Pro markets group makes headway

The inaugural meeting of the professional markets funding allocation group, the PMC was held in the Bicentennial Park Convention Centre, near Sydney's Olympic Park, on November 11.

It brought together the leadership groups of PICA's professional division, under Bruce Pottinger of L&P, with John Swainston (president) and director Rob Gatto (Kayell) also attending. AIPP was represented by Alice Bennett (president) and John De Rhoy (treasurer) and several committee representatives; ACMP (Marc Munro, vce president) and other board members; and Peter Eastway and Paul Burrows representing media interests in professional photography. Celebrated commercial landscape photographer, Ken Duncan contributed strongly in areas of advocacy and public access for photographers.

Paul Curtis, PICA's consulting executive director, acted as facilitator for the day, in what will be one of his final roles as executive director, prior to his retirement from PICA at the end of 2008. (Paul continues as a consultant to the PMA Australia 2009 show in June.)

Convened as a result of new funding flowing from the new partnership between PMA and PICA around the annual tradeshow, the new group resolved a series of initiatives aimed at at growing the industry's potential customer reach, developing a stronger united advocacy position and looking at multiple ways to improve outreach to several professional vertical markets in fields of education and accreditation development.

In a six-hour session drawing pro market leaders from WA and North Queensland, Tasmania, NSW and Victoria, the meeting was the most broad-based and representative of the entire pro industry for nearly 20 years. Fittingly it started with a minute's silence to remember the fallen, given it opened at 11am on Remembrance Day, reviewed where the opportunities for greater effectiveness may lie and agreed to conserve funds for projects that several working parties will be established to work on involving all representative organisations early in 2009.

Attendees were unanimous in their appreciation of Bruce Pottinger's long role as PICA VP for Pro markets, a role he will be handing over to Robert Gatto of Kayell, after more than a decade in the position.

Delegates closed the day thanking Paul Curtis for his continuing efforts to promote the industry and develop cross-association networks for the ultimate good of all.

- John Swainston