Wagner, Systems Efficiency/Senior Designer, PAKKO

• Kyle Wallwork, Centre Owner, KWIK KOPY KAWANA WATERS 

• Luke Parisella, Operations Manager, IMAGEBOX GROUP

• Marcus Gehling, Managing Director, KWIK KOPY DANDENONG

• Marilyn Li, Senior Client Services Coordinator, CACTUS IMAGING

• Milly Botta, Sales/Business Development, PAKKO

• Nicole Jesenko, Graphic Designer, FREELANCER

• Nicole Todino , Client Service Representative, Brand Activations, IVE GROUP

• Niki Glastras-Pokia, Sales & Marketing, KWIK KOPY SURRY HILLS

• Paul Plunkett, Flexographic Printer, PAKAFLEX 

• Pranav Patel, Centre Owner, KWIK KOPY AUBURN

• Rahul Reddy, Account Manager, IVE GROUP

• Robert Smithers, Centre Manager, KWIK KOPY CIRCULAR QUAY

• Sean Ashman, Technical Support, DURST OCEANIA

• Stella Lim, Sales Support and Marketing Manager, HEXIS AUST

• Steve Morrison, Centre Owner, KWIK KOPY CANBERRA

• Tammie-Lee Pickles, Scheduling Coodinator, LAMONT SUSTAINABLE SIGN SOLUTIONS

• Taya Davey, Sales Account Manager, VELFLEX

• Taylor O’Neill, Marketing Coordinator, SPICERS

• Thomas Anderson, Sustainability Manager and Business Development Manager, STARLEATON

• Tien Watson, Production Floor Manager, IMAGEBOX GROUP

• Yan Ng, Project Manager, IVE GROUP

• Zaf Haq, Project Manager, IVE GROUP

• Zurina Bryant, Centre Manager, KWIK KOPY FRENCHS FOREST

Note: Images and details of all category winners will be published in the December 2023 issue of ProPrint.

If you would like more information about the ProPrint Awards, including sponsorship enquiries for 2024, email: carmen@proprint.com.au or call 0410 582 450.

Sponsors

Big thanks to the following sponsors of the Emerging 50 Awards:

Platinum: Durst Oceania

Gold: Kwik Kopy Australia and Visual Connections

Silver: Böttcher; Cactus Imaging and Pakko

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