The Change 1 Woman (C1W) networking events and booth brought women in the industry together to connect, network, share ideas and build meaningful relationships at the Sign Africa and FESPA Africa expos at Gallagher Convention Centre from 8-10 September 2026.

Riasha Naidu, Managing Director of Unistar Inks, breaks down the concept of ‘blushing’ in ink. The first time someone told me, ‘The ink is blushing’, I thought, ‘fantastic now even the ink has feelings’. As if we don’t have to manage enough emotions on the production floor.

South Africa’s new Entrepreneur of the Year, Taryn Hunter Sharman, explains that when she started Faith & Fear more than a decade ago, she thought the name was about choosing faith over fear.

Presented under the overarching theme, ‘PressHER Forward’, this year’s Women in Print series celebrated how far women in the industry have come while encouraging them to move confidently towards new opportunities, stronger leadership and greater influence.

At the Sign Africa and FESPA Africa Expo, Eco Signage Supplies will be hosting a Women’s Wrap Challenge in partnership with Wrapture for Change 1 Woman (C1W). The challenge is open to all women, whether they are experienced installers or trying vinyl application for the first time. The event is taking place from 8-10 September 2026, at Gallagher Convention Centre.

Ché Wannenburg, External Sales & Project Manager at Screenline South Africa, has built her career in the printing industry after growing up around the business through her father, Rew Wannenburg. As part of Sign Africa’s Change 1 Woman initiative, Wannenburg discusses her introduction to the industry, the importance of creating genuine opportunities for women, challenging stereotypes and her experience with Printing SA’s PrintHER mentorship programme.

Charnia Yapp, founder of Change 1 Woman and Publisher at Practical Publishing, reflects on her career journey, the opportunities available to women in the print and packaging industry, and the importance of confidence, mentorship and creating opportunities for women to grow and succeed.

Kristin Mento, Head Designer and Creative Department Manager at TopInc Branding and Design, discusses her career in the creative industry, the importance of mentoring, supporting women in the workplace and why success is about more than professional recognition.

Robin Lee Stewart, Junior Technical Support Specialist at DigitalView, discusses the opportunities that have shaped her career, how continuous learning keeps her motivated, and why creating inclusive workplaces is important for women in the print and technology industries.

Prunel Bhoopal, Branch Manager at GSW Durban, is a confident women, passionate about growth, people and making a difference. As part of the Change 1 Woman (C1W) Women’s Month interview series, Bhoopal shared her career journey, the mentor who challenged her to step outside her comfort zone, and the lessons she has learnt while progressing from receptionist to Branch Manager.

Michelle Robson, COO at Merpak Envelopes (Pty) Ltd and CEO at Rotunda (Pty) Ltd, has spent more than 25 years building her career in South Africa’s print and paper industry. From starting out in internal sales to taking on senior leadership roles, Robson has also contributed to the broader industry through her involvement with Young Management in Print (YMP) and Printing SA.

Heilet Grobler, Director of Uvo Communication, has built a career spanning more than 30 years in the printing and communications industry. During Women’s Month, Grobler spoke to Africa Print about her career journey, how her definition of success has evolved, the role companies can play in supporting women and why the perception of printing as a man’s industry needs to change.

Kitty Mhlongo, Marketing Manager at Kemtek, writes that there is something fitting about an event celebrating women in print being full of women who aren’t afraid to put their own stamp on things. At the recent Printing SA Women in Print event, Kemtek’s Consumer Solutions team brought that idea to life with an HPRT photo and sticker printer activation.

Virosha Pillay, Director at Avvo Labels, discusses her career in the family owned manufacturing business, the importance of creating opportunities for women and why leadership should be measured by capability, resilience, vision and results rather than gender.

Heilet Grobler, Director of Uvo Communication, has built a career spanning more than 30 years in the printing and communications industry. During Women’s Month, Grobler spoke to Africa Print about her career journey, how her definition of success has evolved, the role companies can play in supporting women and why the perception of printing as a man’s industry needs to change.

Samantha Maizey, Business Development Manager at Maizey Plastics, spoke to Sign Africa as part of the Change 1 Woman interview series for Women’s Month, discussing her career journey, supporting women in the workplace, mentorship and the importance of resilience.

In the spirit of celebrating Women’s month, OFYT (Old Friends Young Talent) is highlighting the women behind the agency’s creative, PR, social media and marketing work, and the influence they have in shaping the future of brand storytelling.

