In May 2021, Paldeep joined the Industry Council for Packaging and the Environment (INCPEN) as its Head of Research and Policy. Paldeep has over a decade of experience in the resource and waste management sector, including local government and now the private sector. His responsibilities include progressing the packaging reforms as well as delivering research projects that progress the science, sustainability, and value of packaging.

Following 20 years in industry, primarily in packaging-related roles at Proctor & Gamble, M&S, Sainsbury’s and Pret, Paula joined WWF in 2019 to work on the packaging element of the Tesco partnership.

Additionally, she provides internal and external technical expertise on materials-related issues including plastics, with her policy and advocacy work focusing more broadly on resources, waste and circular economy thinking. Most recently, she played a leading role in influencing Government to adopt Greener UK’s priority amendment for the Resource and Waste chapter of the Environment Act and co-authored a chapter on Waste Prevention and Waste Management for a UNEP Finance Initiative Sustainable Blue Economy guide.

Laura fell into packaging by default 10 years ago but soon became her passion and completed a MSc in Packaging Technology and Management. Laura recently joined Ocado Retail as Packaging and Sustainability Manager having worked at M&S previously for a number of years. She is a Board Member of INCPEN, RECOUP and EcoPack at Packaging Innovations and has been a judge for UK Packaging Awards since 2016. An avid promoter of circular economy, Laura is driven to ensure we leave the planet better than we found it.

Nicola Jones is the Steel Packaging Recycling Manager for Tata Steel. She has worked within the steel industry for most of her career focusing on the recyclability of tinplate for its many applications within packaging.

Nicola is keen to see the value chain working together to ensure packaging is truly circular and sustainable. Nicola has championed workstreams with consumers to ensure their engagement with household recycling schemes with an aim to increase participation, in turn increasing recycling rates.

Denise has decades of experience within the packaging industry, having started in print in 1989. She took up the position at Waitrose in January 2024 after many years at Tesco. She has proudly judged the UK Packaging awards for many years, as sits as a technical advisor to OPRL and RBD steering group for RECOUP, and participates widely within UK Plastic Pact Advisory and Steering Groups and is passionate about circularity and recycling, believing we all have our part to play in improving the quality of the packaging we put on the market and the recycling rates in the UK though working together collaboratively across the supply chain and UK retailers.

Starting as a Packaging Technologist/Engineer in the retailer Co-operative Wholesale Society (CO-OP) in Manchester, working in 100 manufacturing facilities on cans, glass, plastics, paper, and board, before moving into buying and marketing. He Went to Head up Packaging and Technical in the retailer in Iceland in 1984 and started the Iceland brand. Moved to the other side, selling packaging and putting in product launch systems into major brands and retailers selling services for Danone, Estee Lauder, Kraft, Safeway, Wal Mart, and Heinz, to name a few. This included running design, artwork, and pre-press companies. He was a Director for Storm Brands and Sun Branding Solutions, which included Parker Williams. Moved back to the retailer Iceland (1000 stores and sell in 42 countries) in 2013 to head packaging and processing as the Own Label Manager reporting into the Managing Director. In January 2018, it launched on TV as the first retailer to go plastic-free by 2023. Ian has used Digital Printing extensively and is known for his massive love for Packaging and Printing. After 6 epic years in Iceland, he is now semi-retired (trying to improve his golf handicap), running a consultancy, and enjoying non-exec board roles, providing various services from digital print , packaging development and sustainability. Ian is a Fellow of the Packaging Society as part of the Institute of Mining, Minerals, and Materials and now lectures at two universities to pass on his knowledge. Judging for Packaging News for 7 years.

David has been in the packaging industry for 27 years gaining packaging experience across Frozen, Chilled and Ambient products across a multitude of categories and roles at Iceland Foods, Dairy Crest, 2 Sisters Food Group and Müller. Qualifications include an MSc in Packaging Technology (2009), PRINCE2 practitioner (2012), and an MBA with distinction from the University of Manchester (2022).

At Müller David leads the Group Packaging Innovation Team as well as having responsibility for the Group Packaging Sustainability Strategy.

Paul Vanston is Chief Executive of the Industry Council for Packaging and the Environment (INCPEN). A particular current focus for INCPEN is working with all four UK governments to design and implement a set of packaging reforms that are cost-efficient and deliver environmental benefits. This includes Extended Producer Responsibility, Deposit Return Systems and ‘consistency’ of the range of packaging materials collected from all 27million UK households. Paul is a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts. Member of the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management. Member of the Green Alliance. Founder supporter of the UK Plastics Pact. Member of the UK Government’s Resources & Waste Advisory Group.

Kevin Vyse has been working in the packaging industry for over 40 years, working with manufacturers, brands, and retailers. Over the last 10 years, he has been deeply involved in the shaping of the new plastics economy and UK packaging strategy. While working at Marks and Spencer, he was a member of the Plan A team, and from there, he continues to work closely with OPRL and INCPEN on EPR and Packaging Waste strategies. Having left M&S 4 years ago, he joined Rapid Action Packaging as Head of Technical and continues in that role following the acquisition by ProAmpac in 2021. He leads on the technical development of new materials and material solutions as well as being a member of the ProAmpac Sustainability Council. He is a Fellow of IMMM and a Member of the International Society 4 Circular Economy.