Page 62 - Packaging News Magazine Sep-Oct 2021

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WOMEN IN PACKAGING | www.packagingnews.com.au | September-October 2021
Taking the initiative
Persistence prevails when all else fails, and being the change you want to see, were key takeouts of this year’s Women in Packaging Next Gen Leadership panel. Varun Bodhi reports.
from designs, pre-press, production manufacturing to the different types of materials... it’s just end- less,” she said.
THE IMPORTANCE OF ROLE MODELS
O F Packaging marketing manager Jessica Ansell came from a back- ground of history and ancient world studies, stumbling into the industry after additional studies in marketing and communications.
Joining O F Packaging with little experience, Ansell said having a strong supportive role model in colleague Hannah Fyson helped her acquire skills and increase her confidence.
“My colleague Hannah took me under her wing and answered all of my questions every day.
“Coming into an industry that you may not have had much experience in, having a team willing to share knowledge, allow you to make mis- takes, and give you opportunities makes all the difference,” Ansell said.
LEAN ON YOUR NETWORK
In her role as Coles’ group responsible sourcing manager, Caitlyn Richards works every day on increasing the sus- tainable packaging share within the retailer and its own brand supply base.
Working at a large organisation presents its own challenges and ben- efits, Richards said, noting she learns something new every day and that should be the case no matter how long you have been in the industry.
“Don’t be afraid to acknowledge when you need some help or support, whether that’s internally or exter- nally, and get to know the people you work with,” she said. “I definitely encourage people to network, and particularly women, who might be less inclined to do so, thinking they don't want to take up someone’s time. I find most people want to be sup- portive and helpful,” she said. ■
THE four panellists – Azadeh Yousefi, Jessica Ansell, Caitlyn Richards and Nina Nguyen – were all finalists in this year’s Young Packaging Professional of the Year Awards, and are currently engaged in the fields of design, marketing,
packaging sourcing and business ownership respectively.
PERSISTENCE PAYS
The theme of persistence has been central to Azadeh Yousefi’s career, which began in Iran where she struggled to get a foothold in the packaging industry.
“I studied industrial design at uni- versity and through that I learnt the essence of packaging.
“I couldn’t get a job in the packag- ing industry because it is male domi- nated,” said Yousefi.
After completing her masters, she became a lecturer at the Tehran University of Art. Searching for ways to work on packaging, she discovered the Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP)’s Master of Food and Packaging
Innovation with University of Melbourne and made the decision to relocate and forge her career.
Now a packaging designer with Production Packaging Innovations, Yousefi said it has been people’s generosity with sharing their knowledge and their willingness to give her opportunities that helped her make her way and that she is so grateful for.
BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE
For Pakko founder and CEO Nina Nguyen, the box life chose her.
When Nguyen’s parents asked her for help on resolving structural prob- lems with the boxes their produce was transported in, it was the beginning of a packaging passion. Frustrated with packaging she imported, Nguyen decided to take on the design herself and founded a cardboard packaging converting company called Pakko, of which she is now CEO.
“I guess the box life chose me and I fell for it – what I love about this industry is there’s so much to learn
ABOVE: The inpsirational Women in Packaging’s Next Gen Leadership panel (clockwise from left): Azadeh Yousefi, packaging designer, Production Packaging; Nina Ngyuyen, CEO, Pakko; Caitlyn Richards, group responsible sourcing manager, Coles; Jessica Ansell, marketing manager, O F Packaging.
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