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Speakers

Convening decision-makers from brands, retailers, suppliers, policymakers, and interconnected industries, the Summit serves as the nexus for agenda-setting discussions on the most critical environmental, social, and ethical issues facing our industry and planet.

Speakers Announced

Discover the lineup of speakers for Global Fashion Summit: Copenhagen Edition 2025, and stay tuned as we continue to unveil more in the lead-up to the Summit.

Abhishek Bansal

Arvind Limited
Abhishek Bansal leads the Sustainability & Innovation work at Arvind Limited. Arvind is one of the largest integrated Textile & Apparel manufacturer based out of India. Bansal is also serving on the Board of ZDHC & SLCP, and was previously Board Member at Cascale. He is leading Arvind on the path of water neutrality, Net-zero, and adoption of leading innovative technologies. He has also contributed actively to multi-stakeholder partnerships and forging partnerships across stakeholders.

Aditi Mayer

The Artisan Archive
Aditi Mayer is an interdisciplinary thought leader working at the nexus of social and environmental justice. As a journalist, photographer, and public speaker, her work examines inequities within global supply chains—particularly in the fashion industry—while amplifying narratives of resilience, heritage, and cultural preservation. She is the founder of The Artisan Archive, a storytelling and social impact agency weaving narratives of craft, climate, and culture.
Mayer’s advocacy began in 2014 while organizing within Los Angeles’ garment industry, inspired to mobilize for labor justice following the 2013 Rana Plaza Factory Collapse in Bangladesh. In 2020, she was awarded the National Geographic Fulbright Digital Storytelling Fellowship, during which she researched India’s farming and artisan textile industries, investigating their socio-economic and environmental dimensions. She has collaborated with institutions such as the United Nations, Fashion Revolution, and various academic and cultural organizations to advance critical conversations on equitable sustainability.
In addition to her professional endeavors, Mayer serves on the boards of the Garment Worker Center and Governance for Tomorrow, further cementing her commitment to systemic change. From features in Vogue to National Geographic, Aditi is known for marrying the worlds of art, industry, and education— all with a socially conscious slant.

Amy Nguyen

Sustainable & Social
Amy Nguyen is an independent strategist, researcher and writer focusing on the climate and nature agenda, global value chains and fashion. She works with environmental think tanks, NGOs and research advisory firms as well as companies in the energy, tech and apparel ecosystem. Her work has been featured in the Times and Sunday Times, Reuters, and global media outlets. Alongside being a Forbes sustainability contributor, Nguyen is the Founder of Sustainable & Social, a platform dedicated to deconstructing complex climate issues and inspiring climate action.

Anand Verma

ExpectAI
Anand Verma is a visionary entrepreneur in AI and sustainability a twice-exited founder, innovator, and YPO member with a deep passion for the planet, people, and technology.
He is the Founder & CEO of ExpectAI, a pioneering climate AI company helping businesses, including those across fashion and global supply chains, decarbonise profitably by transforming climate ambition into measurable, data-driven action.
Verma previously founded Brilliant Basics, an award-winning global design and innovation firm acquired by Infosys, and has held leadership roles at IPG and Publicis Sapient. Today, he is shaping the future of sustainable business by harnessing AI, big data, and bold innovation to drive climate impact at scale.

Andrea Cheong

Author and Podcast Host
Andrea Cheong is the author of the fashion bestseller, Why Don't I Have Anything To Wear? and the host of Fashion Our Future. She is the founder of the viral Mindful Monday Method, which teaches shoppers how to shop better for their mental health and the planet. In 2024, Cheong created the Mindful Monday Mending Club to champion actionable sustainable practices and bring her community together in real life. Andrea featured on the cover of The Guardian as the “care label queen” and has been seen across global publications, such as Vogue, Harpers Bazaar US, Business of Fashion, El Pais and Madame Figaro. She has written for Who What Wear, Vogue, Cosmopolitan and The Telegraph.

Andreas Dorner

RE&UP
Andreas Dorner, MBA, has over 15 years of progressive experience in the textile industry, specializing in sustainable fibres and circular economy models. As the General Manager of RE&UP and former Senior Commercial Director at Lenzing Group, he has pioneered fibre innovations, including the first Circular WBCF in 2017. A recognized thought leader, Dorner is passionate about transforming textiles toward circularity. Outside work, he enjoys hiking, sailing, classical music, history, and traveling. Dorner is married with two daughters.

Antonella Centra

Gucci
With over 25 years of experience, Antonella Centra has leveraged her legal expertise to drive sustainable growth across global markets. Under her leadership, Gucci has met all key environmental impact reduction targets by intensifying research and innovation and further advancing its circularity goals with the 2023 launch of the Circular Hub—Italy’s first hub for circular luxury, designed to transform fashion’s production model. Her achievements also include significant progress in social responsibility, with a strong focus on gender equality.

Arti Zeighami

BCGX and AI@Scale
Arti Zeighami is a seasoned AI and digital transformation leader with a proven track record of driving large-scale impact in global organizations. He is a Partner and Director at BCG X, serving as a Senior Advisor on AI @ Scale and a member of the BCG X.AI Global Leadership Team. Prior to joining BCG, Zeighami was the Chief Data & Analytics Officer at H&M Group, where he led the company’s AI, data, and digital transformation efforts starting in 2016, working directly with the Group CEO. Under his leadership, H&M transitioned from a digital laggard to an AI-powered leader by embedding AI-driven decision-making across the organization—transforming people, processes, products, and operational structures. He built an AI and data organization of 800+ experts, delivering measurable financial, business, and sustainability impact at scale.

Attila Kiss

GRUPPO FLORENCE
Gruppo Florence is redefining luxury manufacturing through sustainability, innovation, and craftsmanship. With 39 integrated workshops, the Group was set to lead the shift towards responsible sourcing, reducing carbon emissions, managing chemicals responsibly, circularity and digitizing supply chains. Permira’s investment is a key enabler to accelerate ESG initiatives, pioneering sustainable procurement, and fostering next-generation talent through the Academia program. By blending tradition with advanced technology, Gruppo Florence aspires to be the benchmark for a responsible, high-quality Made in Italy supply chain.

Aurélie Louis-Alexandre

Nike, Flawless Yoga
Aurélie Louis-Alexandre is a yoga teacher and founder of Flawless Yoga, an inclusive practice that blends movement, music, and mindful selfcare. She creates innovative wellness content on YouTube and leads holistic retreats in France and abroad. Committed to accessible and sustainable well-being, she partners with brands like Nike to promote a conscious lifestyle rooted in self-awareness, body respect, and collective empowerment.

Bella Webb

Vogue Business
Bella Webb is the Sustainability Editor at Vogue Business and an Associate Lecturer at Central Saint Martins. Her coverage spans from growth and just transition to supply chain transparency, regulation and regenerative agriculture. She regularly moderates panels for the British Fashion Council, European Delegation, Global Fashion Summit and Future Fabrics Expo. Prior to Vogue Business, Webb was the Junior Editor at 1Granary and freelanced for TANK, i-D and Fashion Revolution. She is currently training with the Oxford Climate Journalism Network.

Beth Jensen

Textile Exchange
Beth Jensen is Senior Director of Climate & Nature Impact at Textile Exchange. Jensen oversees the organization’s efforts to achieve beneficial climate and nature impacts through leadership of four key functions: impact data and Life Cycle Assessment studies; impact tools, including the Preferred Fiber and Materials Matrix and the Materials Impact Explorer; reports and research; and policy activities. Prior to Textile Exchange, Jensen held leadership roles overseeing and driving sustainable materials and products programs at VF Corporation, parent company for outdoor and active brands including Vans, The North Face, Timberland, and Smartwool; and at Outdoor Industry Association, the North American-based trade association for the outdoor apparel, footwear, and gear sector.

