• Growth Tank founder David Willey.
    Growth Tank founder David Willey.
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Youth marketing and recruiting experts shared some surprising insights on Gen Z workers at the NextGen Breakfast Forum this morning at AUSPACK 2019.

By 2025, Generation Z will comprise more than a quarter of the Australian workforce, and Growth Tank founder and a youth marketing expert David Willey shared his insights on how to connect with this important group.

Gen Z members prioritise positive workplace and culture higher than financial benefits, and place a higher importance on job security and fair pay than their millennial counterparts.

To make this group happy and productive, WIlley says, companies will need to be seen to be ethical, offer clear and structured career progression, and offer them personal (in addition to professional) development opportunities that help them grow as an individual.

They also value regular feedback, flexibility and work-life balance, he says. “Understanding that your employee’s life is more important than their work is key.” 

Presenter PWC Australia’s Justin Ling said the company uses more digital channels than ever to recruit and engage with its younger recruits.

He also noted that alternative pathways to employment are growing, and he predicted that school leaver recruitment will overtake graduate recruitment within five years.

Food & Drink Business

Visy has completed a $30 million upgrade to its 100 per cent recycled paper mill on Gibson Island in Brisbane, which will manufacture new grades of paper for corrugated boxes used by Queensland farmers and food and beverage businesses.

The Cadbury Factory waterfront parklands in Hobart, Tasmania, are receiving a makeover, as Australian chocolate consumption continues to drop. The $150 million attraction is set to open in 2027, with Cadbury acting as brand partner.

PepsiCo has announced the winners of its 2025 Asia Pacific (APAC) Greenhouse Accelerator (GHAC) program, including two Australian finalists – Calyx.eco and Endua.