Claudia Richardson

Material Innovation, Allbirds

+ Technical Product Lead and Materials Engineer

Strategy consultant and materials engineer for brands and venture investors with a focus on materials design, technology scaling, and reduction of environmental impact

Currently on Material Innovation team at Allbirds, formerly led the Materials Innovation Team at Patagonia, overseeing the strategic portfolio of R&D partners and investments in raw materials, polymers, coatings, surface chemistry, and end of life solutions for apparel

Background in Materials Science and Engineering from MIT. Has worked on solving materials problems in various fields including clean energy, battery science, consumer products, and apparel

Crispin Wong

Senior Director of Product Sustainability and Environment, lululemon

+ Supply chain and environmental science expertise

Leads lululemon’s product sustainability and environmental initiatives. Previously led materials sourcing for apparel and accessories at Nike, connecting and optimizing materials and products across a complicated global network. Expert in chemical and material sustainability initiatives in the apparel and footwear industry and integrating initiatives into business and product creation processes.

Formerly worked as a consultant in the energy efficiency industry, conducting market research and program evaluations for public and private utilities. Educational background in Chemistry and Environmental Science.

Keith Hull

Former CEO of Liztex

+ Veteran in Textile Manufacturing

Liztex is a Guatemala-based, vertically integrated textile producer operating the largest textile mill in Central America

37 year veteran of the textile industry, holding C-suite positions with Kaltex America, UCO Raymond Denim, & Avondale Mills

Expert operator in global, diversified textile manufacturing

Scott Seydel

Founder, Chairman & CIO Seydel International

+ Entrepreneur and sustainability pioneer

Early materials conservationist and entrepreneur - founded the Seydel Companies, a manufacturer of sustainable process chemicals based on renewable resources that substitute petrochemicals and add recyclability and compostability to coated textiles and paper packaging

Over 50 years’ experience across various facets of textile production, as a chemist and entrepreneur. For the past 30 years, has devoted much of his career towards environmental awareness and stewardship

US Trustee of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Chaired the Global Green Board for Mikhail Gorbachev’s Green Cross (Geneva), Chair emeritus of the GreenBlue Institute and founder of its Sustainable Packaging Coalition. Former director of the national recycling coalition, Vice Chair of the Container Recycling Institute and past Chair of the advisory board of Elemental Impact

Eric Joo

General Director, United Textiles of America

+ Textile and apparel supply chain startup leader

Proven leader in bringing startups into mature operations with significant experience in the textile and apparel manufacturing chain.

Currently leading the team at Unite Textiles of America, the newest and most modern continuous filament polyester manufacturer in the Americas. Responsibilities include market and product development and overall strategy with a high emphasis on sustainability and sustainable materials.

JD from the University of Michigan Law School, oversaw the startup of the first synthetic yarn plant in Central America and has been involved with various product commercialization projects.

Kurt Cavano

CEO, Nimbly - Former CEO, GT Nexus

+ Supply Chain Technology Strategist

30+ years experience helping corporations improve business performance through the intelligent application of technology. Formerly President of GT Nexus, an Infor company, with overall responsibility for driving GT Nexus’ strategic direction. Founder of TradeCard, Inc, which he grew to more than $50 million in revenue before it merged with GT Nexus in April 2013. GT Nexus was subsequently purchase by Infor.

Featured as one of World Trade Magazine’s 50 most influential people, a frequent speaker and writer on topics concerning international trade, global supply chain management and technology innovation.

Serves on several boards including the American Apparel and Footwear Association and the American Apparel Producers Network. He also serves as chairman of the Neptune Township Economic Corporation.

Zohar Ziv

Consultant, Investor & Former COO of Deckers

+ Finance and operating executive

Served as COO of Deckers Brands, a publicly traded global footwear company. Saw the company through international expansion & move to e-commerce and omni-channel capabilities

Over 25 years executive management experience across industries, in both public & private companies of various sizes.

Holds board & advisory positions with 4 private companies & is founder of Dash Brands, a fast-food company in China

Nancy Johnson

CEO & Founder of Optimyze

+ Product life-cycle management & digital design specialist

Optimyze is an advisory firm focused on transforming apparel product life-cycles to advance nimble, innovative, healthy businesses.

30+ years as a fashion designer, product developer, technologist, entrepreneur and advisor.

Former Board Member of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce and Adjunct Professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology and the Massachusetts College of Art

Brion Carroll

Former VP, Business Development - Retail at PTC

+ Retail and Consumer PLM Software Specialist

Independent consultant, most recently served as the VP of Global Business Development in the Retail Business Unit at PTC. Over 37 years of experience in the Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and related industries; with the last 19 years focused in providing PLM to the Retail & Consumer market.

Prior to PTC, Mr. Carroll was founder, CEO and President of Aptavis Technologies Corporation, the company that developed the industry leading FlexPLM product, acquired by PTC in 2005.

He has authored numerous articles and white papers and is an advisor to industry on technologies that improve operational efficiency, enable collaborative work environments, and provide real-time information visibility; and most recently the emerging Internet-of-Things (IoT) technology in Retail & Consumer market and the industry transforming Material Exchange.

Mr. Carroll has a Bachelor of Science in Business Management, and an MBA with a concentration in Global Management from the University of Phoenix and is a veteran of the US Air Force.

