From:Packaging World

Designed for packaging designers, technologists, engineers, and sales and marketing people, the biennial Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP) National Conference is the largest packaging and processing conference of its kind in Australia and New Zealand.

The conference this year runs May 2-3 in the Australian city of Brisbane. Run by industry for industry, the AIP National Conference has been leading the way in professional and personal development for decades and is a part of the annual Packaging & Processing Week.

In 2018 Member Countries from the World Packaging Organisation (WPO) will be heading to Australia to speak and participate in this special week. The AIP is also hosting the prestigious international WorldStar Packaging Awards and the 2018 PIDA Awards at a gala dinner for the conference as well as A Women in Industry Breakfast Forum. In addition, five international editors from the International Packaging Press Organisation (IPPO) will be guest speakers during the two days. It is anticipated that over 30 countries will be heading to Australia, making it a truly international must-attend educational event.

Keynote speakers include: Nigel Garrard, Managing Director, Orora; Karl Deily, President, Food Care, Sealed Air; Steven Chapman, Managing Director, Shine; Jacqui Wilson-Smith, McCormick & Company; and Alan Spreckley, ABB.

The International Packaging Press Organisation (IPPO) is contributing to the conference by sending out five editors and journalists from around the world who cover packaging from various perspectives to speak at the conference. The five peer-reviewed journalists include: Steven Pacitti, Plastics in Packaging (UK); Lindy Hughson MAIP, PKN Packaging News + Food and Drink Business (ANZ); Des King, The Write Stuff (UK); Andrew Manly, Active & Intelligent Packaging Association (UK); and Pat Reynolds, Packaging World (U.S.). Packaging World, through parent company PMMI, owners of the PACK EXPO events, is a media sponsor of this Australian event.

The 2018 AIP National Conference dinner will be unlike any other as the AIP will be hosting the 2018 PIDA and WorldStar Packaging Awards at a gala. The Packaging & Processing Innovation & Design Awards (PIDA) are designed to recognize companies and individuals who are making a significant difference in their field and are coordinated by the AIP, the APPMA, and the Packaging Council of NZ. PIDA is the only awards program in ANZ developed to recognize materials/packaging and also machinery/equipment. The PIDA Awards are the exclusive entry point for a number of the categories for the WorldStar Packaging Awards. As the AIP will be hosting the prestigious and international annual WorldStar Packaging Awards for the World Packaging Organisation alongside of the PIDA Awards, the 2018 event will be an international gala dinner with over 40 countries expected to attend. 2018 Winners will be announced during the evening of May 2.

PKN Packaging News and Food & Drink Business will be hosting their inaugural Women in Industry breakfast event on the 3 May. Executive coach and author Belinda Brosnan will deliver the keynote session on personal leadership, followed by a panel discussion featuring influential and inspiring women working in the food, beverage, and packaging industry. The panel will explore why diversity matters in the workplace, best practice approaches to building inclusive teams, obstacles to be overcome to increase gender balance in line management roles, and how diversity can enable growth and value creation. The event will not only be an ideal networking opportunity, it will also be an insightful forum demonstrating how women in our industry navigate their roles and responsibilities and make a positive contribution to the workplace. You don't have to be a woman to attend – everyone is welcome!

Needing to fill knowledge gaps in your packaging expertise? Need a broad introduction to packaging? Sessions offered by the Institute of Packaging Professionals represent an opportunity to meet one of the U.S.-based trainers from the Fundamentals of Packaging Technology Course that is now available on-line throughout Australasia through the AIP. The FPT course is designed as bite-sized modules and is set up for the convenience of busy working professionals, and the training platform is functionally intuitive. Jane Chase, CEO of the IoPP in the U.S., will be presenting three of the most popular modules during the day to help you better understand the FPT course and available units and lessons. The session will include: FPT03-1 Paper and Paperboard Materials, FPT03-03 Corrugated Fibreboard, and FPT07-01 Bottle Design Criteria. No other time will the ANZ industry be offered residency-training for this course.