Propak East Africa Conference 2026
The Propak East Africa Conference is a three-day, knowledge-driven programme equipping industry professionals with practical insights across packaging, printing, and food & beverage processing.
Marking Propak’s 10th edition — “10 Years of Innovation & Excellence” — the conference focuses on innovation, compliance, sustainability, and market readiness, supporting East African businesses to compete locally, regionally, and globally.
Click on the link Propak EA 2026 Conference Registration
Day 1 – Eastern African Packaging Summit (4th Edition)
A focused day of insight into the trends, policies, and innovations shaping East Africa’s packaging industry. Featuring Regina Ombam, Principal Secretary for Trade at the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry (MITI), alongside industry experts, the conference explores sustainable solutions, regional trade opportunities, brand protection, consumer trends, and the shift toward a circular economy — equipping businesses with the insight needed to compete and grow.
Day 2 – Printing Masterclass Day by Printing SA
A dedicated skills-development day delivering practical, industry-relevant training to upskill professionals across the printing, packaging, and branding value chain, with pathways to further accreditation and professional growth.
Day 3 – Unlocking East Africa’s Processing Potential
An in-depth exploration of food and beverage processing, examining innovation, value addition, quality, safety, finance, and market access to help processors scale, compete, and future-proof their operations.
Dr William Kimutai Maritim
Kenya Dairy Board
Dr. William Kimutai Maritim is a seasoned dairy industry expert who currently serves as the Acting Managing Director of the Kenya Dairy Board (KDB). In this role, he leads national efforts to strengthen Kenya’s dairy value chain by championing policies that enhance milk production, processing, safety, and market access. His leadership has been central in driving collaborative initiatives—particularly with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)—that aim to transform the sector “from farm to glass” while promoting innovation, regulatory integrity, and sustainable growth across both formal and informal dairy markets. [africanagr...siness.com], [livestocktrend.com]
Before assuming his current position, Dr. Maritim served as the Director of Regulatory Services at KDB, where he oversaw implementation of the Dairy Industry Act and was responsible for nationwide inspection, permitting, and quality surveillance of milk and dairy products. His regulatory work focused on ensuring compliance with safety standards, protecting consumers, and facilitating fair, well‑structured dairy trade. Beyond Kenya, he has also contributed to continental food safety initiatives as a former Chair of the Codex Coordinating Committee for Africa, supporting the harmonization of dairy standards and advancing Africa’s participation in global markets.
Regina Akoth Ombam
State Department for Trade - Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry
Ms.Ombam is an Economist and Public Policy Expert committed to seeing Kenya positioned as Africa’s Trade Hub. As the Principal Secretary, she plays a pivotal role in driving Kenya's economic growth by spearheading policies and initiatives that stimulate growth, create jobs and expand Kenya's trade policies with a focus on driving trade reforms, fostering strategic partnerships and deepening Kenya’s regional and global economic integration in line with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
Ms. Ombam’s expertise extends across extensive macroeconomic and microeconomic analysis, implementation science, negotiations, results-based management and institutional governance.
Her strategic insight has made her a key driver in enhancing trade policy, fostering public-private partnerships, and promoting economic integration across the continent, including engagements at the African Union, European Union and with other Bilateral partners.
Ms. Ombam holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology and a Master of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Nairobi and a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Columbia University.
With a proven track record in economic policy and strategic planning her leadership at the State Department is instrumental in enhancing Kenya's trade environment, attract investment and strengthen economic ties both regionally and globally.
Dr. Robi M. King’a
Anti-Counterfeit Authority
Dr. Robi is the Executive Director of ACA, the lead Kenyan government Agency mandated to combat counterfeiting and trade in counterfeit goods. The Authority is domiciled under State Department for Industry under the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry (MITI). Dr. King'a has over 20 years' experience gained in both public and private sectors. Previously, Dr. King'a served as the Chief Executive Officer of Kenya Association of Music Producers (KAMP). He also served as board member of the Media Council of Kenya (MCK), Tom Mboya University and Public Relations Society of Kenya (PRSK).
