Printing Industries Association of Australia has announced a review of the current industry print awards.
Former CEO of IPMG, Stephen Anstice, has been invited by the Printing Industries’ Board to undertake the review.
The Printing Industry has a long history of recognising excellence through state and national awards.
The National Print Awards (NPA) ran for 29 years as an independent entity.
In 2007 a system was introduced which saw entry to the NPA restricted to gold winners from state based PICAs.
In 2012 the company limited by guarantee that ran the NPA was wound up and responsibility for the conduct of the Awards was transferred to Printing Industries.
The Awards are managed by a Committee nominated by the Printing Industries’ Board chaired by an eminent Industry Leader.
The Association believes that the print awards need to remain relevant to all stakeholders and provide value to attract sponsors.
The decline in the number of businesses in the industry has seen a drop in entries. This has required the scaling back of presentation events in several states from formal dinners to cocktail functions.
The Awards also consume a significant amount of staff time in each state. Added to this is the voluntary work of judges and local committees as well and the cost of work done free or below market rates.
Many other forms of media are challenging print and printing technologies have changed over recent years. The award system needs to be reviewed in the light of these changes.
Mr Anstice will review the options available for the industry to showcase excellence and whether the Awards in their current form do this. He has kindly offered to undertake this review for no fee. He will have no influence over any judging as this will remain under the control of the various awards committees.
Mr Anstice has been asked to consider what would be required to establish:
• A contemporary Awards process that showcases a changing industry;
• Provides an increase in the return for stakeholders and
• Streamlines the time and effort required to support the awards.
The review will seek the views of a number of key stakeholders:
• Sponsors
• The NPA and Local PICA Committees
• Participating companies
• Selected non-participating companies
• Key industry opinion leaders
In addition industry awards from overseas will be reviewed.
Mr Anstice’s review will be presented to the National Board of the Printing Industries by January 2014.
He will be making contact with all major stakeholders but welcomes any views from interested parties to the following address.
Printing Industries Association of Australia
www.printnet.com.au