Brad Boren

Norrøna
Brad Boren earlier worked as Director of RD&D for Norrøna and is responsible for the strategic direction on sustainability, social welfare and sustainable innovation. He was Chair of Textile Exchange’s Bio-Synthetic group, worked on the Higg Index Strategic Councils for the Product Module and BRM, represents Norrøna with Fashion For Good and is on the OIA Steering Committee. He’s currently working with the environmental foundation Bellona to restore 5000 km2 of kelp forest. Boren holds an MBA from California Polytechnic.

Brett Walker

7th Generation Wool and Mohair Producer
Brett Walker is a seventh-generation wool and mohair producer in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. He manages Longacres, a 10,000-hectare family farm, where he runs approximately 4,000 Merino sheep and 2,000 Angora goats. As a Stellenbosch business graduate with some international working experience, he returned to the Karoo farm in 2010. Longacres has practiced holistic grazing since the 1980s. Today, Walker continues to evolve this legacy through modern regenerative techniques, backed by his involvement in both the Responsible Mohair Standard (RMS) and Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) farm group. Walker lives on the farm with his wife and three daughters, continuing a legacy of land stewardship, community collaboration, and progressive farming.

Brooke Roberts-Islam

Forbes, Business of Fashion, Penguin & Techstyler
Brooke Roberts-Islam is a writer, author and consultant covering global textile and fashion supply chains and sustainability for Forbes and The Business of Fashion. She writes about the industry from a technical, pragmatic and operational point of view, often reporting directly from Asia’s manufacturing hubs.
Roberts-Islam co-authored The GANNI Playbook, published by Penguin in 2024, and she consults for some of the boldest companies in the industry on business and communications strategy through her company, Techstyler.

Cecilia Dall’Acqua

Deloitte Spain
Cecilia Dall’Acqua began her professional career at Deloitte in 2008 in the Risk Advisory department, focused on providing professional services in corporate governance and risk management projects. In 2013, Dall’Acqua was assigned as the Head of Sustainability in the Barcelona office and in the following year she was promoted to manager in the Risk Services - Sustainability area. In the last 10 years, it has developed sustainability, impact creation, climate change and circular economy projects from strategy to implementation.

Christiane Dolva

H&M Foundation
Christiane Dolva is a seasoned sustainability expert committed to exploring innovative solutions that can decarbonise the textile industry, while promoting a just transition for both people and the planet. With a career spanning over 15 years, Dolva has been instrumental in driving sustainability initiatives across various industries. She previously served as the Global Sustainability Director at Fjällräven, where she integrated sustainability into the company’s core business strategies and built a global network of partners.

Christina Iskov

Global Fashion Agenda
Christina Iskov is the Director of Impact at Global Fashion Agenda (GFA), where she has been for a decade, overseeing various teams and responsibilities. She leads the Impact Team, developing sustainability and impact programmes alongside thought leadership publications. Iskov holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Commercial Law from Copenhagen Business School and a Master’s degree in Design Management from the Danish Design School Kolding, where she wrote her thesis on GFA’s position in the fashion industry.

Clare Press

The Wardrobe Crisis Podcast
Clare Press is a podcaster, author and filmmaker. With a background in journalism, previously she was the first ever Vogue sustainability editor. Her podcast, Wardrobe Crisis, investigates the impact of the fashion industry on people and the planet. Based on her 2016 book of the same name, it is now in its 11th series. Press produced and co-hosted (with Simone Cipriani) three series of the Ethical Fashion podcast, and recently created a series for Australia's national clothing product stewardship scheme, Seamless. She is the author of four books, including Rise & Resist, How to Change the World (2018), and Wear Next, Fashioning the Future (2024).

David Williamson

Modern Meadow
David Williamson, PhD, is a transformative executive with a proven track record of advancing innovation, sustainability, and operational excellence in biotechnology and materials science. Since joining Modern Meadow in 2015, he has held pivotal leadership roles, including Chief Science and Technology Officer (CSTO), President, and Chief Operating Officer (COO). In October 2024, he was named Chief Executive Officer (CEO), driving the company’s vision to revolutionize the future of sustainable materials. As CSTO, Williamson spearheaded the development and scale-up of breakthrough technologies, notably INNOVERATM, which has set a new standard for high-performance, sustainable materials. Throughout his tenure, Williamson has demonstrated a relentless focus on integrating biotechnology, chemistry, material science, and engineering to deliver commercially impactful innovations. As COO and CEO, he has led Modern Meadow through groundbreaking milestones, streamlining operations, aligning the organization with its core mission, and positioning it to become a leader in the global sustainable materials market. Before joining Modern Meadow, Williamson spent over a decade at DuPont, where he held senior leadership roles in manufacturing technology, process development, and R&D. His achievements included leading corporate research, shaping bioactives strategy, and managing both long- and short-term chemical and biotechnology initiatives. As Chief of Staff for the CSTO at DuPont, Williamson played a critical role in forming the company’s strategic direction. Williamson earned a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and a B.Sc. in Chemistry from Virginia Commonwealth University. Renowned for his strategic vision, innovative mindset, and results-driven leadership, Williamson continues to drive progress at the intersection of science, technology, and sustainability.

David Yayra Agbofah

The Revival
David Yayra Agbofah is a creative social entrepreneur, researcher, and the founder and creative lead of The Revival Earth Org., a pioneering initiative tackling global textile waste in Ghana. Since founding The Revival in 2018, Yayra has successfully diverted over 5 million garments from landfills, created 20+ jobs, and empowered women through The Upcycling Incubator Program, which equips female artisans with skills in textile transformation and sustainable fashion. Operating in Kantamanto, the world’s largest secondhand market, Yayra drives impact through upcycling, education, and creative storytelling. His research-driven approach explores the intersections of sustainability, circular fashion, and social impact, leading to the development of The Circularity Lab, an innovative space merging education, awareness, art, and recycling to foster systemic change in the fashion industry. Yayra collaborates with leading academic institutions, including the University of Ghana, University of the Arts London, University of Luxembourg, and the Centre for Sustainable Fashion, among others, to drive research and learning initiatives. An alumnus of the Creation Africa Ghana and the What Design Can Do Accelerator, he has been globally recognized for his leadership in circular fashion and community-driven solutions. His work extends to collaborations with cultural institutions such as the Victoria & Albert Museum and various international organizations, where he continues to challenge wasteful systems, advocate for policy change, and reimagine a more responsible and regenerative fashion future.

Devon Leahy

L Catterton
Devon Leahy is Global Head of Sustainability at L Catterton where she partners with portfolio companies on their sustainability value creation strategies. Previously, she was Head of Sustainability at Ralph Lauren, where she developed and led the brand’s Timeless by Design strategy. Leahy has worked inside major corporations, including at Walmart and Etsy, as well as with leading NGO, the Environmental Defense Fund and in government posts at the Environmental Protection Agency and on Capitol Hill. She received an MBA and MS from the University of Michigan and a BA in Environmental Policy, Government and Art History from Colby College.

Diane Holdorf

WBCSD
Diane B. Holdorf is EVP for Pathways at WBCSD, leading global business efforts to drive sustainable transformation across key value chains. Since joining in 2018, she has spearheaded initiatives on food, nature, and climate, advancing decarbonization, circularity, and equity. Previously CSO at Kellogg, Holdorf has over two decades of leadership in corporate sustainability. Recognized among GreenBiz’s “25 Badass Women” shaping climate action, she serves on multiple advisory boards, shaping strategies for a nature-positive, equitable, and net-zero future.