Koketso Masisi, Executive Creative Director at Retroviral, spoke to Modern Marketing about her journey into creative leadership, building inclusive teams, creating opportunities for women of colour and why women needed to be brave enough to make themselves visible.

Liezle Barrie, National Sales Manager for Consumables at Intamarket Graphics, hosted and organised the Change 1 Woman (C1W) Cocktails & Conversations event on 17 July, held at KYOCERA Document Solutions South Africa’s Midrand offices. 

Ashleigh du Sart has been appointed as Group CEO of Ren-Form CC Group. This marks a new chapter for the business, which has every confidence that her vision and leadership will continue to drive the Ren-Form Group forward.

The appointment Koketso Masisi as its first Executive Creative Director (ECD), reflects both Masisi’s creative leadership and Retroviral’s transformation over the past four years from a specialist social media agency into one of South Africa’s leading independent integrated creative businesses.

Printing SA hosted the 2026 Women in Print event on 7 August at The Chosen Convention & Expo Centre in Johannesburg, bringing together women from across the printing, packaging, signage and visual communications sectors. Sign Africa, Africa Print and Modern Marketing were proud media partners.

The PrintHER Mentorship Programme is back. What began as a bold idea is now a movement. In its inaugural year, the PrintHER Mentorship Programme welcomed 57 women from across South Africa into a transformative seven month journey and every single one of them is set to graduate at this year’s Women in Print event series.

Aziza Mahomed has been appointed as Canon South Africa’s new key account manager. In her new role, Mahomed will work closely with commercial print businesses across South Africa, helping customers identify opportunities to increase productivity, expand their service offerings and unlock new revenue streams through innovative print technologies.

The MENstruation Foundation, together with Joe Public and Independent Media, launched the Period Paper campaign. The campaign uses the very material girls resort to in the absence of pads to force a national reckoning.

Change 1 Woman (C1W) interviewed Rabina Banda, Marketing Executive and Social Media at FESPA, about her journey from community radio volunteering to a global role in print industry communications through Women in Print, FESPA, C1W and the PrintHER Mentorship Programme.

As South Africa continues to search for solutions to unemployment, entrepreneurship stands out as one of the most practical and powerful drivers for income and success. According to SA’s new Entrepreneur of the Year, Taryn Hunter Sharman, business success is possible if you are willing to embrace the realities of the journey.

Change 1 Woman interviewed Thandi Kgosana, Lead publisher of Mathematics at Maskew Miller Learning during the Printing SA PrintHER Mentorship networking event in Cape Town.

Demographica’s Chief Client Officer Marloe Wise has taken up the role of Managing Director, succeeding the agency’s founder Warren Moss, who has been at the helm for close on 19 years. Wise has been a pivotal force in Demographica’s success for over 15 years, shaping the agency’s culture, refining its operations, and leading key client relationships.

Join us at the C1W networking event at the Sign Africa Durban expo. This event will give women in the industry a chance to meet, share challenges, access support, and explore opportunities in training, mentorship, and business.

The Change 1 Woman (C1W) initiative is grateful to have the support and sponsorship from women like Illze Bester, Business Unit Manager from Kolok Graphic Supplies (KGS), who stepped up and hosted the C1W Bloemfontein event when I could not.

Cover Styl’ South Africa, in partnership with Change 1 Woman (C1W), awarded Blue Barn Interiors with a fully funded training course involving the application of Cover Styl’s Architectural Adhesive Films.

Sign Africa interviewed Angelique Greer, Group Marketing Director and Assistant Sales Manager at Midcomp. Midcomp came on board as a Change 1 Woman (C1W) sponsor this year at the Cape Town networking event.

Muneeba Juta Wheeler, Sales Representative at Africa Stereos, discusses the lessons learnt during her 17 years in the industry, flexo printing trends, overcoming insecurities, and more.

NUtec Digital Ink signed up as a sponsor of the Change 1 Woman (C1W) initiative this year and has supported the Bloemfontein, Cape Town and upcoming Durban networking events so far.

It is thanks to sponsors like GSW who have got behind the Change 1 Woman (C1W) initiative from the start with such enthusiasm, especially at the Cape Town and Johannesburg networking events. Sign Africa interviewed Michaela Franco, digital marketing manager at GSW, and she shares her thoughts on the industry, trends, the key to success and what we can do attract young talent to the industry.

Deep South Report is a technology-enabled community information system that provides verified, real-time updates to more than 20,000 residents and travellers across the Southern Peninsula in Cape Town.

