Tom Baker

Baker Labels

https://www.bakerlabels.co.uk/

24 May, 11:00 Panel: How to brand our industry in today’s battle for talent?

Tim Foster

Olympic Champion

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Foster

Tim represented Great Britain at 3 Olympics as part of the national rowing team from 1987 – 2000. During his rowing career he won a total of 9 World Championship and 2 Olympic medals – only twice in 14 years failing to medal.

Tim was renowned for his technical skill, ability to adapt to a team, producing peak performance under pressure, and enabling and facilitating others to perform at maximum efficiency. After achieving his goal of winning a gold medal as part of the Coxless Four at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, Tim retired from international rowing.

50 stunning Olympic moments No4: Steve Redgrave's fifth gold medal | Rowing | The Guardian

On retiring as an athlete, Tim transferred straight into coaching. He coached the GB Team from 2001 – 2006; and was Head Coach of the Swiss National Rowing Team from 2007 – 2012. Tim has coached World and Olympic Champions and successfully transitioned the Swiss national team into their most successful period in 20 years. 
In transferring from top international athlete to top international coach, Tim achieved something that very few sports people have done – being successful in both. It is the false assumption that success in one will lead to success in the other, and the very short list of successful transitions proves this. Tim is still debating whether his previous expertise is a hindrance or a help to his coaching career.

Since 2012, Tim has focussed on translating his skills to business, having also studied for an Executive MBA at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. He has mentored businesses and individuals across many sectors including financial, legal and professional services. Clients have ranged from FTSE 100 companies to over 300 start-ups that Tim has mentored through their early years.

Tim now runs his own consultancy business, works with both the Saïd Business School and Oxford Brookes University, and is also the Head of Performance for the League Managers Association – advising professional football managers at the top of the English game on their own performance and career development.
 

24 May, 12:00 Keynote: Closing keynote: How an Olympic gold winning rower turned Olympic coach

Suvi Rasa

UPM Raflatac

https://www.upmraflatac.com/

Suvi Rasa joined UPM nearly 20 years ago and has extensive experience on sustainability, including developing UPM’s sustainable product design approach and advancing sustainability of new bio based materials and fuels. In UPM Raflatac's label business she embarked on a new journey over two years ago. Her current role is focused on driving product sustainability, circularity and label materials beyond fossils. She is member of FINAT’s PPWR task force and RecyClass Advisory Board. With Master of Science degrees in environmental science as well as economics and business administration she possesses a holistic understanding of sustainability considerations in business environment.

23 May, 15:45 Panel: Are we ready for the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation?

Sergio Collado

Sulayr Global Service

https://sulayrgs.com/en/

Director of Engineering , Innovation and Development at Sulayr Global Service, one of the leading recyclers in Europe and also a CEN participant.

23 May, 15:45 Panel: Are we ready for the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation?

Philippe Voet

Etivoet

https://www.etivoet.be/en

Philippe Voet is the current FINAT President and is the General Manager of Etivoet in Belgium.

24 May, 12:50 Talk: Closing of the ELF 2024
23 May, 09:00 Talk: Opening

Philip Barrett

Cartoonist

23 May, 16:30 : Intermezzo: visual wrap-up
23 May, 12:45 : Intermezzo: visual wrap-up
24 May, 12:45 : Intermezzo: visual wrap-up

Pablo Englebienne

FINAT

https://www.finat.com/sustainability

23 May, 15:45 Panel: Are we ready for the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation?

Noël Kasmi

Avery Dennison

https://www.averydennison.com/en/home.html

23 May, 15:45 Panel: Are we ready for the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation?

Michel Scholte

CSRD Academy

https://csrdacademy.com/

23 May, 14:30 Keynote: The EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive – towards a more equitable future

Michael Wareka

CEO Marzek Etiketten + Packaging

https://www.marzek.at/en/

Dr. Johannes Michael Wareka - CEO and 4th generation of Marzek Etiketten+Packaging

Johannes Michael Wareka is CEO and 4th generation of Marzek Etiketten+Packaging. Founded in 1879, Marzek Etiketten+Packaging is a traditional family business that produces labels and sales-promoting packaging for thousands of small businesses and wineries as well as large international industrial customers throughout Europe at its headquarters in Traiskirchen/Austria and three other European plants, with over 700 employees.