Dora Atim

Nike Run Coach and Community Leader
With over 7 years at Nike, Dora Atim has been a driving force in creating and building global communities. As an advocate for connection and change, Atim has led impactful events that bring people together to engage in meaningful dialogue and action. In addition to their work at Nike, Atim is the founder of Ultra Black Running, a collective that empowers Black women and Black non-binary people to embrace trail running. Driven by a deep love for nature, the environment, and a passion for the thrill of the outdoors, Atim founded the collective to inspire others to seek adventure in the wild as an avid ultra runner. Join Atim at the Global Fashion Summit for a run that’s not just about movement, but about uniting voices and driving change.

Dr. Ahmed Zaidi

Hyran Technologies
Dr Ahmed Zaidi is the CEO and co-founder of Hyran Technologies, an AI platform that helps brands and suppliers respond to consumer demand, increase profitability, and reduce waste. He is a visiting AI researcher at the University of Cambridge and a guest lecturer at the London College of Fashion. Zaidi has advised various fashion brands, retailers and suppliers on the application of AI and data in fashion. He has an MPhil and PhD in AI and machine learning from the University of Cambridge.

Dr. Rohini Kamal

BRAC Institute of Governance and Development
Dr. Rohini Kamal- Assistant Professor and Research Fellow at BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD), Brac University- is leading BIGD’s Climate Change research. Her research is on energy, environment, and climate change, using macroeconomic models and field experiments. She completed her PhD in Economics from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Prior to her doctoral studies, Dr Kamal worked at Urban Climate Change Research Network, a project under NASA/GISS and the Earth Institute.

Ebru Özküçük Güler

RE&UP
Ebru Özküçük Güler is the Chief Sustainability Officer at RE&UP Recycling Technologies where she leads the development of transformative sustainable strategies. She drives circularity, resource efficiency, and impact reduction initiatives. Previously, as ISKO’s Head of Sustainability, Güler spearheaded many sustainable material innovations and achieved significant global milestones. With expertise in carbon management, ESG systems adoption and sustainability regulations, she takes a strategic approach to environmental challenges. Güler holds sustainability credentials from MIT, Harvard Business School, and Berkeley School of Law.

Eileen Fisher

EILEEN FISHER
Eileen Fisher is the visionary Founder of EILEEN FISHER, Inc., renowned for its simple, timeless apparel. Since 1984, she has championed an original concept: a system of shapes that work together to help women get dressed easily—a hallmark of her brand today. A sustainability trailblazer, Fisher established the company's first Social Consciousness role over 25 years ago. In 2009, she launched the Renew take-back program, initiating a circular manufacturing model. Recognized for her efforts, Fisher's accolades include the 2022 CNMI Sustainable Fashion Pioneer Award, Forbes 50 Over 50 Visionary List (2021), and the 2019 CFDA Positive Change Award.

Elena Volkova

Style DNA
Elena Volkova is a sustainable fashion advocate with a strong belief in a future where personal style and sustainability coexist to create a more eco-friendly fashion industry. She has spent the last six years fully dedicated to building Style DNA - AI conversational fashion platform that positively transforms the way people experience fashion and tackles overconsumption. Prior to that, Volkova held CFO positions at various e-commerce companies for over 10 years and has deep expertise in finance and online retail.

Elisa Niemtzow

BSR
Elisa Niemtzow is Vice President at BSR, where she leads sustainable transformation in fashion and other consumer industries. A trusted advisor to global brands, she helps companies navigate disruption, build inclusive business models, and evolve brand strategy. Niemtzow co-founded Racine, a collective exploring the future of luxury, and co-authored What’s Next for Luxury. She leads BSR’s Responsible Luxury Initiative and advises the Watch & Jewelry Initiative 2030 and circular fashion start-up Reekom, among other. A dual French-American, she’s based in Paris.

Emily Chan

British Vogue
Emily Chan is the Senior Sustainability Editor & Acting Executive Fashion News and Features Editor at British Vogue, and the host of The Closet Digest podcast. In her role, she covers all things related to sustainability in fashion and beyond, from the designers pushing for change to the climate activists we should be paying attention to. Chan has spoken on panels at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, Copenhagen Fashion Week and more, as well as appearing on BBC Radio 4 and the Today show in the US. Prior to that, she was the Sustainability Editor at Vogue Global Network.

Enzo Barracco

Emmy-nominated Photographer & Author of The Noise of Ice: Antarctica
Enzo Barracco is an Emmy-nominated photographer and author of The Noise of Ice: Antarctica,
which includes a foreword by the legendary Sir Ranulph Fiennes, an introduction by the director of Royal Geographical Society London, and endorsements from Vogue Italia and others. He is also the author of the Skin of Rock Galapagos with Prada, and he has recently published a new book about Hawaii, THE Blue on fire Hawaii, with a foreword by PRADA and an introduction by Shyla Raghav TIME magazine.
is currently working on a New Project in Alaska with PRADA. Barracco’s work is in the permanent collection at LACMA Museum, Los Angeles, Mougins Museum, France and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Barracco lives and works in London and New York. After a career in the fashion and luxury
industries, his focus and inspiration have shifted towards sustainability. His aim is to use his art to raise collective awareness. In recent years he has built a network of global excellence around his projects, involving key government organizations, cultural institutions, and philanthropic foundations from across the world. Barracco’s mission is to create a body of work which documents and visualizes climate change and the transformation our planet is facing right now, a transformation in which we are deeply involved and by which we are deeply affected.

Erika Andreetta

PwC
Erika Andreetta is a Senior Partner at PwC Italy where she the EMEA Fashion and Luxury Community and she is a Member of Emea Council, Consumer Market EMEA Team. With a background in Engineering, more than 20 years of experience in the Fashion Luxury Retail market, Andreetta has provided consultancy on important business major projects, including the Italian Fashion Industry Repurpose Production to fight the Pandemic (supporting the Italian Government and Health System), the «Alti Potenziali» initiative (Internationalization support to 30 mid caps) , fashion reshoring, and the «Invest in Italy» roadshow. She has been actively involved in internationalization projects of main players in the Chinese market, and she was a recognized member of the PwC's CINDIA (China -India) desk from 2000 to 2006. Andreetta is now a Member of IICCI Advisory Council of IICCI - The Indo-Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. She is following the trends and impacts of sustainability, blockchain and consumer behaviours and expectations (Observatory Millennials and Generation Z). In addition, Andreetta was a mentor in the Global FashionTech Milano- Bootcamp (2018 - 2021), one of the World’s leading fashion startup accelerators, with a special focus on sustainability and Andreetta is still a member of Get it fair, the first international certification system of textile-clothing supply chains in emerging countries for responsible labeling. Co-author of the Unpacking Pay Equity in Fashion: Italy, which explores the current perceptions and challenges regarding pay equity within one of Europe’s most influential fashion industries. The publication, developed with support from Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana (CNMI), provides a detailed assessment and a call to action – with practical guidance on how brands, manufacturers, and stakeholders can begin to address pay disparities and foster greater equality across the sector.