Kaylene Lloyd, COO, Offernet, writes that the contemporary high-powered workspace is undergoing a brutal but necessary pivot. We are witnessing the transition from the era of ‘aesthetic capital’, where women were often relegated to being ‘decorations’ or, as neuroscientist Dominika Staniewicz frames it, ‘desserts’, to a paradigm defined by Intellectual Authority.

Change One Woman (C1W) is an initiative dedicated to empowering women through connection, conversation and support. Be prepared to be uplifted, guided and inspired. The C1W networking event is your platform to connect with women in branding, print and signage.

Cover Styl’ South Africa partnered with Change One Woman (C1W) to give free wrapping training on Cover Styl’ Architectural Adhesive films to one lucky woman owned business. BlueBarn Interiors has been announced as the winner of this free course.

The successful Change One Woman (C1W) networking event, sponsored by Kolok Graphic Supplies and NUtec Digital Ink, was held at the Sign Africa Bloemfontein Expo on 11 February. C1W is an initiative dedicated to empowering women through connection, conversation and support.

Cover Styl’ South Africa is partnering with Change 1 Woman (C1W) to give free wrapping training on Cover Styl’ Architectural Adhesive films to one lucky woman owned business.

Attend the free Change 1 Woman (C1W) networking event, taking place at the Africa Print Expo in Bloemfontein. The event takes place 11 February 2026 at Ilanga Estate, at 12pm. This is your platform to connect with women in signage, print and branding.

Printing SA hosted the first of three PrintHER Mentorship networking events in Johannesburg at the Court Yard Hotel in Waterfall City on Saturday 24 January. It was a great opportunity to connect, learn and engage with fellow PrintHER Mentorship Programme participants over breakfast. 

In South Africa, women make up 51.1% of the population and are often the backbone of their families. Statistics South Africa indicated that South Africa’s official unemployment rate was 31.9% in the third quarter of 2025. The youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) fell to a two-year low of 58,5% in the third quarter.

Proceeds from the Change 1 Woman (C1W) T-shirts that were sold on the C1W stand at the Sign Africa and FESPA Africa expo in September were used to support 18twenty8, a women-led non-profit organisation that empowers young women by developing strategies for their educational and personal development.

Change 1 Woman (C1W) hosted a successful networking event on Wednesday 10 September at the Sign Africa and FESPA Africa expo. Attendees could connect with women in branding, print and signage, and left feeling uplifted, guided and inspired.

As part of the Women’s Month interview series, Change 1 Woman (C1W) spoke to female industry trailblazers about industry trends, the key to success, and more. C1W is an initiative dedicated to empowering women in branding, print and signage through connection, conversation and support.

Change 1 Woman (C1W) spoke to female industry trailblazers about industry trends, empowering women in the industry, and more. C1W is an initiative dedicated to empowering women in branding, print and signage through connection, conversation and support.

The new Change One Woman (C1W) website, a platform featuring information on upcoming C1W networking events, news and informative women-led content and information on training opportunities, is live. Website visitors can also get an overview of what C1W is about, and how to get involved.

Avery Dennison has sponsored badges for the Change 1 Woman (C1W) initiative, which aims to uplift and support women in the branding, print and signage industries. C1W is dedicated to empowering women through connection, conversation and support.

As part of their aim to support women in print, Printing SA and FP&M SETA sponsored the Change 1 Woman (C1W) networking events held at the Sign Africa Polokwane, Durban and Cape Town expos.

The successful Change One Woman (C1W) networking event, sponsored by FP&M SETA, Printing SA and Graphix Supply World, was held at the Sign Africa Cape Town Expo on 15 May.

Change One Woman (C1W) hosted a free networking event at the Sign Africa Expo in Durban on 5 March. The event aimed to empower women through connection, conversation and support.

Change One Woman (C1W) is hosting a free networking event at the Sign Africa Expo in Durban on 5 March.

Change One Woman (C1W) is an initiative dedicated to empowering women through connection, conversation and support.

The first Sign Africa Expo of 2025 was held in Polokwane on 12 February at Meropa Casino. The event inspired over 250 visitors from 149 print and signage companies from the region.

Product experts from all the leading brands and companies will also advise you about the latest and most relevant products to help streamline and grow your business at the Sign Africa Polokwane Expo, taking place on 12 February 2025 from 9am-5pm.

Change One Woman (C1W) is a new initiative dedicated to empowering women through connection, conversation and support. Launched as a women-led initiative, C1W aims to bring women together in the branding, print and signage industries.