The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) has elected Fiona Lawrie, head of ESG and corporate affairs, Officeworks – Wesfarmers as the new brand owner board director for 2023.
Lawrie was elected at APCO’s General Meeting on 30 March, replacing Adrian Cullen, who represented Woolworths in his tenure. This position runs until the close of the AGM 2024, which is in line with the board’s planned election rotation for directors.
APCO said that having an Officeworks representative who is part of the Wesfarmers group as a director on the board will bring a first-hand understanding of the packaging opportunities and challenges faced by several large Australian retailers.
Prior to taking on the role as head of ESG and corporate affairs, Lawrie held a commercial product development and global sourcing role within Officeworks. APCO said that through this role she built extensive knowledge in the development, design and sourcing of product for sale in Australia. Lawrie has developed an understanding of consumer purchasing behaviours and preferences and the important role packaging plays in both protecting and promoting product. She has worked closely with suppliers, product quality specialists and buyers to bring products to market while delivering sustainability improvements in products and their packaging it added.
Sam Andersen, board chair APCO commented: "I am delighted to offer my heartfelt congratulations to Fiona, our newly elected Brand Owner Director, who brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the board. With her unique skill set, I am confident that she will make a significant contribution to driving growth and innovation in the coming years. The candidate assessment panel was very impressed with the calibre of the candidates this year, and the board extends our gratitude to all nominees for their time, effort, and commitment to serving the members of APCO. The addition of diverse skills and expertise to our group will undoubtedly serve us well as we work toward the National Packaging Targets."
Andersen thanked outgoing board director, Adrian Cullen, saying his unwavering support for APCO and his valuable contribution to the APCO Board have been instrumental in its progress.
