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.

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.

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.