THE finalists have been announced for the Future Trailblazer Awards 2025. They will now be showcased at this year’s Packaging Innovations & Empack exhibition from February 12-13 at the NEC in Birmingham.
Launched in 2024 by Easyfairs, in partnership with IOM3 and Mercury Search & Selection, the 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 individuals have been recognised for their contributions to innovation, sustainability, and leadership within the sector.
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 MD at OPRL.
Winners will receive an IOM3 membership, offering access to resources, professional networks, and training opportunities to support their growth and future contributions.
Joanna Stephenson, MD 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.”
