Following a successful Queensland launch, the Visual Media Association (VMA) has announced that it will now roll out its new Industry Leadership Lunch series nationally, targeting 5th March for Sydney, followed by Melbourne in April, then Adelaide and Perth in May.
Locally-based leaders from Spot Productions, Printcraft, CPS Printing, Platypus Print & Packaging, Southport Printing, EPG, Percival Print & Packaging, Ricoh Australia, Kingswood Print, Sunprint, Colorcorp Group, IBS Cards, Buckner Brand Management, QPrint, Cornerstone Press, Ball & Doggett, EPM Print Group and Impressu (IVE Group) attended the inaugural VMS Queensland Industry Leadership Lunch.
Kellie Northwood, VMA CEO, says: “What we saw in Queensland was a room full of committed leaders who genuinely want to work together on the big issues facing our sector, from workforce and skills, to sustainability, supply chain resilience and government policy.”
“The Industry Leadership Lunch clearly created space for open, honest conversations and practical next steps. Taking this initiative national will strengthen our collective voice and ensure the priorities of our members are heard at the highest levels, creating a consistent platform in every State and territory for our senior leaders to connect.”
Having sponsored the inaugural Queensland lunch, Ricoh Australia has further committed to sponsor the national series and Mark Moro, Ricoh Australia’s Graphic Communications National Sales Manager, confirms: “We see enormous value in creating spaces like this, where industry leaders can step away from day-to-day pressures and focus on the bigger picture.”
“Strong collaboration, shared insight and practical leadership are critical as the industry evolves, and Ricoh is pleased to support initiatives that help drive those outcomes nationally.”
The Queensland lunch was opened by VMA Queensland Board Director Tom Eckersley and featured a high-level update on key VMA national initiatives designed to support members and future-proof the industry. These included the Association’s new HR/IR Portal with industry-specific content, the Inkers - Make Your Mark emerging talent program supporting apprentices and early-career professionals, and Sustainable Green Print & Sign (SGP+S) certification, now linked to globally recognised environmental standards and increasingly referenced in government and corporate procurement.
Discussions at the Queensland lunch highlighted several consistent themes affecting businesses across the state. Workforce challenges, particularly skills shortages and an ageing workforce, were identified as a major long-term risk, alongside the need to better attract, train and retain younger employees. Supply chain reliability, equipment servicing capacity and freight disruptions were also raised as operational pressures impacting productivity and cost.
Energy costs and broader manufacturing support featured strongly, with participants noting significant price increases and calling for greater government assistance for renewables and on-site generation. Queensland-specific advocacy priorities, including payroll tax relief, Buy Australian procurement settings and targeted manufacturing support, were also discussed.
Importantly, the lunch reinforced the role of the VMA as a central conduit between industry and government. The Association outlined its intensified lobbying and advocacy efforts across packaging reform, illegal logging legislation, industrial relations and mail services, and committed to working more closely with Queensland members to develop a targeted state advocacy agenda.
Northwood adds: “These lunches are not talkfests, they are about listening, prioritising and then acting. Our role is to take what we hear from industry leaders and turn it into coordinated advocacy, practical resources and stronger representation.”
The national rollout of the Industry Leadership Lunch will be a key part of that approach.”
