Join us on March 17-18, 2027! Join 500+ manufacturers, suppliers, brands, and industry partners for two days of learning, capability building, and collaboration at the Cascale Forum: Colombo — the region’s leading platform for Higg Index knowledge and advancing practical sustainability solutions for textile and apparel.
Speakers are subject to change.
I am the first Sri Lankan man and the second Sri Lankan to have summited Mt Everest. I did this in May 2018. Following this achievement I started conducting motivational speeches around the country for various corporate, educational and professional institutions. I then went on to climb the seven summits, which are the highest peaks in each of the seven continents. I will be speaking about the various hurdles and challenges that I had to overcome in my journey, as well as a series of life changing incidents which shaped me. I will be speaking about the factors which drive me to pursue these adventures, and how these factors can be extrapolated into daily life.
Rajitha Jayasuriya serves as the Chairperson of the Sri Lanka Apparel Exporters’ Association (SLAEA), where she champions collaborative, industry wide action to advance sustainable and responsible apparel value chains. Appointed in January 2025 as the first woman to lead the Association representing the country’s largest export sector, she is a prominent voice navigating the industry through rapidly evolving global trade, regulatory, and sustainability demands.Alongside her industry leadership, Rajitha serves as Director-Corporate Affairs at MAS Holdings, a USD 2 Billion Apparel Tech conglomerate and one of South Asia’s most recognised apparel solutions providers. In this role, she plays a central part in shaping the organisation’s strategic reputation, regulatory engagement, and governance architecture. She leads a multidisciplinary Corporate Affairs portfolio encompassing Corporate Communications, Sustainability & ESG Strategy, Legal, IP & Regulatory Affairs, Governance & Compliance, and Government, Diplomatic & Trade Relations.Rajitha is an Attorney-at-Law of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. She holds an LL.M from Monash University and has completed executive education programmes at Stanford Graduate School of Business, the NUS Business School, and the Centre for Creative Leadership.
Harsh currently serves as Cascale’s interim chief executive officer, as well as a director on a number of boards and advises senior leaders on sustainable business, human rights, environmental practices, trade regulations, as well as innovation in supply chains. Harsh has held leadership positions in global corporations, including Nike and the Fung Group, in many parts of the world, in a career spanning corporate communications, marketing, government affairs, and pioneering corporate responsibility and sustainability.
Scott Raskin is the CEO of Worldly, where he champions the idea that impactful change springs from actionable measures. Leveraging years of leadership experience in tech companies, he steers Worldly toward sustainable growth, providing brands, manufacturers, retailers, and suppliers with solutions to enhance their positive environmental and social impact.
Scott’s commitment to results and customer satisfaction positions Worldly as an essential platform for consumer goods companies seeking to lessen their footprint, adhere to regulations, and promote transparency. His management style, deeply rooted in valuing people and culture, inspires creativity and teamwork. Guided by a firm resolve to create significant change, Scott’s leadership shapes Worldly’s contribution to a more responsible corporate world.
Scott is focused on leading the evolution and expansion of Worldly’s platform to include new capabilities, innovations, and automation to empower sustainability-minded companies to analyze, understand, report, and improve their supply chain and product impacts.
Chris Dearing is VP Group Sustainability at Coats, where he leads the development and delivery of the company’s global sustainability strategy across operations, supply chain, and product innovation. With almost three decades of experience at Coats, he brings deep expertise spanning manufacturing technology, supply chain transformation, and sustainability leadership.
Chris has held a range of senior global roles, including Group Supply Chain Technology Director and Group Manufacturing Technology Director, giving him a strong operational foundation to drive practical, scalable sustainability outcomes. He is a graduate of Heriot-Watt University with a first-class honours degree in Colour Chemistry and has completed executive education in Sustainability Leadership and Corporate Responsibility at London Business School.
Based in Scotland, Christopher is passionate about embedding sustainability into business decision‑making and enabling the transition to more circular, low‑carbon value chains.
Dr. Thiwanka De Fonseka is the Chief Sustainability Officer at Komar. He has a doctorate in sustainability, three masters, and two bachelors in the areas of environmental science, chemistry, business management, and project management. He oversees and leads the environmental sustainability and product sustainability pillars at Komar, focusing on decarbonization, water and wastewater management, chemical management, waste management, biodiversity, sustainable raw materials, sustainable packaging, product circularity, etc., internally and in its supply chain. Dr. Thiwanka De Fonseka’s career combines environmental science and chemistry expertise with a commitment to sustainability, circularity, and innovation.
Before joining Komar, Dr. Thiwanka De Fonseka held executive roles in ZDHC, M&S, and MAS Holdings. He has contributed to significant advancements in sustainability practices, emphasizing practical solutions for complex environmental challenges. Known for his ability to work under pressure, tackle difficult challenges, and think outside the box, Dr. Thiwanka De Fonseka continues to drive Komar’s commitments to ethical and sustainable business models aligned with its 2030 sustainability strategy. “Sus-Tex 2030”.
Mariam Omar joined the Brandix Human Resources team in April 2020 and currently works across Strategy, Transformation, and Communication, overseeing the integration of the Employee Value Proposition (EVP) and Customer Value Proposition (CVP) to create a cohesive and impactful brand experience. She currently leads the communication team and is also a core member of the Brandix strategy and transformation team, positioning the company for the future. Mariam is passionate about the human side of business—connecting people, their stories, and their unique contributions to a thriving workplace culture. She holds a B.Sc. in Fiber Science and Apparel Design from Cornell University, with a background in Mechanical Engineering. Over the years, she has worked in product development at brands like Nike and worked in textile nanotechnology research before transitioning her work to people, strategy, and communication.
