Austin to lead SPI in 2006.

Jane Austin, global business director for DuPont Performance Elastomers' chloroelastomers business, was elected 2006 chairperson of the Society of the Pastics Industry, making her the first woman to hold this position in the SPI.

Austin has been active in SPI leadership for over seven years, including being a board member for several years, as well as treasurer and a member of the finance committee. She also served on the Material Suppliers Council.

Austin joined DuPont in 1982 as a process engineer in the textile fabrics department. She held a variety of positions in manufacturing, research and development, supply chain and quality control before joining the DuPont Dow joint venture in 1996, where she served as global business director for the Engage polyolefin elastomers and Viton fluoroelastomers businesses. She assumed her current position in the chloroelastomers business in 2003.