The APPMA networking dinner on 27 June at The Calile Hotel in Brisbane was attended by 60-plus members keen to hear from Glenn Butcher, Queensland Minister for Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water, about the growth potential for manufacturing in Queensland.
Scroll through our gallery above to see who was in attendance.
The night provided the ideal setting to announce the opening of the 2024 APPMA Awards of Excellence program, with chairman Mark Dingley encouraging everyone to review the award categories and lodge their submissions as soon as possible.
Attendees also heard an update on APPEX 2024 from APPMA Board member, Rym Kachouri, who heads the APPEX committee.
Kachouri said that planning for APPEX is continuing to ramp with the exhibition now over 85 per cent sold.
"To put that in perspective, taking into account the expanded floor space, the show sold space allocation means APPEX 2024 is already 30 per cent larger than AUSPACK 2022, with our expectation that the total space will be fully sold pre-Christmas," she said.
The APPEX floor plan was displayed on screen and proved a major talking point, with members scrutinising the layout after the dinner.
Dingley added that with engagement from all sectors of the processing and packaging industry, the introduction of unique network hubs on the show floor, the launch of ‘Meat Industry Day’ in partnership with AMPC, the Gala Dinner and more exciting announcements to come, APPMA is looking forward to delivering a show that will bring maximum value and benefit for all of the exhibitors, visitors and sponsors.
Queensland: Manufacturing growth hub of the future
Keynote speaker for the evening was Glenn Butcher, Queensland Minister for Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water, who provided informative insights into the state of the manufacturing industry in the state, including an outline of the support initiatives the state government provides to industry, the education and employment outlook, and a general overview of the opportunities for manufacturing in Queensland.
Butcher said the Queensland Government has committed $16.5 million to establish Manufacturing Skills Queensland (MSQ). The independent, not-for-profit industry body will support employers, workers, apprentices and trainees in the manufacturing industry.
The Queensland Government has also made a commitment to achieving a gender-equal Queensland through the Queensland Women’s Strategy 2022–27. The Women in Manufacturing (WIM) Strategy provides a framework to support attracting and retaining more women in the Queensland manufacturing industry.
Queensland is gearing up for the 2032 Olympics, and manufacturers will account for 95 per cent of what Queensland can provide to the Olympic Games, meaning they need an extra 280,000 workers in Queensland manufacturing, a lot of which they are investing in to allow businesses to grow, and employ larger workforces.
Dingley said, "APPMA is excited to work with the Queensland Government on further opportunities for members and how we can come together to support the Queensland and Australian manufacturing industries."
The session was well received by all in attendance.
