The APPMA’s first member dinner since 2019 due to Covid restrictions drew a record attendance, with guests revelling in the face-to-face interaction with colleagues and words of inspiration from guest speaker Mykel Dixon.
Transforming silver linings into golden opportunities was the topic addressed by Mykel Dixon at the APPMA members dinner held at the MCG in Melbourne in March.
Dixon spoke of the tumultous time Australia and the world had witnessed since January 2019, and indeed was still experiencing. Against this backdrop he said there's a strong call for creativity, for a new way of seeing and perceiving the world and how we do things: "We've got to dance with the drama that's unfolding before our eyes," he said.
Dixon cited a World Economic Forum study, noting that creativity is moving up the list of the top skills leaders need, with complex problem solving, critical thinking, and adaptability ranking as essential skills for the next decade.
"1500 CEOs around the world unanimously agree that the number one skill they look for in a new hire is creativity... people who can think outside the box to find new value," Dixon said.
He also cited a McKinsey index that measures the creative capability of an organisation. "McKinsey found the companies that ranked highly on this index vastly outperfomed their competitors in two key metrics: first, an aptitude for innovation and a desire to disrupt, and second, shareholder return," Dixon said.
He said the Index indicates a correlation between creativity and earnings: "The more creative an organisation, the more they invested in their people thinking differently, the more returns..."
Driving his message home, Dixon went on to cite an important LinkedIn research finding – the social media platform scoured 20 million job listings and the word that rated most highly was 'creativity'.
He then went on to say how major economies are recognising the importance of creativity.
"China right now is undergoing a national rebrand from 'Made in China' to 'Designed in China' ... moving away from a manufacturing focus, to one of 'we design, we lead, we innovate'," he said.
"Creativity is the strongest economic currency right now, yet 75 per cent of people around the world (according to research by Adobe) feel as though they are not living up to their creative potential," Dixon said, noting that too many companies still valued getting things done over doing things differently.
Dixon's key message to the audience was that not valuing creativity is a "one way ticket to obsolescence". He said we need to trust ourselves, find the courage to take a risk: "You can't have creativity without courage".
APPMA UPDATE FROM THE CHAIRMAN
Attendees at the dinner were also provided with an update on APPMA activities by chairman Mark Dingley, showing how the APPMA, too, is turning silver linings into golden opportunities.
He highlighted the upcoming APPMA Business & Industry Conference to be held at the ICC in Sydney in September this year, and noted that it will be a hybrid event with content live streamed from the ICC to a virtual audience.
Dingley also announced the Board's decision to introduce an APPMA Associate Company membership. The aim is to provide an Associate Membership category that would attract and engage companies involved in providing packaging and processing materials, as well as industry specific consulting specialists, both of which regularly work hand in hand with the APPMA's current machinery membership base. The new membership option will commence from June 2021.
Another announcement was about the upcoming introduction of tiered Gold, Silver and Bronze membership packages to replace the one-size-fits-all membership package currently in place. Dingley said this will better support and service the diverse group of members, which range from multinationals through to family owned and run business of varying sizes, all of which deliver an extensive range of products and services from locations all across Australia.
Lastly, touching on industry education, Dingley outlined the APPMA Board's move to explore and invest in the development of tailored education programs aimed at packaging and processing industry-specific needs, whether it be in relation to recruitment of apprentices or machinery- and industry-specific training needs to support industry regulation, safety or innovation.
"While it is early days work is being undertaken to develop strategies and initiatives to help address specific gaps which involves exploring alliance and business partner development including possible member contributions, relationships with education institutions and other associations," he said.
