Pierre Pienaar
When the World Packaging Organisation (WPO) elected a new President to assume office in 2018, the man they chose to lead this powerful international federation of packaging associations and professionals in over 60 countries turned out to Graaff-Reinet’s own Professor Pierre Pienaar, who now resides in Australia.
Early Years
The latest in a long line of distinguished WPO presidents, Pierre Pienaar grew up in Graaff-Reinet, where he attended the Union Schools from 1965 to 1977.
After having matriculated from Union, he initially studied Pharmacy at what is now the Nelson Mandela University, before joining South African Druggists (Lennon Ltd, now known as Aspen Pharmacare) a large pharmaceutical company.
While in their employ, Pierre worked in the laboratories, but was eager to do something more than drug analysis. With a passion for all things packaging running through his veins, it wasn’t long before the company’s MD encouraged him to study further in this field – which he wasted no time in doing.
While studying part-time towards his Masters in Packaging Engineering through Brunel University in London and attending winter school on the campus, Pierre continued working for the Port Elizabeth-based pharmaceutical company, where he quickly rose through the ranks to become its Group Packaging Development Manager and later, Production Manager.
In the following few years, Pierre played a vital role in South Africa’s packaging industry, initially as a stalwart of the Eastern Cape Region of the Institute of Packaging (IPSA), where he enjoyed two terms as regional chairman – in 1987/88 and again in 1990/91.
However, as the Region prospered under his chairmanship, Pierre became increasingly involved in IPSA’s national affairs, culminating in his election as national chairman for 1994-96. During that period, he effectively spearheaded IPSA’s activities and enthusiastically served as South Africa’s representative on the WPO Board, including judging the WorldStar awards.
Following his stint as IPSA’s national chairman, Pierre went on to serve as national education officer, managing this portfolio with strength of purpose and keen leadership skills. He also headed the organising committee for the Gold Pack Student Awards programme.
In recognition of his sterling contributions to IPSA’s education portfolio, Pierre was awarded honorary life membership at the 1998, shortly before his emigration to Australia.
At the end of 1998, Pienaar emigrated to Australia, where he began his career in packaging down under.
A career continued
Indeed, South Africa’s loss was Australia’s gain, as Pierre retained his keen involvement in matters of packaging education and, true to form, proceeded to take up various positions within the Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP).
‘In 1999, following emigration to Australia, I initially worked in a non-packaging company but always knew that packaging was where I wanted to be; and in 2002 I established my own packaging technology consultancy business, PackTech Solutions, a business I still run today,’ he relates.
‘It was then that I joined the AIP and in 2008 was elected as Queensland state chairman and took my place on the AIP Board. In 2010, I was elected AIP’s vice president and at that point persuaded the board that AIP should join the WPO. When I became AIP president in 2012, I immediately became involved in the WPO and in 2014 was named as VP Education,’ he adds.
Once his 2-year term as AIP president came to an end, Pierre became education director, a position he holds to this day. He’s also chairman of the Packaging Innovation & Design Awards for Australia and New Zealand.
In May 2017 – unsurprisingly, given his sterling credentials – he was elected by the global Board as the latest in a long line of distinguished WPO presidents – a professional pinnacle.
His current role at the WPO sees him globe-trotting to fulfill his official duties trying to get to all the member countries involved in the WPO, an organisation that represents thousands of companies and many more individuals that are involved in packaging, the third largest industry in the world.
As president, Pierre continuously faces the global media given that packaging is very much in the forefront of everyday life. He continues to travel to meet his goals that he set when taking office: to reduce packaging, reduce food waste and reduce poverty.
In short
It is truly remarkable what this Old Unionite has accomplished in the years following his schooling in Graaff-Reinet.
Always involved in one or other aspects of research in packaging, Pierre’s numerous global roles sees him meeting with governments around the world, liaising continuously with the UN, attending countless international congresses and conferences delivering and presenting papers, encouraging global packaging research facilities and judging international packaging competitions.
He continues to write articles for numerous packaging magazines around the world.
He has a Master of Science Degree (Packaging Engineering/ Technology) from Brunel University, UK. He also has a Master of Manufacturing and Production Degree from University of Hertfordshire, UK. He is a registered Certified Packaging Professional in over 60 countries.
