The Packaging Technologist of the Year Award is designed to recognise and acknowledge the outstanding achievements and contribution by an individual currently working within the Packaging industry across Australia, New Zealand & Asia.
The judges were looking for packaging technologists, engineers, specialists, designers who have demonstrated advanced technical packaging skills and competencies through projects, initiatives and unique packaging designs. From a field of strong contenders, the 2024 Packaging Technologist of the Year was announced as Nicholas Campbell, general manager Operations & Technical at Wellman Packaging.
About the winner:
Nicholas Campbell joined Wellman Packaging directly from school as an undergraduate cadet in 1999, after having completed his HSC, which he did while also completing two years of an electrician's trade certificate course at TAFE and working part-time.
Campbell holds undergraduate qualifications in Applied Physics and Electrical Engineering from the University of Technology Sydney, which he completed at a high level of grades, while also working on a part-time basis with Wellman Packaging as a plastics moulding technician and trainee engineer.
In his role at Wellman Packaging, Campbell remains hands-on with a technical and operations focus for key accounts, especially for new design projects, but also leads a team of project engineers, technicians, planning staff and operations team members.
Described as a packaging professional of extremely high calibre in all facets of his work, he embodies the definition of integrity and is demonstrative and demanding of excellence in thought and action, according to his employer.
Wellman Packaging says he combines high intelligence, academic rigour, practical knowledge and people skills in a style that is collaborative, constructive and holistic.
Campbell played a key role in the part design and a lead role in the tool design of the innovative ThermoCup that has received 2024 PIDA awards. He was the technical and project lead for the development of the new Masterfoods Squeezy PET Sauce Bottles, which received several awards, including a Gold in the sustainability category.
The judges said Campbell is a "truly impressive individual", an ideal winner of the inaugural Packaging Technologist of the Year award.
