Speaker lineup released for Pentawards Festival at Paris Packaging Week 2025

Paris Packaging Week, the premier destination for packaging innovation, has announced it will host the Pentawards Festival at its upcoming event in January 2025.

Building on the success of Pentawards Festival 2024 held at The Science Museum, this exciting collaboration will bring top-tier packaging design content to the award-winning show, featuring keynote speakers from global brands including Carrefour, Microsoft, Nestlé, Coca-Cola, and Unilever.

A one-stop shop for forward-thinking marketing leaders, brands, designers, manufacturers and suppliers, this collaboration of industry giants will create a unique opportunity to discover the latest possibilities in packaging and design, engage with global thought leaders, while exploring the future of packaging and innovation in the sector.

Design with Impact

The overarching theme for the Pentawards Festival 2025 is ‘Design with Impact,’ exploring how design choices can shape consumer behaviour and brand perception. With packaging being a powerful tool for communication, the festival will delve into how impactful designs can effectively convey key messages, values, and meanings to the consumer.

Attendees will hear from renowned experts about how designs can resonate not just with people, but also with the planet. Speakers from global brands will share insights and discuss topics such as sustainability, AI, inclusivity and designing for humanity for a more meaningful future.

A significant step in packaging and design collaboration
“This collaboration marks an exciting milestone for both events, bringing together the brightest minds in the packaging industry to celebrate creativity and groundbreaking design. Together, we are poised to create a new vertical at Paris Packaging Week focusing on design, which will be a place for unparalleled content, networking, and inspiration. I am very excited that in January next year, this will be a superb way to kick off our 2025 competition and in no better place than one of the world’s best design capitals, at Paris Packaging Week,” said Adam Ryan, head of Pentawards

Confirmed speakers

  • Tatiana Ryfer-Emberger, global brand identity director for Carrefour
  • Ximena O’Reilly, global head of design for Nestlé
  • Rebecca McCowen, design director for Coca-Cola
  • Fe Amarante, founder and principal for Experimenta
  • Mayra Messora, head of design South America for Nestlé
  • Marie-Therese Cassidy, VP design Europe for PepsiCo
  • Bruno Singulani, global design director for Haleon
  • Macarena Castillo Olmos, senior brand design manager EU for Colgate-Palmolive
  • Marc Powell, global accessibility centre of excellence lead for Unilever and Paralympian
  • Kevin Marshall, senior director of design, packaging and content for Microsoft
  • Jeremy Lindley, global design director for Diageo
  • Michelle Atkinson, senior global sustainability and innovations lead for Diageo

Design agencies at the Pentawards Festival
The festival will feature a curated Design Hub showcasing innovative packaging design work and thought-provoking ideas from eight leading agencies and brands. Among the exhibitors are:

  • Vincent Villager: Independent product and packaging designer with 25 years of experience in luxury and beauty sectors.
  • Pantel:  French agency specialising in packaging design, strategy, and market positioning in the beverage industry.
  • Extreme: Multi-expert consulting agency with a focus on luxury, food, health, and more.
  • Design Lab:  K Laser – A creative team pushing the boundaries of holography in design.
  • We Want More: An independent Antwerp-based design studio specialising in branding and interior design.

Pentawards will also showcase an impressive gallery of the world’s best packaging from last year’s competition, as judged by over 50 industry experts from brands like Estée Lauder, Microsoft, Pentagram, and PUMA. With over 100 award-winning designs, it is set to be the largest Pentawards exhibition ever presented at a trade show. The gallery will feature the most innovative, thought-provoking, and visually arresting packaging from across the globe.

“Hosting the Pentawards Festival at Paris Packaging Week adds significant value to our visitors,” said Josh Brooks, co-director of Paris Packaging Week. “This collaboration brings a wealth of creative energy and insight into packaging design that will inspire and inform anyone involved in the packaging industry. Whether you’re a brand strategist, a marketer, a designer or a manufacturer, the Pentawards Festival offers a unique opportunity to engage with the industry’s top innovators and take your packaging to the next level.”

Paris Packaging Week 2025
Paris Packaging Week will take place on 28 & 29 January 2025 at Paris Expo, Porte de Versailles, bringing together four major shows:

  • PCD for the beauty and fragrance industries.
  • ADF for the aerosol packaging sector
  • PLD for luxury drinks packaging.
  • Packaging Première for luxury packaging across fashion, watches, jewellery, and fine foods.

Entry for visitors is free. Register at parispackagingweek.com to attend.

CanTech International is a 2025 partner of Paris Packaging Week. Through this collaboration, CanTech supports Paris Packaging Week’s aim of bring together industry leaders, showcase cutting-edge solutions and drive advancements in sustainable packaging.

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