He has been familiar with the industry since he was a child, growing up surrounded by printing machines, labels and packages. After completing his studies at the Vienna University of Economics and Business with the Ph.D., he worked in various IT jobs in different countries. Since 1991 he has been a co-owner and member of the Management Board, since 1993 he has been CEO / Board Chairman of the Marzek Etiketten+Packaging Group.

As a visionary leader, Johannes Michael Wareka was the driving force to expand the familiy business to Hungary and Ukraine which turned out to be excellent moves despite the challenges posed by the war in Ukraine. His ambition to pass on an even better company to the next generation is the driving force for his unconditional pursuit of quality which has earned the company many national and international awards for its high-quality labels – including many FINAT awards. It is also the reason for his tireless strive to meet the numerous challenges of our industry leveraging technology and innovation.

As member of the „FINAT Converter Committee“ 1991-1993 and as this year´s panelist Johannes Michael Wareka is convinced that professional exchange and networking are highly important for the industry. Therefore, he is looking forward to sharing his insights and discussing latest trends with industry professionals at FINAT in Athens.

23 May, 12:00 Panel: Industry panel

Marzia Scopelliti

Europen

https://www.europen-packaging.eu/

Marzia Scopelliti is Senior Public Affairs Manager at EUROPEN, the European Organisation for Packaging and the Environment, representing the entire packaging value chain in Europe.

Prior to joining EUROPEN, Marzia held different roles at Plastics Europe, the EU organisation of plastic raw material producers, focusing on the revision of different policies related to plastics’ end of life. Previously, she has been a Bluebook trainee at the EU Commission’s Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE), where she worked on the implementation of the EU maritime and fisheries policy in the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions.

Marzia holds a PhD in International Law from the Complutense University of Madrid (Spain) and a degree in International Relations from the University of Milan (Italy).

23 May, 15:45 Panel: Are we ready for the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation?

Linda Lichtmess

Euromonitor

https://www.euromonitor.com/

23 May, 11:30 Talk: 2024 Consumer attitudes to watch

Laura Bas

Public speaker & Consultant

https://www.laurabas.com/en

Laura Bas (1996) is a multiple award-winning Changemaker, Public Speaker and Moderator. As a public speaker, she specializes in meaningful youth participation, millennials, Gen Z and gender equality. She knows exactly how to explain to an audience how to better engage young people in organizations and how to create equal chances for men and women. Laura has spoken at The United Nations, Tedx, Unicef and Microsoft

22 May, 09:00 Workshop: YPN workshop 'From energy eater to energy giver'
24 May, 11:00 Panel: How to brand our industry in today’s battle for talent?

Katie King

AI Strategist & Influencer

https://www.aiinbusiness.co.uk/

24 May, 09:00 Keynote: Keynote: How to harness AI and maintain the competitive edge

Jules Lejeune

FINAT

https://www.linkedin.com/in/juleslejeune/

Jules Lejeune was appointed as FINAT's Managing Director in 1998. He was closely involved in the launch of the FINAT Radar in 2014. Each year he presents the annual review of trends and developments in the self-adhesive label materials demand in Europe.

23 May, 11:00 Talk: The European label business landscape in 2023-2024

Joran van den Berg

Innovation Consultant at Berenschot B.V.

https://www.berenschot.com/

Joran van den Berg, Innovation Consultant at Berenschot B.V., The Netherlands.had an MSc. in nanotechnology physics, focusing on nanoelectronics for quantum computing applications. Employed at Berenschot for two years, forming consortia in several technology sectors with a focus on semiconductor technologies, and writing project proposals for both national and international subsidy funds.

