Louise Paton named as 2026 FESPA Australia Future Leader
After an intense two-day leadership program, Lousie Paton from VMG Print Group has been voted by her peers on the program as this year’s 2026 FESPA Australia Leader. Easy Signs’ Customer Experience Manager, Beth Corbin, received the second place nomination, and both will receive subsidised trips to attend FESPA Global Print Expo in Munich in April next year.
Receiving the accolade, Paton said “I feel humbled and honoured to have received this award. I have really enjoyed the program, the connections we have made as a group and the difference we can make in the industry. I’m looking forward to attending FESPA Munich in 2027 to expand my network, see new technologies and continue to learn.”
As has become the custom over the five years since the FESPA Leaders Program has now been running, all twelve industry professionals who undertook this year’s program were invited to relax after the pressure of the preceding two days at a special FESPA 2026 Leaders Meet & Greet Drinks, which this year was held at Sydney Cidery.
At the event, world renowned coach and mentor, Carl Harman, who again delivered the program, said: “Each year, the calibre of candidates who participate in this program shows the absolute quality that Australia’s printing industry is consistently capable of nurturing. Whilst Louise and Beth each received deserved nominations from their peers as stand-outs on the course, all twelve participants were again of an exceptional standard and I have no doubt that they will confidently take their new found skills back into their respective businesses and shine even brighter going forwards.”
FESPA Australia President Nigel Davies added: “We are really proud that this program, now in its fifth year, has created an alumni of more than 60 printing industry leaders who will take the lessons they have learnt through the program, to take this industry forwards into the future. When we started the program, we said we were going to build a print army, and we are well on the way.”
Davies also noted that the program is only made possible by the generous support of the sponsors, acknowledging Gold Sponsors, Durst Oceania, Easy Signs and Smartech; Silver sponsors, Cactus Imaging, IVE Group and Mimaki; Bronze sponsors Ball & Doggett and HVG Graphics Media; and Supporter Sponsor Kissel + Wolf.
The program itself has three objectives: to develop participants’ leadership capability; to build lasting connections among a diverse group of leaders, in Australia and internationally; and to deepen participants’ understanding of the industry and the critical issues shaping its future.
Congratulations to all this year’s 2026 FESPA Leaders Program graduates: Steph Wilbow, Beth Corbin and Anthony Zuabovic from Easy Signs, Gabriella Bartolo from IVE Group, Coadie Bingham (Factory One), Daniel Buerker (Tiger Corp), Jacky Chan (HVG Graphics Media), Kathy Doan from Corrective Services NSW, Chris Gardiner (The Print Factory), Louise Paton (VMG Print Group), Tammy Roos (Formul8) and Kris Pratt (Orafol)