Stanley Szeto is Executive Chairman of Lever Style Inc., an asset-light apparel supply platform listed on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. It is a product partner of around 175 premium brands, including fashion labels such as Rag & Bone and Hugo Boss, designers like Alexander Wang and James Perse, streetwear brands such as Amie Leon Dore and Willy Chavarria, and outdoor brands like Arcteryx and J Lindeberg, and golf brands such as TaylorMade and Sun Day Red.
Lever Style’s capabilities cover the entire range of apparel product categories for men and women, across both woven and knit products. Its versatile, multi-country manufacturing platform is geared for quick response, flexible order sizes, and changing production and country of origin needs. The company is known for its technical competency and product development capability, honed over decades working with the world’s most discerning designers.
Lever Style is a certified B Corporation, a company that meets the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose.
Recognized for his vision and innovation, Stanley won the EY (Ernst & Young) Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2018. Earlier in his career, he received the Young Industrialist Award of Hong Kong from the Federation of Hong Kong Industries in 2009.
Stanley is Honorary Chairman of Hong Kong Textile Council, the umbrella trade association representing the entire textile and apparel industry in Hong Kong. He represented the Textile and Apparel sector as an Election Committee member to select the Chief Executive of Hong Kong in 2017 and 2022.
Keenly involved in the industry, Stanley serves as Board Member of the Jay H. Baker Retailing Center, an interdisciplinary research center and innovation think tank at the Wharton School of University of Pennsylvania. He is also Honorary Chairman of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Textiles, and Chairman of the Hong Kong Garment Manufacturers Association, and Director of the Federation of Hong Kong Garments Manufacturers.
Outside of the industry, Stanley serves on the Trade and Industry Department’s Small and Medium Enterprises Committee to advise the Hong Kong Government on issues affecting small businesses. He is also past Chairman of the Hong Kong chapter of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO), past Chairman of the Hong Kong chapter of Mensa, and past President of the University of Pennsylvania Alumni Club of Hong Kong.
Prior to joining Lever Style in 2000, Stanley worked at J.P. Morgan’s investment banking division, and later at PAMA, an Asian buyout firm with over US$1 billion under management. Stanley served on the boards of companies in PAMA’s portfolio, focusing on strategy and management issues.
Stanley graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, triple-majoring in Finance, Entrepreneurial Management, and Legal Studies.
I am Lt. Col. Abdun Nayeem (Retd.), a sustainability and operations professional with more than two decades of experience in leadership and infrastructure management. I retired from the Bangladesh Army in 2000 and subsequently transitioned into the Ready-Made Garment (RMG) sector, beginning my corporate career with Opex & Sinha Group.
Since 2007, I have been serving with Palmal Group as Director, Admin & Surveillance. In this role, I oversee the Electrical Engineering Department, Fire Safety systems, Wastewater Treatment operations, Renewable Energy initiatives, Decarbonization programs, and overall Sustainability implementation across multiple manufacturing facilities.
My work focuses on strengthening infrastructure resilience, ensuring regulatory compliance, improving energy efficiency, and driving environmental performance improvements. I am particularly engaged in advancing renewable energy adoption, optimizing resource efficiency, and implementing practical decarbonization strategies aligned with global sustainability expectations.
With a disciplined leadership approach rooted in my military background, I remain committed to building safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible manufacturing operations that contribute to long-term business resilience and climate action.
As the Chief Growth Officer at Worldly, Adele Stafford drives revenue and market expansion by aligning product innovation, strategy, and customer acquisition efforts. She oversees data-driven growth initiatives to scale the business while adapting to evolving consumer trends and technological advancements. Adele brings twenty years of experience working at the nexus of design, technology and strategy to Worldly. Prior to joining Worldly, Adele’s work focused on overseeing account growth and business strategy as the VP of Accounts for Blue State and Director of Client Services at Frog Design, She also spent time working in a marketing strategy role for organizations like the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Adele is a practicing studio artist and hand weaver whose work is deeply rooted in sustainable fiber agriculture. Over the past ten years, this work has culminated in a project called Voices of Industry, a survey of the cultural and agricultural context that informs our domestic textile supply chain.
Adele is a graduate of Rhode Island School of Design with a Bachelor of Fine Art and Simmons College with a Master of Business Administration.
Akbar Ali is a sustainability and business professional with deep experience in Pakistan’s textile and manufacturing sector. With a background spanning marketing, brand management, CSR, communications, and business development, he brings a strategic and systems-oriented approach to organizational growth and environmental stewardship. His work is particularly rooted in advancing climate resilience, environmental management systems (EMS), and responsible sourcing within global value chains.
Akbar has played an active role in driving sustainability transformation in textile manufacturing, contributing to initiatives aligned with international standards and stakeholder expectations. He has been involved in certifications, impact frameworks, and collaborative industry platforms, including organizing knowledge-driven forums such as the Cotton Conference – Ideathon to engage academia and industry on sustainable cotton and innovation.
With hands-on exposure to mill-level implementation and strategic planning, Akbar bridges on-ground realities with long-term sustainability vision. His work reflects a commitment to measurable impact, cross-sector collaboration, and positioning Pakistan’s textile sector within a more transparent and climate-resilient global market.
