Page 17 - Print21 Magazine May-June 2022

Associations
confidence that the people driving the association, and Northwood herself, are up to that job.
Peter Clark, who next year will celebrate 60 years in print, and who is current PVCA president said, “Our industry needs united leadership and a strengthened association, the merging of the two leading industry associations into a ‘super body’ is
an important step in achieving just that."
Clark said the two boards have been working through a rigorous due diligence process, and said, “I firmly believe it is the best news for the industry, and will leave all members, PVCA and TRMC, in a better position as we finalise the merger details and commence an enriched service delivery of programmes and outcomes for our industry.”
Matt Aitken, CEO of the country’s biggest print business IVE, and set to nominate for vice chair of the new association, said, “I support the merger and encourage all TRMC members to support
it and be part of a consolidated, strengthened and more impactful association moving forward.”
Brand positioning
In terms of practicalities a new name, which will be reflective of the brand positioning, will be created following PacPrint. Head office location has also yet to be decided. The board will be drawn from the current two boards. Membership fees will most likely be a hybrid of the two current structures, PVCA
is based on turnover and employee numbers flat fee, whereas TRMC is turnover plus user pay model.
Charles Watson will continue as GM – IR, Policy and Governance,
but the new association will
also incorporate the PVCA’s on-demand IR and HR service.
The core programmes of the two former associations will continue. Northwood says, “The PVCA’s Sustainable Green Print and TRMC’s Two Sides is a great example of the synergy achieved by the merger. Two Sides is a global industry campaign, created to equip print business owners with the tools to go to market with the print is sustainable message, underpinned by verifiable facts and research. Sustainable Green Print is a programme that enables print businesses to gain external accreditation for their businesses. The two programs complement each other perfectly, adding to member value.”
United leadership: Peter Clark (left) set to
be president, with Matt Aitken to be vice president
Technically TRMC is merging into PVCA, as PVCA is a Registered Organisation, which brings certain benefits, for instance it can make direct submissions to the Fair Work Commission. Northwood says, “TRMC has had industry consolidation and partnership
as one of its key strategies since
it was formed, we have been through four, this will be our
fifth. We believe in consolidation, in leveraging strengths for the greater good.”
come their way, to the ongoing work in promoting the industry’s environmental and effectiveness credentials, to helping shape policy.
Northwood herself has been centre-stage of the print industry for the past 12 years, and has been in the industry for two decades. The next period will possibly be
the most demanding, but the most fulfilling. She says, “I am respectful of the challenge, and I am inspired by it. It is with great humility
that I take on the role of CEO, it is not lost on me that I am the first woman to do so in 133 years of the PVCA’s history, however the point is not being the first, it’s ensuring I’m not the last. When our industry works together, we can achieve great things.”
The intention is for the merged association to present itself to the industry at PacPrint at the end of June, which will also be a time of consultation and feedback. From there the new association will have the platform to move forward for the good of the whole industry.
Northwood said, “The announcement is an exciting one for the industry, providing opportunity to strengthen our industry across advocacy into government, development of a consistent national approach to training and talent acquisition, building of a co-operative auditing solution, a united industry promotion, gender and youth inclusivity programs
and more. I say to all our combined members, thank you for your ongoing support and I look forward to working harder than ever for you. To those who are not members, take this momentous occasion as a ‘call to arms’, let’s come together and build the strongest industry we’ve ever been.” 21
“Take this momentous occasion as a call to arms, let’s come together and build the strongest industry we’ve ever been.” – Kellie Northwood, CEO
The merger of the two big industry associations into one leaves the many smaller associations with questions to answer. Should they too merge into the bigger group? What benefits will they have? How would a merger work for them? Would they lose what they have worked for? Should they just come under the umbrella of the bigger association while maintaining their own identity? Northwood says, “It is for each association to make its own decisions, however, the benefits of one organisation are clearly understood.”
Northwood points to Women in Print as an example of a thriving association that has its own identity, but enjoys the benefits and support of being part of a bigger group with TRMC secretariat support.
The new association then will have no shortage of work, from the big strategic efforts, to the day- to-day helping print businesses navigate various challenges that
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