Women in Print founder, chair and Queensland patron Susan Heaney has stepped down from her role, with the organisation’s board now actively seeking a Queensland patron to take over from 2022.

Heaney has resigned from the patron role after 16 years and the search for a replacement has commenced early to allow for a smooth transition.

This will allow the incoming patron and Heaney to work together across the 2022 Breakfast Series, which will run across Australia from 5 to 12 May, and the Women in Print programme plans into 2023, providing a solid handover for the years ahead.

A powerhouse of the printing industry, founder of Women in Print, former president of Printing Industries Association of Australia, chairperson of Media Super, and managing director of Heaney’s Performers in Print, Heaney has been instrumental in driving female leadership and development initiatives across the industry for almost two decades.

Across the 16 years as Queensland patron, she has not only built a strong Queensland Women in Print community, but also led Women in Print to profit in 2010, registration as an independent entity in 2020 and a rebrand and broader positioning in 2021.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my years across the print industry. As a young woman starting in the print business and learning from the ground up, there isn’t a role across my business I haven’t worked in and I take great pride in that,” Heaney said.

“I have loved every moment I have worked with Women in Print; it was desperately needed when I founded it all those years ago and I think still needed to this day. Our industry has a lot to do across diversity and inclusion, not only across gender issues. There are many other facets to inclusivity, and we should be putting this on our agendas.

“I recommend to all my fellow industry peers across Queensland to please get involved and apply for the Patron role, it is a wonderful organisation to become involved in, I have grown so much across the years and met the most wonderful people to add to my network, I cannot recommend it enough.”

The Real Media Collective (TRMC) CEO and Women in Print executive secretary Kellie Northwood commended Heaney’s efforts through the years.

“I have had the absolute honour to work with Susan over the years, both in Women in Print and across various industry initiatives. She is intelligent, dedicated, and fair – three qualities I think are incredibly honourable in any human,” Northwood said.

“To work with Susan across the industry has been a true privilege and one I have personally learnt and gained so much from across my career. I wish Susan all the very best with her next journey, and hope she remains a friendly face at our future Women in Print events for many years to come.”

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