23 May, 15:15 Talk: Towards a Smart Food Chain: Minimise Waste in Food Supply using smart packaging technology

John Eisses

Berenschot

https://www.berenschot.com/

23 May, 15:15 Talk: Towards a Smart Food Chain: Minimise Waste in Food Supply using smart packaging technology

Jeremy Lagay

Iconex

https://www.iconex.com/

23 May, 12:00 Panel: Industry panel

Iban Cid

Germark

https://www.germark.com/en/

24 May, 11:00 Panel: How to brand our industry in today’s battle for talent?

Hassan Rmaile

President & CEO MCC Label

https://www.mcclabel.com/en

23 May, 12:00 Panel: Industry panel

Guy Verhofstadt

Member of the European Parliament, 47th Prime Minister of Belgium

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/

Guy Verhofstadt is a member of the ‘Renew Europe’ group in the European Parliament and former Prime Minister of Belgium. He still serves in the European Parliament today, where he is a champion of more European integration to tackle the multiple crises the EU faces for the moment.

“One of the architects of the current structure of power in the European Union”

Guy Verhofstadt served for a decade as the leader of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), the centrist-liberal grouping in the European parliament. He led the EU’s negotiating team on the UK’s departure from the Union. He became an MP and then Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for the Budget whilst still in his 30s. After losing power, Guy took control of the party and reinvented it, making it more attractive to representatives of other parties. After taking time away from politics, Guy returned as president of the VLD winning the general election and becoming the first liberal PM in over 60 years. Guy retained the office for eight years before becoming a Senator and then an MEP.

23 May, 09:15 Keynote: A vision of the future of Europe in a multipolar world

Günther Birkner

President CCL Label & Innovia Films

https://cclind.com/

23 May, 12:00 Panel: Industry panel

Graham Houlder

Ceflex

https://ceflex.eu/

23 May, 15:45 Panel: Are we ready for the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation?

Fernando Giron

Fedrigoni Group

https://fedrigoni.com/en/

Fernando Giron is Commercial Director for the self-adhesive business unit of Fedrigoni Group. He is an experienced Commercial and Marketing professional with a demonstrated history of working in the packaging industry. Skilled in Business Development, Marketing and Commercial Strategy, Business Process Improvement, Digital Marketing, and IT Service Management. 

23 May, 12:00 Panel: Industry panel

Fabrizio Di Gregorio

Technical Director at Plastics Recyclers Europe (RecyClass)

https://recyclass.eu/

Fabrizio Di Gregorio is Technical Director at Plastics Recyclers Europe (RecyClass) and has a PhD in Industrial Engineering and Master Scientist in Environmental Science and Technology. He is able to assess and develop strategies in the field of packaging in the circular economy perspective (design for recycling, end-of-life treatment, recycling targets), assess and develop waste management and recycling strategies, develop Life Cycle Assessment for waste technologies and waste management scenario, develop mass and energy balances and material and substance flow analyses, and he is also an expert in chemical recycling (plastic waste gasification - in particular in fluidized bed technologies- and pyrolysis) and syngas purification.

Fabrizio is an author of several papers published in international scientific journals and he is a Referee for peer-reviewed scientific journals in the field of waste management, plastics, resources and sustainability, recycling, LCA, energy and fuels. He has presented several webinars on recycling for the FINAT community in the past years. 

23 May, 15:45 Panel: Are we ready for the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation?

Dr. Guido Spachtholz

HERMA Group

https://www.herma.com/

Since January 2021, Dr. Guido Spachtholz is Managing Director of HERMA Group and Head of the self-adhesive materials division.

23 May, 12:00 Panel: Industry panel

Dieter Tschemernjak

Inno-Verse

https://www.inno-verse.com/en

Dieter Tschemernjak is strategy and innovation expert, co-creator of the AI-based digital platform INNO-VERSE. He is entrepreneur and partner in-manas at intelligent management solutions GmbH. He has a strong focus on strategy, innovation and organizational development. He has 25+ years of business experience in leading corporate and board functions and in the consulting industry. He has a Master degree in Strategic Corporate Management at the Leopold-Franzen University of Innsbruck.

24 May, 09:45 Talk: Using AI for innovations in the label industry

Denise Haitoglou

President of ELSET

https://www.elset.gr/en/

Denise Haitoglou, CEO and Founder of Haitoglou Graphic Arts S.A

Warwick Business School, M.Sc

The industry of Graphic Arts fascinated me since my first day working for our family business, active in the food industry already for 100 years now. At the beginning of my career, I was responsible for the marketing side of packaging therefore, I had the chance to visit several factories during the printing process.  