Federica Marchionni

Global Fashion Agenda
Federica Marchionni is the Chief Executive Officer at Global Fashion Agenda. Founded in Denmark, GFA is a non-profit organisation with the ultimate vision to create a net positive fashion industry for the people and the planet across entire eco-system. Before joining GFA, Marchionni attained leadership roles in Europe, USA, and China. During the e-commerce expansion, Marchionni took a role as International CEO of Secoo, a Chinese e-commerce retailer in China. Prior to this, Marchionni was CEO and Board Director at Lands’ End and President of Dolce&Gabbana Inc., based in America. Before moving to the States, Marchionni worked as SVP at Ferrari HQ in Italy. Her career began in the early stage of the telecommunication industry, working for global players such as Samsung, Philips, and Ericsson. She is a guest speaker at high-caliber conferences and top academic institutions including Harvard University and Stanford University, Financial Times, Fortune and COP. Marchionni graduated from La Sapienza University with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and a thesis in the mobility business.

Federico Brugnoli

Spin360
Federico Brugnoli is an entrepreneur and innovator with 25 years of experience in the intersection of sustainability, environmental sciences, and strategic innovation. As CEO of SPIN360, he leads data-driven projects connecting all tiers of the luxury fashion supply chain. His approach integrates lifecycle assessment (LCA), circular economy strategies, ESG performance, and regenerative systems thinking. A strong advocate for stakeholder collaboration, Brugnoli believes real transformation happens when all tiers of the supply chain work together toward shared sustainability goals.

Florence Bulté

Chalhoub Group
Florence Bulté is the Chief Sustainability Officer at Chalhoub Group. In her current role, she is responsible for fostering a culture of Business Ethics and Integrity for the Group by developing and sharing the code of ethics, creating training programs for employees as well as monitoring and auditing the ethics compliance framework. She also drives transformational change for people in the company, promoting sustainability through advocacy and partnerships and engaging employees to give back to the community. Bulté has been working in the luxury business for 19 years in Australia, Singapore and in the Middle East. She was VP of Business Development for The Wellness Group in Singapore, developing markets for beauty products in the Middle East and India. She then joined Chalhoub Group in 2004, overseeing the “Art de vivre” and Beauty retail business in UAE and Qatar. She was later appointed as GM for the Group “Art de Vivre” retail business, managing the development of the boutiques network in UAE, KSA, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Egypt. She graduated from EM Normandy Business School, Strathclyde University and INSEAD. Bulté is the Secretary of the Global Compact UAE network, Member of Middle-East Fashion Council Board and Member of Pearl Initiative Integration Board. She has also been nominated amongst the 15 ESG leaders in the region by Business Chief.

Frank Fiedler

HELLER-LEDER GmbH & Co.KG and HELCOR-LEDER-TEC GmbH
HELLER-LEDER has over 100 years of tradition and is now in its fourth generation of family ownership. They produce sustainable leather in Germany in the heart of the Weserbergland region with a corporate philosophy focused on sustainability and environmental protection. HELLER-LEDER has been awarded the German Sustainability Award, the Federal Eco-Design Award and the Federal Innovation Award, among others. HELCOR-LEDER-TEC focuses on design, performance and service - unique design possibilities developed with patented finishing technologies. In addition to their core competence of leather, the development of INNOVERATM is one of the exciting challenges of the future for us.

Gary Smith

The LYCRA Company
Gary Smith is the CEO of The LYCRA Company, a global leader in innovative and sustainable fiber and technology solutions for the apparel and personal care industries. Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, the company owns premium ingredient brands, including LYCRA®, COOLMAX®, and THERMOLITE®. With over 25 years of experience in the consumer products industry, Smith is an accomplished business leader, specializing in brand strategy, operational transformation, and global expansion. Prior to joining The LYCRA Company in 2023, he served as CEO of Hatteras Yachts, Inc., where he led a successful turnaround and subsequent sale of the company. His previous roles included spearheading transformation initiatives as CEO of Polartec and serving as President of the Outdoor Group at The Timberland Company. Smith holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Maine and a Master of Business Administration degree from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board for HEXR, a London-based helmet safety start-up backed by Oxford Science Enterprises. HEXR’s revolutionary technology represents a breakthrough in mitigating rotational shear for cyclists, motorcyclists, and construction workers.

Golnaz Armin

Nike
Golnaz Armin, Vice President of Color, Materials, Trend and Sustainability at Nike, envisions sustainability as a dynamic fusion of creativity, responsibility, and systemic transformation. She views sustainability not as a limitation but as a catalyst for design innovation, challenging conventional norms and fostering new aesthetic possibilities. Armin is a creative design leader whose career spans both Ford Motor Company and Nike. At Ford, she served as a Color & Material Designer, shaping the aesthetic and functional direction of interior and exterior of vehicles ranging from F150 to Fiesta, and contributing to the advancement of recycled materials in Ford’s hybrid models. Since joining Nike, she has worked on high-impact products including World Cup football and signature footwear for Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. Armin has led teams of designers and scientist across the company, driving both the science and art of innovation and design. Central to her vision is the belief in long-lasting, emotionally connected design—products that endure not just physically, but in the lives of those who use them.

Güneri Tugcu

r-pac
With 24 years of industry expertise, Güneri Tugcu has collaborated with the world’s most renowned global brands, leading strategic transformation across the creative and technology sectors. His work focuses on driving digital content solutions for consumer engagement, optimizing supply chain efficiency through traceability, ensuring brand integrity, and advancing sustainability initiatives. Tugcu is deeply committed to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. He has successfully mentored numerous startups, guiding visionary founders in scaling their businesses, refining go-to-market strategies, and driving digital innovation.

Janet Mensink

SLCP
Janet Mensink holds more than 25 years of experience in sustainable supply chains, including sustainability consultancy and leadership roles in international development and non-profit organizations. She has served on several boards and councils of multi-stakeholder initiatives. As CEO of SLCP, she is currently responsible for overseeing SLCP’s strategic direction and execution.

Jasmin Malik Chua

Sourcing Journal
Jasmin Malik Chua is the sourcing and labor editor at Sourcing Journal, where she writes about the apparel and footwear industry through the lens of sustainability and human rights. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, The Business of Fashion, Vogue Business, Women's Wear Daily, Refinery29, Nylon, Vox, and others. Chua received an M.S. in biomedical journalism from New York University and a B.S. in animal biology from the National University of Singapore.

Jason Judd

Cornell University Global Labor Institute
Jason Judd is an expert on economic policy and global labor rights who has worked in senior roles for Cornell University, the ILO, Fair Labor Association, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and Solidarity Center. He is the lead author on Higher Ground? analysis of climate impacts on apparel production from Cornell University’s Global Labor Institute and Schroders. Judd is a former Fulbright Fellow, and a graduate of Duke University and l'École Nationale d’Administration (ENA/RULE).

Jemma Tadd

eBay
As Director of Fashion at eBay, Jemma Tadd has transformed the pre-loved category for the online marketplace, driving growth through strategic resale partnerships with brands and with consumer-centric campaigns like Love Island to champion a circular fashion movement. Before eBay, she held roles at Zalando and The Hut Group, gaining extensive fashion retail and e-commerce experience. Known for her strategic vision, Tadd has led initiatives boosting sustainability and fashion resale, including the launch of eBay’s Circular Fashion Fund, its Imperfects range and live shopping functionality, eBay Live.

Jessika Roswall

Commissioner For Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy
Jessika Roswall started her mandate as Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy on December 1st 2024. Prior to her nomination for the post of Commissioner she was Sweden's minister for EU affairs from October 2022 to September 2024, during which Sweden held the EU presidency. Between 2010 and 2022 she served as a member of the Swedish Parliament, holding the position of second vice-president of its EU affairs committee from 2019 to 2022. Born in Sweden 1972, Roswall holds a law degree from Uppsala University. After graduating in 2002, she worked as a lawyer from 2002 to 2010.

