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Our expert judging panel:
SATKAR GIDDA
Consultant for branding and design, Chair of the jury
Satkar Gidda studied Business Studies and Marketing and has worked 7 years in Sales, Trade Marketing and Brand Marketing for RHM Foods and Nestle followed by 30 years as Sales & Marketing Director of SiebertHead, the longest established brand and packaging design consultancy in the UK. Since March 2020, Satkar operates as an independent consultant.
SUSANNE LIPPITSCH
Professor Industrial Design, FH JOANNEUM
An award-winning structural packaging designer with a background in Industrial Design from the University of Applied Arts Vienna and Elisava in Barcelona. Since 2001, she has run her own studio, creating custom packaging solutions that align with brand identity, production, sustainability, and user experience. Her clients include AKG / Austrian Audio, Ja!Natürlich, MAM Baby, and McDonald’s.
SANJEEV DAS
Unilever, Global Packaging Director in the Foods and Ice Cream business
Sanjeev studied packaging engineering and currently works with Unilever as Global Packaging Director in the Foods and Ice Cream business. He has about 20 years diverse experience across different business categories in consumer products and healthcare industry. He is a strong advocate for experiential packaging via a synthesis of design, sustainable materials, technology, and partnerships.
LOTTE KREKELS
Packaging Manager, Carrefour Belgium
Involved in packaging with over 25 years of relevant experience and a passion for all different facets of packaging of perishables: from graphics to strategy, technics, durability, safety and regulatory compliance.
Head of the packaging department at Carrefour Belgium and responsible for the development and implementation of a long term packaging vision for Carrefour Belgium’s private label.
Translating ideas into renewable and sustainable packaging solutions for the end consumer.
All European Carton Excellence Award (ECEA) entries are judged according to various criteria: these include graphic and structural design, production techniques, cost-efficiency, ecology, sustainability, innovation, convenience etc.
Impressions from this year’s ECEA Judges Meeting
The expert jury of 2026 were visited by Horst Bittermann, Winfried Mühling and ECMA’s Barbara Ginter.
Much studying, deliberation and discussion takes place between the judges before decisions can be made.
We would like to thank Sanjeev Das, Susanne Lippitsch, Lotte Krekels, and Satkar Gidda for their fine opinions.
