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support /səˈpɔːt/

1. bear all or part of the weight of; hold up.

2. give assistance to.

Support, as a verb, becomes an action we take to assist each other throughout our professional journeys. Across a community such as Women in Print, a commitment from us all to offer support where we can, delivers a powerful network to assist us all in achieving our very best. Supporting each other with friendship, laughter, insights, advice and experience is key to the strength of our industry.

about

Women in Print is fifteen years young, with Susan Heaney, our Queensland Patron, one of the original founding Patrons (a shout out to that commitment!). Karen Goldsmith, originally under GAMAA and later Visual Connections, from the founding of the organisation led the charge of Women in Print for more than a decade before stepping down and handing the reigns to Sarah Moore, Visual Connections over the past two years. Under the Visual Connections’ management, the Women in Print Breakfast series achieved year on year record attendance, increased engagement and a growing movement that forms the new Women in Print community today.

In 2020, the Patrons have built a stronger than ever focus to continue the Women in Print journey, partnering with The Real Media Collective who has stepped into the fold, offering secretariat support and management to drive a refreshed brand and new positioning to provide a strong Community, enriched with Knowledge and Support for all women across our broad industry and inclusive Network.

Headshot of Susan Heaney - Chair of women in Print
Susan Heaney
chair
Managing Director, 
Heaney’s Performers in Print
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Sandy Aspinall
deputy chair
SA Patron

Managing Director,
Creative Juice SA Recruitment

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Lisa Blachut
WA Patron
Account & Design Manager,
Advance Press
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Debbie Burgess
NSW Patron

Managing Director,
Bright Print Group

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Stephanie Gaddin
Treasurer

Managing Director,
Rocking Rose

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Rita Karagiannis
VIC Patron

Account Director,
IVE Group Data-Driven Communications

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Kellie Northwood
Executive Secretary

Chief Executive Officer,
The Real Media Collective

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Morag Pugh
QLD Patron

Sales Executive,
QLM Label Makers

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supporters

Headshot of Susan Heaney - Chair of women in Print

Susan Heaney

Managing Director,
Heaney's Performers in Print​

Susan has been involved in print and superannuation industries for 30 years. She started her career in administration and travel before transitioning into the print sector in the late 80’s. Since then, along with managing her own nationally recognised printing company, Susan has also been the chair of the National Print Association, Co-founder and current Queensland patron of Women in Print, and is currently serving as the Chair of Media Super. Susan has always been a believer in giving it her all and is a passionate champion for all those involved in the sector.

Sandy Aspinall

Managing Director,
Creative Juice SA Recruitment​

With over 25 years’ experience working within the creative, advertising, marketing and printing industries and with many of her prior management roles incorporating staff recruitment and freelance coordination, Sandy decided to launch Creative Juice SA, having the distinct advantage of being able to draw upon her substantial knowledge and in-depth understanding of the industry, Sandy provides a fresh approach to the recruitment process offering specialist advice and expertise not just in SA, but nationally. Loving being involved as one of the SA Patrons for Women in Print for the past 3 years and now as Deputy Chair, and excited for their new direction and focus offering more support and mentorship opportunities for ladies who have been in the industry long term or who are fresh faces just starting their careers.

Lisa Blachut

Account & Design Manager,
Advance Press​

With 30 years’ experience in the design, print and publishing industry, Lisa’s career has covered all aspects of design and production and her expertise includes creative direction, brand management, marketing, publications, project and print management. For the past 10 years, Lisa has worked with Advance Press and is passionate about achieving consistent, high level design and print outcomes.

Lisa has been the Women in Print WA Patron for the last three years and sees the next chapter of WIP as exciting times ahead. She looks forward to expanding the WA network, providing support and developing mentorship opportunities for women in the design, communications and print industries.

