Neil Felton, Chief Executive Officer of FESPA, has been named the recipient of the 2025 Girls Who Print Ally Award, acknowledging his role in steering the FESPA Foundation, a recently launched initiative dedicated to the principle of “Print For Good.” The Foundation mobilises exhibitors across FESPA’s international exhibitions to create printed educational resources for schools in South Africa and other underserved communities, contributing to safer and more inclusive learning environments.
The award recognises Felton’s efforts in harnessing the power of print to deliver tangible social value while inspiring positive change across the global print ecosystem. Through the FESPA Foundation, participating companies collaborate to support education and community development, reinforcing the relevance of print beyond commercial applications.
Girls Who Print (GWP), the organisation presenting the award, is a non-profit initiative led by Deborah Corn that focuses on advancing female careers within the print and graphic communications industries. Through education, mentorship and professional networking, GWP works to build a more inclusive, future-ready print sector and has emerged as a respected voice for equity and progress worldwide.
FESPA formally partnered with Girls Who Print during FESPA Global Print Expo 2025, held in May at Messe Berlin, Germany, demonstrating its commitment to diversity and professional development within the industry. As part of the collaboration, GWP hosted a series of speaker sessions at the SmartHub Conference, alongside a dedicated networking lunch. These sessions provided a platform for female leaders to share insights, experiences and guidance for those entering a traditionally male-dominated field.
Reacting to the honour, Neil Felton, CEO, FESPA, 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.”
Commenting on the broader mission of Girls Who Print, Deborah Corn, Executive Director, Girls Who Print, said:
“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.”
The recognition highlights the growing role of industry-led foundations and collaborations in addressing social challenges while fostering inclusion, skills development and long-term sustainability within the global print sector.
For more information on the FESPA Foundation, visit: https://www.fespa.com/en/about/fespa-foundation/