My involvement in the printing industry goes back to the 1880's when my great-grandfather emigrated from the UK and joined a printery in Sydney as a Compositor*. He progressed (as "comps" do) to eventually set up his own, small printing business in downtown Sydney - in 1903. He subsequently went on to become a founding member of the then, Master Printers' Association, along with many other famous names of the day. Apart from sharing with him the same name (Walter James Cryer), I inherited a keen interest in the welfare of the industry - one that is currently going through some fairly traumatic re-adjustments to modern realities.

My direct involvement was with our family printing business (naturally enough, called W. J. Cryer & Co. Ltd.) which became a public company in the '50's. It subsequently went on to become the first manufacturers of self-adhesive labels, under a franchise arrangement with the Avery Label organisation of California. (My father was a recent recipient of the LATMA "Hall of Fame" award for his pioneering work in introducing labels to this country.) I held various positions within the Company, including as managing director.

I subsequently ran another medium-sized label company in Sydney, and in the late '80's set up my own print and packaging consultancy, Project Packaging with Bruce Barnard (organiser of the original AUSPACK exhibitons).

In the mid '90's I decided to apply my extensive network and knowledge of the printing industry to assist clients (i.e., printing companies) find suitable staff - and - for print industry candidates to find better jobs. I initially consulted to two general recruiters, but realised that success demanded a total focus on, and understanding of, the peculiarities of the funny old industry we call "printing".

My aim, through JDA, is to produce better job-hunting outcomes, based on helpful and friendly advice - to both clients and candidates, alike.

I have been a member of the JPE (Junior Printing Executives), and was an early and continuing member of LATMA (Label & Tag Manufacturers Association).

I am also a member of the LIA (Litho Institute, NSW chapter) and JDA is a member of the PIA (Printing Industries Association of Australia). As a footnote, W J Cryer's were members of its forerunner, PATEFA, for over 50 years.

One of my most recent pleasures (in a graphic arts sense), was to deliver a speech to the 2004 graduating apprentices at Sydney's School of Printing at Ultimo. Coincidentally, my great-grandfather had performed the same role - same building - same stage - exactly 75 years ago. I use this as a metaphor for the industry as a whole: while we look to the future, it still has honourable traditions to be valued.

When not recruiting, I’d most likely be running a half-marathon, riding the mountain-bike or cross-country skiing.

W James Cryer,
JDA PRINT RECRUITMENT