Former chief executive of IPMG Stephen Anstice is to review Australia’s national and regional print awards scheme.

The Printing Industries Association of Australia took over organisation of the peak National Print Awards from its private owners last year. Now the organisation has invited Anstice to review current industry awards.

The NPA ran as an independent entity for 29 years until the limited company that ran it was wound up and the awards transferred to the PIAA last year. It is currently managed by a PIAA committee.

Since 2007, entries have come directly (and only) from gold winners of the PIAA’s own state based PICA awards.

Now with fewer printing companies and fewer entries, regional PICA events have had to be scaled down. A PIAA statement says it believes the print awards “need to remain relevant to all stakeholders and provide value to attract sponsors”.

Presentation events in several states have been turned from formal dinners to cocktail functions, while organisation still takes “a significant amount of staff time” in each state, while the voluntary work of judges and local committees “as well and the cost of work done free or below market rates” has hardly diminished.

Anstice’s brief (also as a volunteer) is to review options for the industry to showcase excellence. “He will have no influence over any judging as this will remain under the control of the various awards committees,” says a spokesman.

Sponsors, the NPA and local PICA committees, participating and some non-participating companies, and key industry opinion leaders are being asked for their views ,and the review is to be presented to the PIAA’s national board “by January”. Views are welcome to awardsreview@printnet.com.au