Susan Heaney leads the way as new Printing Industries president

Queensland print identity, Susan Heaney of Heaneys Performers in Print is the first woman national president of Printing Industries heading the newly elected committee which takes office in the new year.

Heaney (pictured) began work at the Gold Coast-based family business started by her father, Rob in 1979. Originally meant to be a short stint, she later bought the business outright in September 2007 after purchasing the equity of her previous business partner.

She joined the Printing Industries Queensland Regional Council in May 2002 as a councillor and rose rapidly through the ranks, serving time as Vice President and Deputy President before taking on the Presidency in 2006 becoming the region’s first female President. Heaney held the role for three years. For a full profile, click here.

In an industry that is constantly talking about changing its image, the appointment of a female president marks an exciting time. As a patron of Heidelberg Women in Print, Heaney has already been responsible for spreading the message to other women that it is possible to achieve success in a male-dominated industry.

“Women are coming into the marketplace in much greater numbers now as we see printing become more IT-based,” she told Print21 magazine. “I really try to push the trade to other women and encourage them.”

Other members of the new committe, the first to be elected under the new polling rules of the leading indsutry body  are:

Elected for two-year terms, the state representative board members are:
Ray Keen – Print Graphics. Victoria
Peter Lane – Lane Print Group. South Australia and NT.
Paul Richardson – Lindsay Yates Group. New South Wales.
Kieran May – Millennium Print. ACT
Danny Roach – Monotone Art Printers. Tasmania
Susan Heaney – Heaneys Performers In Print. Queensland.
Ian Smith – GEON. Western Australia.
Board members elected by the Printing Industries membership nationally were:
Chris Segaert – Permanent Press.
Simon Doggett – K W Doggett & Co.

The latter two were elected in the first nation wide ballot by all association members. The others were elected as their state representatives. The new committee will hold its first meeting in the New Year.