Print bosses from Geon, Blue Star and Opus to sleep rough for homeless charity

Representatives from Blue Star, Look Print and Smartcomm will join regulars Cheque-Mates, Geon and Opus Group to support the St Vincent De Paul CEO Sleepout.

This year, five representatives from Opus will sleep rough to raise money for homelessness, with group chief financial officer Robert Alexander joining chief executive Cliff Brigstocke, executive director Richard Celarc, APAC sales manager Carrick Wilkie and Canprint general manager Sam Holden, who all took part last year.

Brigstocke has also taken a position on the CEO Sleepout advisory board.

Another four figures from Geon Group will spend a chilly winter's night out in the elements. So far, chief executive Graham Morgan has raised nearly $6,000, the most of anyone among the printing industry contingent.

Morgan will be joined by Geon ACT business manager Phil Elsey, national operation head Roger Kirwan and group sustainability and communications manager Kellie Northwood.

Rodney Frost, chief executive of Cheque-Mates, will continue his long-running association with the fundraiser and will once again be an ambassador, which he called "humbling".

His father, Arthur Frost, a well-know industry identity and head of Lamson Paragon Group, spent time on the streets in his youth, which has driven Rodney's participation in the CEO Sleepout.

Other industry identities registered for the event include David Leach, chief executive of Sydney-based Look Print, Brad Clark, operations manager of Blue Star Print, and John Petri, chief executive of Queensland-based Smartcomm.

A host of other high-level exec from equipment vendors and other print-related companies will also take part in event, which is being held in state capitals across the country.

Familiar names include Nick Kugenthiran, managing director of Fuji Xerox Australia, Les Richardson, chief executive of Ricoh Australia, Glen Trestrail, senior general manager of Canon Australia, Brett Chenoweth, chief executive officer of APN News & Media and Chris and John Tyquin, joint managing directors of Goa Billboards.

The CEO Sleepout has grown from a single event in Parramatta in 2006 to a nationwide fundraising event that aims to raise millions of dollars to help homeless people. The 2012 fundraiser has attracted powerhouses of commerce and politics, including former Prime Minster Kevin Rudd and Commonwealth Bank chief executive Ian Narev.

This year's event takes place on Thursday 21 June 2012. Click here to find out more.