Get to Know Them
Our speakers come from all corners of the country (and even the globe) to share their knowledge in this noteworthy symposium. We’re proud to feature a list of prominent speakers who are at the forefront of their fields. These professionals are always eager to share their knowledge and inspire like-minded enthusiasts. Read more about this year’s speakers below, and contact us if you would like to learn more information.
Dr. Lucy E. Dunne
Professor, Department of Design, Housing, and Apparel.
Director, Apparel Design Program.
Co-Director, Wearable Technology Lab.
University of Minnesota, USA
Lucy E. Dunne is currently a Professor at the University of Minnesota, where she directs the Apparel Design program and co-directs the Wearable Technology Lab. She holds degrees in Apparel Design (BS 2002, MA 2004, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA), Electronic Technology (AAS 2004, Tompkins-Cortland Community College, Cortland, NY, USA). and Computer Science (Ph.D. 2007, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland). Her research focuses on textile- and garment-based wearable technologies, human factors of wearable systems, and manufacturing and use of next-generation clothing. She is a co-author (with Susan Watkins) of "Functional Apparel Design: From Sportswear to Space Suits" (Bloomsbury, 2015), and she has received the National Science Foundation’s CAREER award and the NASA Silver Achievement Medal for her work with functional clothing and wearable technology.
Dave Kasper
Vice-President, Sales and Product Development Department, General Recycled Ltd.
I began my textile career in 1989, as a sales representative for Les Tricots Manoir Inc, a circular knitting mill and dyehouse in Montreal, Quebec. In 1993, I was transferred by Manoir to Vancouver, British Columbia to open a West Coast office servicing Canada and the Pacific North West of the USA. I created a textile sales agency, D.Kasper Agencies Inc in 2003, with a focus on the industrial workwear market place, working with Davey Textile Solutions, Peerless Garments, American & Efird and YKK. In 2012, along with business partners Ted Parker (CEO) and Larry Suzuki (V.P Finance), we created General Recycled, based in Canada, with a focus on “closed loop” recycling of Meta and Para aramid textiles.
Dr. Jane Batcheller
FSO, Department of Human Ecology, Univerity of Alberta, Canada.
Dr. Jane Batcheller is an academic instructor and researcher in Clothing and Textiles at the University of Alberta, Department of Human Ecology. Her courses cover textile testing, quality assurance, and textile care and preservation. She is currently the Principal Investigator of the Protective Clothing and Equipment Research Facility and the supervisor of the Textile Analysis Service at the University of Alberta. Her research interests include the degradation of textile materials, thermal protective clothing, and textiles in archaeology.
Sravanth Kanukuntla
Director- Product Integrity, Technical & Compliance, Aloyoga
Sravanth kanukuntla has over 20 years of Textile Industry experience from agriculture/polymer development through textile, apparel, home textile production.
Worked extensively on global regulations, protocol developments, proven ability to unpack complex issues and lead them to manageable and implementable solutions.
Responsible for Product Integrity, Regulatory & Compliance represent Aloyoga in Standard Meetings such as AATCC, AAFA, SAC, IABFLO, and various Conferences.
Dr. Song Liu
Professor, Department of Biosystem Engineering, University of Manitoba, CA
Song Liu is a Professor of Polymer Science & Engineering and directs the Biomaterials Synthesis and Surface Engineering Laboratory at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, MB. Dr. Liu earned a Ph.D. in Fiber and Polymer Science at the University of California, Davis.
Dr. Akbar Khoddami
Associate Professor, Department of Textile Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran
I am an associate Professor, from Isfahan University of Technology where I have been working for more than 24 years and a Visiting professor from University of Alberta. I was teaching some courses and supervised many BSc, MSc and PhD projects.
Dr. René Rossi
Head of Laboratory, Biomimetic Membranes and Textiles, EMPA
Deputy Head of Department, Materials meet Life, EMPA
René Rossi studied applied physics at the University of Neuchâtel and obtained his PhD at ETH Zurich. Since 2003, he has been leading the Laboratory for Biomimetic Membranes and Textiles at Empa, a group of around 40 researchers developing novel smart fibers, textiles and membranes for body monitoring, drug delivery and tissue engineering applications. A special focus is to develop physical and numerical skin/body models for the analysis of the interactions between materials and the human skin to optimize the protection and ergonomics of systems. René Rossi is adjunct professor at the Department of Health Sciences and Technology at ETH Zurich and invited professor at the University of Haute-Alsace in Mulhouse/France.
Stephanie Phillips
Sherman Jen Research Chair in Next Generation Design at Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Stephanie Phillips is currently the Sherman Jen Research Chair in Next Generation Design at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. She has taught at KPU’s Wilson School of Design since 2014 in the Fashion Design & Technology, Product Design, Fashion Marketing and Design for Technical Apparel programs, with a focus on teaching the processes surrounding materials, textiles, and design research.
Bob kirke
Executive Director, Canadian Apparel Federation (CAF)
Mr. Bob Kirke represents the industry across a range of issues from trade to environmental sustainability to forced labour. His responsibilities include trade and tariffs, government relations and advocacy, and communications. He is or has been a member of numerous industry advisory groups and voluntary bodies, and serves as a Director of Brands for Canada, Canada’s only permanent clothing bank. He is a member of the Canadian General Standards Board committee on Responsible Business Conduct.
He speaks widely in different venues on industry and trade issues. In 2012 he received the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal, nominated by then Minister of International Trade, the Hon. Ed Fast.
Shona Mosslovshin
Innovation, Science and Economic Development, Canada.
Details coming soon
Dr. David J. Proctor
Technical Director,
International Antimicrobial Council
David Proctor is Technical Director at the International Antimicrobial Council, where he promotes the responsible use of antimicrobial technologies through education and community building. He is also Adjunct Faculty in Chemistry and Biology at Mid Michigan College. Previously, David was Adjunct Faculty in Chemistry at Saginaw Valley State University, and an Associate of the Michigan Math and Science Centers Network where he directed a STEM education funding program. Before working in education, David was a Scientific Review Officer with CSRA Inc., a AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellow at the National Science Foundation, and a Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Fellow at the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. David began his career as a visiting scientist at the University of Dundee after completing a PhD in chemistry from the Pennsylvania State University.
