Packaging Technology Leader award recognises a woman who has demonstrated exceptional expertise and contributions as a packaging technologist in the ANZ context. This award celebrates achievements in developing, driving and implementing advanced packaging technologies, processes, and solutions that have had a significant impact on the Australian packaging industry.
The 2025 finalists are:
Anna Katsalas, Amcor
Anna Katsalas, technical manager at Amcor, has been a driving force in advancing sustainable packaging solutions across Australia and New Zealand. With over 30 years of expertise, Anna led the complex transition to PFAS-free inks, collaborating closely with suppliers, internal teams, and customers to deliver the change with minimal impact on product performance, a major achievement in a highly technical area.
She also plays a critical role in procurement and optimisation projects, consistently ensuring that technical, commercial, and operational needs are seamlessly balanced. Anna’s leadership has helped strengthen Amcor’s ability to deliver high-performance, sustainable packaging solutions that meet both regulatory demands and customer expectations.
Highly respected across the industry, Anna is known for bringing teams together to solve technical challenges, translating complex requirements into practical solutions. Her influence continues to support innovation and quality at scale, reinforcing Amcor’s reputation as a trusted packaging partner across the ANZ region.
Dr Ruby Chan. RMIT
As a researcher at RMIT, Dr Ruby Chan has made a major impact on the packaging industry through her work with the End Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre (EFW CRC). Her research, combining consumer insights with industry practices, identified key communication gaps that hinder the effectiveness of packaging in reducing household food waste. Dr Chan developed actionable strategies to bridge these gaps, influencing packaging design and consumer engagement nationally.
Despite the challenges of conducting research during Melbourne’s extended COVID-19 lockdowns, she adapted creatively, using online interviews and participant-submitted photos to gather rich, context-based data.
Dr Chan’s research outcomes are already being incorporated into global industry training programs through the World Packaging Organisation, reaching over 15,000 professionals and gaining attention from the UN’s FAO.
Her commitment to open-access publishing and industry engagement ensures that her work continues to drive packaging innovation that supports sustainability, food waste reduction, and better consumer outcomes in Australia, New Zealand, and beyond.
Norwind Khor, Amcor
As a Process Engineer at Amcor, Norwind Khor has played a pivotal role in optimising the blown film process, leading to major gains in efficiency and sustainability. She developed and standardised new Start Up, Shutdown, and Purge procedures, reducing average setup times by 25 per cent and cutting setup waste by 10 per cent. By creating clear operating conditions for common film structures, Norwind streamlined production transitions, allowing machines to switch between jobs faster and with less material loss.
Her work has positively influenced the packaging industry across Australia and New Zealand, with her standardised procedures now being adopted at multiple sites. The improvements she pioneered are driving faster setup times, lower production costs, and a measurable reduction in environmental impact across the sector.
Norwind overcame key challenges, such as aligning diverse operator practices and addressing resistance to change, by actively collaborating with experienced team members and providing clear communication and hands-on support during implementation. Her achievements not only demonstrate technical expertise but also show her leadership in setting new industry standards for efficiency, consistency, and sustainability.
Viviana Vinci, APCO
Viviana Vinci, senior packaging technologist at APCO, has made a major impact on sustainable packaging solutions in Australia and New Zealand. She played a crucial role in advancing the use of recycled HDPE in dairy packaging, overcoming significant challenges around food safety and material integrity. Through strong collaboration with brand owners, suppliers, and recyclers, Viviana co-developed one of the first best practice guidelines for incorporating recycled content into milk bottles, offering practical pathways toward circular packaging.
She also demonstrated technical excellence by leading the completion of a complex pulpability testing method for fibre packaging, ensuring it aligned with real-world paper recovery capabilities. Across her projects, Viviana applies a collaborative, evidence-led approach, helping businesses translate complex sustainability goals into real-world packaging solutions.
Her influence spans sectors, from guiding small importers to helping major food manufacturers, always ensuring that technical rigour and commercial viability go hand in hand. Viviana’s leadership continues to shape a more sustainable, circular packaging future across the region.
The 2025 winners will be announced at the PKN Women in Packaging Awards Lunch on 27 June, to be held at 12-Micron, Barangaroo – a fitting setting to honour a group of exceptional professionals who are reshaping the packaging landscape. Tickets are on sale here, with limited space at the venue it is advisable to book soon as we anticipate a sold-out event.
