• Karren Challoner-Miles
    Karren Challoner-Miles
Close×

Visual Connections has appointed Karren Challoner-Miles as executive general manager – Association, effective immediately. This appointment follows a restructuring of the organisation, which also saw Sarah Moore promoted to general manager – Trade Shows and Events.

Mitch Mulligan, president of Visual Connections, commented on the selection process. “We were impressed and encouraged by the calibre of candidates who expressed interest in the role, but Karren’s experience and qualifications made her the obvious choice to lead Visual Connections into the future,” he said.

Challoner-Miles brings extensive experience in marketing, brand management, and product leadership across various sectors, including energy, technology, telecommunications, and publishing. Her background includes managing marketing strategies for both private and board-led organisations across the Asia-Pacific region.

“I’m excited to join the association and to capitalise on all the great work outgoing CEO Peter Harper has achieved during his 18-year tenure,” said Challoner-Miles. “I’m fortunate that I can work alongside him for the next few weeks and benefit from his extensive knowledge of the industry.”

With an established schedule of events for the upcoming year and plans for the flagship PacPrint exhibition in Sydney in May, Mulligan expressed confidence in the transition. 

“We have a strong team in place at Visual Connections, and I know Karren’s expertise and leadership will complement their operational strengths and deep industry knowledge as we seek to support a sustainable future for the industry.”

Mulligan welcomed Challoner-Miles, stating, “It really is the start of a new era.”

Food & Drink Business

Tasmanian whisky producer Lark Distilling Co has closed FY26 with fourth quarter net sales of $5 million, up 44 per cent on the prior corresponding period (pcp), taking full year net sales to $18 million, a 15 per cent increase on FY25.

Lupin protein company, Wide Open Agriculture (WOA), has started winding down its German production facility as it shifts to a contract manufacturing model, with the ASX-listed business ending the June quarter with $1.27 million in cash and roughly 2.1 quarters of funding.

Every three years, Australia's food and beverage manufacturing industry gathers at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre for foodpro – and this year Food & Drink Business was there as an exclusive media partner of the foodpro Industry Hub. In two minutes, here's a taste of some of what caught our eye across the show floor – the latest in processing and packaging, automation and robotics, food safety, sustainability and AI, and the people behind it.