The AIP would like to congratulate our latest graduate from the Certificate in Packaging, Antonio Marañon AAIP, Junior Packaging Technologist from APCO. Please join us in congratulating Antonio for this outstanding achievement and we look forward to watching his career progression.
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1. What is your current role? What are your areas of responsibility?

Antonio:
My current role is a junior packaging technologist. Facilitating a technical committee and collaborating with technical experts is the major responsibility in my role.

2. What does graduating from the Certificate in Packaging mean to you?

Antonio:
It means that I can continue building on my knowledge and capabilities as a packaging technologist.

3. How will you apply this knowledge moving forward?

Antonio:It provides me with fundamental knowledge needed to be successful in my role and motivates me to learn more.

4. Do you have any advice on why other people should complete the Certificate in Packaging?

Antonio:If you have an interest in material science and packaging manufacturing, this is for you.

5. So where to from here for your career?

Antonio:
It gives me more confidence to pursue a career in packaging technology further and continue to develop myself.

6. Will you consider applying to become a Certified Packaging Professional as your next professional development stage?

Antonio:
This is a consideration for me in the future, but I still have a lot to do before I can get there.

The Certificate in Packaging is a Level 3 PIABC degree that is recognised as giving an excellent foundation in, and introduction to, the packaging industry. The new course provides a level of insight and understanding of the packaging industry that adds real and measurable value to careers and businesses.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?

The Certificate in Packaging provides a level of insight and understanding of the packaging industry that adds real and measurable value to careers and businesses. This qualification provides you with the detailed overview of packaging materials and processes that broadens your knowledge and equips you for progression within the packaging industry.

The Certificate in Packaging is the ideal first qualification for those working in the packaging industry and an introduction to the industry for those starting out on an exciting career in packaging.

1. What is your current role? What are your areas of responsibility?

Kuan: 
My current role is Product Project Manager at TrendPac, a contract manufacturer for household cleaning and personal care products. I am responsible in managing new product development (NPD) projects, packaging development and improvement, and sustainability.

Jessica:
I’m currently working as Marketing Manager for Close the Loop, dealing with both collection and recycling as well as packaging creation and design projects. I have a broad range of responsibilities that incorporate traditional and digital marketing functions, as well as product/packaging training and key stakeholder management.

2. What does graduating from the Certificate in Packaging mean to you?

Kuan:
Graduating from Certificate in Packaging provides me a formal recognition to my capability and knowledge in packaging.

Jessica:
Graduating from the Certificate in Packaging has provided me a great sense of accomplishment for my achievements, while helping to solidify and expand my packaging knowledge base beyond the confines of my everyday role. It has allowed me to highlight the level of product knowledge and understanding I have to others in order to further excel in my career, as I think the need for marketers to understand not just their audience, but their product, is often undervalued.

3. How will you apply this knowledge moving forward?

Kuan:
Due to the nature of my work, I have been applying the knowledge as I learn in my day-to-day task. The learning prompt me to think further during packaging design and enable me to have more comprehensive discussion with stakeholders.

Jessica:
The course presented new areas of interest to me that I would never have had the opportunity to learn about, which opens up new avenues to explore future career pathways. As a young adult in the packaging industry, having such versatility in my packaging knowledge foundation will greatly benefit me as I continue to progress in my work life.

4. Do you have any advice on why other people should complete the Certificate in Packaging?

Kuan:
This is the right course for you if you are looking for an introduction to the packaging. The course covers the fundamental of packaging, that provides a general understanding of the purpose of packaging, packaging material types, printing and manufacturing processes.

Jessica:
For anyone always looking to learn and grow, the Certificate in Packaging is an ideal platform for future studies or upskilling in current roles were packaging knowledge is necessary, but difficult to obtain on the job every day. The flexibility of the course and ability to go at your own pace provides a real opportunity for busy professionals to still maintain a work/life/study balance while gaining new insights.

5. So where to from here for your career?

Kuan:
I see myself continue to develop my career around product development, packaging and sustainability areas in the near foreseeable future.

Jessica:
I am looking to leverage my new-found knowledge to assist my family business for their packaging requirements, while continuing to blend my skills in marketing and packaging in order to drive better outcomes for my career ahead.

6. Will you consider applying to become a Certified Packaging Professional as your next professional development stage?

Kuan:
Yes.

Jessica:
Yes definitely! After a brief hiatus…

The Certificate in Packaging is a Level 3 PIABC degree that is recognised as giving an excellent foundation in, and introduction to, the packaging industry. The new course provides a level of insight and understanding of the packaging industry that adds real and measurable value to careers and businesses.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?
The Certificate in Packaging provides a level of insight and understanding of the packaging industry that adds real and measurable value to careers and businesses. This qualification provides you with the detailed overview of packaging materials and processes that broadens your knowledge and equips you for progression within the packaging industry.