Court Williams

Creative Director, De-Yan

+ Digital advertising creative guru

Formerly led luxury and fashion advertising across all of Facebook's platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, Whatsapp and Oculus) by providing vision on everything from art direction and content to the development of creative learning agendas that turn campaigns into learning opportunities for brands

More than 14 years in fashion and media, began as a fashion editor at WWD/W Magazine.Co-founder and CCO at Kess Agency and, most recently, VP of Creative at Havas Sports & Entertainment, where he has influenced campaigns and content initiatives for Bushmills, Chanel, MGM Worldwide and many others

P.C. Chandra

VP, Global Business Development and Strategy, alice + olivia

+ Digital & Supply Chain Innovation Expert

Fashion industry strategist focused on guiding brands through digital-powered product creation capabilities and sustainability-focused investments

10+ years in strategy, innovation, and business development in the fashion industry including executive leadership roles in Accenture Strategy’s Fashion Practice, Macy’s Private Brands, Ralph Lauren, Diane Von Furstenberg and now alice + olivia.

Author of the thought-leadership series “An Insider's Guide to the Frontlines of Digital Fashion,” focused on how Fashion brands can better compete on trend, speed, and sustainability in a consumer-centric and digital marketplace

Bahja Johnson

Head of Customer & Community Belonging & Enablement, Gap Inc., and Color Proud Council Co-Founder, Gap Inc.

+ Product and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging Leader

Co-leads the Gap Inc. Equality & Belonging Team as the Head of Customer and Community Belonging & Enablement. Focuses on delivering inclusive products and experiences for customers, being a multiplier for good within communities, and supporting the brands as a strategic thought partner in the end-to-end integration of the company’s DEIB strategy. Leverages passion for inclusion to supercharge the power and impact of the portfolio.

Formerly worked as a merchandising leader across both Gap brand and Banana Republic. Co-founded the Color Proud Council, Gap Inc.’s first product inclusion initiative, with the mission of bringing diversity to the bottom line of the business.

B.S. in Economics from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

Dr. Helen Crowley

Partner, Pollination Group

+ Sustainable sourcing, accelerating a nature-positive future

Partner at a leading consultancy focused on nature-based solutions and investments for climate change.

Formerly led the charge with Kering brands to adopt innovative approaches to sustainability in the sourcing of raw materials, improved manufacturing processes and the integration of biodiversity and circular economy principles into business.

Formerly worked in conservation, designing and managing market-based approaches to conservation

Board Member of Textile Exchange, Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature

Natalie Grillon

Co-lead & Managing Director of Open Apparel Registry; Sustainable Apparel Consultant

+ Fashion impact consultant

OAR's vision is to create an open source list of every apparel factory worldwide.

Previously CEO of Project JUST, working to shift demand towards positive practices & ethical brands

10 years working at the intersection of business & social impact

As an Acumen Global Fellow, managed a smallholder farmers program for organic & fair trade produce, including cotton in Uganda

James Rogers

Director of Sustainability at The RealReal, Former Director of Sustainability at The North Face

+ Sustainable sourcing expert for outdoor apparel

Strategy and sustainability expert with a strong understanding of product development and go-to-market strategies for large global organizations.

As Director of Sustainability at The North Face, launched The North Face Renewed, a recommerce platform, while leading efforts on environmental responsibility in product creation, the environmental impact of owned facilities and supply chain partners, and the overall climate change agenda.

Years of experience developing supply chain sustainability strategies and working with sourcing vendors for successful implementation while driving sustainable product innovation. MBA in Sustainable Management from Presidio Graduate School.

Amy Bell

Principal, Business Development, Whole Foods Market

+ Seasoned impact investor

Principal on Whole Foods' Strategic Investments team

Former Executive Director & Head of Principal Investments for the Sustainable Finance business unit of J. P. Morgan Chase

Previously, on JPMorgan’s Investment Bank in the Mergers & Acquisitions and Consumer & Retail Coverage groups.

On the Board of WaterEquity (an affiliate of Water.org)

Stacey Fruitman

Founder, Style with Substance Ventures

+ Angel Investor in Sustainable Apparel

Stacey began her career with over 10 years in the green building industry working at Tridel. Stacey decided to take these learnings to the fashion industry in 2015, launching Style with Substance to promote new innovations reducing the environmental impact and to support sustainable brands.

By late 2016, after meeting many amazing entrepreneurs and innovators, Stacey decided to start investing in and advising some of these companies. The mission of Style with Substance is to create a supportive and collaborative eco-system that can access synergies across the various portfolio companies.

The Style with Substance portfolio is diversified across areas like material fabrication, new retail business models, and supply chain revitalization. The current portfolio includes: To the Market, Queen of Raw, EON, Circular Systems, Alice + Whittles, Ecologyst, NA Bld, Rebelstork, Thousand Fell and Passen,

Dhiraj Malkani

Partner, PI US

Paul Tregidgo

Former Vice Chairman - Capital Markets, Credit Suisse

+ Veteran global finance executive

During his 30 years with the bank was head of both Emerging & Global Debt Capital Markets & founded & co-chaired the Bank’s Impact Investing Advisory Council

Sits on the Board of ACCION, Advisory Board of the Center for Financial Inclusion, & the Council of Global Advisors of Yale School of Management

Impact finance advisor & investor in early stage companies