The 2024 FESPA Australia Annual Conference delivered thought-provoking sessions to a record number of attendees who gathered under this year’s theme: Transform, Inspire, Lead.
Now in its third year, the FESPA Australia Annual Conference has become a key event in the print and signage industry calendar, dedicated to thought leadership and networking opportunities.
Held at the Shangri-La in Sydney, Nigel Davies, president of FESPA Australia, told delegates in his opening address that the theme throughout this year’s conference sessions is the future.
“The mission of FEESPA is to connect, inspire, and support,” Davies said.
“[FESPA’s] global connection gives us unique opportunity for us to learn first-hand about others’ unique experiences, to gain fresh perspectives, and foster new ideas.
“In my mind, the work of associations and the networks that they nurture, develop, and support is crucial. It’s clear that individual companies alone will not overcome the challenges we face as an industry. Issues like sustainability demand coordinated action, and it’s only through the collective efforts of passionate individuals working towards a common goal that we can make significant progress.
“We’re heading towards a cliff edge on some of the issues that our industry is facing, and sticking our heads in the sand won’t help. For this reason, our conference will always bring you perspectives on topics such as sustainability, balanced with practical business issues such as succession, sales, AI, and automation,” said Davies.
The conference kicked off with keynote speaker Gus Balbontin, a futurist whose dynamic presentation focussed on encouraging innovation and driving change. Th presentation was followed by a leadership networking session facilitated by Balbontin.
Throughout the conference delegates participated in panel discussions on various topics facilitated by industry experts including succession planning, adapting selling strategies to changed buyer behaviour, and increasing importance of mandatory climate reporting.Business adviser Andrew Ash led a panel session on succession planning. He was joined by father and son team Stephen and Daniel Lamont from Townsville-based Lamont Print and Signs, Nigel Spicer general manager of Cactus Imaging, and Nigel Davies, founder and CEO of M-Power Software.
Troy Cavanagh, sales director of ImageBox Group, hosted a panel on effective selling principles and how businesses are adapting to today’s customers, which included Mary Leishman, brand director of DRK LBL, Andy Fryer, director of Easy Signs and Keith Ferrel, co-founder and general manager of operations from Cactus Imaging.
Sustainability was also on the agenda, with a discussion on the upcoming mandatory climate reporting requirements with David Walton, CEO of Omnigraphics/MMT Print and Olivia Tyler, chief people and sustainability officer at IVE Group.
Dr. Toby Ford concluded the day by sharing practical and actionable strategies for managing stress and achieving work-life integration.
FESPA Australia names Fujifilm Australia’s Justin Kirkland as 2024 Future Leader
Justin Kirkland, account manager at Fujifilm Australia, was also voted the 2024 FESPA Future Leader, following an intensive two-day Future Leaders workshop.
Preceding the FESPA Australia Annual conference, the FESPA Future Leaders Program is a professional and personal development program to identify and develop emerging leadership talent.
Now in its third year, the program further develops the leadership skills of 12 experienced industry professionals in a two-day intensive workshop facilitated by Carl Harman. To date, the program has had 36 potential leaders undertake its programme.
Lisa Michalanney, co-owner of Signage World in Adelaide received the second-place nomination. Both Kirkland and Michalanney will receive subsidised trips to FESPA in Berlin in May 2025.
Sponsors of the 2024 FESPA Australia Annual Conference included: Diamond sponsor Orafol; Gold sponsors Durst Oceania and Visual Connections; Silver sponsors Cactus Imaging, IVE Group, and Hexis; and Bronze sponsors, Pozitive, Ball & Doggett, HVG Graphics Media, Kissel & Wolf, and Mimaki Australia.
Read more about the 2024 FESPA Australia Conference in the December issue of ProPrint magazine
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