Akila Lakshan is a distinguished Chemical and Process Engineer and ESG practitioner specializing in industrial sustainability and climate action. He holds a B. Sc. Engineering degree from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka and an M.Sc. in Environmental Science from the Open University of Sri Lanka.With extensive hands-on experience in the Cascale ecosystem, Akila is an expert in leveraging the Higg Index, specifically driving performance through the Facility Environmental Module (FEM) and the Facility Data Manager (FDM). His technical mastery spans GHG quantification, decarbonization strategies, and renewable energy integration, helping facilities move beyond baseline compliance toward net-zero targets.Beyond data-driven insights, Akila brings deep engineering expertise in wastewater treatment, pollution control, and waste management. By synthesizing technical environmental engineering with strategic ESG frameworks, they provide a holistic approach to sustainable manufacturing. Committed to industry-wide transparency, Akila focuses on empowering organizations to achieve rigorous environmental compliance while fostering innovation that scales across global supply chains.
A multidisciplinary textile sustainability specialist with a background in textile sustainability research, corporate reporting, and environmental impact analysis. I have contributed to projects exploring materials, performance, and technical textiles.
I hold a PhD in Textile Technology from the University of Leeds, England, where I studied the role of textile materials and structures in fibre fragmentation and microplastic pollution. I bring an international perspective with experience across Latin America and Europe.
In my current role, I help shape how impact is measured and communicated across the Apparel Impact Institute, combining a strong foundation in data analysis with a commitment to meaningful climate action in the apparel sector.
As the Secretary General of the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI), New Delhi, She has been steering policy, advocacy and initiatives aimed at lending greater competitiveness to the Indian textile value chain.
Ms. Chandrima Chatterjee carry’s with her 28 years of experience on policy formulation, trade facilitation and sustainable value chain development. She has been associated with capacity building, skilling and promotion of responsible businesses strategies, recognizing the growing role of these as competitiveness tools.
Having worked on domestic and export sector and dealt with issues of the entire textile value chain through her earlier stints at Apparel export promotion Council and national bodies like ASSOCHAM, she has been lending her expertise for an overall growth of the textile value chain
Deepak Kashyap is the Senior Manager, Higg Facility Tools at Cascale. His key responsibilities include: project management of the Higg FEM and FSLM, collaboration with a wide variety of stakeholders, and facilitation and coordination of Cascale members’ involvement. This role will also continue the development of adoption resources that support the global scaling of the Higg Facility Module, QA testing in cooperation with technical teams, and coordination of communications and case studies. He is based in New Delhi, India.
Prior to joining Cascale team, Deepak was a senior member of the sustainability compliance team at IKEA, India, where he led the development and maintenance of Social & Environment requirements and more sustainable agenda at South Asia supply chain. He has been a key contributor to sustainability projects and Supplier Sustainability Index for textile supplier at South Asia level working together with business partners. Deepak was also responsible for tools related to risk mapping, planning, supplier review at South Asia level and a tool related to supply chain traceability and impact assessment at the global level in IKEA. He studied Environment Law and Policy at National Law University, Delhi.
In his free time Deepak enjoys watching movies and exploring sustainability initiatives around the world.
Demith Gooneratne is the Director of Higg Facility Tools at Cascale. His key responsibilities include project management of the Higg FEM, in collaboration with a wide variety of stakeholders, and facilitation and coordination of Cascale members’ involvement. This role also continues the development of adoption resources that support the global scaling of the Higg Facility Module and QA testing in cooperation with technical teams and coordination of communications and case studies. He is based in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Prior to joining the Cascale team, Demith was the Senior Manager – Environmental Sustainability at Hirdaramani International Exports (Pvt) Ltd; Sri Lanka, where he was largely responsible for the development of their Environmental Sustainability Department, and managing the environmental sustainability initiatives primarily in Sri Lanka for more than a decade and overlooking strategy level implementation in Bangladesh and Vietnam. He Holds a BSc Degree in Physical Science and a Master’s Degree in Environmental Science from the University of Colombo (Sri Lanka).
In his free time Demith enjoys swimming, watching Sci-Fi Movies and reading articles on new technologies and research findings related to Environment, Renewable Energy and Space Science.
Dhawall is Cascale Director of Training and Verification and is based in Bangalore, India. He is responsible for building, maintaining, and improving verification and training programs for the Higg Index suite of tools and ensure that the Higg Index is a trusted and credible measure for sustainability performance and benchmarking.
Prior to joining Cascale, Dhawall worked with C&A’s sustainable chemicals management team as a senior specialist. His role involved working with manufacturers of varying complexities and building their capacity to implement environment management systems. He has worked with vertically integrated textile manufacturer Pratibha Syntex as a sustainability manager and was responsible for executing sustainability projects like GHG accounting and reporting, life cycle analysis, internal and external sustainability communications.
Dhawall has been recognized in the 2017 GreenBiz 30 Under 30 cohort of global sustainability professionals. Through Sustainability Drinks Bangalore, he convenes the city’s sustainability community for networking and collaboration opportunities.
Eranga Dilhan is a senior sustainability (ESG) professional with nearly two decades of experience in social compliance, environmental sustainability, and responsible business across global apparel supply chains. His expertise lies in manufacturer-side engagement, working with leading international brands to translate global sustainability requirements into practical and scalable on-ground implementation.He currently serves as Head of Labour Operations and Sustainability at the Activewear Division of MAS, where he leads the division’s sustainable business agenda, integrating labour standards, environmental and social performance, and ESG governance into day-to-day operations and long-term business strategy.
