If possible, what positives are you able to draw on from the experiences of 2020?
I’ve been mightily impressed by the agility and flexibility the packaging industry has demonstrated in coping with what has been significant volume volatility. Fortunately, the packaging industry relies heavily on the food and pharma sectors so has not, in the main, been exposed to the issues many of the commercial markets have experienced. Theirs has been a challenge of maintaining health and safety and high-level productivity to keep food on our shelves and medicines moving.

The teamwork, resilience and sheer determination to ride out the problems has also been heartening.

What trend do you think has been accelerated because of the pandemic?
Working with a number of clients across the print and packaging sector, it’s clear that digital technologies have come to the fore to drive the much needed speed and agility in a challenged marketplace. From having employees remote working with digital communications tools to needing to load balance and communicate across sites using automated workflows and cloud-based solutions, has created more awareness of the need for digital transformation.

By example, technologies like Esko WebCenter and Automation Engine are changing the game for the entire packaging supply chains, digitising, automating and connecting all of the parties involved from brand to retailer.

A more obvious trend, but one I believe is here to stay, is the acceptance of flexible and home working. Employers that were previously reluctant have had to accept that that was the safest way of working during the height of the pandemic and actually learned that productivity can be maintained or even enhanced by enabling staff to effectively work digitally. This is a fantastic step personally for employees, as well as the environment, as seen in the lowering of emissions from traffic during the pandemic. However, ensuring employees stay connected – not isolated – and whether we return to ‘normal’ once this is all over, remains to be seen.

What do you think will represent the single biggest opportunity for printers in 2021 and why?
Digitisation. By driving digitisation, automation and connectivity, printers can lower their operational costs and actually improve their sustainability performance to drive competitive edge. Digitisation can automate repetitive and manual tasks, eradicate errors and waste, and drive speed to market and quality. This in turn improves customer service and satisfaction and reduces costs. Even more importantly, it can provide the opportunity to place skilled employees into more value adding and satisfying roles that drive the business forward.

What are your hopes for 2021?
My personal hopes for 2021 are that we see some sort of ‘normal’ emerge by mid-year; any earlier seems too optimistic at this point. I’m really looking forward to physically reconnecting with industry colleagues and peers. While the digital meetings have been fantastic to keep communications moving, there’s nothing like meeting at an exhibition, seminar or conference or having physical meetings on site to really build the relationships that are so critical to our industry.

We can't believe we're asking this question for the fourth year running: what is your one-word view on Brexit?
Frustrating!

What was the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
Don’t go into your boss and ask them a question. Go in with the question, and two answers you’ve thought about, and ask them to help you select which one is best. That way your boss knows you’ve thought about the issue, thought it through, and not just passed the problem to them.

Also, if you work hard, someone will always recognise it – so true!!

What, if anything, will you do differently in 2021?
Create a ‘Don’t answer yet’ folder in my email inbox so I don’t respond to difficult emails with emotion. File, breathe, walk away, do something else, check file and answer calmly.

What’s your favourite Christmas cracker joke?
Why did the chicken cross the playground?
To get to the other slide!

Sprouts: yes or no?
Oh yes! But fried with pancetta!

Are you making any New Year's resolutions? If so, what?
The old usual of lose weight, be healthier and drink less. Yeah right!