• (l-r) Andrew Rennie of Oji Fibre Solutions New Zealand; Ola Wicik, packaging engineer at Opal Fibre Packaging Australia; and Wilsen Kannan, assistant packaging manager at Vinda Malaysia.
    (l-r) Andrew Rennie of Oji Fibre Solutions New Zealand; Ola Wicik, packaging engineer at Opal Fibre Packaging Australia; and Wilsen Kannan, assistant packaging manager at Vinda Malaysia.
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Three packaging professionals from Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia have been recognised through the Australasian Institute of Packaging's 2026 scholarship program, supporting further education in packaging technology.

Andrew Rennie of Oji Fibre Solutions New Zealand received the Australasian Bioplastics Association (ABA) Scholarship for a Certificate in Packaging. Having recently transitioned from packaging technology into a sales role, Rennie said the scholarship would help him build the technical knowledge needed to contribute long-term to the industry.

The ABA Scholarship for the Diploma in Packaging Technology was awarded to Ola Wicik, packaging engineer at Opal Fibre Packaging Australia. Wicik was recognised for her technical role bridging packaging development, manufacturing and customer requirements, together with her commitment to sharing packaging knowledge throughout her organisation.

The AIP President Scholarship was awarded to Wilsen Kannan, assistant packaging manager at Vinda Malaysia. Kannan has spent almost a decade building his technical expertise through the AIP's professional development programs and said the scholarship would broaden his understanding of packaging beyond his home market while supporting his ambition to become a future industry leader in Asia.

The annual scholarship program provides opportunities for packaging professionals to undertake formal education through the Certificate in Packaging and Diploma in Packaging Technology.

Food & Drink Business

CCEP has completed a $39.7m manufacturing upgrade at its Kewdale facility in WA, installing a high-speed can production line that increases capacity by more than 40% and lifts production speeds to 1500 cans per minute.

Nearly 6 in 10 Aussies in food and beverage manufacturing believe their organisation is becoming less productive, despite continued investment in workplace technology, according to Argon & Co.

Every food, drink, personal care and household product made in Australia starts with an investment decision. A company chooses to replace a production line, automate a process or expand a plant. That choice is now made in a global market for capital, and Australia is struggling to compete. The question is simple. Will the next generation of manufacturing investment come here?