Winners of the 2025 ABA Scholarships announced

The Australasian Bioplastics Association (ABA), in partnership with the Australasian Institute of Packaging (AIP), announced the winners of the 2025 ABA Scholarship programs for Australia and New Zealand at the 2025 Australasian Packaging Conference.

The program gives one eligible candidate the opportunity to undertake a Diploma in Packaging Technology and a second person the opportunity to undertake a Certificate in Packaging. Eligible candidates come from across the entire packaging industry in Australia and New Zealand

2025 Certificate in Packaging scholarship

The Certificate in Packaging is an ideal first qualification for those working in the packaging industry, and is an introduction to the industry for those starting out in an exciting career in packaging.

The 2025 Certificate in Packaging scholarship winner is Pippa Corry MAIP, founder and Director of philo & co — a one-woman consultancy at the sustainability intersection of packaging design, strategy and communication that supports FMCG brands and packaging design agencies.

Pippa’s interests lie in the transformative potential of packaging to help lead Australia’s transition to a circular economy. By bridging the complex intersection of packaging design and sustainability, Pippa is deeply invested in exploring future opportunities for innovation in packaging technology, material science, and data- driven decision-making. These areas are critical for designing packaging that not only meets current standards but anticipates the future, aligning with national packaging regulation reforms and the National Circular Economy Framework. Pippa wants to deepen her understanding of the packaging life cycle to further integrate sustainability into designs, gain technical expertise to address inefficiencies in packaging development, and drive circular solutions and advance sustainability across major materials, formats and emerging technologies.

Within the next five years, Pippa aspires to become a Certified Packaging Professional, continue to support Australian SMEs in adopting sustainable and circular packaging practices, and lead innovative reuse and refill projects for FMCG brands, aligning designs with circular economy principles. Pippa believes that undertaking the scholarship will further equip her with knowledge to deliver transformative strategies that advance the circular economy in Australia.

2025 Diploma in Packaging Technology scholarship

The Diploma in Packaging Technology is internationally recognised as the premier qualification in the packaging industry. The degree prepares students to take responsibility for packaging operations at any level through the supply chain and can also lead to higher-level study.

The winner of the 2025 Diploma in Packaging Technology scholarship is Ransheema Rita AAIP, a packaging technologist at Synlait Milk Limited, New Zealand.

Having undertaken a Bachelor in Environmental Science and a Master in Business Management, Ransheema has a unique blend of expertise that makes her ideal to undertake the Diploma in Packaging Technology as she will be able to bridge the gap between technical sustainability knowledge and practical business strategies. Ransheema’s career aspiration for the next five years is to become a senior packaging technologist and be able to effectively lead the packaging R&D, while being the sustainability expert. Through the scholarship program, she is seeking more in-depth knowledge on the different aspects of packaging, its properties and the processes involved in its making.

Ransheema believes that this scholarship will allow her to do more end-to-end packaging technical work independently and to explore new sustainability approaches to make better choices. The knowledge gained will enable her to make informed decisions, for a win-win situation for the business and the planet at large.

The AIP recognises the ongoing support of the ABA in developing this program, which has seen 10 packaging professionals have the opportunity to undertake higher education across the region.