Eranga holds a BSc (Hons) in Engineering and a Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Safety and Health Management from the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, an MBA from the University of Gloucestershire, UK, and an MSc in Strategic Marketing from Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Management at Management and Science University, Malaysia.
He is a trained Climate Reality Leader and Global Mentor with The Climate Reality Leadership Corps (USA) and holds certification in Climate Risk, Valuation, and Investment from CFA Institute. He also serves as an Executive Council Member of the Lanka Responsible Care Council, the national affiliate of the Global Responsible Care network.
Eranthi Premaratne is a seasoned ESG and sustainable business leader with over 20 years’ experience driving climate-aware partnerships and supply‑chain transformation. Her experience working for leading manufacturers, brands, multi-stakeholder organizations spans corporate strategy, tool development and on‑the‑ground implementation. Eranthi specializes in behaviors that go beyond compliance: aligning corporate goals with practical implementation, building credible measurement and verification frameworks, and enabling gender‑responsive, circular business models that advance climate resilience. Her advisory and capacity‑building roles including board positions, national task forces, and training credentials underscore a systems approach that forges durable climate partnerships across brands, manufacturers and communities. Recognized with regional sustainability and leadership awards, she combines technical climate risk training and interdisciplinary academic credentials to translate targets into sustained, equitable climate outcomes.
Eric is a leader of global renewable energy and clean-tech initiatives at Fortune 500 companies. He started Ren Energy after his time as Director of Renewable Energy at Nike resulted in the 2018 SCTI #1 ranking in corporate renewables (tied with Apple). Before Nike, Eric developed wind projects worldwide for Goldwind and worked on supply chain clean tech projects for Procter & Gamble focused on materials circularity.
Francesca Romano is the Customer Success Manager at Open Supply Hub (OS Hub), a nonprofit powering the transition to safe and sustainable production with the world’s most complete, open and accessible global supply chain map. OS Hub shows where global production locations are and who is connected to them, making that data easy for anyone to work with.
She helps manufacturers and brands worldwide maximize the value of the platform—guiding thousands of facilities through claiming their profiles and managing their data to increase visibility with buyers, while supporting brands and retailers—including Cascale members—in leveraging OS Hub’s shared data for collaboration and supply chain transparency.
Before joining OS Hub, Francesca spent nearly a decade working with global manufacturers and brands at Amazon, where she developed a deep understanding of both supplier and buyer needs. She also has experience consulting with brands on carbon accounting and decarbonization initiatives. Francesca is DEKRA certified in supply chain due diligence and holds a BA in Economics and an MA in Sustainability Management.
Jeff Vockrodt is FLA’s President and CEO. He has been working to advance workers’ rights and responsible business practices for two decades, as an organizer, attorney, policymaker, and executive. He has held leadership positions at organizations including the US Department of Labor and Climate Jobs NY and has advanced human rights in the workplace through his work with labor unions, the International Labor Organization, and the law firm of James & Hoffman.
Vockrodt has been recognized as an innovative nonprofit leader, particularly for his work at the intersection of labor standards and climate action. Throughout his career, he has sought out opportunities to work closely with a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including business leaders, investors, labor leaders, tech developers, academics, and public officials.
Vockrodt graduated from the University of Minnesota with BSB, JD, and MPP degrees and completed an MBA at Columbia Business School. He serves on multiple boards, including the CHPE Green Economy Fund’s advisory board and the NYC Arts in Education Roundtable’s board of directors. He has also served on the Shift Commission, as a guest lecturer at Johns Hopkins University, and as a judge for MIT’s Inclusive Innovation Challenge.
Jen Shaw Brown is a senior marketing leader specializing in sustainability and climate tech, currently serving as Sr. Director of Marketing at Worldly. Across her career, she has developed deep expertise translating complex sustainability data and insights into compelling narratives that drive business impact. Previously, she was at Watershed, where she drove category-defining positioning and launched solutions for corporate sustainability reporting. Before that, she led marketing for Net Zero solutions at Salesforce, building awareness and adoption for the company’s sustainability portfolio.
Jeremy Lardeau is the Senior VP of the Higg Index at Cascale. As part of the leadership team, he oversees the strategic direction and development of the Higg Index suite of tools. Jeremy is based in Barcelona, Spain.
Before joining Cascale team, Jeremy was Senior Director of Sustainability Analytics, at Nike, Inc. where he led sustainability reporting, performance management, data products, and reporting. Prior to Nike, Jeremy was a manager with PricewaterhouseCoopers’ sustainability practice, successively working out of the Paris, Mexico City, and San Francisco offices.
Jeremy holds a Masters in Industrial Engineering from the Ecole Centrale Paris. In his free time he is known to love travelling, running and alpine climbing, but actually enjoys most spending time with his three young boys.
Joe is a Senior Director at Sumerra, the Higg FEM Verification Program Manager (VPM). He has over 20 years of experience providing environmental & sustainability advisory services to organizations, government agencies, and industry stakeholder groups. He regularly provides advisory and technical support on the development, implementation, and management of global environmental sustainability and health and safety programs. He has helped manage the Higg FEM Verification Oversight and Quality Assurance Program since its inception and continues to work closely with Cascale on the oversight and management of the Higg FEM Verification Program.
Joleen Ong is the Senior Director of Brand and Retailer Membership at Cascale, where she leads all aspects of member engagement to drive industry-wide sustainability impact through the use of Higg Index tools.
