As a professional involved in manufacturing, Brian brings over 25 years of engineering, project management and product development experience, with the past 15 years based full time in China.  His time in a low-cost foreign country has provided extensive experience in product sourcing, project management, product development, management, manufacturing, and QC, as well as a knowledge of Chinese business practices and culture.

While in China, with a focus on custom-designed engineered products, including injected plastics, fabricated metals & electronic components, he has been engaged in all facets of sourcing, manufacturing, project management and product development activities to achieve cost reductions for his Western customer base while maintaining product quality and ensuring intellectual property is not compromised.

For the past 2 years, he has operated his own boutique consulting business in China focusing on strategic sourcing, supply chain management and product development.  This includes overseeing daily operations and directly managing 5 part-time Chinese staff in strategic sourcing, product development, supply chain mgmt., contract negotiations, factory audits and quality control.

With over 10 year’s research experience, across Australasia and the Americas, Julia possesses strong strategic, quantitative, and qualitative research experience within several consumer goods and service industries, including consumer health, retailing and digital channels.

Key responsibilities at Euromonitor include analysis, research and report writing, monitoring domestic and international developments across different industries, evaluating current and emerging trends, and commissioning work from analysts in the field.

Originally from Colombia, Julia also has industry and consulting experience in business strategy, market assessment, licensing negotiations and intellectual property management. She moved to Australia 8 years ago for her postgraduate studies, where she obtained a Master of International Business and a Master of Commerce with a major in marketing from the University of Sydney.

Twitter: @euromonitor

Instagram: @euromonitorintl

LinkedIn: @EuromonitorInternational

David is currently CEO of the Australian Fashion Council – AFC (Formerly Council of Textile & Fashion – CTF), and spent several years on the CTF board of directors. He was recently involved with smart textiles technology company, Imagine Intelligent Materials, which is at the forefront of developing the future of wearables. His primary background lies in technology and business development in sports apparel with a number of companies including WL Gore (Gore-Tex). David has had the experience of starting his own sports fashion label, and also in performance apparel and equipment for defence. David spent a number of years living and working in Germany and the UK and has been back in Australia since 2008.

About Australian Fashion Council

The Australian Fashion Council (AFC), as the peak industry body, exists to promote the growth of the textile & fashion industry in Australia, with over 65 years service to the industry. The AFC is a not-for-profit membership organisation, with members drawn from across the fashion and textile industry value chain.

When we look at the industry, we are viewing ‘fashion’ as encompassing the entire spectrum of the value chain. From students to multinational companies. From shopping centres to fibre growers. From workwear companies to luxury goods. From the product to the consumer.

All activities and projects act to support the AFC’s Five Growth Pillars; strengthening supply chains, growing Australian exports, helping new businesses become established, developing industry practices in ethical and sustainable product, and, fostering design & innovation.

https://ausfashioncouncil.com

Facebook: @ausfashioncouncil

Instagram: @ausfashioncouncil

LinkedIn: @ausfashioncouncil

Graduated from Beijing University of Technology in 1995. Then, attended CCCT as industry researcher to date.

A visionary entrepreneur since three decades who crafted Superhouse conglomerate since 1980.

Mr. Mukhtarul Amin, is the Promoter of SUPERHOUSE, an export oriented group having annual turnover of around USD 200 Million. He is the Chairman & Managing Director of Superhouse Group. This group is running 3 tanneries, 6 footwear factories (each specializing in a different type of footwear) and 3 leather goods factories in different cities of India viz; Kanpur, Unnao, Agra, Noida and Kolkata, employing more than 8000 workers. The Group manufactures Finished Leather, Leather and Non Leather Footwear, Safety Footwear, Leather Bags, Small Leather Goods and Accessories. In the last decade the Group has acquired 3 Companies in UK and Europe. The Group also has marketing and distribution offices in UK, UAE, Germany and USA. It’s brand ALLEN COOPER is very popular in India and Overseas. The Group has been awarded for the last three years continuously, with the prestigious “Niryat Shree Award” by the Hon. President of India Shri Pranab Mukerjee besides being the largest recipient of the awards in the industry, from the Council for Leather Exports, under the Ministry of Commerce.

Mr. Mukhtarul Amin was Vice-Chairman of the Council for Leather Exports (CLE) from 2003 to 2005 and Chairman from 2007 to 2009, an export promotional body for leather industry under the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India. He is Former Chairman of Footwear Design & Development Institute which is the largest footwear training institution in the world under the Ministry of Commerce, and has recently been re-elected as the Chairman of the Council for Leather Export.
Mr. Mukhtarul Amin promoted educational institutions also to provide modern education to boys & girls of different segment and to promote the noble ideas, to contribute to alleviating human suffering, eradication of illiteracy and poverty. It is for this noble cause that under his dynamic leadership, 18 educational institutes have emerged and are successfully imparting education to more than 20,000 students. He also promoted one sports academy.

