Pierre Pienaar, education director of the Australian Institute of Packaging, has been elected as the next president of the World Packaging Organisation (WPO).
Pienaar, who is currently VP Education for the WPO, will take office in January 2018 when current president Tom Schneider's term ends.
The appointment is timely, as Australia will next year host the prestigious WPO WorldStar Awards, which coincides with the 100th WPO bi-annual meeting, and which will take place at Surfers Paradise, Queensland in early May alongside the AIP National Conference.
PKN spoke to Pienaar at Interpack this week, shortly after the announcement.
"I'm excited to take on the new challenge, and my overarching vision is to further education within the realm of the global packaging industry.
"The WPO will encourage as many countries as possible to participate in this education revolution that will lead to finding better packaging solutions to reduce food wastage, reduce proverty and improve lifestyles around the world," Pienaar said.
"In May next year, when the WPO holds its meeting and WorldStar Awards in Australia, it will be a wonderful opportunity to showcase the Australia and New Zealand packaging industry's expertise in designing world-class packaging solutions.
"On this occasion, at the AIP national conference, the WPO and the AIP will create a platform for ideas sharing on a global level, tying into the theme Packaging Globalisation."
Pienaar said an important part of his role will be to raise the profile of the WPO as the leading global packaging industry organisation, and that the international event being staged in Australia next year will serve to raise awareness of the WPO in this important region.
