The winners for the 2021 Australasian Bioplastics Association (ABA) Scholarship Program were announced this week by Rowan Williams, President of the ABA, during day two of the Australasian Packaging Innovation & Design Awards (PIDA).
Developed in conjunction with the Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP), the ABA Scholarship program will enable the winning candidate to undertake a Diploma in Packaging Technology, and afford a second candidate the opportunity to undertake a Certificate in Packaging. Both courses are run by the Australian Institute of Packaging.
The 2021 ABA Certificate in Packaging Scholarship winner is Maria Becerill Roman AAIP.
Originally starting as a Food Chemist in Mexico, Maria Becerril Roman has significantly advanced her packaging career at since she arrived in Australia. Fresh out of the Master of Food & Packaging Innovation Degree with a Dean’s Honours, she found her way into Coles and has a keen interest in Packaging Sustainability, Innovation and Compliance. Maria sees her career developing in the sustainable packaging quality assurance and compliance areas; along with packaging innovation and design. Maria wants to continue to learn and grow and in five years from now, see herself as becoming a more technically skilled packaging technologist that helps many sectors in the industry achieve their main quality and sustainability goals. Maria is diligent and passionate and is well-suited for the Certificate in Packaging course. She has shown academic excellence throughout her career to date, making her an outstanding student and a very valued contributor to the teams who are fortunate enough to work with her.
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The 2021 ABA Diploma in Packaging Technology winner is Karunia Adhiputra AAIP.
With a Master of Food Science, Karunia Adhiputra, or Adhi as he is known, is a Packaging Specialist at Nestlé, working under the Corporate Packaging division to assist packaging technologists in identifying solutions that would meet Nestlé’s ambition of 100% recyclable or reusable packaging, as well as virgin plastic reduction by 1/3rd by 2025. In addition to this role, he is also the Safety & Compliance owner for packaging materials, which requires Adhi to review certificates and documentation provided by packaging suppliers, ensuring they are compliant to regulations for food contact packaging. Adhi is also responsible for supporting the technical development of the business unit packaging technologists. He has demonstrated continually that he is a natural teacher, as he communicates and engages the packaging team and wider business on the ever-growing complexities of sustainable packaging, technologies, guidelines and mandates. To support this Adhi is seeking, through the Diploma in Packaging Technology, to ensure he understands the fundamentals behind packaging. Adhi is a highly valued packaging specialist in the industry who has high potential and a long future in the packaging industry.
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The 2021 ABA Scholarship Winner Announcement Video