Injection Molding & Design Expo 2025

Janell is the Director of Owned Brand Circular Design & Capabilities at Target, where she drives the integration of circular design principles across the company’s product portfolio and supply chain. Since stepping into this pioneering role in 2021, she has led efforts to embed sustainability into product development, integrate post-consumer recycled fibers into apparel products, and educate teams on circular economy practices. With over a decade of experience in retail product design, and a background in mechanical engineering, Janell brings deep technical expertise and a strategic perspective to advancing more responsible, future-focused business practices at scale.

Katherine serves as the General Manager of Sustainable Innovation at New Balance Athletics, Inc. In this role, she collaborates with talented teams to advance the company’s footwear innovation portfolio, focusing on developing new materials and processes to reduce New Balance’s environmental impact and advance circularity. Katherine is passionate about creating positive change and, via The Footwear Collective, is excited to work with others to shape a more sustainable future for the footwear industry. Prior to focusing on sustainability, Katherine led product innovation and several global business units at New Balance.

Edd Denes is the Chief Executive Officer of Accelerating Circularity, leading the organization’s work to build the systems and partnerships needed to advance textile-to-textile recycling. Having served as Board Treasurer since 2021, Edd brings deep familiarity with the organization’s mission and a strong understanding of the textile circularity landscape. With more than two decades of experience in financial services and technology transformation, Edd has led complex change programs, multi-million dollar portfolios, and international teams at organizations including JP Morgan and major UK and European banks. His work has focused on building the operational and financial structures that enable organizations to scale impact and navigate complex global environments. Based in Europe, Edd brings an international perspective and a collaborative leadership style to Accelerating Circularity, supporting the organization’s continued growth and the advancement of circular textile systems. Expertise: Edd Denes brings extensive experience in organizational leadership, financial strategy, and operational transformation. His strengths include guiding complex international teams, building resilient organizational infrastructure, and supporting mission-driven initiatives that require coordinated action across global industries.

Vincenzo is a Policy Officer in the unit ‘Circular Economy and secondary raw materials' of the Directorate-General for Environment of the European Commission. He started working in the European Institutions in 2010 in the Directorate General for Research and Innovation. In 2016 he moved to the Executive Agencies, first EASME and then CINEA, until 2023 when he joined the Directorate-General for Environment. After the PhD in Raw Materials and Environmental protection at University of Rome La Sapienza, he gained more than 20 years of professional experience in the private and public sector. He has been covering different positions always related to environment and circular economy. He is author of several scientific publications.

Renee Hackenmiller-Paradis is a senior leader in sustainable chemistry, environmental health, and regulatory strategy with experience shaping enterprise programs enabling market access and advancing safer materials across global product portfolios. She currently leads Sustainable Product, Packaging, & Chemicals Management at lululemon, integrating safer chemistry, traceability, and circularity into product creation. Previously, Renee held leadership roles at Nike, driving global chemical governance, and led environmental health programs for the State of Oregon. She holds a PhD in Genetics, an MPH in Health Management & Policy, and a BS in Cell and Molecular Biology.

Julie-Marlène is a graduate of the University of Paris IX Dauphine France - DESS in Technology and Innovation Management. For more than 15 years, she has accompanied groups from various sectors in the deployment of their CSR strategy and communication: energy and environment, banking and insurance, tourism, luxury, etc. Since joining the H&M group in 2018, she has been developing her CSR expertise in the fashion sector, gaining insight into global issues of the industry from production to retail. Julie-Marlène became Head of Sustainability France in 2020 at H&M and is now Head of Sustainability Region Europe South.

Nick is Head of Circularity and Materials at Primark, where he oversees the integration of circular design principles and scaling the use of recycled and more sustainably sourced materials into Primark’s product development and strategy. He’s led the development of Primark’s Circular Product Standard, now in its second iteration, alongside training programmes to embed key circular design into how clothes are created at Primark. Nick is central to shaping Primark’s recycled fibre innovation pipeline and material strategy. With a background spanning more than 20 years in retail and buying, Nick bridges commercial understanding with sustainability ambition. His role is instrumental in aligning Primark’s clothing ranges and its product teams with the broader Primark Cares sustainability strategy.

Carmen Gama is a New York–based designer and circularity strategist recognized for advancing innovative business models that transform how fashion systems operate and divert textile waste from landfills. As Director of Circular Design at EILEEN FISHER, she leads the integration of circular principles into design and operations, developing scalable systems that extend product life cycle, recover value and reduce environmental impact. A Parsons School of Design graduate and recipient of the EILEEN FISHER x CFDA Social Innovator Fellowship, Carmen also advises corporations, mentors emerging sustainability leaders, contributes to global dialogues on the future of fashion and has been featured in numerous podcasts and publications, including Vogue, Business of Fashion, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and Harper’s Bazaar.

