Anuka Brown: Championing Excellence and Mentorship in Packaging

Anuka Brown serves as the quality and technical manager at Packaging World, a prominent flexible packaging manufacturer based in Pinetown. She describes the company’s impact, noting, “From Woolworths’ chips packets and snack wrappers to coffee pouches and washing powder bags, Packaging World’s products are part of everyday life.” This statement reflects the extensive role Packaging World plays in daily consumer experiences.

Journey into Packaging

Anuka’s passion for packaging was ignited unexpectedly. After earning a degree in chemical engineering from the University of Cape Town, she discovered her true affinity was for chemistry. In 2002, while eight months pregnant and seeking employment, she took a position at a small packaging firm in Pietermaritzburg. “I started when my daughter was two weeks old.” What began as a half-day commitment soon developed into a full-time career. “By that time, the packaging bug bit. There was nothing else that could fulfil me the way it did. The smell of solvent, the colour on film, the lamination, every day was something new.”

Extensive Industry Experience

Over the course of 23 years, Anuka has worked across nearly every facet of the packaging industry. Her experience spans printing, lamination, extrusion, and end-use manufacturing. She contributed to the only BOPP manufacturing line in South Africa at SRF Flexipak, spent time as an end user at Kellogg’s, and ultimately returned to the core of the packaging process. This breadth of roles has not only honed her technical skills but also deepened her appreciation for the artistry and innovation behind each design.

Dedication to Mentorship and Education

Today, Anuka’s greatest passion is education and mentorship. “My biggest dream has been to leave a legacy,” she explains. She mentors diploma students at the Institute of Packaging and is developing a curriculum for lamination, bagging, pouching, and slitting in collaboration with Printing SA, aiming to boost student intake into packaging plants. “It’s not about the products I’ve done or the projects I’ve worked on, but my legacy is in the people that I have trained along the way.” By guiding students from institutions like Durban University of Technology and providing hands-on learning opportunities, Anuka ensures her decades of experience are passed on. “I am now giving them my time and putting my knowledge onto paper so that they don’t lose the experience that I’ve gained over the 23 years. To see people that I have trained excel is one of my biggest accomplishments.”

She also acknowledges the mentors who played a pivotal role in her development. “I know everybody says it’s about women, but we forget about the men along the way that taught us. I was very lucky to have very strong mentors in the men that taught me. They always told me, you need to leave a legacy. You cannot hold your knowledge close to your heart.”

Technical Achievements

Anuka’s technical achievements are notable. She recalls, “We did the first holographic print on polyester for Omo. It didn’t actually make it to the market, but it was so much fun.” Another milestone was winning ‘Gold’ at the SRF Problem Solving Protocols global competition while at SRF—a testament to her expertise in total quality management and problem-solving. Most recently, Packaging World earned eight FTASA Flexographic Print Excellence Awards, including six golds and two silvers. “From last year winning one, to this year winning eight, was absolutely fantastic. It puts us on the map. It shows that we are driving innovation and we are driving customer satisfaction.”

Overcoming Challenges and Empowering Women

Despite her successes, Anuka is candid about the obstacles faced as a woman in a male-dominated field. “When I first got into a management position and was sitting around a boardroom full of men, it was so easy to tell the only female in the room, can you make the coffee? Can you take the minutes?” Over time, she adapted to boardroom dynamics and learned to assert herself. Now, she leads with confidence and encourages young women to do the same. “Believe in yourself. You belong in every room you walk into. Whether you are wearing stilettos or safety shoes, you have the right to be where you are.” Her advice to women entering technical careers is rooted in empowerment and solidarity: “If you see somebody’s crown falling, straighten it up and help them walk on. It’s not going to benefit anybody to put anyone else down. Be strong, be confident, and pick yourself up when you fall down.”

A New Chapter and Work-Life Balance

After more than twenty years in the industry, Anuka looks forward to a new phase. “I started as an ink technician working strange hours of the morning, getting called out at 2:00 in the morning. I’ve earned my stripes. It’s time for me to now give back.” Her goal is to open doors for more women in packaging. “As it is, my lab is full of women. I want to get more women into the field. I want to give them a chance to see who they really are.”

A recent health scare prompted Anuka to reconsider her work-life balance. “I just had a hysterectomy eight weeks ago,” she shares. During recovery, she reflected on her priorities. “It’s a time to think about work-life balance, about family balance. That 20 days at home showed me how much time I missed with my family. It’s time to reshuffle.” She expresses gratitude for her female boss, whose empathy provided crucial support. “It’s very nice to have a female boss because they understand what a woman is going through. She helped me reflect and see how to balance my work life and my home life together.” Her advice to others is heartfelt: “You need to stop. You need to listen to your body. You need to make time for your kids. The world is not going to stop if you are not there. Let go, teach, transfer your skill, and reflect.”

Conclusion

Looking ahead, Anuka’s mission is unwavering. “Ladies out there, show us who you are. Life’s about having fun. You spend more time at work than you do at home. Whatever you do, do it with a good heart, do it with good intentions. Be fair and be fierce, but do not be nasty.” Her journey stands as a testament to resilience, mentorship, and the pursuit of excellence in the packaging industry.