Debbie Burgess

Managing Director
Bright Print Group

Debbie Burgess is the joint Managing Director of Bright Print Group, a 3rd generation family business which employs over 110 staff at two sites in Wetherill Park and Newcastle. 2020 is her 31st year with the organization.  Together with her brother, John Bright, they have grown and transformed the Bright Print Group into one of Australia’s most highly awarded and certified print and related services companies.

Debbie studied for an Associate Diploma in Accounting (honours) in her early years, after starting Law, and became a Member of the Institute of Professional Accountants. Debbie later went on to achieve a Master’s Degree in Business from MGSM and is a graduate of the Institute of Company Directors.

Debbie has sat on numerous industry and community boards over the last 20 years including steering committees for workers compensation and Workcover reforms. In 2016, Debbie was awarded the Western Sydney University’s Women of the West Award for her contribution to business in Western Sydney along with her philanthropic work.

Stephanie Gaddin

Managing Director,
Rocking Rose

Stephanie has been in the print industry for over 12 years, in a variety of communications and technical roles. Stephanie brings a wealth of skills and knowledge about the intersection of print and technology. A long time member and supporter of Women in Print Stephanie is currently the Managing Director of Rocking Rose a bespoke digital and technology agency, and has recently joined Image Magazines Group as the Editor of Digital Image Magazine representing the wide format and digital signage sector. Stephanie is also the Australian representative for International Print Day, a global movement to celebrate, highlight and promote all forms of print and visual communication annually.

Rita Karagiannis

Account Director,
IVE Group Data-Driven Communications

Rita is an Account Director at IVE Group in the Data-Driven Communications business. With twenty years’ experience in mail and data communications Rita has built an expansive career across operations and productions into strategic sales and client service roles. With a Bachelor of Business in Information Systems, Rita offers her team and clients operational and technical expertise into her account management and customer solutions approach. IVE Group is well recognised for building strong female leadership programs and Rita has embraced this enthusiastically with recent graduation of a Leader Factor 4 – Stages of Psychological Leadership program. Rita is a passionate, intelligent and deliverable-centric individual who currently holds the Women in Print – Victorian Patron role.

Kellie Northwood

Chief Executive Officer,
The Real Media Collective​

Kellie Northwood is the Chief Executive Officer of The Real Media Collective, an industry Association representing the paper, print, mail, publishing and distribution sectors across Australia and New Zealand. She has worked within the print industry for 20 years and held many senior roles in that time, most recently Executive Director, TSA Limited and the Chief Executive Officer of the Australasian Catalogue Association. She sits on many Boards and Industry Working Groups in an advisory capacity and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications (majoring in Journalism) and post-graduate studies in Education and Sustainability.

Morag Pugh

Sales Executive
QLM Label Makers

Morag has been involved in the printing industry for over 30 years, working across a broad range of roles at QLM Label Makers including administration, sales and managing subsidiary company: Label Print Systems. More recently Morag has transitioned to the role of Manager – People and Culture where she is actively developing and growing QLM’s stakeholders through the reinforcement of the company’s CARES values. Morag is a shareholder and Director of QLM and is looking forward to incorporating her passion and enthusiasm for the development of women across a more diverse and innovative range of roles and demographics for the print industry with her role as QLD Patron for Women in Print. 

Dr Katalin Karikó

Kimberley Jane Elizabeth Kitching was an Australian politician, lawyer, and trade unionist. A member of the Labor Party, she was a Senator for Victoria from October 2016 until her death in March 2022.

Kitching was a firm advocate of human rights protection and legislation and a proponent of Magnitsky-style legislation in Australia. She had introduced a private member’s bill in August 2021 before the government introduced its own bill in November 2021.

She was also a warm supporter of the print industry and a firm advocate and lobby partner when the industry sought support for the Keep Me Posted campaign. Without the support of Senator Kitching, Keep Me Posted, would have not achieved a Treasury Consultation nor purposeful outcome.

Vale Senator Kitching, a bipartisan campaigner respected on all sides of politics.