David Tonkin is the Head of Group R&D Packaging Innovation for the Müller Group, with 30 years of industry experience spanning Retail, FMCG – particularly dairy manufacturing, and large scale packaging operations. He leads a team focused on the development of sustainable, future ready packaging solutions, focusing on material innovation, circularity, and environmental impact reduction.

Based at the Market Drayton Dairy, David drives group wide European innovation from concept through industrialisation, ensuring new packaging delivers both technical performance and real world economic scalability. As an awards judge, he values credible innovation, measurable sustainability benefit, and solutions that can succeed at commercial scale

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 judged the UK Packaging awards for many years, and sits as a technical advisor to OPRL and RECOUP, and participates widely within UK Plastic Pact Advisory and Steering Groups. She 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.

Dr Margaret Bates is an experienced waste and resource manager with a strong background in sustainable development, corporate social responsibility, circular economy, and policy. With a track record of delivering practical advice to businesses, governments, trade associations, and NGOs, she is also skilled in writing, reviewing, and delivering EU and other grants. She was seconded from OPRL to Defra to establish pEPR Scheme Administrator. Margaret is a Fellow of CIWM, a Fellow of IOM3, a Chartered Environmentalist and an International Wastes Manager

Gill leads the consulting offer, with over 25 years’ experience in the packaging industry, strategically developing packaging strategies, roadmaps and packaging solutions to meet the needs of clients, consumers and the planet. She has worked with many global retailers and household brands on projects spanning sustainability and innovation to supply chain optimization. With a real passion for sustainability, her quest is to educate, influence and drive a circular economy wherever possible while complementing creativity, technical functionality and commercial realities.

A packaging specialist with nearly two decades of experience in packaging development roles - predominantly within branded food manufacturers. With a strong passion for innovation and technical packaging challenges, Jon has worked across multiple organisations including leading and developing the R&D packaging team as Head of Packaging at Premier Foods for the last few years. Jon is currently the Packaging Technical Manager at Morrisons Plc supporting the wider organisation on packaging sustainability and value-generating initiatives.

Head of Technical for RAP Products at ProAmpac with over 40 years’ experience in FMCG and retail packaging. Specialist in sustainable design, fibre-based composites, and flexible films. Leads technical strategy for EPR and PPWR compliance, circular economy initiatives, and innovation in recyclable packaging. Co-Chair of OPRL Technical Committee and former board member (9 years), active board member of INCPEN and Founder member of the Alliance for Fibre Based Packaging. Proven track record in delivering commercially viable sustainability solutions and influencing industry standards. Experienced in stakeholder engagement, regulatory alignment, and material science. Member of ProAmpac Sustainability Council shaping global sustainability roadmap

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.

Lisa, a fellow of IOM3, is a Packaging Engineer with over 30 years' experience across Food, Drink and Beauty Based FMCG. With a strong bias towards integrating technical knowledge with consumer Insights, operational constraints and customer requirements, Lisa has developed numerous global solutions for many of Britain's much-loved brands.

During her 24year tenure with P&G, Lisa worked across multiple beauty platforms including Personal Cleansing and Cosmetics. She was the regional R&D Package Development leader for Skin Care, the Global packaging strategy owner for the Olay Total Effects brand and, the high viscosity dispensing lead, driving strategy, use and collaboration. At Britvic, Lisa was a Senior Innovation Leader, leading new bottle development work on the Robinsons brand as well as being Chair of the Packaging council. For Waitrose, sitting in the Own Brand and Innovation team, Lisa looked after multiple categories including Produce, Horticulture, Bakery and the broad BWS category. Today, Lisa is Head of Packaging for the International DIY company Kingfisher Plc. under retail banners that include B&Q, Screwfix, Castorama, Brico Dépôt and Koçtaş.

Paldeep is Director of Research & Policy for the Industry Council for Packaging and the Environment (INCPEN). Paldeep has been with INCPEN since 2021, having 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 UK’s packaging circular economy as well as delivering research projects that progress the science, sustainability and value of packaging. Over the years, Paldeep has held judging roles across a variety of national packaging awards.

Roger’s bringing over 25 years of knowledge and experience gained in the Packaging Manufacturing and Retail sectors, into the UK’s leading Waste Management business. His team have developed a unique perspective in support of retailers and brand owners’ efforts to become more sustainable and circular, by thinking differently about the materials they consume. A creative and collaborative approach helps Biffa and its customers design-out or redesign the packaging they don’t need, and implement the innovative, scalable alternatives they do.

Victoria Whyley is a highly experienced packaging professional with over 25 years in the global packaging industry. Throughout her career, she has applied her technical expertise and creative design skills across leading organisations including Geest Foods (now Bakkavor), Boots the Chemist, Molson Coors Brewing Co, Wilko and Aldi.

Her experience spans multiple sectors, notably Food & Drink and Health & Beauty, where she has led and contributed to artwork and graphic design, structural packaging development, tooling, validation, materials and brand management. Victoria also brings strong capability in quality systems, regulatory compliance and the application of continuous improvement principles to drive operational excellence.

Currently, Victoria is a Packaging Manager at Aldi UK. In this role, she leads sustainability-focused packaging strategies while balancing operational and commercial needs. She is responsible for ensuring compliance with evolving regulatory standards, and delivering continuous improvement & cost saving initiatives that enhance both environmental performance and business efficiency.

Victoria is a Fellow of the IOM3 and is Vice Chair and an active committee member of the Midlands Packaging Society. She also sits on other advisory panels. Her professional involvement reflects her commitment to advancing the packaging industry, promoting sustainable innovation, learning & development and sharing knowledge within the wider packaging community. Let me know if the photo needs to be better quality, feel free to use either attached. I've tried to remove the backgrounds.