Olivia Friett discusses the new role of Editorial Content Producer.
Hello and welcome to the Q2 issue of Medical Plastics News. My name is Olivia, and I am the new editor. I knew I wanted to be an editor since I was a teenager so writing this feels very surreal. It’s been a lot harder than I imagined but also so much more exciting than I envisioned. I think I started at the perfect time too; I get to have the luxury of a hybrid working arrangement. All of this while getting to learn the life sciences industry, especially my domain in medical plastics.
I have had the opportunity to travel already; I got to go to California in April for MD&M West. Even though it was smaller than expected, I didn’t quite make it around all 1,400 exhibitors. There was no better destination for me to experience the returning buzz of trade shows than in the Golden State of California. More than anything, it felt incredible flying globally again, being around so many people and finally getting a sense of normalisation for the first time in over two years.
There is so much more to look forward to just this year alone, including our own Med-Tech Innovation Expo in Birmingham, UK. I have heard so many great stories about it from my team and it looks like a great event! This expo is going to be very insightful, as I am starting to learn that with this job, you can never know everything – every time I speak to someone or see a different device, I’m learning something new, and I can’t wait to learn more.
In this issue, I’m sure you will learn something new too. A common theme throughout, is the notorious Coronavirus. Global travel is back at its norm, hospitals are no longer feeling overwhelmed, and coverage of the pandemic is no longer considered ‘breaking news’, but Covid-19 is still around and isn’t going away anytime soon.
One interview in this issue is from a food packaging company who then created a whole new system using their expertise in the food sector to make Personal Protective Equipment during the pandemic and then went on to win awards. Another company featured in the issue was working 24-hours a day to try and keep up with the demand during the Coronavirus peak. So, for keeping us safe, and of course being a part of my first magazine, I would like to thank all the companies featured in here. Even through these novice’s eyes I recognise the change that this sector has experienced.
I have loved every moment of making this magazine, speaking to new people, learning new things. I’m very excited for this new chapter as editor and to see what happens. I hope you enjoy reading my first issue as much as I enjoyed writing it and please let me know what you think. I'm looking forward to working with you all in the future.