He has been National President of the South African Institute of Packaging (IPSA), an honorary life member of (IPSA), a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP), Professional member of the Australian Food, Industry and Science Technology.
He is a packaging engineer in his own packaging consulting business, PackTech Solutions Pty Ltd and has extensive experience in the pharmaceutical and food packaging industries. He is the current National Education Director, Past National President of the AIP and past Vice President of the World Packaging Organisation (WPO), where he was responsible for global packaging education.
He has lectured in the technology and science of packaging at various universities and institutions around the world for the past 28 years.
His long-term involvement training at the University of Beijing earned him his first honorary professorship, bestowed on him in 2016. He recently received another professorship from Sichuan University in Chengdu, one of the oldest universities and in the top 10 universities in China.
He currently lectures the Masters students in Food Innovation and Packaging at the University of Melbourne (Australia), Bond University (Australia), University of New South Wales (Australia), Queensland University of Technology (Australia), Beijing Institute of Graphic Communication, Sichuan University (China), Jiangnan University (China), Tra Vinh University (Vietnam), Gadjah Mada University (Indonesia),Rochester Institute of Technology (USA) and Wien University of Applied Sciences (Austria).
He is also regularly called to be an expert witness in court cases, due to his extensive experience in packaging science, packaging engineering and the technology thereof.
Old school ties
“UHS is in my blood, and, although we have been living in Australia for the past 21 years, it is always good to get back to my Alma Mater,” says Pierre. “I attended our 40th school reunion in 2017. I promised then that I would return for the school’s Centenary celebrations. My wife, Deanna (also a past pupil of UHS) and I, therefore returned for Interschools in August this year, where we met up with 15 members of the Class of 1977.”
When asked what he remembers most fondly of his time at Union, Pienaar replied, “Having spent 12 years at Union, the many enjoyable and standout moments are to numerous to mention. I will, however, say that a memory I truly treasure is when, in the early seventies, we had to take the overnight train to Port Elizabeth to play sport against some PE schools on the Saturday. My mother would send a cooked chicken with me which was duly finished by us all before we reached Adendorp station. After the day of playing sport in PE, we then had to, again, take the overnight train back to Graaff-Reinet. The fun we had on this trip will stay with me forever.”
Citing what he enjoyed most about his recent visit to Union, Pierre mentioned seeing and chatting to his old classmates and reminiscing about their school days and discussing how well Union has developed to the school that it is today, living up to its values as stated on the school badge.
Comments about his classmates still coming together after 42 years, “We now value each other more than ever, with no competition existing among us,” says Pierre.
Pierre continued to say that, thinking back on his years at school, there were undoubtedly certain teachers who stood out that shaped his life, “one being Mr André Paris, who taught Economics and Accountancy. He brought life into teaching, using everyday practical examples, making the subject interesting and most enjoyable by, among other, sharing fascinating facts”.
Pierre continues, “Another was Mr Horsie Naudé, who taught me pride, to strive to only give your best and self-discipline. Then finally, Mr Harwood Dixon, who gave me sound foundations in Mathematics, something I have always valued to this day. He provided me with the fundamentals of my Christian life and helped me understand the Bible and how to apply it in everyday living. This is something that I still treasure and value every day since those mid-seventies.”
In conclusion, Pierre shared the following message for the learners walking the halls of Union High School today:
“Believe in yourself, and I truly mean this, surround yourself with positive-minded people, those with good values, and those who are successful. Find a mentor, then always strive to be the best in whatever you do.
I was born with a cleft palate and a harelip, had numerous surgeries in my early years and whilst my classmates played sport in the afternoons, I attended speech therapy my entire school life. This taught me resilience, to stand up for myself, and not to self-pity. Despite my impairment, I knew God made me and loves me. This gave me the courage to prove my self-worth and to silence the teasing bullies.
Enjoy every moment of school life – what you put in you receive ten-fold. They are wonderful years that you will look back on and cherish. Then once you graduate from Union, ensure you get a good solid education foundation. Education is key.
I have found from my extensive global travels – and here I speak from experience from spending a lot of time in foreign countries around the world – that those who have a post-school qualification, be that a certificate, a diploma, a trade, degree, or ongoing short courses, generally have opportunities come more easily for employment success”.