With over 15 years of experience in sustainability and human rights within the apparel and footwear industries, Joleen has deep expertise in operationalizing Higg Index tools across brands. Before joining Cascale, she served as the Sustainability Director at Fanatics, where she led the integration of sustainability practices and responsible purchasing initiatives across the enterprise. Prior to Fanatics, she led the Sustainable Manufacturing program at Columbia Sportswear, where she developed supply chain sustainability and climate program and oversaw social responsibility efforts for global licensees. Joleen began her career in the nonprofit sector at Social Accountability International, where she established its communications program and co-founded the Global Living Wage Coalition.
Joleen holds a Master’s in Nonprofit and Sustainability Management from The New School and a Bachelor’s in International Studies, Spanish, and Anthropology from the College of New Jersey. A published writer and editor of two award-winning short documentaries, she serves on the Board of Days for Girls International and the Advisory Board of the University of Oregon’s Sports Product Management program, where she frequently lectures. She’s currently based in Portland, Oregon.
Laxmikant serves as Regional Lead at the Apparel Impact Institute (Aii), a global nonprofit advancing decarbonization and sustainability across the apparel and footwear value chain. In this leadership role, he directs regional strategy, partnership development, and the execution of Aii’s programs and long-term decarbonization initiatives. Working closely with global brands, manufacturers, and technical service providers, he drives the adoption of carbon reduction roadmaps and operational best practices at the facility level to deliver measurable and scalable environmental outcomes.
With a strong foundation in technical and compliance disciplines, Laxmikant brings extensive expertise in environmental management systems, root cause analysis, chemical governance, and sustainability assessments and trainings.
He holds a Doctorate in Textile Technology from the University of Mumbai, India. Combining technical depth with strategic execution capability, Laxmikant plays a critical role in advancing industry-wide transformation toward a low-carbon and environmentally responsible future.
Dr. Leonie Vaas is the General Manager of Group Sustainability at Hirdaramani Apparel, leading the sustainability efforts across Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Ethiopia and Vietnam. With over 17 years of experience in the textile and apparel industry, she has been recognised globally for her leadership in sustainability. In 2021, she became the first Sri Lankan to be named a ‘United Nations SDG Pioneer 2021 for Responsible Production’ and in 2022, she was recognised as ‘Asia’s Sustainability women’.
She holds a PhD in Sustainability Management from IIC University of Technology, Cambodia and an MBA from Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK and She is a Chemical Engineer from the Engineering Council UK.
Dr. Vaas also holds a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification, is a GRI Standards Certified Professional and serves as a Lead Auditor for ISO 14001.
She is an international speaker who has represented Sri Lanka at numerous global conferences and forums, sharing insights on sustainability, innovation, and industry transformation. In addition to her corporate leadership role, she contributes to the local academia as a visiting lecturer in sustainability at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Moratuwa.
I am KR Leslie representing Columbia Sportswear Company. I am a Social Responsibility and Sustainability professional with over 25 years of experience in the field. My work has taken me to different parts of the globe, including South Asia, Middle East, North Africa and Southeast Asia. This has given me an exposure of how garment and textile manufacturing takes place in various parts of the world. My experience has given me the opportunity to learn and understand the challenges, the best practices and how to work towards progress in achieving better working conditions for the workers in the industry and better use of resources.
Over the years I have realized that most of the stakeholders involved in the garment industry are also working towards the same objective. I think, therefore, the best way of working is working together. Collaboration is the key and together we can achieve more. From monitoring the factories for social and environmental impacts using proprietary tools, the brands have come together to collaborate in multi-stakeholder initiatives like Higg and SLCP.
An experienced raw material specialist with over 30 years industry experience at a Global level. I have worked for some of the World’s leading Brands in positions supporting innovation, quality, production, planning and sustainability.
I have been Asia based since 1999, having lived and worked in Sri Lanka, China, Hong Kong and now based in Dubai. The supply chain is my true home and I strive to support manufacturers and consultants to produce the best products, in the best way, on time for the International market. My current role pushes me to deliver programs and solutions to the supply chain to support carbon and water reduction at scale, promoting best practices and shared learning across the region and Globally.
Maria Arroyo is a fashion innovation and sustainability leader with a systems perspective rooted in her design training at the Royal College of Art. Her experience spans the full value chain — from product craftsmanship and quality development to deep, hands-on understanding of supply-chain processes, specially Tier 2 technologies. She has worked across research, technical validation, and multi-stakeholder collaboration, contributing to next-generation solutions in sustainable chemistry, pseudo-dry processing, biogenic colouration, and decarbonisation.
Maria has led cross-functional teams focused on moving early-stage innovation toward industry readiness, guiding innovators through pilot development and shaping pathways to scale. Her work is defined by an ability to bridge design and science, connect diverse actors, and activate impactful partnerships.
She is currently the Sector Partnership Lead at ZDHC, where she drives strategic collaborations with leading sustainability organisations across the fashion ecosystem. In this role, she focuses on building complementary systems and aligned strategies that minimise duplication, reduce resource and compliance burden, and maximise the protection of workers and natural capital. Maria brings a clear, intentional approach to systems change, helping steer the industry toward a more responsible and intelligent future.
Marina Prados is the Director of the Policy Hub – Circularity for Apparel & Footwear, where she leads policy coordination and external engagement across the textile value chain. She drives technical discussions with global stakeholders—from manufacturers to recyclers—on implementing legislative instruments that promote circularity and sustainability in the sector. Marina also spearheads dialogue with European institutions and industry representatives on key topics such as eco-design requirements for textiles, due diligence obligations, business-to-business and business-to-consumer communication, product composition, and textile waste management, ensuring policies are both ambitious and grounded in the sector’s practical realities.
