In a dynamic and informative session on the second day of APPEX 2024, the inaugural APPEX Women in Processing & Packaging event brought together more than 150 people.
Louise Weine, the CEO of the National Association of Women in Processing (NAWO), delivered the keynote 'Achieving gender balance in packaging & processing: Systemic change that works'.
Her insights on what companies need to do to attract, retain, and promote female talent provided practical steps for those in the room.
She said organisations need to fix structural and systemic issues to achieve gender balance, rather than it resting on individual women to do so. When that happens, companies see increased retention and productivity.
Weine said those advertising jobs also need to look at the language they use and the parameters they give in the ads. Focusing on transferable skills and attitudes, not just qualifications and length of experience casts a wider net for attracting women to apply.
She also examined inclusive leadership, what it is and the impact it has, as well as the positive impact mentoring and sponsorship plays in attracting and retaining women in packaging and processing industries.
Following her keynote was a panel featuring Dr Angeline Achariya, CEO of Gamechangers, the managing director of Pilz ANZ, Rosanne Jessop, Beckhoff Automation’s category manager - Connectivity, Supriya Shale, and Food Processing Equipment managing director, Tania Carey.
PKN publisher Lindy Hughson chaired the panel through a wide-ranging discussion of how to break through the glass ceiling, the power of mentorship, how to navigate career advancement and progression in a male-dominated workplace and industry, and much more.
