Alexander is the Recycling and Innovation Materials Manager within the Sustainability team at BESTSELLER. He specializes in fashion and textiles and draws on his background in business economics. With a strong commitment to sustainable practices and innovative solutions, Alexander has been a driving force in his career and has contributed to BESTSELLER’s mission for over nine years.

Andreas Nilsson joined TreeToTextile AB in 2022 as Head of Commercial. He has M Sc in Chemical Engineering from Lund University, Sweden, and brings experience from over 20 years with Pulp & Paper and Chemical suppliers Kvaerner, Kemira and Perstorp AB. He has held global commercial positions within Product and Sales management and has broad experience of implementing innovative chemical solutions in a global business environment. His drive lies with supporting customers to find their competitive edge – always with sustainability high on the agenda. At TreeToTextile, Andreas will focus on commercializing the next-generation cellulose fiber, with a
cotton-like hand-feel. The fiber is renewable and resource efficient and has a low environmental footprint. It has the potential to complement or replace cotton, viscose and polyester in both textile and nonwoven applications.

Baptiste brings together expertise from all corners of the Apparel and Footwear ecosystem.

During his days at Decathlon, an international sports producer and retailer, he held various positions in Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia, focusing on quality and sustainability. After eight years of field experience, he established and led Decathlon’s first global sustainability department.

He subsequently relocated to Amsterdam in 2014 and joined the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, launching their European Office, leading their transparency and European activities, and initiating the Social and Labor Convergence Program ( SLCP ).

In 2019, with Bente Bauer, he launched 2BPolicy, a consulting firm at the intersection of sustainability and policy, supporting brands, organisations and actors of the industry ecosystem to understand and operationalize the change brought by legislation. He chairs several Technical Secretariats and Scientific Committees.
He is a Senior Advisor at the BCG.

Baptiste also works on the family organic and agroforestry wine estate in Southern France.

I have been committed to Sustainability for years, starting my career in the Environmental Services (water, energy, waste) having, as a result, a solid understanding of environmental mechanisms. With a strong international experience (Russia and China), I ran several projects of environmental and social performance, in the field of climate change, biodiversity, air pollution, sustainable supply-chain, extra-financial reporting, stakeholders management. I chose to contribute my expertise to Luxury today, deeply motivated by impact reduction and fashion transition, and more particularly pioneering the field of sustainable innovation and next gen materials and fibers. At BALENCIAGA, I am in charge of investigating sustainable and innovative materials and processes to transform the way we are sourcing and reduce the impact of our collections. I am also contributing to social monitoring of our supply chain through special projects to enhance fair practices in the workplace.

Brian McClay is Chairman of TTOBMA, a privately-held pulp and paper competitive intelligence and net-price indices provider. Brian founded his company in 1997 after a distinguished career at the Canadian Pulp and Paper Association, where he led international trade and sustainability initiatives. Starting as a Wood Pulp Statistician in 1978, he later became Director of Trade Affairs and Markets, playing a key role in early ecolabeling efforts. As Head of Canada’s Delegation to ISO TC 207 SC3, he helped shape global environmental labeling standards, including ISO 14025. He also chaired the committee behind the Environmental Profile Data Sheet (EPDS™). In 1998-99, he contributed to Environics International’s Sustainability Sherpa Team, fostering industry-ENGO collaboration. With decades of expertise, he remains a leader in sustainable trade and environmental reporting.

Brooke is an experienced and respected journalist, consultant and author. She is a leading voice in the fashion and textile industries and her role as senior sustainability contributor at Forbes has earned her a reputation for authoritative analysis and reporting. Brooke recently authored a book charting the past 20 years of sustainable fashion initiatives in which her interviewees included Ryan Gellert, CEO of Patagonia; Annie Leonard, Executive Director of Greenpeace US; and Delman Lee, Vice Chair of TAL Apparel.

In addition to her work at Forbes, Brooke is the founder of Techstyler, which provides sustainability and communications consultancy to brands, manufacturers, fibre and textile producers, NGOs, and investors. Techstyler’s clients to date include Pangaia, Swarovski, FibreTrace, Worn Again, Textile Exchange and Bluesign.