Rebecca is General Manager at DHL Supply Chain, leading the National Uniform Managed Service (NUMS), which delivers end-to-end design, sourcing and lifecycle management of garments at scale. With extensive experience in supply chain transformation, Rebecca is passionate about driving circularity in textiles through design for recyclability, responsible sourcing, and innovative reuse solutions. She works closely with partners across industry and policing to reduce environmental impact while maintaining performance and compliance. Rebecca is committed to advancing practical, scalable approaches to textile sustainability within complex operational environments.

Haley brings her deep experience spanning high-growth technology, fashion and resale, design, venture ecosystems, and climate-aligned innovation networks to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. She works with the Foundation’s Network, aligning corporations, investors, and policymakers to help unlock capital and advance circular business models that deliver value and systemic change.

Maximilian is a Senior Specialist in Apparel Material Innovation at On in Zurich. He holds a master’s degree from the University of Borås, where his research focused on circularity and bio-based materials. At On, his work bridges the gap between material science and high-performance products, aiming to make sustainable textiles more functional for athletes.

Jessica holds a Master’s in Public Policy from George Mason University and a Bachelor’s with honors from the University of Maryland. Jessica currently serves as Director of Government Affairs for the Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles (SMART) Association. In this role she shapes policy agendas for textile circularity, recycling infrastructure, and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). Representing the industry before Congress, federal agencies, and international bodies, she consistently secures successful policy outcomes. She is a frequent speaker and media resource and has authored over 150 policy articles. With 25 years of government relations experience, she has a well-rounded understanding of the policy and environmental challenges facing the sector, having worked within both the recycled textile and nonwoven fabrics segments. Alongside her work with SMART, Jessica also serves as President of The Franken Group, a government affairs consulting firm.

Lars is a Circular Economy, Consumption and Production Expert at the European Environment Agency (EEA). He has authored numerous EEA publications and scientific articles on textiles, the circular economy, wellbeing, and sustainability. Lars brings his education in economics from the University of Copenhagen and over 30 years of experience in sustainability from the EEA, OECD and the UN to his work. He is a Full Member of the Club of Rome.

Rachel Kibbe is the founder and CEO of American Circular Textiles (AMCIRC), a leading U.S. coalition of brands, recyclers, resale platforms, nonprofits, and service providers working to build a circular, resilient textile economy. With a background in entrepreneurship and policy advocacy, Rachel has spent over a decade operating and advising reuse and recycling businesses, giving her firsthand insight into the structural and economic challenges facing textile circularity. AMCIRC includes leading organizations such as Goodwill Industries International, eBay, and thredUP, alongside brands, sorters and recyclers across the textile value chain. Under her leadership, AMCIRC has become a trusted convener and policy partner on issues ranging from extended producer responsibility and recycling infrastructure to domestic manufacturing and trade. Rachel is frequently sought out by industry leaders and policymakers for her practical, systems-level approach to circular economy solutions. Her work and perspective have been featured in Politico, Vogue Business, The New York Times, Forbes, The Guardian, and The Business of Fashion. She was named a 2025 Top Women in Power honoree by WWD and Penske Media.

Thomas studied mechanical engineering with a specialization in production and systems engineering at the Technical University of Braunschweig. He then completed his doctorate at the Institute of Machine Tools and Manufacturing Technology (IWF), where he headed the "Production of Hybrid Components" department and worked intensively on material hybrid lightweight construction. In 2017, he moved to Volkswagen AG in what was then Group Research, now Group Innovation. Since 2022, he has been working there as a senior expert for research in the Department of Biomaterial and Polymers. In this role, he is responsible for various projects related to sustainable materials, in particular on the separation, sorting and recycling of plastics and textile recycling.

Heather leads a cross-organizational team tasked with the strategic plan to help the City of Charlotte become a zero-carbon city by 2050. Recent highlights include negotiating a green tariff for an 80-MW solar energy project, which is anticipated to offset 100% of carbon emissions from electricity used by city-owned buildings. She has a Bachelor of Science from UNC-Chapel Hill and a Master of Science in Environmental Systems Analysis from UNC-Charlotte. Heather has received the following certifications: Professional Energy Manager, BPI Building Analyst & Envelope Professional and LEED AP.