Johannes Neubacher

WWD China
Johannes Neubacher is Chief Content Officer and Co-founder of WWD China, Sourcing Journal China and Footwear News China. Before launching WWD China, he worked at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization ITPO China, and held positions as editorial director at Madame Figaro, The Financial Times Chinese FT Rui amongst others, Since the launch of WWD China in 2019, Neubacher has been deidicated to creating platforms for internation dialogue and exchange for the pressing issues of the global fashion, beauty and retail industry. He is a key force behind the WWD China Global Fashion Sustainability Summit and the ESG Leadership Summit. Actively shaping the discourse on sustainable fashion, he has led strategic content development while also frequently speaking at major fashion forums on sustainability, technology, and innovation. Recognized as one of the foremost voices in sustainable fashion in China, Neubacher's expertise and commitment have contributed significantly to advancing sustainability in the industry.

Jon Veldhouse

Qore
Jon Veldhouse serves as the CEO of Qore, a pioneering joint venture between Cargill and HELM, focused on advancing sustainability in the materials industry. Under Veldhouse's leadership, Qore is enabling material manufacturers and brands to produce more sustainable products through the innovative use of QIRA®, a renewable, drop-in chemical intermediate derived from Iowa field corn. QIRA is chemically identical to a traditional material component that, for decades, has been made using finite resources like coal and petroleum. Veldhouse brings an exceptional blend of technical acumen and commercial expertise, honed over a career spanning both start-ups and large global enterprises. Before stepping into his current role, Veldhouse held senior leadership positions at Cargill, where he oversaw the development of new business ventures and led the company's global fermentation technology team, driving innovation across multiple sectors. A thought leader and active advocate for industry progress, Veldhouse is actively involved with numerous professional organizations and serves on the Board of Directors for the Agricultural Utilization and Research Institute (AURI), a Minnesota-based nonprofit that promotes the expansion of agriculturally derived products. His visionary approach continues to shape the future of more sustainable materials and solutions.

Josh Kaplan

Ghost
Josh Kaplan is a visionary entrepreneur and retail technology leader, serving as Founder and Co-CEO of Ghost, a groundbreaking distribution platform transforming inventory management and data-driven decision making in retail. Leveraging AI and automation, Ghost partners with industry-leading brands, positioning Kaplan as a driving force in their modernization. With a decade of experience spanning fashion, omni-channel commerce, and digital strategy, Kaplan has become a recognized authority in retail innovation and sustainability. Prior to founding Ghost, he served as the CEO of New Republic and Vice President of Digital at Buck Mason. Kaplan holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Florida, and graduate degrees from Columbia University and Stanford University.

Joycelyn Longdon

Environmental Justice Researcher
Joycelyn Longdon is an award-winning environmental justice technologist, communicator and PhD Candidate at the University of Cambridge. Her PhD research centres on the design of justice-led conservation technologies for monitoring biodiversity with local forest communities in Ghana, specialising in biodiversity monitoring through bioacoustics – essentially Shazam for nature.
Longdon has collaborated with a wide range of organisations including Meta, Samsung, The Design Museum, and Greenpeace. Longdon has been invited to speak on topics of climate justice, climate colonialism, activism, creativity and systems change by The United Nations Geneva Dialogues, Channel 4, Cheltenham Science Festival, Oxford University, The National Lottery, The Design Council and The Wellcome Collection and is a TEDx Alumni.
Longdon was 2022’s winner of the Emerging Designer London Design Medal, and was featured in British Vogue’s December 2023 ‘Forces for Change’ Issue. Most recently, she has been listed as one of Pique Action and Harvard Chan C-CHANGE's 2024 Climate Creators to Watch and as one of Country and Town House’s Future Icons Power People 2024. Her debut book, Natural Connection: What Indigenous Wisdom and Marginalised People Teach Us About Environmental Action, was published in April 2025.

Kalpona Akter

Bangladesh Centre for Worker Solidarity (BCWS)
As the founder and executive director of the Bangladesh Centre for Worker Solidarity (BCWS), Kalpona Akter campaigns for worker safety, fair wages and the right to labour unions. She has been a key player in urging Western brands to sign on to the Bangladesh Safety Accord following the Rana Plaza collapse in 2013, and her US Congress testimony helped frame legislation against slave-labour conditions for clothing. She also President of Bangladesh Garments & Industrial Workers Federation- BGIWF and well reputed national trade union center. She began working at garment factories in her native Bangladesh aged 12, and since 2000 has devoted herself to trade unions and activism for textile and garment workers in the country. Akter has been instrumental in engaging stakeholders, from UN Agencies to fast-fashion brands like Inditex and H&M, to demand respect for garment workers. Along with Human Rights Watch, she conducts investigations and analysis. Akter also helps to ensure worker groups’ involvement in the European Union’s Sustainability Compact, designed to improve labour standards and worker safety in Bangladesh. In 2016 she was awarded the Human Rights Watch's Alison Des Forges Award for Extraordinary Activism.

Katharine Beacham

Marks & Spencer
Katharine Beacham leads a team of experts in materials and sustainability. In her role, she ensures that the materials used in Marks & Spencer's clothing products are sourced responsibly, as the company works toward becoming a net zero business across all operations and its entire value chain by 2040.

Katherine Brown

Visa Europe
Katherine Brown is responsible for supporting Visa Europe and its clients to achieve their goals in ways that benefit people and planet. Brown has accelerated Visa’s ambition to actively promote sustainable consumption and behaviours through launching a Recommerce platform in 2021 enabling and growing the circular economy, and brought to bear the key role of payments in the financial empowerment of displaced people through Visa New Doors. In her previous roles Brown developed a deep understanding and passion for driving systems-level change, which she now applies at Visa.

Katrin Ley

Fashion for Good
Katrin Ley is the Managing Director of Fashion for Good where she drives the transition of the industry by harnessing the power of innovation, practical action & collaboration. She has more than 25 years of relevant industry experience in fashion, investments and consulting. Joining Fashion for Good in 2017 from Pymwymic, the community of European wealth holders who invest for impact. Prior to that, Ley was Managing Director with the adidas Group and a Principal with Boston Consulting Group.

Krishna Manda

Lenzing Group
Krishna Manda has worked for 15 years with various stakeholders in the value chain. He is passionate about embedding sustainability in core business functions to nurture culture change anchored in values. He is responsible for sustainability and ESG strategy, targets, governance, incentives, and strategic engagements with stakeholders and policymakers to orchestrate systemic change in the industry. Manda has a Ph.D. in Sustainability and has worked and lived in five countries. He currently lives in Austria with his wife and daughter, who are a continuous source of inspiration.

Lara Wolters

Member, European Parliament
Lara Wolters is a Dutch politician representing Groenlinks-PvdA in the S&D group. She has been serving as a Member of the European Parliament since July 4, 2019. Currently in her second term, Wolters is Vice-Chair of the Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI), a member of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON), and a substitute member of the Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN). During her first mandate, she was the rapporteur for the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), shadow-rapporteur on the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and Co-rapporteur on Women on Boards Directive.

Lauren Bartley

GANNI
Lauren Bartley has been spearheading Sustainability at Danish brand GANNI since late 2018. She is responsible for the inception, development and implementation of the brand's sustainability strategy across social, environmental, materials and innovation. Previously, Bartley worked for UK based NGO The Soil Association, during that time Bartley was voted within the Top 25 most influential personalities working in the UK organic beauty industry for 2 consecutive years (2016 and 2017).

