Celebrating Industry Excellence — Ewen Donaldson’s ProPrint Awards Journey
Australia’s print industry continues to be defined by innovation, craft and leadership. Each year, the ProPrint Awards — hosted by Charted Media Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of The Intermedia Group — recognise the people shaping its future. Independently audited and peer-voted, the awards uphold integrity while celebrating excellence across all levels of the sector, including the Printer 50, Supplier 50, Emerging 50, Sustainability and Industry Achievement categories.
At Vivad, we are proud that our Managing Director, Ewen Donaldson, has been consistently recognised among the ProPrint Power 50 — reflecting not only his personal commitment to the industry, but also the strength of Vivad’s team, culture and partnerships. His journey through the awards has been steady and well-earned: beginning with a 38th place in 2020 at the 10th Anniversary edition, and rising to 16th in 2021.
After Donaldson's award in 2021, he commented: "I feel very humbled and appreciative to be voted 16th in the ProPrint Power 50. I love this industry, and it’s wonderful to receive this recognition. Congratulations to all the other participants on their success and contributions." In 2024, Ewen advanced to 13th position in the ProPrint Printer Top 50.
At the 2025 ProPrint Awards in Sydney, he achieved his highest placement to date, entering the Top 10 at 8th position. Mr Donaldson was also shortlisted for the Industry Achievement Award, placing within the top five. It is a wonderful achievement to support and commemorate a milestone year — a humbling recognition as Vivad celebrates 25 years in business.
The 2025 event, like those before it, again demonstrated what makes this industry unique — competitors, alliance partners, and long-standing peers sitting shoulder to shoulder, celebrating one another’s milestones and recognising the collective progress of the wider trade. The camaraderie within the print and signage community remains a defining strength; leaders champion one another’s successes even when they compete commercially, reinforcing the shared responsibility to lift the industry forward.
In addition to the ProPrint recognition, Mr Donaldson shared his insights on the recent FESPA Conference and the FESPA Leaders Program, for which Vivad was a silver sponsor. This commitment to leadership development was further reflected in the graduation of Vivad’s Production Manager, Hussain Bhalwany, from the FESPA Australia Future Leaders program — an achievement that speaks to the business’s investment in the next generation.
Although the ProPrint Awards celebrate individuals, Ewen has consistently noted that recognition only exists because of collective effort — the dedication of Vivad staff, the trust of our customers and suppliers, and the strength of collaboration across the sector. For Vivad, these awards reinforce our commitment to advancing large-format print, lifting industry standards, nurturing upcoming talent and contributing to the continued growth and reputation of Australian print.
With over 25 years of experience, state-of-the-art large format printing facilities in Melbourne, and a team driven by excellence, Vivad remains dedicated to shaping the next chapter of the industry with integrity, partnership and pride.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank the organisers and sponsors of the ProPrint Awards. Without their dedication and support, the achievements of so many outstanding leaders, businesses, and individuals within this growing industry community would not be celebrated.
Pictured: 2025 Proprint Awards - Printer 50
To learn more about this prestigious award ceremony and view the results, please visit the ProPrint Awards article, published by Sprinter News.