High-profile industry leader and CEO of Look Print, David Leach steps up to the bar as the new president of Printing Industries Association of Australia. A firm change-agent and long-time community advocate, Leach tells Print21 he looks forward to the challenge of creating a dynamic vision for the future and shaking things up a bit for 2014.
Leach's appointment leaves the PIAA board in good hands, following the departure of Susan Heaney from the post, who signed off at the NSW PICAs last year. A well-respected industry leader, Leach brings with him over 20 years of hands-on experience and ground-floor industry knowledge. In 2010 he was selected by his peers to receive the inaugural Anitech Industry Legend award, and has previously served for two years as the president of GASAA. Throwing his hat into the ring, Leach says that he is just looking forward to getting in amongst it and being able to make a difference for printers.
- David Leach gets presidential
"I believe in giving more than you take, and I'm really looking forward to working with a great group of people to do just that. I think the responsibility of everyone on the PIAA board is to establish credentials for the industry, to create a vision for our members and to actively lead them into an exciting future," said Leach.
"Our role as an association is to help our members to be profitable and sustainable. Our products and services all need to be oriented towards helping members achieve that. Communication needs to be two-way, and it needs to be meaningful for members. I am focused on building relationships that really add value for printers."
Leach goes on to warmly acknowledge his predecessor, and the achievements and contributions made to the association on her watch.
“Susan and the board have done an amazing job to bring around some very important changes. Under Susan’s presidency the association has secured some substantial funding and has worked to put that back into the industry, into training and business development,” he said.
Leach is full of praise for the initiatives currently in development, apprenticeship programs, education grants and efforts to up-skill and attract younger people into the industry in what he calls a time of dynamic evolution. Building on that foundation, Leach says he is keen to tackle the next stage of the industry, pushing for strong engagement with members and working to unlock the potential for the future.