Rod Henderson is the President of Concept2, one of the business units of TAL Apparel. Concept2 specialises in Casual and Lifestyle apparel, working with many well-known brands and retailers across the USA and Europe. Rod is part of the TAL leadership team which has successfully transformed TAL’s structure establishing the business unit focus. Previously, Rod has held senior roles in manufacturing, sourcing, and retail, working across various apparel sectors with both Hong Kong and UK companies. Rod has been living in Hong Kong for the past 13 years since moving from the UK.

Hoiki Liu is a Hong Kong-born entrepreneur with a passion for sustainable fashion and ethical business practices. Her journey in the business world began after receiving her education from both local and international schools in Hong Kong and pursuing further studies in Canada during her high school and university years.

After her early career led her into the family garment manufacturing business, Nice Tones Ltd., founded by her father, Davy Liu, in 1992, she expanded the family’s ventures by establishing Skyrex International Ltd. in 2009. This new venture focused on partnering with factories in various garment categories, showcasing her entrepreneurial acumen and commitment to business growth.

Hoiki’s personal life took a significant turn as she got married and became a mother to two boys. This transformative experience fueled her dedication to living consciously and sustainably. She adopted eco-friendly practices in both her personal life and business endeavors, promoting a lifestyle focused on reducing single-use plastics and embracing sustainability in all aspects.

Driven by her passion for sustainability, Hoiki launched Anthora Collection in 2024, a women’s wear capsule line that embodies timeless fashion and eco-conscious principles. Anthora Collection sources deadstock materials, prioritizes plastic-free packaging, and incorporates natural or recycled accessories, setting a new standard for sustainable fashion in the industry.

Beyond her business endeavors, Hoiki values work-life balance and community engagement. She shares her expertise in sustainability and entrepreneurship through her sustainable journal, open table discussions, and educational presentations. She also engages in charitable initiatives with her family, including beach clean-ups and food distribution efforts, instilling values of environmental and social responsibility in her children and the community.

Angelica has over a decade of experience in foreign direct investment. Her current focus is on facilitating investment from companies in retail or sourcing of toys, cosmetics, jewelry, home furnishings, fashion, electronic appliances and most recently extending to retail technology. Since 2013, the Consumer Products team has assisted over 400 companies to set up or expand in Hong Kong.

Prior to joining InvestHK, Angelica’s career experience spanned aviation, strategic design consultancy and market research for fast moving consumer goods. She holds a Master’s degree from the University of Hong Kong, and a Bachelor of Business Administration (Marketing) from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

Italo Marseglia is a passionate fashion designer with a multifaceted career (design, teaching, consulting), Italo lives his creative professionalism with strong enthusiasm. With an eye toward tailoring, handmade and sustainable fashion, Italo is equipped with solid technical and transversal skills ranging from handcrafting to management: his training in fashion design has never been a constraint or limitation to the expression of creativity.

Italo Marseglia was born in 1990 in south of Italy. Always fascinated by great couturiers, he started to define his own particular vision of fashion especially when he attends scientific high school. Math, logic and rigore becomes bases of his own creativity.

Then he moves to Rome to attend IED and he graduated in Fashion Design in 2012. He stared an internship in haute couture at Fausto Sarli atelier – where he masters the art of tailoring dealing with manual skills and commitment to perfection. Soon Italo felt the urge to begin his personal path, renewing his perspectives and experiences by collaborating as a freelance with Italian brands. The designer had the chance to deal with many kind of fashion products. Moreover, Italo started many collaborations with many museums, theaters and public institutions both in Italy and abroad (MSC Cruises, Pfizer, PARCO ARCHEOLOGICO DEL COLOSSEO and many others).

Nowaday Italo is Coordinator of IED Rome’s Fashion design Master course.

In 2016, after so many experiences he founds his own brand. Italo returns to Rome where he establishes his studio. Marseglia stars dealing with his first collection which perfectly shows his passion for structured, perfectly tailored garments are viewable in lines and shapes of his creations.

Natacha has a multi-cultural background of Cambodian-Chinese borne in Hong Kong; raised in London, currently based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. She is a graduate of London College of Fashion.