Dr. King'a holds a PhD from KU, an MA and Postgraduate Diploma in Communication from the University of Nairobi; Masters in IP from Africa University (Zimbabwe); B. ED and LLB from Egerton and Mt. Kenya Universities respectively and a Postgraduate Diploma in Law from KSL. He is also an advocate of the High Court of Kenya.
Sheida Mutuku
Woodside Africa Group LLC
Sheida is an inspirational business leader and passionate advocate for Africa’s prosperity. A self-described Dreamer and Lover of Africa, she is known for her bold vision and unwavering commitment to building sustainable, world‑class enterprises across the continent.
As CEO and Chair of Woodside Africa Group LLC, Sheida leads a diversified portfolio spanning social infrastructure, manufacturing, agribusiness, youth development, environmental conservation, and corporate sustainability. Under her leadership, Woodside has achieved strong business growth and launched over 40 sustainability‑driven initiatives.
Sheida is strategically positioning Woodside as an emerging manufacturing player through textiles, waste management, and personal care innovations, anchored by the Mali Conservation Company and its proprietary 10‑Pillar conservation model, including a $100M Recycling & Eco‑Packaging initiative.
She is also spearheading the mobilization of $35B through the Africa Social Infrastructure Fund (ASIF) to finance schools, hospitals, housing, and creative and sports facilities across Africa. An author and thought leader, Sheida focuses on africentric AI, sustainability, youth economics, and environmental conservation.
Huddah Nassali
Supporting trade, agri-food, and SME development projects to reduce losses, meet international standards, and improve market access.
Carol W. Maina
All Seasons
Strategic Media Communication Expert
Carol W. Maina is a seasoned communications and advertising professional with deep expertise in how technology and market shifts influence consumer behavior. She helps brands transform innovation into meaningful engagement by aligning strategic communication with evolving audience needs.
As the Founder and Director of All Seasons Communications Ltd, Carol leads a tech‑driven organization that empowers clients to make better, faster, and more confident communication decisions — all while keeping human insight and accountability at the center of every solution.
Her professional foundation is supported by strong academic and industry credentials, including a Bachelor of Business Administration, Digital Marketing Certification, Diploma in Sales & Marketing, and a Management & Leadership Certificate.
Beyond her corporate leadership, Carol is actively involved in industry development and advocacy. She serves as Chair of the Service & Consultancy Sector at the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) and sits on KAM’s Marketing & Membership Committee, where she contributes to sector growth and strategic member engagement.
With personal interests in gardening, hiking, and culinary exploration, Carol brings a well‑rounded and creative perspective to her professional work, making her a dynamic voice in strategic media communication and brand innovation.
Chirag Tak
General Printers 2021
Mr. Chirag Tak, Chief Commercial Officer, General Printers 2021 Limited, is a seasoned professional in the Flexible Packaging Industry. He has more than 17 years of experience in the industry. In his career, he has managed business in over 15 countries in Africa and the Middle East.
Ian Minjire Kibira
Melanin Kapital Neobank
Techpreneur | engineer | coach| urban sustainability planning
Named by Forbes in the 2021’s 30 under 30 list, Ian is the Chairman and co-founder of Melanin Kapital Neobank, 1st digital green financing platform dedicated to African SMEs, based in Kenya.
Through his team, Mélanin Kapital has deployed over 2.5M of Capital to SMEs to access green loans fast and at affordable rates to finance the working capital they need to grow their green businesses.
Ian is a Kenyan Civil Engineer by profession but has mastered in Sustainability planning from the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences.
He has previously worked on infrastructural projects with Kenya Urban Roads and social impact projects with UNICEF and IBM Africa, under a subsidiary company Fun KidzTech working with Safaricom.
Ian is passionate about leadership and social impact and run his own foundation called Tuungane Foundation. He served on the board Africa Leadership Academy as a student advisor, currently serves as a sports director on the board of Parklands Sports Club after a successful career as a professional sportsman representing Kenya in rugby 7s and the German Bundesliga, closing with the commonwealth games in 2018.
He has always endeavoured to keep the Kenyan flag high engaging in diplomacy conversations between Africa and Europe.
