Australia's leading packaging conference

With 24 international speakers from 19 countries and 56 speakers spanning two days, the 2018 AIP National Conference is the place to be on the 2nd and 3rd of May.

• What: 2018 AIP National Conference
• When: 2 and 3 May 2018
• Where: Marriott Hotel, Surfers Paradise, Queensland
• Register to attend: http://aipack.com.au/event-registration/?ee=130

Designed for packaging designers, technologists, engineers, 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. 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 the week. The AIP is also hosting the prestigious international WorldStar Packaging Awards and the 2018 PIDA Awards as the gala dinner for the conference, a Women in Industry Breakfast Forum and 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.

A quick sample of just some of the speakers and topics:

• Nigel Garrard, Orora, A global view of packaging trends, issues & innovations
• Bettina Kurnik, Euromonitor, Global packaging sustainability: turning necessity into opportunity
• Andrew Manly, Active & Intelligent Packaging Association, Thinking smart: a new era in intelligent packaging
• Steven Chapman, Shine, Getting ready to shine: How an Australian startup created a new category of drinks (smart drinks) in their kitchen & got it into 1000 stores in 18 months
• Brooke Donnelly, Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation, Newly-released nation-wide packaging recycling label program
• Michael Lee, MLA Donor Company, What is new in the world of packaging: an Australian red meat industry view
• Antro Säilä, Finnish Packaging Association, The role of packaging in sustainability in Europe
• Karli Verghese, RMIT University, Food fight: Packaging’s role in the national consortium on fighting food waste & fraud
• Shelley McMillan, Mintel, Major trends set to influence the food & drink sector worldwide in 2018, including implications for consumers, brands, & manufacturers

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: Pat Reynolds, Packaging World (US), Steven Pacitti, Plastics in Packaging (UK), Lindy Hughson MAIP, PKN Packaging News + Food and Drink Business (ANZ), Des King, The Write Stuff (UK) and Andrew Manly, Active & Intelligent Packaging Association (UK).

2018 PIDA Awards and 2018 Worldstar Packaging Awards

The 2018 AIP National Conference dinner will be unlike any other as the AIP will be hosting the 2018 PIDA and WorldStar Packaging Awards as the gala dinner for the evening, with all of the packaging world in attendance.

The Packaging & Processing Innovation & Design Awards (PIDAs) are designed to recognise 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. The PIDAs are the only awards program in ANZ developed to recognise materials/packaging and also machinery/equipment.

The PIDAs 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 PIDAs, the 2018 event will be an international gala dinner with over 40 countries anticipated to attend. 2018 winners will be announced during the gala dinner on 2 May.

Women in industry breakfast

On 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!

Fundamentals in packaging technology interactive residential training

Needing to fill knowledge gaps in your packaging expertise? Need a broad introduction to packaging? This session is an exclusive once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet one of the US-based trainers from the Fundamentals of Packaging Technology Course, which is now available online 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 US, 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
• FPT07-01 Bottle design criteria

For further information on attending the 2018 AIP National Conference, visit www.aipack.com.au or contact the AIP on +61 7 3278 4490 or info@aipack.com.au.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/mreco