UBC PackLead Workshop 2026

Navigating Inflation in Food and Packaging: Industry Challenges and Solutions 

LOCATION: KAIS #2020 on the 2nd Floor of Fred Kaiser Building located at 2332 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4

Join us for the UBC PackLead Workshop 2026 "Navigating Inflation in Food and Packaging: Industry Challenges and Solutions" bringing together industry leaders, manufacturers, suppliers, researchers, and government representatives to explore the challenges of rising costs, supply chain disruptions, material shortages, and evolving sustainability and regulatory demands in the food and packaging sectors.

Through keynote presentations, industry panels, and real-world case studies, participants will share practical strategies and innovative solutions to navigate inflation, improve supply chain resilience, and balance economic, environmental, and consumer expectations.

Topics will include: Drivers of inflation and cost management strategies, consumer purchasing behaviour, food and packaging supply chain challenges, industry perspectives and case studies, sustainable packaging solutions, and food packaging safety and regulatory considerations.

November 18 is open to industry professionals, researchers, students, policymakers, and innovators interested in addressing challenges and advancing practical solutions across the food and packaging supply chain.

November 19 is reserved for PackLead members and invited collaborators for an internal research-focused session.

Agenda

Day 1 – Wednesday, November 18, 2026 | 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM (Hybrid)

Industry-Focused: Navigating Inflation in Food and Packaging

• 8:30 AM – Check-in, Coffee & Mingle
• 9:00 AM – Welcome & Introduction
  • Dr. David Kitts (TBC), Professor and Acting Program Director (PackLead), Faculty of Land and Food Systems, UBC 
• 9:10 AM – Keynote: James Donaldson, CEO, BC Food & Beverage
• 9:35 AM – Keynote Panel & Discussion. Drivers of Inflation, What Are the Risks, and Possible Mitigation/Management Strategies
  • Panel Moderator:  Dan Duguay, Senior Director of Sustainability, Canadian Produce Marketing Association
  • James Donaldson, CEO, BC Food & Beverage 
  • Dave Savage, Community and Social Impact Manager, Daiya foods,
  • James Rowley (TBC), President & Owner of Glenmore Custom Print 
  • Jim Downham, CEO of PacGlobal (TBC)
• 10:35 AM – Coffee Break
• 10:50 AM – Factoring in the End Consumer and the role of Behavior Science in Consumer purchasing
  • Dr. Yann Cornill, Associate Professor of Marketing and Behavioral Science, UBC Sauder School of Business
  • Roy Tam, General Manager, Ethical Bean Coffee (TBD)
  • Kirk Homenick, President, Naturally Homegrown Foods Ltd.
• 11:30 AM Case study:  Elizabeth Gutierrez Rojas, Supply Chain Specialist, Oppy
• 12:10 PM – Networking Lunch
• 12:50 PM  Keynote Panel & Discussion: Perspectives and Approaches in Packaging Supply Chain for the Food Industry
  • Sam Golestanian, Area Sales Manager, Winpak Ltd.
  • Baha Naemi, Managing Partner – Cofounder, Cancorr
  • Panel Moderator: Sam / Baha  
• 1:45 PM Case Study from a Food Producer & Produce Perspectives
  • Nature's Path/ PFG/ Loblaw (TBD)
• 2:30 PM – Coffee Break & Break Out Session
• 3:15 PM  Panel Discussion:  Regulatory Perspectives & Balancing Sustainability and Food Safe Packaging
  • Panel Moderator:  Meaghan Beck, Sustainability Advisor to the Food Industry
  • Panelists TBD
• 3:50 PM - Closing note
  • Dr. Tianxi Yang (TBC), Professor, Depart of Food Science, Land & Food Systems, UBC - Regulatory and Applied Research Perspectives in Food Packaging

Day 2 – Thursday, November 19, 2026 | 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM (Hybrid)

Research-Focused: Regulatory and Applied Research Perspectives in Food Packaging (Internal Session)

• 9:00 AM – Welcome Back & Coffee 
  • Dr. Vasileios Kontogiorgos 
• 9:10 AM – Anastase Rulibikiye, Section Head of Food Packaging Materials and Incidental Additives, Health Canada - Impacts of Popular Trends on Food Packaging
• 9:50 AM – Dr. Yixiang Wang, Associate Professor, McGill University - Cotton Textile Waste for Sustainable Packaging
• 10:30 AM – Coffee Break 
• 10:50 AM – Dr. Banchamlak Kassaun and Dr. Hossein Kazemian, University of Northern BC 
• 11:30 AM – TBD 
• 12:10 PM – Networking Lunch 

This event is hosted by the UBC PackLead Innovation and Training Program, developing next-generation leaders in packaging science and sustainability.For inquiries, please contact Dr. Abul Hossain at abul.hossain@ubc.ca.

Registration