Girls Who Print announces awards

Girls Who Print (GWP), a nonprofit organization and the world's largest network dedicated to advancing the careers of women in the print and graphic communications industry, has announced the winners of the 2025 Girls Who Print Awards following its annual global conference held on November 13.

The virtual event brought together nearly 400 registrants, with more than 100 participants joining live on Zoom and almost 900 chat interactions. The program delivered nine sessions featuring more than a dozen speakers and panelists, reflecting strong engagement and momentum across the global community.

Girls Who Print presented the 2025 Ally Award to Neil Felton, CEO of Fespa, for his leadership of Print for Good, an initiative of the Fespa Foundation that transforms surplus event materials into educational resources for schools worldwide. In 2024, the program redirected 1.5 tons of printed materials to five schools in Africa, providing posters, rulers, t-shirts and learning tools that supported more than 850 students. Felton shared updates during the conference, noting that the initiative is expanding to Brazil, Mexico, Malawi and additional regions.

The Rising Star Award, which honors emerging professionals who are shaping the future of print through innovation, visibility and leadership, was presented to Tara Seth and Mackenzie Griffin, co-hosts of the Talk More Print podcast and students at Ferris State University. Seth and Griffin were recognized for their growing influence as student leaders and industry advocates. The pair have become highly visible voices for young professionals, appearing on conference stages, participating in industry events and mentoring students who are exploring pathways into print.

Girls Who Print presented its highest honor, the 2025 Girlie Award, to Ayanfeoluwa Ibitoye, regional director at Girls Who Print Africa, for her exceptional leadership in expanding Girls Who Print across Africa. As regional director, she has built a growing network that brings women together for education, connection and career support. Her work has increased visibility for women in print, strengthened community engagement and encouraged participation from students, emerging talent and established professionals. The award included a 5,000 USD grant to support her ongoing efforts and future initiatives across the continent.

Girls Who Print enters 2026 with a strengthened commitment to advancing women in print through the launch of The Advancement Resource Center (ARC), a structured framework designed to support career development at every stage. ARC brings together access to subject matter experts, on-demand education through The Print University and the community and career support that help members build skills, expand knowledge and move forward with confidence.

'Our mission continues in 2026 with a structured framework that supports women in print throughout their careers,' noted Deborah Corn, executive director at Girls Who Print. 'The ARC and Print University strengthen that mission by expanding access to experts, education, skill building, mentorship and professional development that help women advance on their own terms. 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.'