Another lucky packaging enthusiast has the opportunity to upgrade their professional qualification by winning the annual APPMA scholarship, announced last week.
Michael Seaman, Packaging & Process Improvement Specialist at Integria Healthcare is the recipient of this year’s APPMA scholarship, valued at $9000, which covers the cost of completing the Diploma in Packaging Technology offered by the Australian Institute of Packaging.
The scholarship was awarded at the AIP National Conference gala dinner on 1 June.
For eight years now, the APPMA [Australian Packaging and Processing Machinery Association] has been supporting training and education in the packaging industry by granting the winner the opportunity to undertake the diploma.
This support of education in the packaging industry is vital, as in many instances employers are not prioritising professional training and education and often it’s left to the individual to fund themselves.
The Diploma in Packaging Technology prepares students to take responsibility for packaging operations at any level through the supply chain. The qualification is internationally recognised, comprehensive, and provides an opportunity to study the principles of packaging, packaging materials and packaging processes.
There were five finalists in this year’s competition, and the judges paid tribute to them as “fine examples of the future leaders of this industry”.
The finalists were:
- Shabbeer Ahmed Shaik Mohammed, Packaging Engineer, General Mills
- Liz Cagorski, Creative Director, Liza Rose Design & Communications
- Michael Seaman, Packaging & Process Improvement Specialist, Integria Healthcare
- Evone Tang, Quality Manager, The Kraft Heinz Company
- Dineshan Thangavel, Packaging Technologist, LION
On announcing Michael Seaman as winner, APPMA chairman Mark Dingley said: “Michael was an outstanding candidate who is extremely passionate about packaging. He has a broad understanding of the applications and implications of packaging and the judges believe his passion will greatly assist his studies.”
To illustrate his passion, Dingley cited Seaman’s own words from his original application: “The impact of packaging on, and within, business continues to have me hooked. Moreover, the opportunities to impact both product and the environment, through the choices made on packaging related matters, reinforces that the packaging arena is for me. Put simply, I love working in the field of packaging, and my desire to continue the journey of learning, and applying those learnings, continues to grow.”
Michael Seaman will commence his Diploma in Packaging Technology this year.
