Session Details

According to recent data, women make up only 31% of the print industry with even fewer in manufacturing and production roles. Why is this, is this figure rising, and how can we attract more women into careers in the print industry? As the industry faces challenges such as an ageing workforce and difficulties attracting new talent, it’s more important than ever to address this statistic. So how do we go about this? 

Hosted by Karis Copp, Managing Director of Karis Copp Media, a B2B PR and comms agency specialising in the print industry, this session will hear from a panel of women who’ve made successful careers in various areas of the industry, and draw on their own experiences of how they came to be in print and their experiences of working in a traditionally male-dominated industry. Together, the panel will explore why there is still an imbalance within print, and how we can tip the scales. 

Speakers

Deborah Corn

Deborah Corn

Intergalactic Ambassador to the PrinterversePrint Media Centr / Girls Who Print
Deborah Corn is the Intergalactic Ambassador to the Printerverse at Print Media Centr and the Executive Director of Girls Who Print, a global non-profit supporting women across their careers in the print industry. She is an international speaker, blogger, and host of Podcasts from The Printerverse, which plays in 156 countries.

Deborah leads the Print Production Professionals Group on LinkedIn, the largest print community on the platform, and founded Project Peacock, an educational initiative that has connected with more than 8,000 print customers, students, and printers through live events, online programs, and streaming video on ProjectPeacock.TV.

She is also the creator of International Print Day, an annual global celebration of print, and the founder of PrintFM, the first 24/7 global internet radio station dedicated to print and graphic communications, streaming at printfmradio.com.
Karis Copp

Karis Copp

Managing DirectorKaris Copp Media
Karis Copp is Managing Director of Karis Copp Media, a B2B communications agency focused on the printing industry. She got her start in print as a trade journalist and has worked as a writer and commentator, editor, moderator, and communications specialist across global print markets for a decade, founding Karis Copp Media in 2018.
Carys Evans

Carys Evans

Account ManagerKaris Copp Media
Carys Evans started out in the print industry in 2018 and with a background in journalism, has held various positions at industry trade publications Print Monthly and SignLink. For the past two years, Carys held the position of editor of both publications until she made to move to B2B PR and Communications, joining Karis Copp Media in October, 2024 as an Account Manager. She is now immersing herself in all things PR and Comms whilst keeping her passion for print very much alive.
Gemma Mitchell

Gemma Mitchell

Managing DirectorParagon – Dagenham
Gemma Mitchell is managing director at Paragon’s flagship Dagenham site — one of the UK’s largest and most advanced print and mail facilities. With over 20 years of experience in print, production, and customer communications, Gemma leads a team of over 500 people, delivering high-volume, high-impact campaigns for some of the UK’s most recognisable brands.

Known for her people-first approach, Gemma is passionate about championing diversity, empowering the next generation of talent, and driving innovation in a traditionally male-dominated sector. Under her leadership, the site has achieved record performance, won industry awards, and led the way in sustainable, personalised communications at scale.

As a voice for women in the industry, Gemma is committed to opening doors and creating space for more women to thrive and lead in print and production.

Date & Time

3:00 pm – 3:30 pm

Speakers

Deborah Corn

Karis Copp

Carys Evans

Gemma Mitchell

The Knowledge Zone