The 2019 ProPrint Power 50 and inaugural Emerging 50 evening was graced with superb weather, high spirits, a record crowd and feel good vibes amongst the 130 members of the industry that came together to celebrate and socialise at the stunning Cruise Bar on Sydney Harbour.
Printers love a chat and it’s fair to say there was plenty of that going on between the formal parts of the evening when the Emerging 50 recipients were called alphabetically to receive their certificate and bottle of champagne with the Power 50 winners announced after also presented with a certificate and champagne.
IVE Group executive chairman Geoff Selig was named number one in the Power 50 and was gracious in his acceptance while for the first year ever three women appeared in the top 10 list – Kellie Northwood, chief executive officer at The Real Media Collective in second; Debbie Burgess co-chief executive officer at Bright Print Group in fifth; and Kirsten Taylor, owner of bespoke print operation Taylor’d Press in tenth.
The other industry leaders to round out the top 10 included Cliff Brigstocke, CEO of Blue Star Group in third; Craig Dunsford, executive general manager northern region of Ovato in fourth; Bambra Press owner John Wanless in sixth; IVE Group CEO Matt Aitken in seventh; Franklin Web and Blue Star Web CEO Darryl Meyer in eighth and Digital Press owner Theo Pettaras in ninth.
Half of the Emerging 50 recipients were in attendance, with many travelling from interstate, which added to the buzz and excitement in the room as industry took the opportunity to meet with the next generation of leaders.
Special thanks must also go to our valued sponsors that made the night possible. Konica Minolta have supported the Power 50 now for nine years in a row and were the gold sponsor of the evening with Esko the silver sponsor and printIQ the bronze sponsor.
Media Super are to be commended for supporting the Emerging 50 category as our exclusive partner.
We also thank our partner sponsors: EFI, HP and Screen, along with PKF Australia, the auditing sponsor responsible for crunching the numbers for the Power 50.
Check out a glimpse of some of the photos of the night with a more complete gallery to be printed in the February 2020 issue of ProPrint.
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