Above: Nathan Wardell

The Australian Packaging and Processing Machinery Association (APPMA) board has welcomeed Nathan Wardell of Packserv as the newly appointed APPMA director to fill the vacancy left by Mark Hollingsworth.

Following Hollingsworth’s resignation from member company Rhima Australia, he is no longer eligible to remain as a board director and announced his retirement on 1 February 2024.

APPMA said Hollingsworth’s work, contribution to the AUSPACK and APPEX Working Groups, and his pivotal role in the 2021 APPMA membership restructure, left a lasting positive impact on the Association.

“We are sure we will see Mark at many events given his new role is with an Associate APPMA member, and while not eligible to hold a Board role, he is eligible to continue his participation in APPMA events and special interest groups,” a spokesperson from APPMA said.

Filling Hollingsworth’s shoes, Wardell brings more than 25 years of experience in the packaging machinery industry and holds qualifications in business, accounting, and management.

He is a business owner, a strong advocate of personal development and a champion of promoting diversity and inclusivity within the workplace.

With Packserv in Sydney, Wardell’s appointment provides a voice for the NSW market as other board members reside in South Australia, Queensland, and Victoria. The current team is now well-positioned to explore and contribute to supporting and servicing the membership across the broader processing and packaging industry.

Mark Dingley, chairman of APPMA, said, “We are excited that Nathan has accepted the position of APPMA director. The role is one we all take seriously. Nathan’s experience and commitment to the industry are ones that we are excited to welcome onto the Board.”

Commenting on his appointment, Wardell said, “It is an honour to be invited to be part of this organisation and to be more involved in the industry my family has worked in over the last three generations.

“I have always been an advocate for Australian manufacturing and have worked closely with various academic bodies and university institutions for the innovation and development of materials, manufacturing processes and technologies that can be utilised and adopted by the industry and Australian manufacturers at large.

“We have such rich talent and technological capabilities here in Australia, and it’s great to be a part of the organisation that champions and promotes its growth and development. APPMA has always been well run and organised, and I hope to positively influence APPMA’s involvement in the industry as a whole.”

Wardell officially commences his role as APPMA director at the first board meeting for 2024 this month.

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