Since debuting her Ready-to-Wear Collection in 2010, Natacha has been dedicated to making clothes that were as beautifully crafted from inside out. With the focus on couture quality craftsmanship, the materials used for her collection are 100% handcrafted in London / Hong Kong using the highest quality materials and construction, and manufactured by master tailors by hand in Cambodia .
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Her collection is sold around the world. Her dresses are presently at many major world fashion week, exhibitions and fashion show, including New York 2019; London 2019 & 2017; Paris 2019, 2018 & 2017; Milan 2020, among others.

In 2017, she was appointed as “Ambassador of Cambodia”, joining London and Paris Fashion show at the invitation of His Excellency Pan Sorasak, the Minister of Commerce of Cambodia to represent the Kingdom of Cambodia.

Brian Luo is the Product Director of Guangdong Quaternion Technology Ltd., a subsidiary of the Tessellation Group, specializing in providing Smart Manufacturing automation and digital solutions for the textile manufacturing industry.

Brian holds a Master’s degree in Materials Engineering and Nanotechnology from City University of Hong Kong, and a Master’s degree in Applied Data Science from The University of Michigan, USA.

Igor Gulyaev is a leading Russian designer, fashion designer, TV presenter and innovator of fur fashion, founder of the IGORGULYAEV Brand (Est. 2009) and the youth fashion line GULЯЙ! He created and creates images for the red carpet, iconic bright events, theatrical performances and cinema, such bright stars of the world industry as the unsurpassed Whitney Houston, the amazing Lara Fabian, the fantastic Anna Netrebko, the star of Italian cinema Ornella Muti, the Great Montserrat Caballe, Nastassja Kinski, Goldie Home and many others shone in the designer’s creations, the brightest stars of Russian show business shine in his creations. Laureate of numerous fashion awards and prizes in the fashion industry. Igor Gulyaev has repeatedly taken part in international fur fashion weeks, his works had stunning success in Milan, Dubai and Hong Kong, and more than 10 years he has been the headliner of Mercedes Benz fashion week Russia. The designer’s flagman boutique is located in the center of Moscow, and the Fashion House is located on Vasilievsky Island in St. Petersburg. It`s a space in which seasonal collections and the Brand’s couture line are created, the highest quality, uniqueness and versatility of design ideas attract clients of the fashion house to touch the creativity of the designer and inspirer of the Brand!

Alfie is COO and operation partner of Style3D, an expert in fashion technology especially for AI, 3D, metaverse & RFID. Previously, he has served in senior level management in various MNC such as Avery Dennison & Siemens, he has expertise to help MNC to land biz in China, and help China startup to go international. Alfie owns master degree in CUHK, and E.E. in Wuhan University.

Lam Ka Yan, was born and raised in the classic 90s Hong Kong. Yan obtained her first Fashion Design degree from Nottingham Trent University respectively. Before degree course, she studied Fashion design and Product development in Hong Kong Design Institute. Her graduate collection “Underground- the world beneath your feet” is honored with the Creativity Award from Hong Kong Fashion Designers Association and one of the finalists of Young Talent Award Hong Kong in 2011. She was one of the finalists of Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers’ Contest (YDC)  2019, after YDC, she launched her brand WHY in 2020.

Stephen has years of experience in brand management and business development. As the head of several brands, Stephen has collaborated with various local artists. These collaborations not only enriched his business perspective but also deepened his understanding of local culture.

As the Business Development Director at #CCCCCc Se/ect, Stephen combines his expertise with a creative passion to drive business growth and optimize customer experience. He excels in developing and executing strategies aimed at integrating Hong Kong’s unique culture into daily life, enhancing the shopping experience for customers, and promoting the sustainable growth of local brands.

Jesse holds a MA in Menswear from the University of Westminster (London, UK) and a degree in Fashion from Kingston University (UK). In 2022, Jesse won the International Talent Support Contest (ITS) Sportswear Award powered by Lotto Sport. Jesse was awarded the Redress Design Award 2020 All Star accolade for his collaboration with The R Collective and Levi’s® for the ‘Denim Reimagined’ collection. He won the Redress Design Award 2018 Second Prize Mentorship with Orsola de Castro as well as the Hong Kong Best Prize the same year.