Leyla Ertur

H&M Group
Leyla Ertur is the Chief Sustainability Officer, reporting to the CEO, she is responsible for delivering H&M Group’s ambitious sustainability commitments across climate, environment, social and ESG agendas, working with a global team of more than 250 people. Having joined H&M Group in 2000, Ertur has worked in multiple continents, leading teams across a variety of areas including Production and Global Supply Chain Management. She has worked and lived extensively in production countries including Bangladesh, China and Turkey, she has also led global sourcing teams based out of regional hubs in Hong Kong and Istanbul. Ertur brings with her over two decades of deep, hands-on experience in operations as well as sustainability. She is the Co-chair the Fashion Pact’s Operations Committee, and a Board member of Looper Textile Co.

Lindsey Block

Primark
Lindsey Block is Head of Social Impact at Primark. Block joined Primark in November 2013 and oversees a global portfolio of partnerships and programmes in support of positive social impact and human rights due diligence across the supply chain. This includes Primark’s flagship cotton programme. Her work plays a key role in supporting both Primark’s, and its parent company (Associated British Foods Plc), ESG compliance and related reporting requirements. Block holds a Masters in Sustainability Leadership from the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) at the University of Cambridge (2019); an MSc in Development Economics from the University of London (School of Oriental and African Studies); and a BA in Economics and Development from the University of Sussex. Prior to working at Primark, Block was an economic advisor in the UK Government’s Department for International Development (DFID) where she completed postings in the in the UK, Caribbean, Nigeria and India. Block is also an ODI (Overseas Development Institute) Fellow.

Lucianne Tonti

The Guardian
Lucianne Tonti is the Fashion Editor of The Saturday Paper, the Sustainability Editor at large for Elle Australia and a regular Contributor to The Guardian. Her first book Sundressed: Natural Fibres and the Future of Fashion was published in 2022, her next book, Good Witch Hunting, will be published by Summit Books in 2026.

Lukas Pünder

Retraced
Prior to Retraced, Lukas Pünder co-founded Cano Clothing Company in 2016. He studied at The Stockholm School of Economics, the National University of Singapore, and the Otto Beisheim School of Management. Pünder’ deep expertise in sustainability and technology has positioned him as a key driver of scalable solutions in the fashion industry. His vision for enhancing transparency and ethical business practices underscores his belief that businesses can be powerful agents of change in addressing global challenges.

María Luisa Martínez Díez

Global Fashion Agenda
María Luisa Martínez Díez is VP, Public Affairs at Global Fashion Agenda. She is responsible for strengthening, developing, and executing GFA’s Policy Engagement Strategy. Her responsibilities are to ensure strategic engagement with relevant stakeholders and develop partnerships with key organisations. She also leads the partnership with the Policy Hub-Circularity for Apparel and Footwear. Martínez Díez is also a member of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition´s Strategic Council on Stakeholder Engagement. Martínez Díez joined Global Fashion Agenda as Senior Public Affairs Manager in September 2019. She holds a Master’s degree in EU politics and law from Sciences Po Paris and brings over 10 years of experience in Public Affairs first in Paris. Then in Brussels where she worked at namely the European Commission, the Regional Office of Madrid and the Brussels-based consultancy EURALIA where she was leading the agri-consumers department working in the fields of circular economy and sustainability in the supply chains including the fashion and food industries.

Megan Doyle

Sustainable Fashion Journalist and Consultant
Megan Doyle is a sustainable fashion journalist and consultant based in London. With a solutions-focused approach to journalism, Doyle has written for publications including the Business of Fashion, Vogue Business and Good On You about supply chain traceability and transparency, fashion legislation, child and forced labour, circularity, and garment worker rights. She has written two traceability guidebooks for TrusTrace, and a series of case studies for Textile Exchange. Doyle has hosted industry events like the Hugo Boss Stakeholder Dialog and moderated discussions at the Global Fashion Summit and Textile Exchange conference.

Mette Reissmann

Danish Parliament
Mette Reissmann is a Member of the Danish Parliament, Social Democrats, and a spokesperson on business, entrepreneurship, and commerce. Reissmann holds an MBA in business law and economics from CBS, Copenhagen, and she has a background in finance and insurance. She is the co-founder of Kvindeøkonomien. Reissmann is also a former adviser to businesses in strategic CSR and compliance, and author of What Every Company Should Know About CSR, the Media and Consumers.

Michele Casucci

Certilogo
Michele Casucci is a tech entrepreneur passionate about innovation and digital transformation. He currently serves as the General Manager of Certilogo S.p.A., a company he founded and that eBay acquired in July 2023. Throughout his career, Casucci has held notable roles such as Ambassador for Italy at the Mountain View, CA-based Singularity Group, Vice-President of Corporate Sales at US media company Rodale International, and CEO of Lycos Italy, part of the Bertelsmann Group. He also co-founded JobRapido, the world's leading job search engine, and is a member of the Italian Founders Fund. Certilogo is a leading provider of digital authentication and secure end-to-end Digital Product Passport solutions, and has enabled over 570 million products to be traceable and interactive for more than 80 global fashion and luxury brands.

Muchaneta ten Napel

Shape Innovate
Muchaneta ten Napel is the founder and CEO of Shape Innovate. Ten Napel works at the intersection of fashion innovation and policy. She is a member of the Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues (ELSI) Board at EIT Culture & Creativity, funded by the EU. She is also on the Advisory Board for the Munich Fashion Award (MFA), which aims to connect emerging fashion designers with scalable and replicable sustainability technologies. She served as a creative expert on UNFCCC Global Innovation Projects. In academia, she is a lecturer at the London College of Fashion, UAL. Underscoring her commitment to sustainable practices, she has collaborated with the Royal College of Art and the UKRI Interdisciplinary Textiles Circularity Centre. Additionally, she is an international consultant for the International Trade Centre (ITC), a joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations.

Nadir Nahdi

Filmmaker, Storyteller
Storyteller and film-maker, Nadir Nahdi has made a name for himself online through his captivating content and writing that articulates the unique experiences of young people from diverse cultures. Nahdi uses food, fashion and travel, and most recently his videos exploring the intersection of food, politics and history to take the audience through recipes that are intertwined with culturally significant moments, all wrapped up into a tantalisingly fascinating and innovative format. Nahdi's social enterpise "Doppi Project" was dubbed as "innovative" and "powerful" by The New York Times exploring the story between central asian textiles, fashion and diaspora identity. His new LIVE event podcast show NADIR MEETS: has already clocked 4 million. Nahdi has been dubbed the “Brown Bourdain” for his ability to connect authentically and intimately with this diverse and global audience. He is currently developing a food and culture series with Bourdain's former team.

Nalini Shekar

Hasiru Dala
Nalini Shekar, Co-founder of Hasiru Dala, a social impact organisation, has led efforts for over 13 years to support 20,000+ waste picker families in two states of India. She has championed their recognition as essential service providers, improved working conditions by professionalising the recycling supply chain of post-consumer waste, including textiles, and fostered systemic change. Shekar's initiatives have enabled over 80 new entrepreneurs, 35% of whom are women, highlighting her commitment to equity, dignity, and sustainability within the circular economy.

Nemanthie Kooragamage

MAS Holdings
Nemanthie Kooragamage describes herself as a ‘product specialist with a passion for sustainable business.’ Today she leads the execution of the MAS Plan for Change in her role as Director – Group Sustainable Business at MAS Holdings. Additionally, as of January 2025 she also provides leadership to Group Business Development where she leads the enterprise customer strategy. She has over 25 years of experience in the apparel industry, providing leadership to business development and marketing initiatives, including leading the PVH business for MAS, and held the position of Director Product Creation and Sustainable Business for MAS’s largest strategic business unit, prior to her current role.