Hé has bagged various awards with his team to name a few: most promising entrepreneur, AfricaArena South Africa, Gitex Africa in Dubai and tunnels up Ecobank Africa Fintech Challenge, Togo.
John Macharia
Kombucha Kenya
John Macharia is the Head of Marketing at Kombucha Kenya, a leading functional beverage brand championing fermented and wellness-focused drinks in East Africa. He leads brand strategy, market positioning, and consumer engagement, with a strong focus on authenticity, education, and sustainable growth within the beverage sector.
With hands-on experience in building and scaling fermented beverage brands, John has played a key role in shaping Kombucha Kenya’s presence in the health and wellness space, bridging traditional fermentation practices with modern consumer expectations. His work centers on storytelling, product credibility, and connecting conscious consumers with functional beverages that support well-being.
John brings practical insights into innovation, branding, and market adoption within East Africa’s evolving beverage industry.
Jonathan Bamber
Burton & Bamber
Jonathan Bamber is a Kenyan-based entrepreneur and co-founder of Burton & Bamber Co. Ltd, an agro-processing company established in 2015 that focuses on adding value to locally grown fruits and vegetables and creating sustainable market access for smallholder farmers.
Bamber started the business with his co-founder Ofelia Burton after recognising a significant challenge in Kenya’s agricultural value chain: a large proportion of fresh produce, especially mangoes, was going to waste due to poor post-harvest handling and limited market linkages.
Under his leadership, the company developed the Sweetunda brand — a range of healthy snacks and ingredients, including dried fruits, fruit rolls, granola, orange-fleshed sweet potato snacks, and aseptic purees — sold locally and exported to regional and international markets.
Bamber has positioned Burton & Bamber as a socially conscious business, working directly with hundreds of smallholder farmers across counties such as Machakos, Embu, Murang’a, Makueni, and Kitui. The company pays premium prices for high-quality produce, provides agronomy training, and helps farmers meet GlobalGAP food-safety standards — strengthening both farmer incomes and product quality.
His leadership reflects a blend of commercial and social impact goals, aiming to reduce food loss, build sustainable value chains, and promote nutritious, Kenyan-made products while supporting rural livelihoods.
Stuart Baylis
Polyflex Premedia Group
Stuart Baylis oversees all technical, production, and IT activities at Polyflex Premedia Group. He holds a BSc in Geomatics and an MBA from the University of Wales. Stuart combines technical expertise with strategic insight to drive innovation and efficiency in the packaging industry.
In addition to his role at Polyflex, Stuart previously served as Technical Lead and was recently appointed Co-Chair of the Global Premedia Network (GPN), the world largest network of independent packaging premedia providers.
His deep passion for management theory and practice along with his expertise in AI automation, ECG implementation and calibration, process control, pre-press advancements, and business process improvements, has positioned him as a respected leader in the industry.
Irfaan Badrudin (Skye)
Keyline Design College
Skye is the Director of Keyline Graphics with over 30 years’ experience spanning both industry and education with a deep understanding of the need for efficient, industry-ready creative professionals. He was the first Adobe Certified Instructor in KwaZulu-Natal and has trained and placed hundreds of designers into professional roles over three decades.
His career includes collaboration with leading national and international organisations, and his cross-industry and academic experience underpins a practical, hands-on approach to training, consultancy, and the implementation of effective design workflows and software strategies, contributing to the growth of the regional creative sector.
Phil Walsh
Phil Walsh has over 40 years’ experience in the global printing industry, with more than 25 years specialising in digital print technologies, including toner and industrial inkjet.
He is the former Vice President of Inkjet Sales for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa at a leading global print supplier, where he led major commercial and packaging programmes across the regions.
Throughout his career, Phil has worked with many of the world’s largest printing and packaging companies, advising on technology strategy and overseeing the successful integration of advanced digital and hybrid orienting systems into complex production workflows.
Today, Phil works as an independent industry advisor, working with converters, manufacturers and technology providers to help them adopt practical, affordable digital and hybrid solutions that deliver real business value.
Jermaine Naicker
Printing SA
Jermaine Naicker is an accomplished and forward-thinking professional who joined Printing SA in 2016. Throughout his tenure, he has held several key roles, including Member Services Consultant, Member Services Manager, Regional Chamber Manager for KwaZulu-Natal, and currently serves as Managing Director.