This sector seemed very interesting and full of potential so I decided to differentiate from the food industry and started a new company for flexible labels : prepress , press , postpress.

The goal was and still is to do it the best possible way with respect to the customers, employees, and the environment. It’s been twenty years now and I keep learning and trying to advance, always motivated by the changes and challenges of the market year by year.  

23 May, 09:00 Talk: Opening

Dana Kilarska

Purgina

https://www.purgina.sk/en/

Dana Kilarka is Managing Director of Purgina since 2016. 'Leading a family business in the printing industry as 2nd generation. The hand in of the business was in poor condition and in last 3,5 years, the business developed and got healthy again as it was never in 28 years of history. This is not just about me, it's about every single colleague of mine wanting to climb the mountain with me. It's about to be better than yesterday. It's easy to improve the financial situation of a company but the challenge is to keep humble and goal-oriented in the best times of the company.'

24 May, 11:00 Panel: How to brand our industry in today’s battle for talent?

Bert van Loon

Independent Strategist

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bertvanloon/

Co-Founder Content Marketing Fast Forward #CMFF (NL). Bert van Loon will be moderating a few of the panel discussions during ELF.

I grew up in the publishing industry where I held positions in sales, marketing and business development. I was given the opportunity to lead multidisciplinary teams, where I was able to ensure that business and creativity joined forces to give birth to client happiness. I often worked in international alliances across Europe. After a few years as the managing director of a publishing group in Belgium, I decided that I preferred concepts, strategy and projects to corporate management.

I launched my independent strategy and concept practice in 1997. Over the years, I experienced the transition from ‘print only’ to digital and cross-media, right from within the heart of the industry. I learned while doing and I saw both success and failure up close. Along the most diversified set of projects from different clients during all those years, I also participated as an entrepreneur in various publishing and media initiatives. Some worked wonders, some didn’t: I learned on the job in a fast-changing environment.

My experience of bringing business and creativity together to realise organisations’ marketing and sales objectives is a valuable asset in today’s content marketing world. My strength lies in projects where I can develop new initiatives or re-engineer existing ones, while teaching new skills to my client’s teams as they earn and learn. I love to work in a multidisciplinary and international environment, bringing my half-Dutch and half-French background to the table with a mixture of Dutch bluntness and French finesse.

23 May, 09:00 Talk: Opening

Anum Javed Beg

AWA Alexander Watson Associates

https://awa-bv.com/

Anum is currently working at AWA as a Manager Market Intelligence & Business Insights, conducting research into the specialty packaging, coating and converting industries. Before joining AWA, she worked in a management consulting firm after working in the shipping industry for almost two years. Before this Anum graduated from her Master's in Business Administration with majors in Marketing.

23 May, 11:00 Talk: The European label business landscape in 2023-2024

Anastasios Politis

IC - International Circle of Educational Institutes of Graphic-Media Technology and Management

https://www.internationalcircle.net/

24 May, 11:00 Panel: How to brand our industry in today’s battle for talent?

The European Label Forum 2024: 'At the intersection of transitory changes'

2023 brought disruption: supply chain, energy, inflation, climate challenges. Yet, opportunity thrives within. The EU Green Deal, AI advancements, and democratic values pave the way for a sustainable, innovative future.

Join the European Label Forum in Athens, Greece – cradle of democracy and gateway to progress. Network, learn, and shape the future alongside industry leaders.

Why #ELF2024?

  • Navigate industry shifts: sustainability, digitization, workforce trends.
  • Gain insights from top experts and thought leaders.
  • Network with a global community of industry peers.
  • Experience the spirit of innovation and collaboration.

Don't miss this pivotal moment.

Scroll down to see the preliminary programme (work in progress), and follow the News section on the homepage with updates and blogs from experts.

Tuesday, 21 May

Pre-conference activities
18:00
Young Professionals Network
18:00 - 23:00 Ends: 23:00

pre-YPN event (upon separate registration)

Social
18:00 - 23:00 Ends: 23:00

YPN welcome drinks and dinner

We welcome all YPN attendees for some welcome drinks at the hotel bar at 6 PM, followed by dinner outside the hotel (walking distance) at 7 PM. YPN attendees will receive more detailed information close to the event.

