Debbie Kearns was recently appointed Printing Industries NSW regional manager
Recently appointed Printing Industries’ NSW regional manager, Debbie Kearns has already begun working on several initiatives to benefit members of the industry association. Prior to joining Printing Industries, Kearns was contract consulting, before which she was the national director of YHA Australia.
The only woman currently in the management team, she has an operational organisation background, a strong delivery focus and a good understanding of the not for profit and membership sectors.
Although backpacker tourism and printing seemingly have little in common, Kearns has drawn many parallels between the two jobs.
"Just as the backpacker tourism industry was rapidly changing, so too is the print industry," says Kearns.
She says traditionally membership based organisations are slow at responding to change, and this is something she aims to change within Printing Industries.
"It’s a matter of balancing the needs of members against the dynamics of a changing environment," she says. "We are aware of the need to do this."
She says she will encourage members to take a more holistic approach to their businesses and is currently meeting with various members to get an idea of what they want from Printing Industries.
"My primary focus will be to understand what members needs are from the association and what else we can do for them in the long run," Kearns explains of her role. "One thing that has impressed me is how big the industry is. It makes up a large component of the Australian economy, yet receives inadequate government recognition. The print industry has a lot of grunt, but a lot of people don’t understand its vastness."
In her role at YHA, Kearns says she picked a few issues and upped their profile, which is what she intends to do at Printing Industries.
She is looking at making skills training more adaptable for small and regional businesses, and aiming to get the print industry involved in government water and energy saving initiatives.
Kearns also hopes to take more events to members, particularly those in regional areas. She is currently budgeting for this for next year, and envisages members getting together regularly and meeting with experts in fields such as OH&S and suppliers to keep up with current legislation and trends.