Next Gen Assembly 2025

Members

The Next Gen Assembly 2025 Members:

Sanya Singh, Creative Strategist at Schbang, Bachelor of Mass Communication & Media Studies, Symbiosis Centre for Media & Communication (SCMC).

Mel Corchado, Designer, Artist, & Founder, Master of Fashion Design and Society, Parsons University

Thu Le, Creative Director, XAVAN Inc.

Bronte Contador-Kelsall, Strategic Designer & Graduate, MA, Design, University of New South Wales

Vibhuti Amin, Student, Master of Material Futures, Central Saint Martins

Rory Frost, Student, Master of International Relations, King’s College London / Sciences Po Paris

Maya Caine, Student, Master of Environmental Management, Yale School of the Environment

Elise Giselle Dauterive, Student, Master of Environmental Science and Management, University of California, Santa Barbara

Nienke Steen

Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute
Nienke Steen is a truly passionate and experienced sustainability leader in the garment and textiles industry for about 20 years. As Global Director for Apparel, Textiles and Footwear at the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute she drives the systems change required to accelerate the circular transition in the sector together with companies, stakeholders and partners. Before joining the Institute, Steen worked at Modint, the Dutch trade association with 500 apparel, (interior) textiles and carpets brands and manufacturers, where she was responsible for the international sustainability strategy and consultancy department. Prior Steen was co-owner of FTF Productions, a sustainable and innovative fashion brand and production company and one of the first corporate responsibility managers in fashion. She graduated from the Amsterdam Fashion Institute in 2004. Steen is part of the advisory committee of the Circular Transition Indicators (CTI) for Fashion by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). She served previously in the Steering group for the Agreement on Sustainable Garment & Textile, the Responsible Denim Alliance, the Fair Wear Committee of Experts and is the co-writer of a book: the Sustainable Material Guide for Apparel Companies (2016).

Nina Shariati

Circular Transparency
Nina Shariati is the Founder and CEO of Circular Transparency, formerly leading climate, circularity, and traceability strategies and venture-building at H&M Group. She has led teams across continents in buying, supply chain, and R&D in Bangladesh, China, and Sweden. Shariati specializes in integrating climate targets, circularity, and digital product passports into core business strategy. Featured by The New York Times for her transparency work, she advises global brands on sustainability strategy, value chain transformation, and impact startup evaluation—driving ROI, growth, and competitive advantage through data-driven, scalable solutions.

Omoyemi Akerele

Lagos Fashion Week and Style House Files
Omoyemi Akerele is the founder and CEO of Lagos Fashion Week and Style House Files, playing a pivotal role in shaping the African fashion industry for over two decades. Her work focuses on strengthening the textile and apparel ecosystem by creating opportunities for brands, businesses, and communities to grow sustainably. Through Lagos Fashion Week, Akerele has built more than just a platform for showcasing talent; she has driven industry wide advocacy, created capacity-building programs, and facilitated access to new markets. Initiatives like SHF Trains, Woven Threads, and Green Access support emerging talent, promote sustainability, and foster innovation across the value chain.

Pascal Brun

Zalando
Pascal Brun is VP Sustainability and D&I at Zalando. He is responsible for driving the company’s strong commitment in the areas of Sustainability and D&I, pivotal for transforming both Zalando and the wider fashion industry. In his quest to achieve positive impact across the value chain, Brun is currently also part of the Board of Directors of Cascale, IFC, and Circ. Before joining Zalando in September 2023 and relocating to Berlin, Brun worked at H&M where his experience spanned across different continents and a variety of execution and strategic management roles over the last 16 years, focusing on Sustainability and Supply Chain Management.

Patrick Strumpf

Haelixa
Patrick Strumpf is an accomplished entrepreneur who has founded and scaled multiple companies. Following his tenure as Chief Commercial Officer at X-Bionic, a high-performance textile sports brand, Strumpf joined Haelixa as CEO in January 2024. His vision is to inspire the world to make responsible choices by democratizing traceability.

Paul Kerssens

United Repair Centre
Paul Kerssens is an impact entrepreneur who believes that business should be a force for good. After a successful career in renewable energy, he co-founded United Repair Centre (URC) in 2022 — an award winning B2B clothing repair service driving social and environmental impact. URC supports clothing brands in embedding repair into their operations – reducing waste, extending product life cycles, and creating positive impact. With a background in building and scaling organisations, Kerssens has led teams through rapid growth, business model innovation, and commercial expansion. Now at URC, he’s shaping a new path for the clothing industry.

Payal Luthra

WWF
Payal Luthra is the Global Apparel & Textiles Lead at WWF, where she drives sustainability efforts across freshwater, climate, and biodiversity. She shapes strategy, forges global partnerships, and supports WWF’s textile-sector work in over 10 countries. With a multidisciplinary background in fashion, architecture, and participatory planning, she previously founded a sustainable fashion label that integrated design and conservation. Luthra studied at Sea Education Association, holds a BA from Colby College, and a Master of Architecture from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design.

Pernille Weiss-Ehler

European Commission
Pernille Weiss-Ehler is Member of Cabinet of Commissionaire Roswall, Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy. She is the Water Resilient Expert of the Cabinet. Former Member of the European Parliament (2019-2024) where she was full member of the ITRE and the ENVI Committees on the topics of water, energy, textiles, circular economy, and pharma. Chair of MEP Water. Weiss-Ehler holds several academic degrees and has worked as both as public and private manager, as entrepreneur after starting her career as a nurse. Before coming to Bruxelles and the EU Institutions she had for 11 years her own consultancy company focused on public buildings and their impact on services, productivity, efficiency, and quality experience.

Pippa Smart

Tekla
Pippa Smart is the Head of Sustainability at Tekla, a Copenhagen-based home-textile brand. Since joining in 2021, she has developed and implemented Tekla’s first responsibility strategy and continues to guide its ambitious long-term and operational goals, including its B Corp certification in 2023. Smart holds a BA in Design and Craft and an MA in Fashion Futures from London College of Fashion. With 5+ years of experience in sustainability, she also has a background in production and project management.

Rachel Arthur

UN Environment Programme
Rachel Arthur is a sustainability strategist and writer dedicated to driving systems change. As UNEP’s advocacy lead for sustainable fashion, she is focused on challenging industry norms and accelerating circularity in the sector. She has also worked with Textile Exchange, the UNFCCC's Fashion Charter and previously led the strategy for Google's environmental data platform. An award-winning business journalist by background, she is also a TED speaker and was recently named a sustainability thought leader in the Vogue Business 100 Innovator list.

Rachel Kolbe Semhoun

Kering
Rachel Kolbe Semhoun joined Kering in February 2024 as Head of Sustainable Sourcing and Nature initiatives. In this role, she is in charge of developing sustainable supply chains for the Group’s Houses, and most specifically materials produced from regenerative agriculture. Semhoun also oversees the Group’s nature initiatives, which include deploying Kering’s strategies for biodiversity, water, and ecosystems.

Reniera O'Donnell

Ellen MacArthur Foundation
Reniera O'Donnell is a member of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Executive Leadership Team, leading the organisation’s work on the transition to a circular economy in the fashion and food sectors. Her role focuses on demonstrating what a circular economy can look and feel like in these key industries, helping to reshape how products are designed, produced, and used. Previously, O'Donnell led the Foundation’s education and food programmes, where she launched initiatives such as the Big Food Redesign Challenge—highlighting the potential of food design to positively influence landscapes and natural systems. Before joining the Foundation, O'Donnell worked for nearly 20 years in UK local government, specialising in housing. Originally from South Africa, she has lived in the UK for the past 24 years.

