Keynote Speakers 2021

We are so proud of our keynote speakers for Next Textile 2021. They shared a vast amount of amazing experience that touches on the future textile supply chain.

Charles Ross

Charles Ross, Royal College of Art – Textile Innovation

Over the last 20 years, Charles Ross has been helping focus the new generation of designers. He now lectures at the Royal College of Art, acts as a mentor for The Design Council, sits on the Waste & Resources Action Programme textile committee (that wrote SCAP – which was the base for the European Clothing Action Plan), contributed to Fixing Fashion (the UK Parliament’s report in Fast Fashion.) One of the original team behind the academic subject of Performance Sportswear Design, his roots are within the Outdoor Industry’s Sustainability Working Group but is most proud of being part of The Do Lecture team.

Mark Shayler

Mark Shayler, Ape

Mark helps big companies think like small ones and small companies think like big ones. He works on innovation of products, services and business models; he works on sustainability and company purpose; and he coaches businesses and individuals. He has saved his clients in excess of £120 million per annum through environmental improvements, has increased sales of products by 8000% by introducing circular economy business models and trained over 2000 people in sustainability.  He has worked for Nike, Coca-Cola, Seedlip, Unilever, Hotpoint, Samsung, John Lewis, Fenwick, Teapigs, Bacardi, Diageo, Mars, Thorntons, 3M, Amazon, Panasonic and hundreds of funky little businesses like Propercorn, Teapigs, Hiut Denim, and Ugly Drinks. He was a lead for the RSA Great Recovery programme of Circular Economy and was once the Head of Environment for ASDA. He is a Founding Partner of the Do Lectures and author of two books Do Disrupt, change the status quo or become it and Do Present, how to give a talk and be heard.  He is a coach, innovation workshop facilitator and Qi gong teacher.  Mark is also part of the Reasons To Be Cheerful team,  which he co-founded in in 2020.

Elaine Gardiner

Elaine Gardiner, Head of Sustainability – Haglöfs

Elaine originally trained as a chemical engineer working in R&D in FMCG around the world for almost 10 years before moving into sustainability. She has worked in sustainability in the outdoor industry for 7 years and has also spent time running the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership sustainable supply chain post graduate programs. At Haglöfs Elaine is responsible for overall sustainability strategy and integration into the business strategy.

Niklas Hedin

Niklas Hedin, Founder & CEO – CENTIRO

Niklas Hedin is an innovator, thought leader and strategist whose long experience catalyzes the conversation and inspires to get to the next level in business. Based on insights of gaps in the market for Delivery Management which needed new solutions, Niklas founded Centiro in 1998. He brings 25+ years of experience on how to develop businesses using insights and hands-on-experience on supply chain and IT. Niklas’ work on scaling an agile organisation has rendered recognition in many ways, inspiring others to drive change in times of challenge. He has led Centiro to the forefront of the industry, which has rendered numerous awards and a market-leading position.

Carola Seybold

Carola Seybold, Head of Global Key Accounts – Pantone

Carola Seybold has completed her Diploma at the age of 24 years from Lake of Constance University (Germany) and further finalised her Marketing studies from University of Hohenheim (Germany). Directly after her Diploma she worked in several leading positions in the Fashion industry (Chief Purchasing Manager and Product Management). Before joining PANTONE LLC in 2008, Carola Seybold has worked as a Senior Consultant at Glasmeier & Partner Int. She currently works as Head of Global Key Accounts for PANTONE helping brands and companies to achieve their goal through the power of colour.