Megan Doyle is a sustainable fashion journalist and consultant based in London. With a solutions-focused approach to journalism, Megan has written for publications including the Business of Fashion, Vogue Business and Good On You about supply chain traceability, legislation, child and forced labour, circularity, innovation, and garment worker rights. She has written reports and case studies for organisations like Transformers Foundation, TrusTrace, and Textile Exchange. Megan has hosted conferences for the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles and Hugo Boss, and has moderated discussions at the Global Fashion Summit, Textile Exchange conference, and Future Fabrics Expo.
Nikhil Hirdaramani is a Director of Hirdaramani Group: The Hirdaramani Group is a global apparel manufacturer providing integrated apparel design, production and distribution solutions to premium global brands.
Nikhil has over 25 years experience in the industry and is extremely passionate and committed to influencing sustainable development through wider industry collaboration and led the development of the group’s 2025 sustainability roadmap ‘Future First’
Nikhil is a strong advocate of using his experience and voice to influence wider industry engagement and has served in leadership roles in a number of multistakeholder initiatives: He has been the Vice Chair of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (Cascale) and has served as a Director of both Higg Co and SEDEX. He has also been involved in the Social and Labor Convergence Program since its inception and presently is on its management board and chairs its governance committee.
Nikhil is an active member leader of Entrepreneurs Organization (EO), and presently oversees global partnerships. Some of the organizations that have United Nations, IFC and World Economic Forum as well as the implementation of the EO sustainability strategy.
Nikhil has a BA in International Relations from Tufts University, USA and an MBA from Imperial College, UK.
I am Nilanthi Wijegunawardena, having 30 years of experience in the textile industry. Starting my career in 1996 at Ocean Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, and joined Stretchline Holdings Ltd in 2000 and have since played a key leadership role in sustainability, compliance, and quality management across 6 manufacturing facilities around the globe.
As a member of the Executive Committee, I provide strategic direction across Stretchline Holdings global operations in environmental sustainability, quality management systems, social and ethical compliance, and chemical management. I am dedicated to aligning business objectives with responsible environmental stewardship by introducing best practices, innovative tools, and performance monitoring systems to achieve measurable results.
Passionate about innovation and collaboration, thrive on identifying creative strategies to balance business growth with the responsibility of supporting and improving both local and global environments. Strongly involved in declaring brand compliance & sustainability agreements by working closely with leading brand compliance teams. Lead Higg FEM & FSLM verified assessments across 6 manufacturing plants.
Orine Dsouza is the Senior Manager of Higg tools for Cascale, the apparel, footwear, and textile industry’s leading alliance for sustainable production. She will be responsible for managing and improving the Higg Facility Environmental Module (Higg FEM), Higg Facility Social & Labor Module (Higg FSLM) and their suite of resources. The goal of this position is to continue integrating the input of Coalition members, facilities, and stakeholders into the tools and resources through effective engagement and facilitation, in order to scale the adoption of these tools globally. She is based in Bangalore/India.
Before joining Cascale team, Orine was the Supply Chain Sustainability Manager for India and Sri Lanka at H&M. This includes setting the strategy, planning, controlling and analysis of impact for the supply chain. She has been a key contributor, providing guidance on strategy, policies, and planning for long-term sustainability. Orine was responsible for leading the team in implementing the Annual Action Plans (Validation, Program and Projects) in cooperation with the business team and suppliers. She also handled any escalation that came from the supplier level, and provided support in managing and mitigating issues.
Orine has a Master’s degree in Social Work. In her free time, Orine loves to see new places and bake/ cook new cuisine.
As Chief Technical and Education Officer, Prasad provides technical expertise and thought leadership in sustainable chemical management, guiding the ongoing enhancement of the ZDHC Sustainable Chemical Management framework through the work of the Competence Centres. He leads the development of adoption and implementation requirements, performance indicators, and oversees education and capacity-building initiatives as well as the Customer Support Team, ensuring user feedback drives continuous improvement. Prior to joining ZDHC, Prasad worked in textile processing, dyes and auxiliaries manufacturing and chemical management systems implementation, gaining over 30 years of industry experience.
a) 20 years of progressive international experience with ‘Product Sustainability assessment’, ‘Sustainable Production’, and Technical Due-Diligence for ‘Impact/Green Finance’ across 9 countries while working in India, Japan, Germany, Hong Kong, and UAE.
b) Executed multiyear Sustainability improvement projects with international development agencies and donors including GIZ (German government’s International Development Agency) WWF, UNEP with multiple stakeholders (Factories, Universities, NGO, Brands, Government)
c) Qualified for Sustainability/ESG planning and disclosure framework (GRI, IFRS SASB, EU ESRS, UNDP SDG Impact).
d) Mentor at HKSTP – Incubation and Acceleration Programmes, and UNDP Youth 4 Climate; Trainer for Climate Fresk & Climate Adaptation
Husband, Father to 2 girls, Child of civil servants, Student.
Reshma leads SLCP’s work in India and Sri Lanka, driving stakeholder engagement, country-specific activities, training support, and Helpdesk management. In her global role as Protocol & Guidance Lead within the CAF team, she contributes to the review, refinement, and development of SLCP’s core technical documents. Since joining SLCP in 2022, Reshma has played a key role in strengthening facility and verifier capacity, supporting industry collaborations, and advancing the adoption of SLCP across the region.
