The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) has appointed its board of directors for 2021, comprising industry leaders spanning the waste and recycling, packaging, food and beverage, and sustainability sectors.
Appointed at the Annual General Meeting on 18 November, which took place virtually, two new directors joined the APCO Board for 2021, Richard Smith of Amcor and Kylie Freeland of McDonald’s Australia.
Richard Smith is currently director of Safety, Quality & Sustainability at Amcor, and will take up the position of industry association director for a term of three years, replacing board member Keith Chessell.
Smith, who will represent the Australian Institute of Packaging on the board, commented: "I greatly appreciate the opportunity to join the APCO Board. It’s a privilege to contribute to the important work undertaken by APCO with all industry stakeholders to ensure the sustainability and circularity of packaging in Australia and the region.
"The AIP contributes significantly through industry engagement and education, and it is a privilege to be able to support the Institute at this time where the rate of change in industry has never been greater,”
Smith acknowledged fellow AIP colleague Keith Chessell for the outstanding work he has undertaken with the APCO Board, on behalf of packaging technologists, over the last two years. "Keith's hard work, dedication and passion are second-to-none,” Smith said.
Also joining the board in the role of brand owner director is Kylie Freeland, director of Supply Chain and Sustainability, McDonald's Australia, for a period of three years. In a nod to the growing relevance and impact of the APCO community and members in the Australian marketplace, the brand owner director board position was strongly contested this year. Candidates included representatives from Woolworths, Coles, CHEP, McDonalds, PACT Group, Nestlé, Closed Loop and Freshfood Management Services.
Freeland commented: “I feel privileged to be joining a leading team of directors with a shared passion and experience for developing and implementing commercially responsible sustainable solutions. I look forward to working with the board to help make a genuine and positive difference across industries.”
Sam Andersen, APCO Board chair, commented: “We are delighted to welcome such a wealth and diversity of industry experience to the APCO Board. As we work towards the 2025 National Packaging Targets, our independent board structure is so important as it provides APCO with a systemic view of the complete packaging chain and the challenges faced by stakeholders at each step of the process.
“I’d also like to formally thank our outgoing board directors. A massive thanks to longstanding director Jacky Nordsvan and Nestlé. Jacky has been an invaluable contributor to our board and a staunch supporter of APCO, generously sharing her vast knowledge and experience for the benefit of all APCO members over the last six years. A huge thank you also to Keith Chessell - a committed and experienced packaging professional, it has been a delight to work with Keith on the APCO Board. Jacky and Keith are not lost to our APCO family and remain active contributors through working groups and committees”.
Jacky Nordsvan, head of Packaging Oceania, Nestlé Oceania said: “It has been an absolute privilege and honour to serve on the APCO Board and be part of the transformation of APCO and its leadership into the organisation it is today. A huge congratulations to the incoming directors, I have no doubt you will support APCO and its members in delivering the 2025 National Packaging Targets and beyond. It is definitely not farewell, as I will continue to support the APCO team and its members in my role on the Technical Advisory Committee and working groups.”
Keith Chessell commented on his retirement from the board: “It has been a real privilege to represent the AIP as an Industry Association director on the APCO Board over the last two years. I’ve appreciated the opportunity to be a part of all that APCO has achieved over this period. During this time APCO has established the Roadmap and Monitoring program for the delivery of Australia’s 2025 National Packaging Targets (NPT). The challenge for the packaging and manufacturing industry is to adopt the sustainable packaging design principles into their business as part of the collective work being undertaken by key stakeholders within the packaging value chain.
“My congratulations to the APCO chair, Sam Andersen, the board, and especially to Brooke Donnelly and the APCO team for the way they have been able to re-establish and develop APCO’s leadership with government and industry in focusing on the nation's packaging environmental issues. I have personally enjoyed the relationships established with the board members and appreciated learning from them the skills and practical knowledge in business strategy, vision, and wisdom in working with all levels of government and industry.
“Although I will miss the involvement at the board level, I look forward to still playing an active part in supporting APCO’s activities via the Technical Advisory Committee, working groups, and educational programs and any other ways my years of packaging involvement can assist Brooke and the team.”
The full 2021 Board includes Sam Andersen (chair), Andrew Petersen, Richard Smith, Lee Smith, Anne Astin, Trent Bartlett, Jason Goode, Chris Foley and Kylie Freeland.