Wednesday, 22 May

Pre-conference activities
09:00
Young Professionals Network
09:00 - 14:00 Ends: 14:00

YPN event (upon separate registration)

Workshop
09:00 - 14:00 Ends: 14:00

YPN workshop 'From energy eater to energy giver'

hosted by Laura Bas

It is the power of the youngest generation to innovate. When they succeed, with the support and advice from earlier generations, to utilize their urge for innovation, they can transform outdated processes. That way, a flourishing organization is created which is attractive to both junior and senior employees!

In this interactive workshop, attendees learn how they can utilize their unique power to transform working processes. 

  • The power of Gen Z: What is the strength of this youngest working generation in the office and how can they use it. 
  • Approach to energy eaters: Strategies to recognize aspects that drain energy and how to turn these in to energy givers. 
  • Practical tools – how to deal with resistance and optimizing/innovating processes. 

The workshop consists of two interactive sessions followed by lunch.

REGISTER NOW (separate from ELF registration)

This YPN event is sponsored by:

Laura Bas

Public speaker & Consultant
12:00
Session
12:00 - 17:00 Ends: 17:00

Pre-conference meetings and activities

Registration will open no earlier than 12.00 PM CEST. Exhibitors are welcome to setup their table for FINAT tabletop exhibition from 16.30 CEST.

13.00 - 15.00  CELAB-Europe Annual Meeting

15.45 - 16.30  FINAT General Assembly 2024


 

16:30
Social
16:30 - 18:30 Ends: 18:30

Set up tabletop and Label Award Ceremony

18:45
Dinner
18:45 - 22:00 Ends: 22:00

Welcome cocktail and dinner

FINAT officially welcomes its delegates and partners to the European Label Forum 2024 with cocktails and a buffet dinner. 

Thursday, 23 May

Plenary conference session
09:00
Session 1
09:00 - 11:30 Ends: 11:30

The general business climate

Talk
09:00 - 09:15 Ends: 09:15

Opening

Denise Haitoglou, President of Elset, the Greek label association, welcomes delegates to the hosting country. 
Philippe Voet, FINAT President opens the conference and introduces FINAT’s conference moderator Bert van Loon.

Bert van Loon

Independent Strategist

Philippe Voet

Etivoet

Denise Haitoglou

President of ELSET
Keynote
09:15 - 10:15 Ends: 10:15

A vision of the future of Europe in a multipolar world

Guy Verhofstadt has carved a distinguished career as a passionate Belgian politician and advocate for a stronger, more united European Union. His lifelong dedication to European integration has been marked by his unwavering belief in the power of cooperation and collaboration to address global challenges. As former Belgian Prime Minister, Verhofstadt was appointed as Chair of the Conference on the Future of Europe in 2022, a major initiative aimed at revitalizing the EU and addressing the concerns of its citizens. Mr. Verhofstadt will offer us tremendous insights into current European issues, the current political landscape and the socio and business scene.

Guy Verhofstadt

Member of the European Parliament, 47th Prime Minister of Belgium
Networking
10:15 - 11:00 Ends: 11:00

Business-to-business & member-to-member break

Opportunity to refresh, (re-)connect with industry peers and visit premium suppliers represented in the lobby expo area.

Talk
11:00 - 11:30 Ends: 11:30

The European label business landscape in 2023-2024

Anum Javed Beg, label market analyst at AWA Alexander Watson Associates, and Jules Lejeune, Managing Director of FINAT, will present the key findings of the latest FINAT RADAR report and the European Labelstock Statistics.

Jules Lejeune

FINAT

Anum Javed Beg

AWA Alexander Watson Associates
11:30
Session 2
11:30 - 13:15 Ends: 13:15

Developments along the supply chain

Talk
11:30 - 12:00 Ends: 12:00

2024 Consumer attitudes to watch

Linda Lichtmess, Strategic Market Analyst Food & Drinks at Euromonitor (D) will present the latest insights on consumer behaviour. What are shoppers expecting from brands and retailers? How is the latter meeting these and what does this entail for labels and packaging suppliers? Five new trends are reshaping retail this year.

