interpack 2026: Women in Packaging Unites Strong Voices
With ‘Women in Packaging’, interpack 2026 is once again sending a strong signal for female empowerment, diversity, and the future of women’s careers in the industry. The format is aimed specifically at women of all career levels – from ambitious career starters to experienced experts, managers, and founders. The focus is on inspiration, eye-level dialogue, and specific impetus for the individual career path.
On 11 May 2026, participants can look forward to a programme at the Congress Center Düsseldorf that connects and sets things in motion: a keynote speech will provide strong content-related impetus, an international panel discussion will highlight different career paths and perspectives, and topic-driven networking rounds will create space for genuine exchange, new contacts, and mutual support.
interpack Director Thomas Dohse says, “Women in Packaging was still an exception when it premiered in 2023 – today, dialogue on these topics is an integral part of the industry. This exchange is becoming increasingly important, especially in the context of qualified personnel and future skills. interpack introduces a particular international dimension in this respect: participants from all over the world meet speakers from Europe, the USA, South America, and Australia and combine different perspectives.”
Impetus for Sustainability and Diversity
With around 30 years of experience in environmental and sustainability management, including more than two decades in the packaging industry, Tetra Pak Head of Sustainability Caroline Babendererde is one of the major proponents of sustainable packaging solutions in Europe. Her perspective demonstrates how closely linked topics such as sustainability, recruiting young talent, and the visibility of career paths are. “Packaging is a crucial component of food safety,” says Babendererde. “We need to demonstrate much more clearly that it protects products, ensures quality, and prevents food losses. In doing so, we will be making a direct contribution to security of supply and climate protection. We want to actively strengthen this awareness – among young people, career starters and, of course, not only among women, because those who recognise our industry’s responsibility and innovative strength also see its strong future opportunities. When it comes to diversity, I hope that equity and diversity will soon be a matter of course. We are making progress, but we still have work to do, especially in the apprenticeship and education sector.”
Perspectives on Careers, Change, and Future of Industry
The panel will bring together representatives from the industry, international organisations, and science, thereby uniting different perspectives on the development of the processing and packaging industry – shaped by the participants’ personal experiences, international career paths, and individual focuses.
Duravant CEO Jillian Evanko will offer her perspective as a top manager experienced in guiding international industrial firms through periods of transformation and growth. Representing industrial practice, Kerstin van Wijk, Global Head of Innovation Packaging Adhesives at Henkel, will focus on combining technological innovation with concrete applications along the value chain. Luciana Pellegrino, President of World Packaging Organisation (WPO), who has enjoyed an exemplary international career in the packaging industry, joins in as the first woman to head the global industry association, bringing along years of experience in global cooperation between organisations. Rounding out the expertise, Prof. Dr. Julia Hartmann from EBS University will detail how companies can strategically anchor sustainable transformation within their core operations.
Panel moderator Nerida Kelton, Vice President, Sustainability & Save Food at WPO and Executive Director of Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP), says, “The first Women in Packaging event at interpack 2023 showed us that events like this are desired by the global industry. What makes it so special are the open discussions, the networking, the opportunity to be inspired by women who have already travelled this path, and the occasion for participants to ask questions, discuss challenges, and learn from one another. For me, it’s about meeting new people, hearing their stories, and strengthening my own global network of inspiring women in the packaging industry that I can draw on in the future.”
Exchange that Makes Connections
Women in Packaging has introduced ‘Topic Hubs’, a new initiative featuring topic-driven networking rounds designed to deepen professional dialogue across key industry sectors. These sessions cover critical areas including career pathways and mentorship, community building and peer networks, personal branding and visibility, balancing work and life, and future generation and skills, with each hub guided by a specialised topic ambassador who will structure and deepen the dialogue.
The programme features an impressive roster of industry leaders, including Shannon Doherty-Andall, Sustainability Working Group Chair, International Fruit and Vegetable Juice Association, and Afsaneh Nabifar, Head of Global Advocacy & Sustainability for Biopolymers at BASF, who bring expertise in sustainability and value chain transformation. They are joined by TEEKANNE CHRO Dr. Kathrin Gimpel, who will offer insights into corporate leadership, alongside Monica Battistella, Sustainability Manager at Taghleef Industries, and Kaie Kaas-Ojavere, CEO and Co-founder of the start-up KIUD. Together, these experts provide a practical framework for professionals to share experiences, tackle industry challenges, and forge vital new connections within the circular packaging landscape.
Topic Hubs creates a practical framework in which experiences can be shared, challenges discussed, and new contacts forged.
