Desmond Pope
Desmond PopeManaging Director
Des is the company founder and, since its commencement in 1956, has grown the company from its original merchant bag operation in Adelaide into the diversified internationally-networked packaging organisation Pope Packaging is today.

With over 60 years in the packaging industry, Des has no peer in terms of his extensive market and technical experience.

He remains actively involved in the company, ensuring his personal promise of being a true packaging partner for our valued customers is sustained through the company’s broad product offerings, high levels of technical expertise and consistently reliable customer service.

Craig Elkington
Craig ElkingtonChief Executive Officer
Before joining Pope Packaging in 2016, Craig held a variety of senior executive, commercial and financial leadership roles over his 20+ year tenure with Orica Limited; the world’s largest provider of commercial explosives and associated mining services products and applications. He was also an Executive Director of Orica Limited until 2015.

Craig brings a depth of experience in business leadership and a strong global perspective having been based in Australia, USA and Canada, and in leading international teams across all major developed and emerging mining markets around the world including Europe, Latin America, Asia, Africa and CIS.

Neil Ford
Neil FordChief Financial Officer
Neil brings over two decades of experience in executive leadership. Known for his commercial acumen and strategic mindset, Neil is a people-oriented leader who leverages finance to drive business success. His experience spans a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, sales and distribution, technology, FMCG, retail, and services.

At the core of Neil’s leadership philosophy is the belief that finance should serve as a true business partner, fostering collaboration and trust across all functions to deliver real value to the organisation. As CFO, he leverages his financial and strategic expertise to maintain a top-tier finance function while driving the next phase of growth in Pope Packaging’s global journey.

Karen Hartman
Karen HartmanSupply & Distribution Manager ANZ
Karen joined Pope Packaging in 2017 bringing with her over 25 years of experience in the packaging industry generally and with a deep operational knowledge of the FMCG industry across Africa.

Over this time she has leveraged her strong financial and supply chain management background with a proven capability in strategic sourcing, logistics management, change management and continuous improvement. Karen played a prominent role in the start-up of the first aluminium beverage can manufacturing facility in South Africa.

Currently Karen has responsibility for managing the global supply network of the Pope Packaging textiles division to align with the overall company strategy.

Matthew Sullivan
Matthew SullivanGeneral Manager - Papersacks
Over the last 17 years with Pope Packaging, Matthew has played a key role in developing the papersack division into a major supplier of Multiwall papersacks to the Australian market. This was achieved through the introduction of LEAN manufacturing principles and having the site accredited in ISO 9001 , ISO 14001 and HACCP.

In 2015, Matthew was the developer and implementer of a new innovative papersack – Enviro Barrier – that went on to win three major Australian packaging industry awards, including ‘Australia’s Most Innovation Product’. Enviro Barrier also won an international packaging award in the same year.

Liam Martyn
Liam MartynGeneral Manager - Flexibles Division
Liam joined Pope Packaging with more than 20 years of manufacturing experience. This includes managing and developing both established and greenfield facilities across various manufacturing industries.

Specialising in change management, Liam understands that high quality, low costs and customer satisfaction are non-negotiable principles in a competitive high-performance production environment.

Excited by the challenge of continuous improvement, Liam builds high performing teams to deliver Pope’s commitment to service, quality and customer satisfaction.

Andrew Huhn
Andrew HuhnGeneral Manager - Textiles Division
Before joining Pope Packaging in January 2023, Andrew has held several senior sales management leadership roles within the packaging and FMCG market segments over the period of 25 years.

Andrew has a strong commercial background and has coached and developed sales teams across multiple divisions over an extended period of his career. This has involved a strong business development focus with sales to market strategy, CRM modelling and customer service a key initiative in being able to service an extensive customer base quickly and efficiently.

Building relationships within the packaging industry has been a priority in building long term, sustainable partnerships for strong business growth.

Ian Sefton
Ian SeftonWA State Manager
Ian has had over 20 years experience within the industrial packaging market, having run his own packaging company in the United Kingdom for 16 years prior to relocating to Western Australia in 2014. Ian has extensive product knowledge of bulk bags, paper sacks and film packaging.

Currently he is managing Pope’s Western Australia side of operations, focusing on expanding the already strong Pope brand.

International Affiliates

New Zealand

Scott Cozens - General Manager
Scott Cozens - General ManagerTextile Bag & Sack
Scott joined Pope’s New Zealand operation, Textile Bag & Sack Co, in 2018 bringing with him over 25 years of executive sales and company management experience in the Food & Beverage and Business Consumables industry. This experience is across both the New Zealand domestic market and also numerous global markets with both corporate and SME organisations such as Ballance Agri-Nutrients, OfficeMax and Hansells NZ Ltd. Over this time Scott has developed a strong understanding and has lead the functions of sales and marketing, operational management and general company management.

Scott has responsibility for managing the New Zealand business of Pope Packaging with a strong view to align the New Zealand business with the overall company strategy.

Sri Lanka

Dilip Liyanage - General ManagerPlastipak Industrial Textiles
With over 20 years of leadership in manufacturing and operations, Dilip drives efficiency and innovation across Plastipak Lanka. His expertise spans industries like apparel, injection moulding, and electronics, ensuring high-quality solutions and sustainable growth.

USA

Rett Schuler - General Manager
Rett Schuler - General ManagerFulton Denver
Rett has worked for Pope Packaging’s USA affiliate Fulton Denver for the past 27 years. He started with them in sales after graduating from University of Davis, California. He then moved on to manage the USA operations for the past 20 years.

He has extensive knowledge in the FIBC and flexible packaging industries with long standing clients such as Connell Rice & Sugar, ADM, and Freeport-McMoran.