This year’s board election for the Australian Packaging & Processing Machinery Association (APPMA) saw one of the closest contests in recent years, with the highest voter turnout compared to previous rounds, and a hard-fought campaign from nominees.
Rosanne Jessop (Pilz), Rob Marguccio (Heat and Control) and Tony Bowyer (Automation Systems & Controls) were all re-elected, while new nominee Nick Psahoulias (Beckhoff) was the other successful candidate. The four electees will join other APPMA board directors -- Peter Bradbury of ABB, Mark Emmett of HMPS, Rym Kachouri of Foodmach, Matt Nichol of Matthews and Nathan Wardell of Packserv -- to serve out the next term
The results were revealed at the APPMA AGM on 15 October. Commenting on the voting process, APPMA CEO Michael Moran said, “The APPMA director nomination and voting process is independently coordinated using the world-renowned Big Pulse system to securely and confidentially capture the member voting. Our process provides every APPMA member with the opportunity to participate in both the director nomination and voting process.”
Moran explained that Big Pulse is a proven, robust and secure electronic voting system and while voting tallies per nominee are reported, any detail relating to individual member voting options is not accessible, thereby maintaining the independence, confidentiality and integrity of the results.
Moran went on to congratulate all the successful candidates and, on behalf of the APPMA Board, paid tribute to departing director James Windsor, CEO of Fibre King.
“I would like to thank James Windsor for his exceptional contribution over the past six years, during which time he has provided great support and advice to myself and our team while also playing a major role in the development of APPMA as an association, and the success of AUSPACK and APPEX events,” Moran said.
Meanwhile, the successful candidates were buoyed by their election and the positive role they can play in shaping APPMA's contribution to the wider packaging and processing industry at large, and to serving APPMA members' interests.
Long-time board member and current APPMA chair, Robert Marguccio, who is the business manager for Packaging & Inspection Systems at Heat and Control, said: “I would like to thank all members for giving me the honour to continue representing them, and to build on the foundations that the association has been laying down, through the efforts of the board members past and present. I look forward to supporting all members, and the industry in general, along with the association's continued evolution.”
Rosanne Jessop, managing director Pilz Australia & New Zealand, said, “It is an honour to be re-elected to serve on the APPMA board, working with Michael Moran and his team to bring greater value to our membership and helping foster a thriving manufacturing industry for Australia. I have really enjoyed my first term and look forward to another.”
Returning for his second stint on the board, Tony Bowyer, director at Automation Systems & Controls, said, “Thank you all for re-electing me to the board of directors. Congratulations to all who ran for a position, successful or not, as we all contribute to our association in many different ways. I look forward to serving the members, taking their feedback to make the association and exhibitions that we run even better in the future, with a focus on increasing members' connections and use of all that APPMA has to offer.”
New to the board, Nick Psahoulias, managing director at Beckhoff Automation, said, “Thank you all for the support. Having worked extensively in industrial automation, I’ve seen the value that innovation, collaboration, and sustainability brings to the packaging and processing industry. My goal is to help create stronger partnerships across the sector and encourage the adoption of advanced Industry 4.0 technologies, such as AI-driven automation and open systems. As part of the APPMA Board, I look forward to working with members to turn our shared ideas into action and ensure the industry continues to evolve and succeed.”