Sarah Gale is a highly strategic and creative senior retail who has been fortunate to work with many of Australia and New Zealand’s leading fashion brands over three decades. She began her career in wholesale and then retail buying and more recently performed Senior Executive roles. Sarah consults to retailers, wholesalers and start-ups in Australia and off shore. She has specialized in a number of areas including Business strategy, Buying, Product, Product Development, Marketing, Ecommerce, Customer Insights and Brand DNA, whilst serving in Executive Leadership positions and consultancy roles.

SOCIAL:

LinkedIn: @SarahGale
Facebook: @SarahGaleBusiness
Instagram: @WearingYourWorth

Based out of WGSN Hong Kong Office, Anupreet brings together a global perspective on Streetstyle, covering all major cities, music festivals and Fashion Week streets. With over 14 years of experience working in the fashion industry, she brings extensive knowledge across all aspects of design, product creation, markets trends & consumer insights . Her career highlights include heading design teams for various brands within Levi Strauss & Co and offering her Design Consultancy services for Givenchy, 7 For All Mankind, Evisu, Rock & Republic, Inditex and PVH Group to name a few.

Twitter: @WGSN

Instagram: @WGSN

#WGSNTalkTrend

Elizabeth is the Founder of Fashion Equipped, a Melbourne based consultancy and non-traditional marketing agency.

Elizabeth is committed to sharing her decades of industry experience and wealth of knowledge, along with her team.
with the Australian and International fashion community.

Elizabeth has worked with some of Australia’s largest retailers and privately owned wholesalers and she has gained valuable industry
experience working in senior roles in buying, product management, sales, sourcing, product development, brand building, marketing and team management.

Recently, Elizabeth’s passion and mission has been focussed on launching an Online Programme for fashion start-ups.
This immersive programme brings big business knowledge to emerging business and is a valuable asset for those planning, launching and growing a business.

As a consultant and mentor, Elizabeth now shares her knowledge and experience with emerging fashion businesses, guiding brands from start-up to success.”

fashionequipped.com.au

Facebook – @FashionEquipped

Instagram – @FashionEquipped

David has extensive experience in leading a high performing ethical sourcing team. Prior to establishing the Melbourne based Ethical Sourcing Agency, David managed the Ethical Sourcing program within Cotton On Group which was recently recognised with an A grade rating in the 2018 BWA Australian Fashion Report.

With a strong understanding of ethical sourcing and supply chain, David’s pragmatic approach to ethical sourcing strategies enables brands to build long term responsible sourcing programs while maintaining effective working relationships with suppliers.

www.ethicalsourcingagency.com.au

Anita is a trade marks lawyer at Phillips Ormonde Fitzpatrick with more than 10 years’ experience in trade mark clearance work, prosecution, oppositions and enforcement, both locally and internationally. She has also been involved in proceedings before the Australian Trade Marks Office and the Federal Court of Australia.  Anita develops strategies for and advises on the protection, commercialisation and enforcement of intellectual property (IP) rights of both large and small Australian and foreign companies across a range of industries including life sciences, fashion, manufacturing, cleantech and information technology.  Anita is also a recent Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and strives to provide commercially realistic legal advice.

LinkedIn: @PhillipsOrmondeFitzpatrick

Twitter: @POFIP

Education:

Bachelor of Labour Economic, University of Leipzig in Germany in 1978

Doctor of Economics in Germany in 1994

Professional career:

March 8^th Hanoi Textile Factory and Union of Textile Factory

Director of Planning Department of Vietnam Textile and Garment Group (Vinatex)

Vice Chairman of Vietnam Textile and Garment Trade Union

Vice Chairman cum Secretary General of Vietnam Textile and Garment Association (VITAS)

Dr. Neale G O’Connor is Managing Director Ricebox.com a China risk management consulting company based in Hong Kong.

Dr. Neale O’Connor is one of the foremost experts on technology and innovation in manufacturing in China. His speaking engagements and executive programs are in demand from international and mainland China managers. Neale has spent 18 years in Hong Kong where he researched the modernization processes of Chinese firms, examining issues such as performance measurement, order qualification, and trust. His ‘China 1000’ project is the largest ever survey of operational risk issues for foreign buyers and Chinese suppliers. Most recently he has been undertaking factory quality audits for multinational clients and advising on operational and marketing improvements as Director of Ricebox Ltd 

Neale is also a cofounder of China Sourcing Academy a complete training system for professional buyers seeking to source from China.  He is founder and editor of Tech Asia Youtube Channel with over 7500 subscribers.

