A Farewell And Welcome to PrintNZ Board

A Farewell And Welcome to PrintNZ Board

PrintNZ is to bid farewell to immediate past-president John Boyle at this September’s AGM, but is already preparing for the future with the recent board appointment of Images Unlimited managing director Jonathan Lewis.

Initially elected to the board in May 2009 and having previously served four years as president, Mr Boyle is to now stand down as required by the PrintNZ constitution. Although admitting a heavy heart at departing, the Rainbow Print owner nonetheless reflects on particularly seeing through some major early challenges.

“It was a difficult time with Joan Grace moving on after ten years and at the same time the Government changed the rules around ITOs,” he says.

“Tim Pankhurst came on for a short period and then there was the transition to Ruth Cobb as general manager and also ensuring that the transition of CMITO into Competenz worked for PrintNZ members but also that our apprentices and our identity was maintained.

“These were two major changes and I was pleased that both went well while on my watch.”

Mr Boyle feels one of the most pertinent issues currently facing the industry is the changing shape of the market for many print organisations -- “both large and small”.

“Everyone is looking to see where they fit in the ever-changing market.”

But emphasising that the print sector is “still a valid industry”, he embraces the initiatives being led by PrintNZ.

“PrintNZ gets out and about to meet with all members -- running local and national functions to bring as many members together as possible, and helping to promote apprentices with the graduations.”

However, Mr Boyle does part with one strong urging to the sector as a whole.

“PrintNZ can only succeed if all members get involved. Members should attend as many local and national events as possible and everyone that is in the industry should try and do something for the rest of the industry.”

Meanwhile, the appointment of Mr Lewis marks PrintNZ expanding its reach into the fast-growing area of large-format printing and sign-writing services -- a sector not previously represented in depth on the board.

Mr Lewis says his personal remit will be to assist PrintNZ’s ongoing evolution by “attracting members from related sectors that are more representative of what is happening in the marketplace”.

“Printing is a fast-moving field and the traditional boundaries between different methods are becoming grey,” he says.

“I feel that this needs to be embraced by all printers in New Zealand for the good of all linked to the industry.”

Noting “the industry we see today will be very different in ten years’ time”, Mr Lewis sees the acceptance of change and embracing of new technology as becoming ever-more important.

“An example of this in the sign-writing field is the many digital billboards appearing throughout New Zealand. These were cost-prohibitive even five years ago but now are commonplace.

“Companies need to be aware of the opportunities that technology presents and not just feel aggrieved that a market has shrunk.”

Mr Lewis says PrintNZ has illustrated good awareness of the changes taking place in the industry and is keeping members informed through regular seminars and mail-outs.

“The regular meetings with my PrintNZ representative have given me the opportunity to ask questions and present my view. This is extremely valuable and has made me feel listened to and gives PrintNZ real information from the coal face.

“The services offered in both training and business support are the best available from any industry organisation in New Zealand -- this is the opportunity we need to present to non-members who work within the broader communications field.”

Expressing appreciation for the service provided to the organisation by Mr Boyle and offering a warm welcome to Mr Lewis, Mr Blackbourn sees the board providing a strong, united front as it tackles the challenges ahead.

“The two main objectives in our current strategy plan are to increase members and revenue,” he says.

“Both of these are important as we survive on memberships, but also as a business with costs, we need revenue to continue to support our members and introduce new initiatives.

“We are making good progress on all fronts and look forward to continuing to make the day-to-day business operations of our members more cost effective, more productive and increasingly profitable.”

PrintNZ’s board (as of July 2016) entails: president Dan Blackbourn (NZME Print), David Jack (Permark Industries), Mark O’Grady (NZ Print), Tony Sayle (Jenkins Freshpac), Lisa Hegh (BJ Ball Papers), Jonathan Lewis (Images Unlimited) and John Boyle (Rainbow Print).

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