The Future Trailblazer 2025 finalists have been announced, showcasing 11 exceptional professionals driving innovation and leadership across the packaging industry.
The Future Trailblazer Awards 2025 are proud to announce the finalists who will take centre stage as industry pioneers at this year's Packaging Innovations & Empack exhibition on February 12 & 13 at the NEC in Birmingham.
Launched in 2024 by Easyfairs, in partnership with IOM3 and Mercury Search & Selection, this prestigious initiative celebrates the talent driving transformative change across the packaging industry.
This year's finalists include Aden Newbury from Kingfisher, Hope Fletcher from Unilever, Robert Rigby from Mailway, Josephine Cooper from DS Smith, Jade Capp from Kingfisher, Michael Thompson from Bake & Bag, James O'Rourke from Mailway, Anne Dubois from Kingfisher, Emily Murphy from Kellanova, Dhruvi Thakkar, Packaging Designer, and Chris Fiander from Westpak UK. These outstanding individuals have been recognised for their contributions to innovation, sustainability, and leadership within the sector, making them trailblazers in their respective fields.
The "Meet the Trailblazers of 2025" session, taking place on Wednesday 12 February on the Circular Economy stage, will be led by Jude Allan, Interim Managing Director at OPRL, and will include contributions from fellow judges Martin Kersh, Executive Director of the Foodservice Packaging Association; Peter Macqueen, Associate Head of Institute at Sheffield Hallam University; Ian Roe, Director at Mercury Search & Selection; Joanna Stephenson, Managing Director of Think B2B Marketing, and Emma Verkaik, CEO of BCMPA. Each panellist brings a wealth of industry expertise and forward-thinking vision, and together, they will play a crucial role in recognising and awarding the individuals who are shaping the future of the packaging sector.
Winners will receive an IOM3 membership, offering exclusive access to world-class resources, professional networks, and training opportunities to support their growth and future contributions further. Reflecting on the finalists' achievements, Joanna Stephenson, Managing Director of Think B2B Marketing, said: "These are people who are truly challenging the norm, entering the industry with fresh perspectives, recognising opportunities for improvement, and envisioning innovative, advanced ways to bring about change. They have an eye for detail, addressing the industry's core issues and understanding how to make a meaningful difference.
"The packaging industry is fantastically vibrant and dynamic, so seeing individuals like these come in with the drive to help move it forward excites me the most."
Emma Verkaik, CEO of BCMPA, said: "From my perspective, all eleven go above and beyond, go the extra mile – they stand out from the crowd by creating solutions for whatever challenge arises. They are people who truly understand what makes their business thrive and identify how they can make a meaningful difference."
The Future Trailblazer Awards highlight excellence across five key categories: Designing the Future celebrates technologists, designers, and print technicians creating groundbreaking designs. Production Pioneers recognises engineers and production operatives enhancing manufacturing processes. Sustainability Visionaries honours professionals who drive initiatives and champion sustainability. Management Excellence applauds project managers, artwork coordinators, and production leaders for their leadership, while Operational Champions highlights the achievements of buyers, supply chain managers, and quality assurance professionals advancing operational excellence.
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