Riyong Kim

European Environment Agency
Riyong Kim is Head of the Sustainability Department at the European Environment Agency, responsible for the flagship State and Outlook of Europe’s Environment Report (SOER) and knowledge on foresight, system transitions, just transitions and governance relating to sustainability transitions, circular economy, sustainable finance, and indicators. Prior to joining EEA, Kim led the programme on Decision Metrics and Finance at EIT Climate KIC, working on systems innovation to tackle short-termism and mainstream climate in financial markets in the EU. She has also worked in global environmental and climate policy with UN Environment and UNFCCC, UN FAO, CIFOR, World Bank PROFOR, and for the regional ENPI-FLEG program with IUCN. Kim has an interdisciplinary background in environmental science (B.A, B.Sc., M.Sc.) and Ph.D. In Natural Resource Economics from University of Copenhagen, Denmark. She started her career leading international development efforts in Timor Leste and Aceh, Indonesia, with the Australian Labour Unions, and brings experience from the Brazilian Amazon, and Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as EU and CEE countries.

Sandra Durrant

Target
Sandra Durrant is the Senior Director of Responsible Sourcing & Sustainable Capabilities, bringing over 25 years of textile and sustainability experience across multiple product categories. Over her 21 year career at Target, she has created new capabilities and developed new teams for Target, including fabric development, environmental sustainability and traceability. Since 2015, she has been responsible for driving strategies for transparency, sustainability performance and elevation of Targets’ manufacturing supply chain. Durrant believes that transparency drives accountability and that everyone has the ability to make a positive impact, whether you are an individual or a business. To maximize efforts and accelerate change it is necessary to work together and harness the power of the collective.

Saqib Sohail

Artistic Milliners
Saqib Sohail, a life long learner and Lead - Responsible Business Projects at Artistic Milliners, focuses on ESG, sustainable cotton, and community programs. Awarded the Ryan Young Climate + Award, he's a Vogue Business 2024 Innovator and UNFCCC Steering Committee member. With degrees from North Carolina State and Textile Institute of Pakistan, he's a published author on sustainability, productivity, and fashion. His work aims to create just and equitable supply chains.

Sarah Kent

The Business of Fashion
Sarah Kent is Chief Sustainability Correspondent at The Business of Fashion. She is considered one of the industry's leading journalists on climate and labour. In 2020, she created and launched impact tracker The BoF Sustainability Index. Previously, Kent covered oil companies and energy markets at The Wall Street Journal. She has a Bachelors in History from the University of Oxford.

Sébastien Kopp

VEJA
After studying economics, at the age of 25, Sébastien Kopp and François-Ghislain Morillion visited a factory in China in 2003 and discovered the reality behind globalization. Following this experience, they began collaborating with Tristan Lecomte and dive into the principles of fair trade and sustainable economy. Upon returning to France, they resolved to reinvent a meaningful product for their generation: the sneaker. In 2004, they founded VEJA to create sneakers in a different way, by integrating social projects, economic justice, and ecological materials.

Serkan Tanka

Dakota Group and Companies
Serkan Tanka, VP of Business Development at Dakota Group, is a sustainability leader with 25+ years' experience at H&M, GAP and Walmart. He specializes in sustainable sourcing, human rights due diligence and supply chain transparency across Asia and Europe. A trusted industry expert, Tanka has successfully secured brand collaborations, engaged with governments, and shaped policy dialogues. At Dakota, he enables responsible business growth by aligning brand requirements with supplier capabilities and sustainability frameworks to create measurable impact throughout the value chain.

Shelly Heald Han

Fair Labor Association
Shelly Heald Han thrives at the intersection of human rights and business. At FLA she leads advocacy efforts promoting labor rights around the globe, with a focus on protections for migrant workers in apparel supply chains. Prior to joining FLA, Han spent 15 years in the U.S. Government combatting corruption, protecting human rights defenders and journalists, and developing policies related to trade and national security. She has also worked in the private sector, helping companies ethically do business in international markets.

Shruti Grover

MannyAI
Shruti Grover is CEO & Co-Founder of MannyAI, building AI tools to reduce overproduction in fashion through agile, small-batch manufacturing and postponement strategies. Raised around factory floors in India, she scaled a manufacturing startup to €2M ARR. Now in London, Grover’s helping brands and suppliers work in sync — reducing waste, improving margins, and sharing upside fairly. MannyAI’s demand-driven approach could cut up to 30% of fashion’s emissions tied to excess stock and unsold inventory.

Shyla Raghav

TIME & TIME CO2
Shyla Raghav is the Chief Climate Officer, TIME and Co-Founder, TIME CO2. She has had a long career working on both climate change adaptation and mitigation, with a focus on international policy and natural climate solutions. Her background includes serving as Vice President of Climate Change at Conservation International, and previously held roles at the World Bank, Adaptation Fund, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Raghav was named an InStyle BadAss woman in 2019, a Grist Top 50 Fixer, a AAAS/IfTHEN Ambassador for women in STEM, and has been featured on CNN, Vice News, and Elle Magazine.

Tana Dai

Erdos Cashmere Group
As an enterprise born in grassland, sustainability is at heart of Erdos Cashmere Group. Tana Dai keeps sustainability at the forefront of the group’s strategic planning. She is one of the promoters of the establishment of the group’s sustainability strategy ERDOS WAY in 2018. With the guidance of ERDOS WAY, she’s leading the group to promote and implement the concept of ‘responsible cashmere’ across the whole industrial chain. To further advance the sustainable actions at the begging of the supply chain, Dai led the set-up of the Erdos Eco Ranch, where the group invests in research to develop stainable and responsible cashmere production approaches.

Tara St James

Moose Knuckles
Tara St James has worked in the fashion industry for over 20 years as founder of her own brand, production manager, sustainability consultant, and educator. She built a sustainable textile library and sourcing service in Brooklyn to help the industry find responsible solutions. James also taught a sustainable material sourcing course at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. Most recently she was appointed to lead ESG strategy and sustainable sourcing at Moose Knuckles in Canada.

Thamires Pontes

Phycolabs
Thamires Pontes is the founder and CEO of Phycolabs, a Brazilian biomaterials startup creating seaweed-based textile fibers to decarbonize fashion. With a decade of experience in the fashion industry and a Master’s in Textile and Fashion from the University of São Paulo, she integrates science, sustainability, and circularity into material innovation. Pontes has received global recognition, including the Global Change Award, Unlock Her Future Prize, and Glamour’s “Women in Science” award, and is a fellow of the Sustainable Ocean Alliance and Women in Ocean Food.

Tokunboh Ishmael

Alitheia Capital
Tokunboh Ishmael is a global voice for creating wealth and impact by unlocking the potential of businesses that provide essential goods and services that address the accessibility, affordability, and inclusion needs of underserved markets to drive superior performance and shared prosperity. She is co-founder and Managing Director of Alitheia Capital, a female-led impact investing private equity firm, a Yale World Fellow, and a member of the inaugural cohort of the Aspen Institute’s Finance Leaders Fellowship. Ishmael was a Dragon Panelist on the popular Dragons Den Nigeria TV show and currently sits on a number of corporate boards. As a dynamic speaker she shares her over two decades of knowledge on topics including Private Equity and Venture Capital in Africa; ESG and Impacting Investing; Gender Lens Investing; and Diversity and Inclusion.
 

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