Visual Connections: Our Board
The Visual Connections Board sets the vision and strategy for Visual Connections, ensuring the association's ongoing relevance and value to the print and graphic communications sector.
Working closely with the company's management and staff, the Directors are responsible for delivering on the company's mandate: To contribute to a sustainable future by supporting our members - the industry's suppliers - and the wider sector, through initiatives including Education, Exhibitions, Sponsorship, Grants and Networking Opportunities.
The Board is comprised of eight Directors who are voluntary individuals from member companies. The Board is elected by the membership at the Annual General Meeting in November each year. Expressions of interest in joining the Board and sub-committees are most welcome - to find out more about nominating yourself or a colleague, please contact Peter Harper
Meet the Directors
President | John Wall - Managing Director, Roland DG
"Visual Connections plays a vital role as an industry sounding board, where needs and requirements can be addressed on a level playing field. It has long provided the best industry market material, trade shows and events and I think recent achievements in consolidating associations and events planning have been very important. Sitting on the Board is a great way to get an elevated view and understanding of the sector and where my own company fits, to network with others, and to give back to an industry which welcomed me from outside, allowed me to provide - and receive - support and knowledge, and showed a level of acceptance which is wonderful to reflect on. While it's hard work, I'd recommend anyone who enjoys a challenge and making a contribution actively look into it. New blood equals new ideas and perspectives - and every association needs that, to prevent us just doing what's easy and comfortable."
Vice-President | Ben Eaton - CEO, Starleaton
"Visual Connections has led the way for association consolidation and collaboration. With a strong focus on education and a sustainable future for our industry, Visual Connections is taking an active approach to attracting new talent to the various industry sectors we represent. In a mature, highly competitive space like ours, providing a unified voice to tackle the issues that face the market as a whole is critical. Diversity ensures we are best placed to meet the challenges ahead, and I’m happy to bring my perspective to the Board."
Treasurer | Luke Wooldridge - National Sales Manager, Fujifilm Australia
"Being on the board of Visual Connections has been a rewarding and educational experience. It has extended both my professional and personal networks, introducing me to senior executives from other companies, some of whom now serve as sounding boards and mentors, and many friendships have been formed. I believe it is important for the suppliers of our industry to work with and support other industry associations to contribute to the growth and strength of the print, graphics and signage industries. Visual Connections does this through education, exhibitions, sponsorship, grants and networking opportunities. Like any association, gradual and continual change is essential to develop new ideas and ultimately grow our association. I would encourage current members to consider becoming actively involved in the association in the future either through an appointment to a working group or by nominating for a position on the board."
Director | Ian Martin - General Manager - Trade, Ferag Australia
"Our industry is so diverse, it needs an association to represent the multiple suppliers who service it; this is where Visual Connections provides important guidance and a single voice, as well as initiatives from exhibitions to helping develop career paths for school leavers. You only get back what you put in, and being on the Visual Connections Board gives me the chance to influence and contribute to an industry which has provided me with a career across the world."
"I believe that having a strong, representative voice at association level is vitally important for both industry businesses and for suppliers, and am delighted to add a representative voice for the local, family-owned businesses who play such an important role in our industry. As someone who has been involved in this diverse sector for many years, I have seen and appreciated the work Visual Connections has done with expos, events and education - a subject I consider particularly important - and the way they cooperate so closely with other industry associations to drive benefits for both suppliers and consumers. I look forward to working with the Board and the operational team to continue that united front, in the strong belief that working together on projects which benefit all is the best way to build a strong and successful industry into the future."
Director | Russell Cavenagh - Managing Director, Mutoh Australia
"The Visual Connections board is a valuable industry association that is closely tied to the day-to-day activities, and challenges, for our vibrant visual communications industries. It provides an open forum for frank discussion, strategy development, and event planning to provide economic benefit to the industry, its participants, and the associated businesses. Being a board member allows me to contribute based on 30+ years of industry experience, watching emerging industry trends, seeing new opportunities and challenges develop, and helping shape industry directions to meet those challenges, plan and create educational opportunities to take full advantage of these emerging trends. Via subcommittees, the Visual Connections board also actively seeks broader representation and input from the design, print, sign, and packaging sectors so it can hear their unique, and often competing, requirements in a forum where collectively they can achieve a greater perspective to their benefit."
Director | Mitchell Mulligan - Managing Director, Böttcher Australia
"Visual Connections provides the suppliers of our industry with a unique opportunity to speak with a united voice and make a well-considered and meaningful contributions to the industry. As suppliers, I believe we have a responsibility to our customers to ensure we engage with them and identify ways to maximise our contribution to their businesses, be that through education, best practice information, or new ideas and technologies. Visual Connections provides a platform for us to pursue such endeavours in a unified way, with tools like trade shows, conferences & seminars. For me, being on the Board is the optimal way to give back and contribute to the future of our industry."
Director | Peter Wagener - Managing Director, Euro Poles
“For our company, Visual Connections is primarily a source of connections and relationships within the industry. That’s particularly important as I’m based in the very isolated city of Perth. We joined five years ago after the successful launch of our textile framing system at PacPrint and have stayed to see the growth of our business through trade shows. I believe that if you want to see change in the industry, you have to get involved; to be the catalyst for that change. It’s important for all Boards to refresh regularly, with the energy and motivation new people bring. I am looking forward to contributing by providing a different viewpoint to balance those of more ‘typical’ suppliers, and to sharing the experience I’ve gained through business and by travelling the world to trade shows for many years.”