The AIP would like to congratulate our latest graduate from the Certificate in Packaging, Maria del Mar Josefina Becerril Roman AAIP, Packaging Technologist – R&D Team, Lactalis Australia. Please join us in congratulating Maria for this outstanding achievement and we look forward to watching her career progression.

1. What is your current role? What are your areas of responsibility?

Maria:
I currently work as a Packaging Technologist at Lactalis Australia within the R&D team. My role is to support and lead the development of packaging solutions for projects related to new product development, process improvements, sustainability and innovation.

I work with the manufacturing sites, the commercial teams and suppliers to test, specify and bring solutions to market.

2. What does graduating from the Certificate in Packaging mean to you?

Maria:
I am very proud of this achievement. I was looking to increase my knowledge and awareness of all different packaging technologies, current trends, and ways to measure and design sustainable packaging, effectively develop new packaging from a clear and well-defined brief and reflect deeper in the importance of packaging in the world.

I believe the Certificate in Packaging helped me achieve these goals and given me extra credentials as a packaging professional trained in world-class standards.

3. How will you apply this knowledge moving forward?

Maria:
I am already applying this knowledge in my day-to-day work and conversations with others. I can understand a lot better how packaging works, and what to look out for.

I am more aware of the different materials and their advantages and disadvantages for certain applications, and I can work better with suppliers to develop solutions that best fit the company, customers, and consumer’s needs.

I also share this knowledge with other peers at work to educate them where I can about the importance of packaging, how packaging contributes to sustainability, what good packaging design looks like, the types of things a packaging technologist looks for.

Packaging as it turns out, is a fascinating topic that a lot of people show interest in knowing more about, so it is very enriching to have conversations about it, even outside of work.

By knowing different packaging technologies, you can also understand more about manufacturing processes, and how to find efficiencies, in general, which can be applicable to other processes.

4. Do you have any advice on why other people should complete the Certificate in Packaging?

Maria:
I believe this qualification is essential for anyone working in the manufacturing industry, even if not directly in a packaging function. This course can enrich the knowledge of people working in food manufacturing, pharma, cosmetics, personal care, home care, electronics, and more. There is a high focus on packaging around the world at the moment, so this knowledge is absolutely valuable.

Having a working degree of knowledge about packaging technology and manufacturing processes can open a big number of doors for someone looking to explore a different career path.

I believe also people working for NGOs and in workstreams relating to waste management and sustainability can highly benefit from this course.

5. So where to from here for your career?

Maria:
I find that working knowledge of packaging and processing technology is a highly transferable skill. The field of packaging is very diverse and there is so much to learn about and keep growing. Packaging is a very dynamic field at the moment, with lots of emerging technologies and new solutions continuously developed and available in the market.

I recently made a career move from my position as a Packaging Technologist at Mondelez International, working with the lovely R&D team in the Chocolate portfolio on big flagship brands such as Cadbury Dairy Milk, Cadbury Favourites, Cadbury Roses, and Toblerone. In this previous confectionery role the most common packaging formats are wrappers, carton board and corrugated board, as well as some metal tins and rigid plastic containers.

I started at Lactalis in May 2024, where I will be working in the chilled dairy industry to focus on innovation and sustainability initiatives. At Lactalis, I will grow and develop my experience with different packaging formats and processes, as well as more insight on different products, such as cheese, custard, yoghurts, bottled and UHT milk, including their different transportation and supply chain requirements.

I can confidently say that completing my Certificate in Packaging gave me extra confidence to make the move onto a very different product and packaging portfolio.

In the near future, I am still willing to continue learning and working in the packaging field and focus on packaging sustainability initiatives. I find it highly fulfilling and motivating to know that through my work I can make an amazingly positive impact in society and the environment, and I feel really proud whenever I see any product that I have worked on in the shelves.

I also feel great to see the effort of different brands who strive to make an impact in the field of packaging sustainability and see more and more products made from recycled materials, or packed in lighter weight packaging, reusable packaging, and the gradual phasing out of non-recyclable packaging every day I go shopping.

Longer term, who knows where my qualifications and career experience in packaging will take me! The possibilities seem endless, and I very much look forward to seeing how my career unfolds.

6. Will you consider applying to become a Certified Packaging Professional as your next professional development stage?

Maria:
Yes, I believe I meet the requirements now, so this will be a great next step to continue to build my professional acumen and credentials in the field of packaging technology.