Saatchi Doshi is a Senior Associate within the Decarbonisation vertical at Fashion for Good. She is a part of the Future Forward Factories project at Fashion for Good, which focuses on creating blueprints and implementation mechanisms for creating innovative, decarbonised, commercially ready factories. Alongside, she also focuses on developing various forms of engagement with manufacturers across the globe to support their transition through integrating climate friendly technologies. In the past, she has also been responsible for curating and leading Fashion for Good’s Asia Innovation Programme that supported technology innovations within the Asian textile supply chain.
Academically speaking, Saatchi is a graduate from the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Mumbai where she received her degree in Fashion Technology, with a minor specialisation in Lateral Thinking and Innovation.
Sanith is the Director / CEO of The Climate & Conservation Consortium (CCC). The pioneer in developing carbon offset programs in Sri Lanka the company has a portfolio of services including, Carbon & Water Footprinting, Carbon Asset Management, Bio Diversity Assessment and Life Cycle Analysis. His clients include the world’s first CarbonNeutral® Tea company, Asia’s First CarbonNetural® Apparel Manufacturer, Asia’s First WaterNeutral® Apparel Manufacturer,Asia’s First CarbonNetural® DMC Fleet, and South Asia’s First CarbonNeutral® City Hotel He is also the Director & CEO of The Conservation Carbon Company – a purpose driven company set up to develop forestry and nature-based solutions for carbon sequestration, and was the recipient of the Global CSR Leadership Award in February 2017 . He has 15 years of experience in the field of corporate sustainably, with Executive Education at Stanford University, Sustainability Leadership training at Harvard University and an MBA from the PIM the University of Sri Jayewardenapura.
Under his stewardship the company has established its international presence , with clients in Sri Lanka, India, Maldives, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Oman, The United Kingdom ,Sweden and The United Arab Emirates to name a few of the countries they work in.
Savithri Rodrigo FCIS (UK) FICCSL (SL)
An award-winning journalist, she brings over 38 years of media experience, recognized with Presidential, Zonta, and Sri Lanka Woman Leader awards. A Fellow of ICSA (UK) and ICCSL (SL), she juggles multiple roles. She is host, director, and co-producer of Kaleidoscope with Savithri Rodrigo, while also working as a writer, biographer, MC, moderator, interviewer, event manager and PR consultant. Her extensive writing experience extends to annual, sustainability and corporate reports based on IR/GRI/UNSDG frameworks and standards. Her roles have also included being the PR Consultant for the Joint Apparel Association Forum and Australian based Short World Stories for UNIDO.
She heads Stratyx Promotions & Media Concepts, serves as a Director of Intercoir Limited and is a Goodwill Ambassador for World Vision Lanka.
She is a quadruple degree holder with 17 qualifications and an accomplished Attorney-at-Law, Chartered HR Professional, Certified Corporate Trainer, Certified Life Coach, and an experienced examiner and certified teacher in English, Speech, and Drama. Her academic journey began at the age of 15, laying the foundation for a multidisciplinary career that bridges law, human resources, psychology, leadership, and communication.She holds an MBA from the University of Northampton, a Master’s in Labour Relations and Human Resource Management from the University of Colombo, an MSc in Business Psychology from the University of Coventry, and an LLB from the University of London. Her academic portfolio is further strengthened by diplomas in Transitional Justice, Diplomacy and World Affairs, Strategic Management, and English, Speech, and Drama.Professionally, she has extensive experience in corporate law and litigation, human resource management, corporate training, and life coaching. She was recognized as the youngest national finalist (Top 8) at the Vanithabhimana Awards 2022 in the legal sector. Her achievements include the Lorna Devaraja Memorial Award, presented by President H.E. Hon. Ranil Wickramasinghe, and being named among the Top 100 contributors to Dialog Axiata PLC in 2021.In addition, she serves as a freelance and part-time lecturer teaching LLB, Business Law, HR Management, Strategic Management, Leadership, International Relations, and Business Ethics, while also working as a freelance emcee and television host.
I am a sustainability professional with over 13 years of hands-on experience supporting global manufacturing supply chains in environmental and social sustainability. I have been a Cascale Approved General Verifier since 2016, and a Chemical Specialist and Trainer since 2017, with extensive practical experience working with the Higg Facility Environmental Module (Higg FEM). My experience includes facility assessments, verifications, and supplier capacity-building activities across multiple regions.
I currently serve as the Head of Sustainability at SgT&API, an international auditing, inspection, and training organization based in Hong Kong. In this leadership role, I am responsible for strategic oversight, technical governance, and quality assurance of sustainability services delivered across global supply chains. I lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of sustainability programs aligned with different standards including Cascale tools and evolving global regulatory requirements. My professional expertise spans Life Cycle Assessment, Energy and water efficiency, Green House Gas accounting and Environmental Management System.
In addition to verification activities, I am actively engaged in training, mentoring, and knowledge transfer. I design and deliver structured sustainability training programs for manufacturers, auditors, and brands, with a strong emphasis on practical implementation. My approach combines technical rigor with real world operational experience, enabling customers to improve data quality, strengthen environmental performance, and achieve measurable progress within the frameworks.
Sid Amalean is the Director of Innovation and Business Strategy of the Activewear value stream at MAS Holdings, where he provides strategic leadership across the TOPs Product category. He continues to guide the organisation’s 2030 strategic agenda, after leading the formulation of the MAS Strategy 2030, which has now transitioned from planning to Group wide execution.