Kenneth Au is the Chief Technology Officer of StyleSpace AI, an AI solutions company and an incubatee of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park (HKSTP), focused on transforming the fashion retail industry. With over 8 years of experience in artificial intelligence research, Kenneth has been at the forefront of applying AI to fashion. He conducted extensive research in AI during his MPhil studies at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, laying the groundwork for his innovative work in AI-driven fashion solutions.

At StyleSpace AI, Kenneth leads the development of technologies, including 3D body measurement systems for precise sizing, diffusion-based virtual try-on solutions that enable customers to visualize garments with just a photo, and AI-powered fashion image stylists driven by large language models. His vision bridges the gap between cutting-edge AI and its practical applications in retail, helping brands enhance customer experiences and optimize operations.

Kenneth’s unique combination of technical expertise and market insight enables StyleSpace AI to deliver solutions that empower fashion brands to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving industry. His work is driving the AI revolution in fashion, expanding what technology can achieve for retailers and customers.

Fanny Serouart is a Paris-based object designer trained at École Boulle and ENSCI. Since 2020, she has worked independently as a design consultant and CMF expert (Color, Material, Finish) across industries, from automotive to luxury. In 2022, she launched LÉCLISSE, an accessory brand creating “objets-à-porter” that merge leatherwork with vernacular materials and techniques, drawing inspiration from the history of design. Her dual experience in arts & crafts and large-scale industry brings a unique perspective, combining material integrity with cultural heritage. Featured in Emily in Paris, the brand is now expanding into the Asia-Pacific and American markets.

Joanne Yip, a professor at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), holds a BSc (Hons) in Textile Technology (with first class Honors) and a PhD from the same institution. Her doctoral research focused on Low Temperature Plasma and Excimer Laser Treatments on Polyamide. Before joining PolyU, she worked as a visiting researcher at Rice University in the US, conducting instrumental experiments. Prof. Yip has published over 100 papers in Textile and Material Science Journals. She also has industry experience, having worked in the intimate apparel sector where she gained extensive knowledge of materials, quality requirements, and production techniques. Currently, she serves as Associate Dean and Professor at PolyU, teaching courses on intimate apparel and activewear. Her research interests include functional garments for scoliosis, new materials and technology, surface treatments on textiles, and moulding or seamless techniques used in intimate apparel and activewear.

Ms. Jessica Ng,

the Founder of The Jessica Company;

Executive Vice-Chair and Chief Executive Officer of South China Financial Holdings Limited;

Non-executive director of South China Holdings Company Limited, and i-CABLE Communications Limited

Jessica has over 20 years of leadership experience in the media and financial services sector.

Jessica launched her namesake magazine JESSICA in 2000 which soon became the highest circulation women’s magazine in Hong Kong, with the aim of inspiring women to pursue their life dreams.  Later she established the JESNetwork, a community founded on the JESSICA Most Successful Women Award, with the mission of connecting, inspiring and empowering women, to create a collaborative platform for women in entrepreneurship, sustainability, technology and sport.

For over two decades, JESSICA has been a beacon of empowerment for women in Hong Kong and beyond, and to further our mission and vision, ensuring that the impact remains authentic and powerful, The JESSICA Company was established as a standalone corporate entity in 2024.

Jessica sits on various women and youth support associations, including the position of Board Member and Treasurer of The International Women’s Forum Hong Kong Chapter, and Ambassador of the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, Hong Kong.

With 30 years of experience in the global leather industry, Francis Tsang has witnessed significant technological advancements over the past five years. He has transitioned from traditional chrome tanning methods to innovative chrome-free and heavy metal-free tanning systems. These developments have greatly reduced water and chemical usage while addressing the issues of heavy metals and chromium VI, thereby minimizing environmental pollution.

Recently, Francis has focused on ethically sourcing Tibetan domestic raw yak hides, aiming to support Tibetan herder and farmer families and ensure that no hides go to waste. His commitment to sustainability and ethical practices reflects his dedication to transforming the leather industry for the better.