Speakers for Leather in Retail Conference

'Hot news' currently is that the forthcoming Leather In Retail conference has signed up Burberry, Adidas, Nike, Timberland, Deloitte and many others to speak. Following the successful footwear leather conference held in March 2006, BLC Leather Technology Centre Ltd and Leather International magazine will co-host another conference at the 2007 Asia Pacific Leather Fair in Hong Kong. This year the event will focus on a range of issues high on the retail agenda, including sourcing in Asia, brand protection, environmental auditing, restricted substances and leather related transportation problems. Global brands will once again feature strongly at the conference, alongside leading figures from industry, with confirmed speakers from Adidas, Burberry, Deloitte, Next, Nike, Pentland Group and Timberland. Set to take place on Tuesday March 27, 2007, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), the conference will once again precede the Asia Pacific Leather Fair (March 28-30). 'With leather having such a significant presence on the retail high street and the annual trade in leather and footwear expected to exceed US$50 billion, the conference provides an essential meeting point for the leather supply chain from tanner through manufacturing to retail brand', said Adam Hughes, BLC sales director. Draft Programme 09.00-09.30 Welcome and registration Sourcing & Technology 09.30-09.40: Adam Hughes (BLC Leather Technology Centre) - introduction 09.40-10.10: Sponsors presentation - TBC 10.10-10.40: Glynn Roberts (Pentland Group) - anti counterfeiting 10.40-11.10: Daniela Haines (Next Sourcing Ltd - Hong Kong) - effective sourcing in Asia (TBC) 11.10-11.30: Coffee 11.30-12.00: Barry Wood (BLC Leather Technology Centre) - supply chain management 12.00-12.30: Tony Cotterell (Deloitte) - TBC 12.30-13.00: Chris Grayer (Burberry) - supplier not factory (TBC) 13.00-14.00: Networking Lunch Manufacturing & Environment 14.00-14.25: Vanessa Margolis (Nike Inc) - environmental auditing (leather working group) 14.25-14.55: Dr Victoria Addy (BLC Leather Technology Centre) - the effect of heat and humidity changes on leather during transport 14.55-15.25: Betsy Blaisdell (Timberland Company) - update on AFIRM 15.25-15.45: Coffee 15.45-16.15: Federico Roth (adidas-group) - trends in athletic footwear 16.15-16.45: Mike Parsons (International Council of Tanners) - technical, social and environmental compliance (TBC) 16.45-17.00: Discussion and close 17.00: Networking Cocktail Reception (TBC) = titles to be confirmed NOTE: Pentland brands owned or under licence1: Berghaus, Boxfresh, Brasher, Clerk & Teller, Ellesse, KangaROOS, Kickers1, Lacoste1, Medium, Mitre, One True Saxon, Red or Dead, Speedo, Ted Baker1