Neale is the author of The China Casebook on Operational Risk, and The Management Control of MNCs in China. Neale has developed corporate business cases for a number of large multinational companies including HTC, PQI, Philips, Delphi, and Alpharma. His cases are used extensively around the world. Based on publications, citations and research grants, he is one of the leading management accounting researchers in Asia.

Dr Neale O’Connor is also Professor of Accounting at Monash University, Malaysia. He has previously taught at Hong Kong Baptist University, City University of Hong Kong, The University of Hong Kong and The National University of Singapore. He has worked in the Petroleum and Insurance industries as well as an Accountant.

Facilitator:

Melinda Tually, Director NDLESS: The New Normal
Melinda is a responsible business strategist advising brands and retailers on ethical sourcing and supply chain strategy, social and environmental risks, communications, partnerships and sourcing.

Sonya Rand, Group Sustainable & Ethical Sourcing Manager, Cotton On Group

Sonya joined the Cotton On Group as Group Sustainability and Ethical Sourcing Manager in early in 2018, bringing with her extensive knowledge in the sustainability space gained from more than 20 years’ experience in retail, fashion and consumer goods industries. A chartered Chemical Engineer, Sonya has held advisory roles with the Australian Attorney General’s Office and DFAT, addressing issues of Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery in Supply Chains and the implementation of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Specialising in stakeholder engagement, policy development and risk management, Sonya’s role sees her leading the growth of the Group’s existing sustainability programs and finding new opportunities to drive positive long-term change across the supply chain.

Shasta O’Loughlin, Group Purchasing Manager, Rip Curl Australia

Shasta is the Group Purchasing Manager and the Environmental Committee Chair at Rip Curl’s Global head office in Torquay. With over a decade of experience at Rip Curl across roles in purchasing, licensing and operations, in 2016 Shasta established the Social Responsibility and Sustainability programme for it’s global business. During this time she has been responsible for rolling out several initiatives to support the company’s founding values and principles. Shasta has a Bachelor degree in Business; Tourism and Hospitality Management from LaTrobe University and has a passion for the snow, having worked in ski resorts across Canada, Australia and the USA.

Lucy King, Sustainability Manager, Country Road Group

Lucy is responsible for overseeing the implementation of Country Road Group’s sustainability strategy. As one of Australia’s largest specialty fashion retailers and operating five differentiated brands: Country Road, MIMCO, Trenery, Witchery and Politix; the group is on a Good Business Journey to drive positive social and environmental change across its business operations and supply chain. With extensive experience in driving sustainability within fashion and food retail in Australia and South Africa, Lucy has previously played an advisory role to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on the 10YFP Consumer Information Programme, and the ISEAL Alliance Stakeholder Council, on improving the quality and applicability of sustainability standards.

Rachel is a disputes Partner at Allens and leads its Governance, Risk and Compliance group as well as its Business Crime group.

She is a director of the UN Global Compact Network Australia and head of its Anti-Corruption Leadership Group. In this role, Rachel works with Australian businesses and the government on anti-corruption eradication initiatives including law and policy development.

Rachel has particular expertise advising on compliance, investigations and disputes involving anti-bribery, AML, sanctions, cartel conduct and corporate human rights obligations.

Rachel is ranked in Band 1 of the Chambers and Partners Asia-Pacific Legal Directory for Anti-Bribery and Corruption. Rachel ‘receives substantial positive feedback from both peers and referees as a partner who “really understands this area well and has a significant depth of knowledge,” with sources also citing her “careful and meticulous approach” and rapid ability “to filter out what is important from the noise.”

Rachel primarily advises the resources, finance and manufacturing sectors.

Rachel has advised on investigations and/or litigation for offshore activities, projects and assets in numerous countries including Papua New Guinea, China, Indonesia, Vietnam, India, Mongolia, Malaysia, Peru, South Africa, DRC, Sierra Leone, Guinea,  the US and the UK.

In the compliance space, Rachel advises on conduct of risk assessments, compliance gap analyses and compliance controls aimed at minimizing the event of improper conduct and positioning companies to defend themselves effectively. This has involved advising on establishment or review of numerous global, regional or national compliance programs, particularly on anti-bribery.

Twitter: @AllensLegal

LinkedIn: @AllensLawFirm

Nerisha Jairaj Executive Director of South African Footwear and Leather. MBA organisational behaviour. Honors in Business Admin. 20 years export and procurement.