With entries now open and momentum building, PKN has confirmed the judging panel for the 2026 Women in Packaging Awards – a respected group of industry professionals tasked with selecting this year’s finalists and winners.

Ahead of International Women’s Day on 8 March, PKN speaks to two women at opposite stages of their careers inside Orora’s Gawler glass operations – COO Kerry Tate and production operator Michlle Lindblom – highlighting leadership, technical mastery and the evolving face of heavy manufacturing.

As entries open for the 2026 PKN Women in Packaging Awards, the program is once again supported by some of the most respected names across the Australasian packaging sector.

The 2025 PKN Women in Packaging Awards, presented in Sydney today, have once again shone a powerful spotlight on the exceptional women driving progress, innovation, and impact across every corner of the packaging value chain.

Nadia Taylor, co-founder and director at TNA Solutions, was honoured at the 2025 Women in Packaging Awards with a place in the Women in Packaging Hall of Fame, and took to the stage for an illuminating fireside chat with Lindy Hughson.

Sometimes we find ourselves in places we never imagined. For Women in Packaging 2025 keynote speaker Brenda Denbesten, that place was a remote mining town, far removed from her original ambition to work at L’Oréal.

To capture the energy and emotion of the 2025 Women in Packaging Awards event, PKN has created a visual highlights reel featuring moments of surprise and celebration among this inspiring community.

Meet this year's finalists in the innovation champion category: Fonny Chang, Woolworths Food Co; Mel McFarlane, Trimatt Systems; and Mejlina Tjoa, Orora Group.

Meet the 2025 finalists in the Manufacturing Leader category: Fiona MacLeod, Visy; Kirsten Sin, Amcor; Kristy-Lee Houghton, Visy Specialties; Maree Roan, Amcor; Samantha Alexandra, Detmold Group; Tania Paniora, Orora Group; Tracy Rofe, Amcor; Victoria Church, HMPS Propac.

Meet this year's finalists in the STEM Explorer category: Fiona Facey, Macquarie University; Melinda Nguyen, The University of Adelaide; Payal Patel, Pilz Australia; Rebecca Kersey, APCO; Supriya Suhale, Beckhoff Automation.

Meet this year's finalists in the Packaging Technology Leader category: Anna Katsalas, Amcor; Dr Ruby Chan, RMIT; Norwind Khor, Amcor; Viviana Vinci, APCO.

The 2025 Communications & Marketing Excellence finalists are: Annika Stott, iQRenew; Chloe Rose, APCO; Natasha Bridges, Pernod Ricard Winemakers; Savannah Murray, Orora Group, Sophie Sumner, Sealed Air; Zaidee Jackson, Ball & Doggett.

Finalists in the Design & Branding Excellence award category are Angela Spindler, Depot; Trish Dunstone, Studio Guild; Lily Ash, Boxer & Co.; Shu Yun Lam, Detpak.

At the Australasian Packaging Conference, women working at the intersection of education, research and innovation, shared their journeys and contributions to sustainable packaging.

Meet this year's finalists in the Sustainability Leader category: Belinda Chellingworth, BC Consulting; Brooke Percy, Amcor; Deanne Holdsworth, Pact Group; Jacky Nordsvan, Nestle; Jasmine Medwell, Woolworths Group; Kate Baker, Visy; Olivia Tyler, IVE Group; Vinotha Bheem, Bunnings Group.

This year’s PKN Women in Packaging Awards luncheon promises to be more than a celebration of industry talent – it will spark a renewed sense of self-belief and direction, led by one of the most compelling voices in STEM and manufacturing: Brenda Denbesten.