The packaging and processing machinery sector’s peak industry body has announced its 2021-22 Board, with Rosanne Jessop of Pilz Automation and Tony Bowyer of Automation & Control Systems joining the executive team.
At the Australian Packaging & Processing Machinery Association (APPMA) virtual AGM held this week, the new board of directors was announced by company secretary Samantha Saunders.
Saunders explained there were two vacancies on the board to fill, and three directors were also standing for re-election, in line with the APPMA Constitution. More than 50 per cent of the membership voted via a vetted online voting system, with results collated by APPMA CEO Michael Moran.
Saunders announced that directors Robert Marguccio (vice-chairman), Mark Emmett (treasurer) and James Windsor had been successful in their re-election nomination, and she also welcomed new candidates Rosanne Jessop and Tony Bowyer to the APPMA Board. They join Mark Dingley (chairman), Peter Bradbury, Robert Becher, Mark Hollingsworth and Rym Kachouri to make up the executive team.
Rosanne Jessop brings 30 years of manufacturing experience to the table. A chemical and materials engineer by profession, she has a well-blended background of both packaging and process machinery experience.
Jessop is currently the managing director of the Pilz Australia and New Zealand. Pilz is an industrial automation and services company, headquartered in Germany, with a focus on machine safety.
Speaking to the virtual attendees and fellow board members, Jessop said, “I am honoured by your vote of confidence. I look forward to working with you in our shared determination to make the APPMA a success for all members.
“Aside from wanting to see manufacturing across South Pacific prosper, I have three key areas of Governance & Leadership that I am passionate about and skilled in: Diversity & Inclusion, Innovation & Digitalisation and Safety & Sustainability,” she said.
“I look forward to bringing that passion, commitment and knowledge to the APPMA boardroom, working collectively… to deliver on our association objectives of promotion, integration and participation.”
Tony Bowyer, owner and director of Automation Systems & Controls, has been at the helm of the business for 20 years and is a key figure in Australia's Industrial Automation and Machine Vision fraternity.
Bowyer, who learnt his automation engineering trade from the ground up, has devoted his working life to understanding the capital and social benefits that technological progression can bring to industry. His experience in automation systems design and installation covers a wide range of industries, including Food & Beverage, Pharmaceutical, Warehousing & Logistics and Irrigated Agricultural.
Accepting the nomination to the board, Bowyer said he looked forward to assisting the Australian Packaging and Processing sector to become more competitive on a global scale.
“To grow and strengthen in today's commercial landscape, business decision-makers need to embrace technological advancements. This will growth in jobs, growth in satisfaction, growth in liquidity,” he said.
Bowyer believes it should be a focus of the APPMA to educate, inform and assist members with future tech proofing their businesses.
“Accessing resources, aligning like-minded influencers and providing support forums are all ways that the APPMA can support its members, and it will be an honour for me to help the packaging and processing community via my position on the APPMA Board.”
APPMA Board directors undertake their duties in a voluntary capacity.