Sid also serves on the MAS Capital Apparel Board, a role he has held since January 2026, contributing to business performance oversight, investment decisions, and long-term strategic direction. In addition, he is a member of the Innovation Board of MAS Holdings, where he supports innovation governance and capability development across the Group.
Sid joined MAS in 2016 after beginning his career at Virtusa. He holds a bachelors degree in business management from Boston University.Over the course of his career at MAS, Sid has worked across production, innovation, and wearable technology. He previously led the Sustainable Business function, where he helped consolidate the enterprise-wide sustainability roadmap into the MAS Plan for Change.
He is also a Board Member of the MAS Foundation for Change, an independent nonprofit organisation committed to addressing social and environmental challenges related to biodiversity loss, ocean pollution, and limited access to clean water.
A passionate advocate for education and circularity, Sid believes in empowering future generations through knowledge and sustainable practices that create meaningful, long-term impact. Beyond his professional work, he is an enthusiastic follower of motor racing and football, drawing inspiration from the discipline, teamwork, and innovation that shape both sports. Through his work and interests, Sid blends purpose with passion, championing progress in every sphere he engages with.
Sophia Ellis is the Senior Manager of Industry Decarbonization for impact programs at Cascale. In her role she leads research and project management geared towards both enabling greater decarbonization in industry, and maximizing opportunities to drive accountability to progress against Cascale’s impact goals.
Sovichea Saron is the Head of Secretariat of the Sustainable Textiles of the Asian Region (STAR) Network, Asia’s first inter-regional alliance of garment manufacturers’ associations spanning six countries: China, Cambodia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Myanmar. Based at TAFTAC Cambodia, he oversees STAR’s daily operations and regional coordination, while driving strategic initiatives to promote sustainability and responsible business practices across the garment and textile sector.
He manages a multinational team representing nine trade associations and leads STAR’s engagement in regional policy advocacy, multilateral dialogue, and cross-border collaboration. Sovichea plays a key role in addressing shared industry challenges – such as decarbonization, fair purchasing, audit fatigue, and human rights due diligence- on behalf of a sector representing nearly 50% of global garment exports.
With a strong background in regional cooperation and stakeholder engagement, Sovichea also oversees STAR’s partnerships, funding, and knowledge products, positioning the network as a leading voice for sustainable industrial transformation in Asia.
Tom leads the policy and stakeholder engagement strategy at SLCP, ensuring the organization is recognized and aligned with relevant policy and legal developments. He also works closely with the data insights and communications teams in developing data-driven publications. Originally from Australia, Tom brings experience from international NGOs and legal clinics, where he focused on business & human rights research and labour rights in global value chains.
Umesha is a sustainability and climate professional with over six years of experience in environmental auditing, verification, and corporate sustainability, with deep specialization in the Higg Facility Environmental Module (Higg FEM) and textile supply chain sustainability. She currently serves as a Lead Auditor, Certifier, and Verifier, with extensive hands-on experience conducting Higg FEM verifications across Asia, supporting apparel and supply-chain facilities to improve environmental performance, compliance, and data credibility.
She is also a CASCALE-approved Higg FEM Trainer, actively engaged in industry training and capacity building, ensuring alignment with CASCALE requirements and international best practices. Her work supports facilities, brands, and stakeholders in strengthening environmental management systems and advancing measurable sustainability outcomes.
Beyond Higg FEM, Umesha has strong technical expertise in ISO 14064 greenhouse gas verification, ESG reporting frameworks, FSC Chain of Custody, and leading textile sustainability standards, including GOTS, GRS, OCS, and RCS. She holds an academic background in Climate Change, Environmental Management, and Forestry, with research experience in climate performance assessment and carbon stock evaluation.
She is passionate about advancing credible, transparent, and data-driven sustainability practices across the global apparel and textile sector.
I am a sustainability professional with over six years of industry experience, specializing in chemical management, waste, and wastewater systems within global apparel supply chains. I currently serve as Manager, Sustainability at Komar, where I lead the chemical, waste, and wastewater pillars, working closely with Komar’s global supply chain while also supporting broader initiatives on energy and water management.
I hold a BSc (Hons) in Chemistry from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, and I am currently pursuing my MSc in Environmental Management at the University of Colombo. My academic background, combined with hands-on industry experience, allows me to effectively translate regulatory and technical requirements into practical implementation across diverse manufacturing partners.
At Komar, I support regulatory reporting and the deployment of sustainability tools such as Higg FEM and PIC, and I actively contribute to our engagement with Cascale and Worldly. I also lead Komar’s mill approval process and the development of our supply chain sustainability learning management system. I have represented Komar as a speaker at supply chain sustainability conferences in Vietnam and Cambodia, as well as at multiple virtual events.
Vic Lau has over 15 years of experience in the corporate responsibility sector, where he has worked with leading consumer goods brands and retailers. He is an expert in managing social labor programs across the global supply chain. At sustainability insights platform Higg, Vic helps businesses understand how they can use data-driven solutions to improve their social and environmental impacts and scale their efforts. Prior to Higg, Vic worked for leading apparel companies including PVH Corporation and Ann Taylor.
Mr. Vidhura Ralapanawe has over 16 years of experience in apparel sustainability and has a background in climate research, energy transition, and renewable energy. Currently, he is dedicated to shaping Epic Group’s sustainability strategy and leading implementation across manufacturing, products, and the supply chain. Previously, he worked for 12 years at MAS Intimates. He is a contributor to resource efficiency, LCAs, green buildings, and sustainable product innovation.
