By now many of you will have heard the sad news of the passing of Gill Loubser. Tributes are flowing forth, and rightly so, for this doyenne of the packaging industry, and of packaging journalism. Read the LinkedIn post from the World Packaging Organisation here and from Packaging & Print Media here.

Gill was one of the early members of IPPO and, for a number of years, served on the Board as Secretary General. Her IPPO friends and colleagues remember her for her humour, her warmth, her professionalism, and passion for all things packaging.

In 1978, Gill Loubser was appointed as the first female editor of the industrial technical journals under the Review umbrella in South Africa. She learnt to network in a world of men, interfacing with captains of industry — both in her home country South Africa and overseas. She was quietly assertive, placing strong emphasis on editorial excellence, always learning and keeping up to date with the science and technology of the industries she served.

She went on to co-found the independent Packaging & Print Media (PPM) journal, which was quickly recognised as the voice of the packaging industry in South Africa. Gill also served the Institute of Packaging South Africa in many roles including that of National Chairman and Industry Relations.

For more than four decades, Gill shaped, documented, and elevated the packaging sector with her unmatched insight, integrity and passion. Her legacy includes global and local honours — from the World Packaging Organisation’s Lifetime Achievement in Packaging Award, to the renaming of Packaging SA’s top accolade as the Gill Loubser Packaging Achiever Award.

IPPO president Lindy Hughson reflects: “Gill is the reason I became a packaging journalist and dedicated my career to serving this industry. She took a chance on me when I was starting out in the field, shared her knowledge generously, and imparted by example the importance of always upholding the highest standard of editorial integrity. She has remained an inspirational role model to me throughout my career. Her legacy will live on in all whose lives she touched and influenced. What a remarkable human. An industry icon.”