The Print & Visual Communication Association (PVCA) confirmed the appointment of Kellie Northwood as its chief executive officer following the recent merger with The Real Media Collective. Northwood is the first woman to lead the peak printing industry association in its 133-year history.
“I am delighted the role has been formalized as we move through the final stages of merging the two entities," Northwood said. "We have been working very hard refining the existing offerings and building new projects behind the scenes which will begin to be released in the coming months. Through the industry association, we will look to growing the membership, uniting the industry under one body once more and building commercial business value for membership.
“I am aware of the legacy and history of the PVCA and the role comes with great responsibility that I look forward to embracing and delivering upon. Our industry is a proud, hard-working and relevant industry with a firm relevance across modern communications. Representing our members, and the industry more broadly, is about ensuring we are able to voice our critical role across Australia today, and for many years to come, while supporting members with their business success.”
Northwood has held industry association positions for twelve years, leading Two Sides Australia before taking on the CEO role for the Australian Catalogue Association, then became executive director of the Australasian Paper Industry Association and most recently was the CEO for The Real Media Collective. She has also worked in sales, governance and sustainability roles with Moore Business Systems, Finsbury Green and GEON.
“The Board and Members always felt the appointment of Kellie to the role was a formality, however, to have the appointment confirmed and Kellie leading the united industry body is a terrific outcome,” said PVCA president Matt Aitken.
“Kellie and the Board through the transitioning process have been building key projects for our members. Business solutions to reduce cost from our member’s businesses, developing a strategic focus to government lobbying and customer engagement across the promotions of our industry. The 2023 year will deliver significant value to our members with a new membership modelling approach for all members to benefit. I look forward to being part of it.”
A PVCA press release added: “Northwood is the first female to hold the print industry association CEO role in its 133-year history, and she carries a strong proven track record of member engagement and industry promotion. Under her previous industry association roles Northwood has brought Two Sides, a campaign promoting the environmental credentials of paper and print, to Australia and New Zealand from the UK and Europe; has launched VoPP, the campaign promoting the effectiveness of print to marketers; secured a Treasury consultation and ultimate consumer watchdog across companies charging for paper bills and statements; achieved Australia Post Business Mail incentive discounts; delivered the Essential Services publication into federal government securing the print industry’s essential service status and extended the Schedule X from Fair Work during COVID lockdown extensions; and, most recently, overseen the merger of TRMC into PVCA, creating the largest industry association across the print and related services industry.”
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