Brooke has prior industry experience in knitwear design, development and production, coupled with a previous career in diagnostic radiography (medical imaging), resulting in a unique skill set for analysing, interpreting and prioritising sustainability solutions for materials, technologies and supply chains.

Carlos holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Coimbra. For over 20 years he has held various positions as Director and board member within the Altri group.

He is currently COO and Deputy CEO.

In addition, he has obtained several postgraduate degrees and long-term programs for executives in business management from the Universidade Católica and the Kellogg School of Management.

Carolina Duarte is a sustainable materials specialist with a background in materials engineering, textile R&D and innovation consulting. She is leading several pioneering projects at Fashion for Good focused on supporting next-gen material innovators to scale, and guiding brands in sustainable sourcing strategies. Her work brings together science, strategy and supply chain expertise with the ultimate goal of driving systemic change in the fashion industry.

Dalena has more than 20 years’ experience in clothing design, textile manufacturing, merchandising and product sourcing for fashion retail. She served as a board member of a clothing factory supplying retail, before joining the wool industry in 2008. She managed brand developments for South African Merino wool products, including styling, wool textile innovation and marketing projects with retail partners.

Dalena was appointed as the Secretary General of the International Wool Textile Organisation, based in Brussels, Belgium, in June 2016. IWTO is the recognized global authority for standards in the wool industry and has been representing the interests of the wool textile trade since 1930. IWTO Members represent 26 countries and all stages of the wool pipeline. IWTO is a registered AISBL (non-profit).

I lead the strategic direction and technological innovation of Positive Materials as Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Technology Officer.

My career began with a degree in Chemistry, followed by over 25 years of experience in textile innovation. As founder of RDD (Valérius Group), I have developed groundbreaking technologies using revolutionary fibers and advanced dyeing and finishing techniques. Previously I assumed the R&D and Innovation Direction at Tintex Textiles.

I am furthermore a materials development advisor for renowned brands and a distinguished speaker at international conferences, continuously working alongside global textile institutes and universities to further my planet positive vision.

Gregor is a key driver of Lenzing Group’s textile-to-textile recycling initiatives, which date back more than 10 years. He focuses on identifying and implementing technologies, partnerships and business models to upscale textile recycling, from strategic planning to operational execution. With a comprehensive end-to-end perspective, Gregor navigates the entire process from understanding waste availability and streams to integrating recycled products into fiber production.

20+ years in Asia within woven material research & development. Experienced with supply chain operations and fashion business strategies to manufacture fabrics for the textile and clothing industry.

Recent aims include case study research on fabric waste circular up-cycling with product innovations (both mechanical and chemical recycling), and the evolving requirements within the global textile production industry.

Jodi supports suppliers and brands with material strategies, innovation, and product development through her consultancy, Konekti. She has 20 years’ experience in fabric R&D in fashion for brands ranging from luxury to mass market. Most recently she was Head of Sustainability at LOEWE, and previously spent 6 years at Filippa K in Sweden, where she led the fabric team before becoming VP of Sustainability.
Jodi is keen to drive change within the industry by bringing together diverse stakeholders to implement new fibres or processes at scale. She was a founding member of the Swedish Wool Initiative, a multi-stakeholder group that enabled more local wool to be used for commercial textiles; she has worked with researchers in Sweden to develop new and alternative materials; and she has driven initiatives to increase the repair, reuse, and recycling of garments and materials for brands.

Johannes is an expert in commercializing textile fiber innovations from lab to market. Through his platform Matter to Market, he works with fiber innovators, supply chain partners, and brands to build effective go-to-market strategies and drive adoption of new materials. He tracks the long-term shifts shaping the global textile industry – from raw materials to end consumers – to help businesses make better-informed decisions.

Jonatan is the CEO of Circulose, leading efforts to scale textile-to-textile recycling and drive sustainability in the fashion and textile industries. With a strong background in strategy, innovation, and sustainability, he is committed to building a more circular future.

Previously, Jonatan spent over 11 years at McKinsey & Company, where he was a Partner in the Consumer and Retail Practice and led the sustainability service line within the apparel, fashion, and textiles industry. In this role, he worked across the textile value chain, collaborating with brands, producers, textile innovation startups, and public sector stakeholders to drive sustainable transformation.

