Page 81 - Print 21 Magazine March-April 2019

People in Print
New PIAA board kicks off term
The new Printing Industries Association of Australia board met for the first time
this week, and immediately discussed strategy over a raft of issues facing the print industry.
All nine members took part, seven in person at the Stamford Hotel at Sydney Airport, two by telephone hook-up. PIAA CEO Andrew Macaulay and finance manager Matt Schembri were also present.
PIAA President Walter
Kuhn said, “It was a pleasure to host the first new Board meeting. The board directors are leaders in the industry, and are brimming over with ideas. Printers across the land can be assured that the Board is fully aware of the issues they face, fully committed to generating
Meeting for first time: PIAA Board (l-r) John Georgantzakos, Walter Kuhn, Theo Pettaras, Andrew Macaulay (PIAA), Anthony Pittaway, Kevin Pidgeon, Matt Schembri (PIAA) and Tom Eckersly. On teleconf link-up were Richard Celarc and Sarah Leo
the OVERflow Hansen to be voice
Pon Skills Council SA
rint training advocate and owner of Hansen Design & Print Rob Hansen is being
appointed to the Skills Council for South Australia.
Hansen became involved in training advocacy when he could not get TAFE training for is apprentice, 18 year old Nick Lacey, thanks to the SA government closing TAFE options in the state.
Hansen is now a strong advocate among his peers for improving skills, training and apprenticeships – in particular, increasing the number of printing apprenticeships. 21
Print training advocate: owner of Hansen Design & Print Rob Hansen appointed
solutions, and fully engaged with each other and the various stakeholders. The industry is in good hands.”
Though the items on the agenda have not yet been revealed they would be certain to include energy, training, casuals and other IR matters, sustainability, and AusPost.
For the first time in many years all nine board members are printers, and with the exception of president Walter Kuhn the entire board is new for the two year term. The industry is anticipating it will bring more fresh ideas and impetus to print’s peak association, which comprises
almost 500 of the country’s leading print businesses.
Along with Kuhn who owns Kuhn Corp in Qld is fellow Queenslander Tom Eckersley from Eckersley Group, Richard Celarc from multi-state
Opus Group, Theo Pettaras from Digitalpress, and John Georgantzakos from Spotpress in NSW. From Victoria is Lithocraft’s Kevin Pidgeon, from Tasmania is newly elected Martin Guilliamse of Mark Media, the SA member is Sarah Leo formerly from Openbook Howden, and from WA it is Anthony Pittaway from multi- award winning digital printer Discus on Demand. 21
to SA Skills Council
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