The AIP’s highest award of recognition is the grade of Fellow. This year it was bestowed on two top achievers working in packaging management roles for leading brand owners Frucor Beverages and Simplot.
Gala night at the AIP National Conference certainly was a night for celebrating the Australian and New Zealand packaging industry’s success stories, not least of which was the presentation of two AIP Fellowships, an award which recognises significant and sustained contribution to technology, science or application to packaging in the industry.
The Fellowships were awarded to Alistair Sayers, Packaging Manager, Frucor Beverages and Jason Goode, Group Packaging & Processing Improvement Manager, Simplot Australia.
Alistair Sayers has been involved in packaging technology and development for over 20 years, commencing with NZ Starch Products in the early ‘90s. He subsequently worked for Andrew Group, NCI, Chequer Packaging and NZ Dairy Foods.
Sayers is currently employed by Frucor Beverages as Packaging Manager, Research and Development incorporating the environmental and packaging development portfolios.
He has also been involved in creating the NZ Packaging Council Code of Practice for packaging design. Sayers is chairman of the Glass Packaging Forum and board member of the Packaging Forum. He has contributed to the Massey NZ Foods Award as a Packaging Expert.
Sayers is at the forefront of packaging innovation within the New Zealand market. His well-rounded experience in commercial packaging development brings in his modest technical expertise.
His real passion and reward comes from developing his people and building his packaging team at Frucor, a subject on which he delivered an engaging presentation entitled ‘How to build a great team of packaging technologists’.
He currently heads up the biggest, most innovative FMCG packaging team in NZ.
Jason Goode, recipient of the second Fellowship, is currently Group Packaging & Processing Improvement Manager, Simplot Australia.
Goode has worked in the packaging industry for over 20 years and is an individual who consistently strives to maintain and give his best in the profession of Packaging Technology. He holds a Masters in Engineering Science, as well as a Degree in Materials Engineering. Jason has a sound knowledge of the science of packaging and always has the patience and ability to share that knowledge in a way that those around him who may not be in the field, understand and remember it. His application to sound packaging is beyond repute.
Goode’s support of the Australian Packaging industry has not been limited to the AIP, as he has been a solid contributor to the Packaging Council of Australia for many years.
His efforts to support the Australian Packaging Industry have most recently been demonstrated with his leadership of a team from the AFGC, AIP, major packaging companies, and FMCG businesses to produce an industry-based, standard, packaging specification system. This digital system is based on having uniform information in this computer-driven world. This standard for packaging specification will ensure not only savings for businesses but uniform communication between packaging technologists to drive the value that data can add to the business through having it available, usable, secure and accurate.
Ralph Moyes, immediate past president of the AIP, and also a colleague of Goode’s at Simplot, had this to say: “Anyone who knows Jason can testify to his passion for sound, efficient, functional packaging and his willingness to get out in front of the industry and lead. It is this passion which has driven him and continues to this day. It is the strongest value to inherit and it is what makes him worthy of being elevated to the membership level of Fellow of the AIP.”
