First FESPA Australia Conference declared a success

Sustainability was the key theme when nearly one hundred delegates attended the first FESPA Australia conference held recently in Sydney.

Keynote speaker Jon Dee, Author, Broadcaster, Campaigner and Australian of The Year 2010 (NSW), opened by stressing the importance of sustainability to gain and retain business. He added that sustainability is much more than a vague 'green sympathy' and highlighted the need for innovation, efficiency, and long- term business planning.

A recurring message throughout the conference was the importance of partnerships and collaboration to bring about change. Delegates were encouraged to consider partnering up and down their supply chain with suppliers and customers to find sustainable solutions;  and to tap into the extensive resources of associations and organisations committed to sustainability.

Panel discussion mixed in with streamed interviews and presentations expanded further on the framework of the triple bottom line of People, Planet Profit.

Panelists Zaidee Jackson, from Ball & Doggett and Thomas Anderson from Starleaton, supplemented by video of Graeme Richardson-Locke, FESPA, addressed how to work toward achieving sustainable priorities. They explained that establishing clear objectives and goal setting was a priority, along with fact-checking and auditing each step of a journey towards sustainability goals.

Julian Lowe, Coritex, Jeff Barr, AFI Branding and Jordan Leach, Avery Dennison, discussed their company's practical approach to circular economic practices, including case studies of textile recycling and recycling of end caps.

The remainder of the conference focussed on people. Automation was a key focus. Nigel Davies, M-Power Software and Doug Robey, DFlow, expanded on the automation theme, arguing that the key to automation lies in collecting rich data in your cloud-based MIS and working towards standardisation and integration in small steps.

Attendees also heard an inspirational story from Jaimee Rogers, Sky News Sports Presenter, who shared her motivational journey of endurance and perseverance in recently swimming the English Channel.

Carl Harman, Imago Leadership, introduced the FESPA Future Leaders cohort, pointing out that investing in leadership and culture change will be heard in stories rather than on the bottom line such as  a team member who decided to stay rather than leave, or decisions made differently and business relationships on a new footing. Keith Ferrel, Cactus Imaging, Ben Eaton, Starleaton and Troy Cavanagh, Imagebox, gave their insights into better leadership.

Conference Organisers received positive feedback from both delegates and sponsors in attendance and expressed their support for the next event. Based on the conference's success and the Future Leaders program, planning has already commenced for 2023.

The FESPA Annual Conference was made possible through the generous support of Diamond Sponsor Orafol, Gold Sponsors Ball & Doggett, Durst, Starleaton, Visual Connections, Silver Sponsors Kissel and Wolf, M- Power Software, Cactus Imaging, Bronze Sponsors HVG and Ricky Richards.