The Certificate in Packaging is a Level 3 PIABC degree that is recognised as giving an excellent foundation in, and introduction to, the packaging industry. The new course provides a level of insight and understanding of the packaging industry that adds real and measurable value to careers and businesses.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?

The Certificate in Packaging provides a level of insight and understanding of the packaging industry that adds real and measurable value to careers and businesses. This qualification provides you with the detailed overview of packaging materials and processes that broadens your knowledge and equips you for progression within the packaging industry.

The Certificate in Packaging is the ideal first qualification for those working in the packaging industry and an introduction to the industry for those starting out on an exciting career in packaging.

1. What is your current role? What are your areas of responsibility?

Alex:
My current role is Food Technologist, basically developing new products & their specification, reviewing and approving labels & artwork including all claims & barcodes, regulatory checks, developing new packaging, organising production trials, customer tender submission, APCO reporting, etc.

Lea:
I currently work as Commercialisation Manager for a medium sized Queensland company that produce and pack powdered food products for the Complimentary Health Care Market.  My main area of responsibility is to assist our clients with their packaging needs including recommending packaging materials and optimum pack sizing as required, sourcing packaging from existing and new suppliers ensuring all packaging meets food quality requirements, and making sure the packaging will function on the equipment in our production facility, and be suitable for the distribution and retail environment.

2. What does graduating from the Certificate in Packaging mean to you?

Alex:
Graduating from the Certificate in Packaging degree is definitely an accomplishment of my study in the past year, and I am very pleased that it came with good results and I think it also opens a new door for me to explore other opportunities.

Lea:
Graduating from the Certificate in Packaging means that I can now finally say after 11 years of working in and around packaging that I have a certified qualification thus adding further value to my current role and providing reassurance and confidence in my abilities as a Packaging Technologist.

3. How will you apply this knowledge moving forward?

Alex:
Attaining a Certified in Packaging consolidates the knowledge I am currently using during my work, and also offers me a tool when exploring new things at work, as I know where to find the information I need, or I know what to do next when facing new challenges.

Lea:
The knowledge that I have gained has already allowed me to have more thought provoking and detailed conversations, especially with packaging manufacturers and suppliers.  With the knowledge that I have gained, I hope that I can assist and educate others to make informed packaging choices.

4. Do you have any advice on why other people should complete the Certificate in Packaging?

Alex:
Once you start the Certificate in Packaging carry it through to the end. It is not that scary once you completed it and can look back on how far you have come and what you have achieved.

Lea:
The Certificate in Packaging is a great introduction to packaging for anyone just starting out in the packaging industry or who like myself, is working in the packaging industry but has not yet completed any formal qualification and wants to enhance their knowledge and understanding.  The course provides an overview of all types of packaging along with sharing information on the entire packaging process from manufacture to distribution.

5. So where to from here for your career?

Alex:
I still feel comfortable with my current role, however, I am now more prepared for any upcoming changes and challenges. I want to keep absorbing new information as it could all be used as advantages in the future for your career.

Lea:
I enjoy working in the packaging industry and hope to remain involved in and around packaging for the foreseeable future.  With the attention that is being shown in sustainable packaging within the company I work for and with the 2025 National Packaging Targets set by the Government fast approaching, it will be an interesting yet challenging few years ahead and an exciting time to be part of the packaging industry.

6. Will you consider applying to become a Certified Packaging Professional as your next professional development stage?

Alex:
Not yet, but it is good to start thinking what it could mean to me.

Lea:
I would like to eventually sit the Certified Packaging Professional (CCP) exam to gain this designation.  I may first consider undertaking the Diploma in Packaging Technology degree to further broaden and enhance my technical knowledge and to increase readiness to sit the CPP exam.

Lea, you received your Certificate as an ABA Scholarship winner – what does winning the scholarship mean to you? Any advice for those applying for a scholarship in the future?

Lea:
It was a great honour to have been awarded this scholarship and I am still truly grateful to AIP and ABA for providing me with this amazing opportunity.  Winning the scholarship has helped boost my confidence both personally and professionally.  Having the faith of the AIP and ABA behind me, and through the support that has been provided during my studies, I have learned that I am capable. To anyone considering applying for the scholarship, go for it and if at first you are unsuccessful, reapply.

The Certificate in Packaging is a Level 3 PIABC course that is recognised as giving an excellent foundation in, and introduction to, the packaging industry. The new course provides a level of insight and understanding of the packaging industry that adds real and measurable value to careers and businesses.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?
The Certificate in Packaging provides a level of insight and understanding of the packaging industry that adds real and measurable value to careers and businesses. This qualification provides you with the detailed overview of packaging materials and processes that broadens your knowledge and equips you for progression within the packaging industry.

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Find out more about the Certificate in Packaging Technology here…