Packaging Digest and Pharmaceutical & Medical Packaging News, both leading publications serving the advanced manufacturing and packaging sectors, and Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP) have partnered to present a special session, “Meet the Press: CPGs Map the Future – Part of the IoPP Packaging Learning Center Conference”, which will be held on Monday, November 1 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m CT at PACK EXPO International 2010 at the McCormick Place in Chicago, IL.

The session will focus on such trends as sustainability, automation, open innovation and food and drug safety. In a “Meet the Press” format, co-moderators John Kalkowski, editorial director, Packaging Digest, and Daphne Allen, editor, Pharmaceutical & Medical Packaging News will question some of the most influential packaging leaders on the direction of the industry.

The event’s planners announced their newest speaker: Dr. Michael O. Okoroafor, Vice President of Packaging, R&D and Innovation at H.J. Heinz Company, a global family of leading branded products, including Heinz Ketchup, sauces, soups, beans, pasta and infant foods, Ore-Ida potato products, Weight Watchers Smart Ones entrees, T.G.I. Friday’s.

Both Pharmaceutical & Medical Packaging News and Packaging Digest provide respected editorial content to key decision-makers in the packaging market worldwide. “IoPP and PackExpo are leading organizations in the packaging industry. We’re excited to be a part of this educational program.” said Patricia Spinner, senior group publisher of Packaging Digest and Pharmaceutical & Medical Packaging News.