After serving 22 years on the APPMA Board, and 14 years as chair, Mark Dingley is stepping down. His leadership has shaped the success of the peak industry association; his commitment has been unwavering, his contribution unmatched.
The news of Mark Dingley’s resignation from the Australian Packaging & Processing Machinery Association (APPMA) Board, which he announced at the gala dinner during APPEX, was met with some surprise but also an overwhelming acknowledgement – whispered around the hushed room as he spoke – of the contribution Dingley has made to both the association and the wider packaging and processing industry.
Dingley said, “This was a difficult decision for me, as I have a deep passion for our industry and I have devoted most of my working career to the association as a board member. But I feel that it is the right time for me and for the association to make this change. I have had the privilege of working with some of the most talented and dedicated people in the packaging and processing sector, and I am proud of what we have accomplished together.”
When Dingley joined the board, the association had less than 50 members, and its activities focused mostly on its trade show Auspack. With his guidance and the support of his loyal board and the APPMA administrative team, the association has flourished to over 180 members. During his tenure he has overseen the transformation of Auspack, with around 100 exhibitors, into APPEX, with over 440 exhibitors and the physical size of the show tripling.
APPMA CEO Michael Moran, speaking on behalf of the board and association members, said, “The success of APPEX is testament to Mark’s vision and commitment to unite and deliver an ‘all of industry’ event. Without Mark’s vision and passion for the industry and the show, APPEX would not have been the success we all experienced.
“Mark’s unwavering dedication to our industry and his profound impact on the packaging and processing sector cannot be overstated. He leaves behind a legacy of innovation, growth, and collaboration,” Moran said.
These positive sentiments have been echoed in comments on social media by Dingley’s colleagues and peers.
Dingley said, “I have full trust in the board and the APPMA team, along with our partners, to continue the excellent work that we have started. No doubt they will continue to face the challenges and opportunities ahead, but they will face them with equal vigour to drive the association forward to the benefit of all of us in this industry.”
He went on to thank several key people: “I want to express my deep appreciation to Lester Nichol, who gave me the opportunity to join this industry 22 years ago as a young and eager and definitely naïve Mark Dingley. He allowed Matthews [Dingley is the CEO of Matthews Australasia] to share my time with this amazing industry. I also want to thank Phil Biggs, who supported me and helped me get elected to the board back then.”
He ended his heartfelt speech by acknowledging his “constant source of support and inspiration” his wife Jane, saying, “Jane has always encouraged me to pursue my passions and vision for both APPMA and Matthews… she deserves as much recognition as I do, if not more. Thank you, Jane, for being my partner in life and in work.”
As Dingley leaves the chair role, he is comfortable in the knowledge that APPMA is well positioned to continue developing and evolving to further support and promote all members and the broader industry well into the future.
This article originally appeared on page 35 of the PKN Packaging News March-April 2024 magazine.