Linda Lichtmess

Euromonitor
Panel
12:00 - 12:45 Ends: 12:45

Industry panel

To conclude this session, a panel of renowned industry leaders including Günther Birkner (CCL Label), Hassan Rmaile (Multicolor Corporation), Michael Wareka (Marzek Labels), Jeremy Lagay (Iconex), Guido Spachtholz (HERMA) and Fernando Girón (Fedrigoni) will reflect on the key business topics and challenges for our industry

Hassan Rmaile

President & CEO MCC Label

Dr. Guido Spachtholz

HERMA Group

Fernando Giron

Fedrigoni Group

Günther Birkner

President CCL Label & Innovia Films

Michael Wareka

CEO Marzek Etiketten + Packaging

Jeremy Lagay

Iconex
12:45 - 13:00 Ends: 13:00

Intermezzo: visual wrap-up

FINAT cartoonist-in-residence Philip Barrett presents a graphic summary of the key takeaways of this morning.

Philip Barrett

Cartoonist
13:00
Networking
13:00 - 14:30 Ends: 14:30

Networking lunch

Opportunity to refuel, (re-)connect with industry peers and visit premium suppliers represented in the lobby expo area prior to the kick-off of the afternoon programme.

14:30
Session 3
14:30 - 16:35 Ends: 16:35

Sustainability

Keynote
14:30 - 15:15 Ends: 15:15

The EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive – towards a more equitable future

Michel Scholte is the director and co-founder of the Impact Institute and the co-founder and executive director of True Price. To him, idealism is intrinsic to entrepreneurship. As a social entrepreneur, he is dedicated to a more equitable economy, in balance with nature and without extreme forms of poverty and suppression. From 2020-2022, this won him the honorary title of Minister of the New Economy in The Netherlands. His most recent venture is the CSRD Academy, an initiative to prepare industries like the labels and packaging sector for the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

Michel Scholte

CSRD Academy
Talk
15:15 - 15:45 Ends: 15:45

Towards a Smart Food Chain: Minimise Waste in Food Supply using smart packaging technology

Billions of dollars worth of revenue are lost every year along the supply chain, while the environmental cost of a complex supply chain can seem almost immeasurable. Intelligent labels and packaging can make a difference in the quest to combat waste along the supply chain. John Eisses of Dutch consultancy firm Berenschot presents the case story of AIPIA, the Active and Intelligent Packaging Industries Association, which is preparing a funded initiative to develop and implement effective smart packaging technologies to restructure conventional food supply chains.

John Eisses

Berenschot

Joran van den Berg

Innovation Consultant at Berenschot B.V.
Panel
15:45 - 16:30 Ends: 16:30

Are we ready for the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation?

The way it looks now, the PPWR will become a reality before the European elections in June. How is our industry prepared for the targets and goals set by this legislation, like recyclability, reuse/refill, recycled content, compostability, restriction/reduction of packaging, EPR...?

After a brief summary by FINAT’s Regulatory Affairs Manager Pablo Englebienne, a panel of distinguished experts will reflect on topics pending. The panel will consist of Marzia Scopelliti (EUROPEN), Fabrizio di Gregorio (Plastics Recycling Europe), Suvi Rasa (UPM Raflatac), Graham Holder (Ceflex), Sergio Collado (Sulayr Global Service, PET recycler), and Noël Kasmi (Avery Dennison).

Marzia Scopelliti

Europen

Fabrizio Di Gregorio

Technical Director at Plastics Recyclers Europe (RecyClass)

Pablo Englebienne

FINAT

Suvi Rasa

UPM Raflatac

Graham Houlder

Ceflex

Sergio Collado

Sulayr Global Service

Noël Kasmi

Avery Dennison
16:30 - 16:35 Ends: 16:35

Intermezzo: visual wrap-up

FINAT cartoonist-in-residence Philip Barrett presents a graphic summary of the key takeaways of this morning.