Now at Circulose, Jonatan continues to push the boundaries of innovation and sustainability

Lucy Maguire is senior trends editor at Vogue Business. Alongside her focus on fashion, consumer trends, digital strategies and youth culture, Lucy covers the global fashion weeks, covering the news, trends, brands and startups shaping the fashion and beauty industries. Aiding her global coverage, Lucy speaks English, French and Russian. She is also an associate lecturer at London College of Fashion, and regularly moderates at global conferences, from The Web Summit to Shoptalk. Lucy has previously worked with the Vogue Global Network, Suzy Menkes and British Vogue.

Madeleine Bernhard is currently working as a Business Development Manager at OnceMore Södra, where she focuses on creating business opportunities for a sustainable future. She supports brands in navigating the textile value chain, helping them implement strategies that align with sustainability goals. With extensive experience in the fashion industry, Madeleine has played a key role in developing companies by introducing new product segments. Her previous roles have included Head of Assortment and Sourcing, Product Development, Product Manager, and Retail Manager. Passionate about sustainability and development, Madeleine is dedicated to driving positive change and supporting the growth of responsible business practices in the fashion sector.

Marina Prados is the Co-Director of the Policy Hub – Circularity for Apparel & Footwear, in charge of policy coordination and external engagement with stakeholders. Marina has a background in politics and translation and has been following the different policy instruments of the EU Green Deal since their inception. At the Policy Hub, she is also leading the technical conversations with stakeholders of the entire global textile sector, from manufacturers to recyclers, on how to implement the different legislative instruments and boost the circularity and sustainability of the textile sector.

Maximilien Schrub is Lead Analyst & Methodology Supervisor at Fairly Made. He holds a PhD in Mechanics, Civil Engineering, Energy, and Materials from École Centrale de Lille, with a thesis specifically focused on the methodology for predicting and modeling the lifespan of textiles.

Mikko Lassila is a dynamic and analytical business development and management professional with extensive experience in material technology-driven industries. Known for building and leading teams and ecosystems in uncharted territory, Mikko thrives in navigating uncertainties with confidence and clarity. With a proven track record of commercializing new material technology innovations and driving growth across diverse industry boundaries, Mikko excels at translating vision into tangible results.

Mikko has successfully led complex, large-scale developments, demonstrating patience and strategic foresight to manage multifaceted challenges. Mikko´s passion for sustainability and tackling climate change serves as a guiding principle, shaping innovative solutions for a better future.

Nicolás Jobet is People & Communications Manager at Arauco. He holds a Master’s degree in Sociology from Columbia University. In his current role, he leads the company’s Climate Action Committee, certifying the company’s carbon neutrality and working to become a nature-positive company.

Nina has 20 years of experience from the forest industry and Ekman Group. She has held various positions such as trading pulp derivatives, developing and guiding the corporate strategic framework, business intelligence and business development throughout the years.

Nina is a member of the Ekman Group Management team and heading the Innovare division, which focuses on expanding the Groups business by adding new products, identifying new business partners and exploring new business ventures within the Ekman Group. Nina is the founder of Challenge the Fabric (CTF) and has been the driving force in growing and developing the CTF initiative since its start in 2018. Nina holds a MScs degree in Business and Finance.

Polina Zakharkina, Consumer Insights professional and Brand strategist, Owner of Prologue.

With a strong background in brand strategy, consumer insights, and project management, Polina specializes in unlocking business potential through deep consumer understanding. Her experience spans leadership roles at Filippa K, where she spearheaded a major rebranding initiative, and at Lynxeye brand management consultants, where she developed and refined insight methodologies and translated consumer research into actionable brand strategies. Passionate about creating meaningful impact through consumer insights and brand strategy, Polina combines strategic vision with hands-on execution.

With over two decades of experience in the textile industry, Tércio has built a robust career marked by leadership and innovation in textile trading, logistics, and sustainability. Beginning in 1999 as a trainee in a textile agency, Tércio advanced quickly to become the Commercial Director, a role held from 2002 to 2008. Tércio then transitioned to the textile trading business as a Market Manager while concurrently implementing and overseeing logistics operations from 2010 to 2019.
Currently, Tércio serves as a Board Member at several prominent organizations: Impetus (since 2020), Acatel (since 2021), and Refibertech (since 2023), contributing expertise in textile finishing and textile recycling to promote sustainable practices in the industry.