Paris Packaging Week has unveiled the ten young professionals who will be celebrated on February 3-4, 2027, at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles.
Representing businesses across Europe, Africa and North America, they make up the Future Leaders 2027 cohort which, each year, recognizes young professionals for their achievements in materials development, luxury design, manufacturing and entrepreneurship within the packaging industry.
Ten talents from eight countries The ten selected professionals of the new Future Leaders cohort are: - Romain Vanwijnsberghe, Business Development, Cosmetics Atelier, Belgium – Rania Elqadah, Packaging Designer, IDP Direct, United States – Anja Macan, CMO, Macan, Croatia – Rica Hakim, Product Development Chemist, PPG Industries, Germany – Eugénie Rovere, President, MATCHY MATCHA, France – Dhruvi Thakkar, Founder & Lead Packaging Designer, Sleeve Office Ltd, United Kingdom – Tendresse Lokole, Managing Director, MMB, Democratic Republic of the Congo – Eloise Masquelier, Material Science Expert, Albéa, France – Rawy José Baranco, Sales Manager, Mach4Food, Netherlands – Mandana Vahedi, Product Development Manager, Planet B BV, Belgium |
A new generation delivering results
From developing new materials and bringing packaging concepts to market to extending the life of existing machinery, the Future Leaders Class of 2027 is already delivering results across the industry!
At PPG Industries, Rica Hakim has helped develop two BPA-NI internal coatings for personal care packaging, including work towards water-based alternatives ahead of changes to EU regulations. Eloise Masquelier of Albéa Cosmetics & Fragrance is also advancing materials innovation, leading the qualification of recycled resins. And several members of the new cohort have already translated their packaging expertise into measurable commercial results.
Creative and technical expertise also feature prominently. Rania Elqadah of IDP Direct developed the structural design of the Maison Margiela Tabi Collector Box, while Anja Macan of Macan helped create Señor’s Fussnota perfume packaging, combining specialist print finishes with a distinctive opening structure. Dhruvi Thakkar, founder of Sleeve Office Ltd, has worked across major FMCG and beauty brands, improving packaging workflows at Vibrant Foods and translating creative concepts into production-ready designs at Unilever.
Recognising achievement and ambition
The 2027 cohort was selected with the involvement of a judging panel comprising Katarzyna Wisniewska, Head of CSR for EME at Sephora; Louis Marty, founder of Merci Handy; and Marion Quesson, Senior Art Director at Sowine.
For Louis Marty, the defining quality of this year’s class is its ability to translate ambition into real achievements: “What impressed me about this year’s Future Leaders was the range of challenges they’re already tackling, from developing new materials and improving manufacturing to building successful businesses. What connects them is their ability to turn ambition into something tangible.”
For fellow judge Katarzyna Wisniewska, the diversity of this year’s class reflects the breadth of talent driving change across the packaging industry. “Talent can be found at every level of the value chain, across every role and in companies of every size. It’s really encouraging to see that transformation can happen anywhere.”
Paris Packaging Week will take place on February 3 and 4, 2027, registration is already open here.
