Key leaders from around the packaging arena have joined with us to create this year's program. We are proud to have the following individuals serving on the advisory committee for Sustainability in Packaging 2012:
John Kalkowski Editorial Director, Packaging Digest | John Kalkowski is Editorial Director of Packaging Digest. During his tenure at the packaging industry's largest and most influential magazine, John has been active on sustainability issues, speaking and writing on the topic frequently for government groups, industry associations, consumer companies and other media. Before joining Packaging Digest, he worked in packaging-related ink and paper positions. Prior to that he worked in editorial and production positions in the newspaper industry. He has a Master's Degree in International Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management. |
Alan Blake, Associate Director, Corporate Packaging Development Sustainability, PROCTER & GAMBLE | Alan Blake has worked at Procter & Gamble for 27 years in R&D covering process development, product development, business franchise leadership, package development and design. His current role covers global corporate sustainability responsibility for P&G's packaging programs, combining his broad packaging technical expertise and project management skills with his passion for doing what's right for the environment and the communities in which we do business. Alan is a member of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC) executive committee |
 Ricardo Ruiz de Gopegui , Director, Packaging R&D, PEPSICO | Ricardo is Director for Packaging Advanced Research at PepsiCo and has over 15 years of experience in R&D and Innovation. During his career, he has lead several R&D initiatives involving Personal Care, Household and Beverage categories, having managed both domestic and international teams. In his current role, Ricardo is running cutting edge new technology programs, supporting the mission of placing and maintaining PepsiCo at the forefront of Packaging & Product Innovation. |
Erin Simon, Program Manager, WWF | Erin is the Senior Program Officer, Packaging serving WWF-US as the technical lead on responsible packaging issues, such as raw material sourcing, materials trade-offs, production, efficiency, life cycle analysis, recovery/reuse, and reduction. She engages with private sector partners on improved environmental performance related to packaging, as well as represents WWF-US externally with other organizations, universities, and coalitions focused on global packaging. Previous to WWF, Erin worked at Hewlett-Packard Co. for nine years as a packaging engineer in the laser jet printer and media divisions focused on environmental packaging strategies and design. Erin graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Packaging Engineering, is a member of Institute of Packaging Professionals, an Advisory Board Member for PIRA Sustainability in Packaging Conference 2012, and Virginia Boat Club Master's Rowing Team Captain. Erin currently lives in Richmond, VA with her husband Eric and 3-month old daughter Skyler, rows the James River, and competes in regattas up and down the East Coast. She enjoys cooking, renovating their home and almost all outdoor activities. |
| Laura Rowell, SONOCO PACKAGING | Laura Rowell is the Global Sustainability Manager, Consumer Packaging, for Sonoco Products Company. She is recognized for her expertise on global environmental performance requirements and activities associated with packaging standards, regulations, government policy and scorecards. Laura serves as a Sonoco representative to the Sustainable Packaging Coalition and to AMERIPEN, the American Institute for Packaging and the Environment, both of which she helped establish. She was an active member of the Consumer Goods Forum's Global Packaging Project designed to set global standards and metrics for sustainable packaging and serves as a Project Lead for the current ISO work on creating Packaging and the Environment standards. |
Kelly Scott, Packaging Working Group Coordinator, SUSTAINABILITY CONSORTIUM | Kelly Scott Unger is the manager for the Paper Sector and the Packaging Working Group for The Sustainability Consortium. Kelly received a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education, Communications and Technology from the University of Arkansas. She earned a Juris Doctorate from the University of Arkansas School of Law, where she had the opportunity to focus on public policy and legal issues that impact the environment. Following law school, Kelly served the people of Washington County and the State of Arkansas as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney. She brings an excitement for making a difference along with a passion for the work of The Sustainability Consortium to the development of these new sectors. She will focus primarily on the stakeholder relationships and partnerships within both the paper and the packaging sector. As the manager of the Packaging Working Group, Kelly manages many members across the supply chain to create ways to contribute to all sector's deliverables for the SMRS. With the Paper Sector, Kelly is working with the paper members to complete dossiers for paper product categories. In her spare time, she enjoys long distance running, canning fruits and vegetables, and biking with her husband. |