At a general meeting held during global packaging and processing trade show interpack this week, the International Packaging Press Organisation (IPPO) announced its new president and executive board for the 2023-26 term.
Lindy Hughson, managing editor and publisher of PKN Packaging News, was elected president. She will be supported by the Executive Board, comprising vice president Naresh Khanna, editor from IPP Group in India; secretary-general Lisa McTigue Pierce, editor of Packaging Digest in the USA; and treasurer Andrew Manly, communications director for AIPIA, based in Netherlands.
Hughson succeeds outgoing president, Steven Pacitti, from the UK. Pacitti, who is editor of Eco-plastics in Packaging, served as president for six years. During Pacitti's tenure, Hughson served as secretary-general on the Board.
Reporting on packaging for close on three decades, first in South Africa and since 2007 in Australia, Hughson's career has seen her advance to the role of managing editor & publisher on Australia's leading B2B publication for packaging, PKN Packaging News, owned by Yaffa Media. Hughson is also publisher of PKN's stablemates Print21, Food & Drink Business and Climate Control News. She is also the host of The PKN Podcast and the weekly PLAY PKN video bulletin.
Hughson said, “I am honoured the IPPO members have put their trust in me to lead the organisation at a time when packaging is in the media spotlight, and expert packaging journalism is increasingly sought-after. I will work to raise awareness of the organisation within the global packaging industry, and to strengthen ties with our partners."
Hughson thanked Pacitti for his exemplary leadership of the organisation, especially during the difficult Covid years when the IPPO community was unable to meet at global events.
Founded in 1974, IPPO is a not-for-profit, professional group of editors, journalists and writers, hailing from more than 30 counties around the world, who cover packaging and the packaging industry from various perspectives.
IPPO provides a friendly yet professional forum for its global membership to collaborate and exchange information, news, and views about the packaging industry, and to network within a community of like-minded journalists passionate about creating credible content about packaging.
The organisation has established partnerships with major industry associations and exhibition organisers, with IPPO members covering major packaging shows and conferences around the world.
Partners include APEAL, the association of European producers of steel for packaging; UCIMA, the Italian packaging machinery manufacturers association and owner of packaging trade show IPACK-IMA; APPMA, the Australian Packaging and Processing Machinery Association and owner of trade show APPEX; PMMI, the North American association for packaging and processing technology and owner of the suite of PACK EXPO trade shows; and Finn Partners, a leading communications company servicing the packaging and processing industry.
The organisation has also forged strong ties with the World Packaging Organisation (WPO), which announced its next president at the IPPO party in Dusseldorf. Luciana Pellegrino will succeed incumbent president Pierre Pienaar, whose term of office ends in November this year.
Pienaar expressed his support of both new presidents, and acknowledged the importance of the collaboration between the two organisations.
Hughson said strengthening the partnership between the two organisations will be a focus of her tenure.
Hughson has been on the ground at Interpack this week, broadcasting live from the show floor and sharing her observations on social media. Commenting on the value that packaging journalists bring to the media and communications table, she said, "As I have observed here at the show, and through my interaction in the Interpack press room, there is a level of knowledge and expertise in the packaging journalist fraternity that should not be underestimated nor taken for granted. The ability to spot trends, report on technology and innovation objectively, and above all maintain a passion for the subject matter that is currently so very much under scrutiny should not be underestimated or undervalued.
"Delivering engaging and informative content about packaging is at the heart of what we do, and nurturing that quest within a community of like-minded professionals, all the while building collaborative relationships with partners that support us, will be a priority in my term of office."