Over his nice years with Printing SA, Jermaine has cultivated a comprehensive understanding of the printing both undergraduate and postgraduate qualification in Human Resources Management, a Postgraduate Diploma in packaging sector, gaining invaluable insight into the organisation’s mandate from the ground up. These experiences have enabled him to consistently deliver meaningful outcomes supported by his focus, composure, and strategic leadership approach.
Jermaine holds both undergraduate and postgraduate qualification in Human Resources Management, a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA). He remains deeply committed to advancing the industry by championing creativity, applying innovative thinking to complex challenges and advocating for sustainable sector growth.
Abisha Katerere
Printing SA
Abisha Katerere is a trailblazing Business Development & Marketing Manager at Printing SA, where he has spent eight years transforming the organisation’s continental footprint through innovative strategy and bold vision. With a diverse background spanning marketing, consulting, and sales, he has distinguished himself as an industry maverick whose out-of-the-box thinking drives measurable impact.
His crowning achievement has been establishing Printing SA as the continental custodian of Africa’s most successful Women in Print initiative — a groundbreaking programme that now engages over 2.5 million participants across 34 countries. His ability to identify opportunities, forge strategic partnerships, and execute visionary campaigns has elevated Printing SA’s brand and catalysed meaningful change across the African printing industry. His approach combined creative problem-solving with commercial acumen, making him a driving force behind the company’s sustained growth and continental influence.
Daniel Kirui Njoroge
Managing Director
Daniel Kirui Njoroge is the Managing Director of Afropack Group, a company with operations in Algeria, Kenya , Nigeria and Italy. Afropack specializes in providing cutting-edge packaging engineering solutions, combining European expertise with African market insights to deliver innovative and sustainable packaging systems.
With over a decade of leadership in the packaging and manufacturing sector, Daniel has been instrumental in driving Afropack’s expansion across North, East and West Africa and beyond. His focus on sustainable innovation, strategic growth, and operational excellence has positioned the company as a trusted partner for businesses seeking high-quality, environmentally conscious packaging solutions.
Under his leadership, Afropack continues to bridge international best practices with local needs, creating synergies that strengthen both African and global supply chains.
Daniel is also passionate about sustainability, mentorship, and advancing the packaging industry across the continent.
Ambassador Ahmed Alex Omah
World Packaging Organisation | African Packaging Organisation
Summarized
Ambassador Ahmed Alex Omah is a seasoned packaging industry leader with over 35 years of experience in innovation, sustainability, and global packaging standards. He is the Global Ambassador for the World Packaging Organisation, President of the African Packaging Organisation, and CEO of Graphic Packaging Communications LLC and Label & Labelling Packaging Ltd.
He also chairs the Advanced Institute of Packaging Professionals Nigeria and serves as faculty at the Nigeria Packaging Academy. Ambassador Omah contributes to packaging standards at the Standards Organisation of Nigeria and the African Organisation for Standards and has studied packaging in India and the USA.
Enock Okoth Abiria
IOPPK, Polymers & Packaging, Mohinani Group
Enock Okoth is a seasoned expert in polymers, packaging, and manufacturing, with over two decades of experience across quality control, technical leadership, and production management. He currently serves as the Board Chairman of the Institute of Packaging Professionals Kenya (IOPPK) and as the Technical Representative – Polymers and Packaging at Mohinani Group, where he supports the development of innovative and sustainable packaging solutions.
Enock’s career spans key technical and leadership roles, including Production Head at PPL, Technical Head at GPL, Technical Sales Representative at Diya Agencies, and Quality Inspector at Coates Brothers East Africa. His hands-on industry experience gives him deep insight into packaging materials, compliance requirements, and market-ready solutions for manufacturers.
Angela Kinyua
Montgomery Group East Africa
Worked in the trade exhibitions industry for over 10 years, she is the Managing Director of Montgomery Group. Key achievements include establishing the different events in the market and building a community around them.
Joseph Nyongesa
Institute Of Packaging Professionals Kenya (IOPPK)