Philip Barrett

Cartoonist
Social programme
19:00
Social
19:00 - 22:30 Ends: 22:30

Dinner and entertainment

Dress code: business casual

Opportunity to unwind from day 1, (re-)connect with industry peers, enjoy premium entertainment and have a bit of fun.

Friday, 24 May

Plenary conference session
09:00
Session 4
09:00 - 10:15 Ends: 10:15

Innovation

Keynote
09:00 - 09:45 Ends: 09:45

Keynote: How to harness AI and maintain the competitive edge

Katie King is an AI strategist and influencer who is revolutionizing the way businesses leverage artificial intelligence. With her deep understanding of AI technology and its applications, Katie has helped countless organizations achieve their goals and stay ahead of the curve in the ever-changing digital landscape. Her expertise extends to various industries, including healthcare, finance, and retail, and she has a proven track record of success in helping businesses achieve their objectives and transform their businesses. Katie is a true visionary who is shaping the future of AI, and her contributions are making a real impact on the world.

Katie King

AI Strategist & Influencer
Talk
09:45 - 10:15 Ends: 10:15

Using AI for innovations in the label industry

Dieter Tschemernjak is Partner and Co-creator of Inno-Verse, an AI-enabled innovation and strategy platform for companies and organisations. Dieter will present real use cases related to the labels and packaging sector in the field of sustainability, circular economy or business model development.

Dieter Tschemernjak

Inno-Verse
10:15
Networking
10:15 - 11:00 Ends: 11:00

Business-to-business & member-to-member break

Opportunity to refresh, (re-)connect with industry peers and visit premium suppliers represented in the lobby expo area.

11:00
Session 5
11:00 - 13:00 Ends: 13:00

Label Leadership

Panel
11:00 - 12:00 Ends: 12:00

How to brand our industry in today’s battle for talent?

Like so many sectors in the manufacturing industry, label and packaging manufacturers are struggling to attract young talent. Partly this has to do with an outdated image of our sector as seen from the outside, but in part it is also a matter of ‘internal’ mindset and culture change. As an outsider, influencer on youth participation, millennials, Gen Z and gender equality, and former United Nations Youth Ambassador Laura Bas will present her thoughts and ideas on what our sector can do to become more attractive to graduates and young talent from adjacent sectors. After Laura’s introduction, a distinguished panel consisting of Tom Baker (Baker Labels, UK), Dana Kilarska (Purgina Labels, Slovakia), Iban Cid (Germark), and Anastasios Politis (IC - International Circle of Educational Institutes of Graphic-Media Technology and Management, Greece) will reflect on these recommendations.

Dana Kilarska

Purgina

Laura Bas

Public speaker & Consultant

Tom Baker

Baker Labels

Iban Cid

Germark

Anastasios Politis

IC - International Circle of Educational Institutes of Graphic-Media Technology and Management
Keynote
12:00 - 12:45 Ends: 12:45

Closing keynote: How an Olympic gold winning rower turned Olympic coach

Tim Foster, British rowing champion, has etched his name in the annals of Olympic history. Born in Bedford, England, on January 19, 1970, Foster's passion for rowing blossomed early, leading him to excel at the sport from a young age and winning gold at the prestigious 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. Beyond his Olympic success, Foster is also an accomplished coach, sharing his wealth of knowledge and experience. His infectious enthusiasm and strategic insights have helped shape countless careers. He embodies the true spirit of sportsmanship, demonstrating the importance of teamwork, camaraderie, and the pursuit of excellence.

Tim Foster

Olympic Champion
12:45 - 12:50 Ends: 12:50

Intermezzo: visual wrap-up

FINAT cartoonist-in-residence Philip Barrett presents a graphic summary of the key takeaways of this morning.

Philip Barrett

Cartoonist
Talk
12:50 - 13:00 Ends: 13:00

Closing of the ELF 2024

Philippe Voet, FINAT President closes this year’s conference.

Philippe Voet

Etivoet
13:00
Networking
13:00 - 14:30 Ends: 14:30

Lunch

Opportunity for delegates to share the learnings of this event with peers and new found business friends, look forward to the summer, exchange contact details and say goodbye (but not farewell), and perhaps extend their stay in Athens.