Joan Grace – who left New Zealand’s Print NZ to for a new training and innovation role with Australia’s PIAA – has announced her resignation.

A carefully-worded statement issued from her office says that while she has “no immediate plans”, she is looking forward to an “exciting future”.

“I’m looking forward … to the new opportunities which I’m sure will come my way in the future, whether in print or in a completely new sphere,” she says.

Grace left New Zealand’s Print NZ employers’ association and the Media Industry Training Organisation in 2012 head up a series of new training and innovation initiatives for the PIAA, and was later “co-opted” to head up its Victorian and Tasmanian state operations.

She says that the Future Print Apprenticeship Programme and Future Print Business Transformation Project are now “well established and ahead of target” made the decision to leave easier. She pays tribute to staff at Printing Industries’ Victorian office and those involved in the frontline delivery of Future Print and other national initiatives in which she has been involved.

“It has been wonderful to work with so many terrific people including those from Printing Industries, AMWU, Government, RTOs and other organisations.” She also paid tribute to businesses involved in the projects.

She says she has no immediate plans, “other than a long summer break to recharge and refocus”.