Neil Felton, CEO of FESPA, has received the 2025 Girls Who Print Ally Award in recognition of his leadership of the FESPA Foundation. The Foundation was launched earlier this year to demonstrate the principle of Print For Good.
The initiative brings together exhibiting companies at FESPA exhibitions. These companies produce printed educational resources for schools in South Africa and other underserved communities. The programme focuses on creating safer and more supportive learning environments through print.
Celebrating Leadership and Community Engagement
The Girls Who Print Ally Award recognises individuals who use print to create positive social impact. The award also acknowledges efforts that inspire the global print community to engage with inclusion and education.
Felton received the honour for leveraging print as a tool for meaningful change while encouraging industry-wide participation.
About Girls Who Print
Led by Deborah Corn, Girls Who Print (GWP) is a non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing female careers in the print and graphic communications industries. The organisation supports women through education, mentorship, and professional networking.
Girls Who Print promotes equity and progress across the print sector. It continues to serve as a respected voice for inclusion and professional development worldwide.
FESPA and Girls Who Print Partnership
FESPA partnered with Girls Who Print at FESPA Global Print Expo 2025, held in May at Messe Berlin, Germany. The partnership highlighted FESPA’s commitment to diversity and inclusion across the print industry.
During the event, GWP led multiple speaker sessions at the SmartHub conference, along with a networking lunch. These sessions invited visitors to hear from female leaders in print. Participants also shared insights and personal experiences on building careers in a traditionally male-dominated industry.
Industry Leaders Share Their Perspectives
Neil Felton, CEO, FEPA, said:
“I’m truly honoured to receive the 2025 Girls Who Print Ally Award. We (the FESPA team) were delighted to initiate a partnership with Deborah Corn this year, and to us, this is just the beginning. Girls Who Print is a truly inspirational organisation and we look forward to seeing what is in store for our relationship in the future. This is more than just an award, it’s global recognition for the FESPA Foundation and I am proud to be accepting this on behalf of everyone who has supported us on our journey. Thank you.”
Deborah Corn, Executive Director of Girls Who Print, commented:
“Our mission to support women in print throughout their careers will continue in 2026. The ARC and Print University strengthen this mission by expanding our access to experts, education, skill building, mentorship, and professional development. Membership and sponsorship contributions are essential to powering our mission, expanding our offerings, and strengthening our global community. We deeply appreciate the companies that support our work and look forward to welcoming many more in the coming year.”
Strengthening the Global Print Ecosystem
Through initiatives such as the FESPA Foundation and partnerships with organisations like Girls Who Print, the print industry continues to address education, inclusion, and community development. These efforts reinforce print’s role as a force for positive and sustainable change.
For more information on the FESPA Foundation, visit the official FESPA website.
