Recycling and Innovation Materials Manager, BESTSELLER
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.
Vice President Marketing – Sappi Verve
30 Plus years within the forest products industry from Printing, to paper and the last 10 years in Dissolving Pulp specifically within the Textile industry.
Passionate about Inclusive Sustainability where each aspect of Sustainability – People, Planet and Prosperity – requires commitment and focus to ensure a tomorrow that is better than today
‘You have to leave the city of your comfort and go out into the wilderness of your intuition. What you will discover will be something wonderful. What you will discover will be yourself’ – Alan Alda
Co-CEO and Chief Technology Officer
at Positive Materials
Elsa Parente is the Co-CEO and Chief Technology Officer at Positive Materials, a company operating at the intersection of science, design, and manufacturing, transforming emerging innovations into low-impact, scalable production.
With a degree in Chemistry from the University of Minho and over 25 years in textile R&D, Elsa has dedicated her career to advancing next-generation materials through a collaborative approach that thoughtfully combines technical expertise and creative vision.
She previously co-founded RDD Textiles (Valérius Group) and led the R&D and Innovation department at Tintex Textiles, overseeing the development of breakthrough technologies and championing the use of innovative fibres
alongside advanced dyeing and finishing techniques. Beyond product development, Elsa works as an advisory partner to global brands, start-ups, and institutional networks, helping turn promising innovations into commercially viable solutions. A frequent speaker and contributor, she collaborates with research and educational platforms as well as international initiatives, supporting the transition toward regenerative materials and responsible manufacturing. Her work follows a simple principle: innovation with purpose, designed for real-world performance and built for scale.
Head of Global Brand Partnerships at the Lenzing Group
Manuela Gesslbauer is a global marketing and partnerships expert with more than a decade of experience in textiles, FMCG, and media. She brings a deep understanding and passion for the full textile value chain and is focused on translating material stories into clear brand narratives and consumer benefits. Her work centers on building strong relationships with brand partners and industry leaders, elevating brand awareness, and driving impact across the entire marketing funnel – from ingredient branding to end-consumer engagement.
At Lenzing, Manuela helps shape the company’s brand and partnership strategy across key markets, working closely with stakeholders throughout the industry to showcase the benefits and qualities of Lenzing’s branded fibers (TENCEL & LENZING ECOVERO ) while supporting both commercial and sustainability goals. Before that, she held marketing and brand roles at Mars and Red Bull Media House, contributing to initiatives that strengthened brand visibility and supported long-term growth.
Outside of work, Manuela enjoys traveling, exploring new cultures, and designing jewelry – activities that inspire her creativity and shape the way she approaches her work.
Global Director Business Development, AeoniQ™
Carmen leads Business Development, Sales and Marketing for AeoniQ™. She holds a degree in economics and is a certified coach. With more than 25 years of experience in fashion, lifestyle and home textiles she brings extensive international expertise in business development, brand creation and design, and product and license management. Throughout her career, she has shaped and scaled business units within the fashion industry, built high-performing interdisciplinary teams, and successfully led innovation and transformation projects for companies including Hugo Boss, Porsche Design, Holy Fashion Group, HeiQ, and others.
After transitioning from the fashion and lifestyle sector into the innovation space, Carmen has been driven by a commitment to advancing a more sustainable future and supporting brands in strengthening their ESG readiness. A strong connector and collaborator, she fosters alignment and meaningful co-creation helping accelerate the fashion industry’s shift toward a more sustainable horizon
