PKN extends heartiest congratulations to well-known Australian packaging industry figure Keith Chessell on being recognised by the World Packaging Organisation with a Lifetime Achievement award.
The World Packaging Organisation (WPO) has named the three winners in the Lifetime Achievement category within the WorldStar Packaging Awards 2019 programme.
A panel of international judges elected Keith Chessell from Australia, Shahid Sheikh OBE from the United Kingdom, and Gillian Loubser, from South Africa. (Both Chessell and Loubser have contributed as writers to PKN Packaging News over the last decade).
“The Lifetime Achievement in Packaging Award was established with the aim of acknowledging and rewarding excellence in all aspects of packaging science, technology, design and application across every country around the world,” said Pierre Pienaar, WPO president.
“The discipline of packaging is one that is truly global. The World Packaging Organisation is in a unique position to identify leading practitioners from around the world who have consistently pushed the boundaries in advancing the art, science and application of packaging to serve the needs of an ever more demanding society. These prestigious awards will celebrate and preserve in perpetuity the collective achievements of these innovators,” Pienaar said.
Speaking to PKN following the WPO's announcement, Keith Chessell said he was humbled by the recognition of his life's work in the field of packaging.
A fellow of the Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP) and a recent recipent of AIP honorary life membership, Chessell's list of credentials is extensive. His association with the packaging industry spans 52 years via various packaging roles in the food & beverage industry.
"Different from many in the workforce today, I was with one company for 46 years, designing packaging for brands like Cadbury, Schweppes, Pepsi, Kraft and Cottee’s," Chessell said. "I commenced in a quality control role working with both product and packaging for some almost extinct brands of Maxwell House and Parsons. Not long after I moved into a product and packaging planning & purchasing role."
Over the last 17 years, Chessell's focus has been on training, education and assisting individuals and manufacturers in understanding the importance of sustainable packaging design. In recent years, he has been a significant contributor to the technical side of all of the AIP industry-based Save Food and Fighting Food Waste programs with the federal government National Food Waste Strategy and also the Fight Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre.
"Keith's packaging technical expertise have ensured that the AIP programs are realistic and suited to packaging technologists and designers. He is an integral part of this team and has invested hundreds of hours in volunteering his time and knowledge to ensure that both programs have been developed and are underway in Australia and New Zealand," said Nerida Kelton, AIP executive director.
The WorldStar Award Ceremony & Gala Dinner will take in Prague, Czech Republic, on 15 May, 2019.
PKN will publish our full interview with Keith Chessell in the March-April 2019 print issue.
