Our team combines our collective passions and knowledge of the leather industry, environmental and political sciences. We are committed to supporting the leather value chain through our framework that provides transparent, inclusive and accessible mechanisms for sustainable improvement.
Deborah Taylor
Managing Director
Deborah established SLF in July 2020 with a clear vision to support sustainable improvement for the leather industry in a way that is accessible to all. Prior to that, Deborah managed the Leather Working Group where she learned first-hand what challenges exist, and the regionality of some of those challenges. As well as overseeing the day to day management of the Sustainable Leather Foundation, Deborah is also a UN/CEFACT Consultant, working on the UNECE project to "Enhance Traceability & Transparency for More Sustainable Value Chains in the Garment and Footwear Sector" and is a Council Member of the Society of Leather Technologists and Chemists. Deborah is a Practitioner of the Chartered Quality Institute (PCQI) and is an accredited SA8000 Social Systems Lead Auditor.
Katie Kutskill
Technical Director
Katie has a background in Environmental Policy and Leather Technology and brings a holistic, visionary approach to evaluating and communicating the true nature of leather’s life cycle. Katie gained her Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Environmental Policy from the University of Michigan and her Master of Science (MSc) in Leather Technology from Northampton University. In addition, Katie has worked for Eagle Ottawa-Lear before moving on to Pangea (formerly GST Autoleather) in her most recent role as Global Executive Director for Product Development and Sustainability Officer. Katie therefore understands the unique challenges from both a product and sustainability perspective.
Sam Taylor
General Operations Manager
Sam holds a degree in Politics and International Relations with a specialist interest in environmental and economic sustainability. He has recently worked in sales for British American Tobacco, the largest tobacco company in the world and this gave him the opportunity to work across multi-level outlets and suppliers and also gave him a experience of communicating in different ways to different stakeholders. Earlier in his career, Sam worked within the public sector, for Warwickshire County Council's Library Division which gave him experience of communications at a very practical level and also taught him the importance of systems and procedures.
Zain Akber
Head of Auditing Services
Zain holds a Masters Degree in Operations Management and an MBA from ITM Business School; plus a Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Anna University, India. His early career was as a Chemical Quality and Procurement Manager in the leather industry, working in tanneries for over a decade before turning his expertise to supporting ESG improvement.
Zain comes from a fifth generation leather industry family and his knowledge spans the full range of leather production and more latterly product manufacture.
Registered with IEMA as a Principal Environmental Auditor, Zain is a qualified ISO 14001:2015, ISO 45001:2018 and SA8000 Lead Auditor and brings a wealth of experience to the team, particularly understanding the challenges from a tannery and an auditor perspective.
Zain comes from a fifth generation leather industry family and his knowledge spans the full range of leather production and more latterly product manufacture.
Registered with IEMA as a Principal Environmental Auditor, Zain is a qualified ISO 14001:2015, ISO 45001:2018 and SA8000 Lead Auditor and brings a wealth of experience to the team, particularly understanding the challenges from a tannery and an auditor perspective.
SLF Advisory Board
Our Advisory Board has been established to ensure that we have a fully rounded representation of the leather value chain providing input and specialist expertise for all our work.
The Advisory Board members along with our Specialty Experts have been selected based on their knowledge and experience in areas spanning the wider ecosystem of the industry; including farming and livestock, deforestation & land conversion, leather manufacture, chemistry, machinery manufacture & efficiency, policy & regulation, retail & consumer, leather technology, global representation and strategy.
This valued team of individuals will support the strategy, direction and tools of the Foundation to ensure we have a fit-for-purpose initiative that meets its vision to support the global leather industry and add value in an inclusive and cohesive way.
Hans Van Haarst
Chair of SLF Advisory Board, SHV Holdings
With over 30 years experience working for Blue Chip process companies, Hans brings a strategic, corporate perspective to the Foundation. As the CEO of Royal Smit & Zoon for 10 years, Hans was instrumental in steering the company to become one of the industry’s leading chemical companies when it comes to a sustainable business vision. Now as the Corporate Director of ESG at SHV Holdings, Hans expands this perspective with a wider approach to sustainability.
Ralph Arbeid
Sales Manager Asia and African, Hueni, Non-Executive Director - Operations
With over 30 years working for one of biggest machinery suppliers in the industry, alongside working as a UN Consultant, Ralph understands what it takes to strive for efficiency of process. Ralph has contributed to many publications including the "Leather Guidebook" published by the International Trade Centre (ITC) and "A Blueprint for The African Leather Industry" by UNIDO.
Kevin Latner
VP, LHCA, Non-Executive Director - Finance & Policy
Kevin has 30 years experience in agricultural trade policy, strategic planning, trade marketing, monitoring and research. He is passionate about the contribution that sustainable and renewable agricultural products make to our lives, our communities, our supply chains and world. Kevin is Vice President of the Leather and Hide Council of America (LHCA) and has previously served as Executive Director of the Cotton Council International and as Vice President of the National Cotton Council of America.
Chirag Patel
CEO, Crest Leather Group
With an early background in fashion and trading, Chirag is the CEO of a leading global operation that produces high quality finished leather, primarily for upholstery but also other leathergoods products. Crest Leather own facilities in Italy, Brazil, USA, South Africa and the UK where they are headquartered.
This enables the company to manage and oversee the entrire production from raw hide to delivery of finished product to their customers.
Rosie Wollacott Phillips
Head of Sustainability, Mulberry
Rosie's career with Mulberry began in 2010 as a trainee stitcher and over the last 12 years, she has been fortunate to work in a number of areas of the business, which has given her a real understanding for the product. Moving into the CSR department in 2017, Rosie has been instrumental in the evolution of that department into the future-thinking sustainability team that is now in place.
SLF Specialty and Regional Advisors
Our Specialty and Regional Advisors have been selected based on their knowledge and experience in areas spanning the wider ecosystem of the industry; including farming and livestock, deforestation & land conversion, leather manufacture, chemistry, machinery manufacture & efficiency, policy & regulation, retail & consumer, leather technology, global representation and strategy.
This valued team of individuals will support the strategy, direction and tools of the Foundation to ensure we have a fit-for-purpose initiative that meets its vision to support the global leather industry and add value in an inclusive and cohesive way.
Taj Alam
Chairman, MD, Kings International, SLF Regional Advisor for India
Taj has worked in the leather industry for over 40 years. In addition to heading up Kings International, Taj also holds key positions with various industry associations and research organisations in India.
Claudia di Bernardino
Lawyer, TM Shell, SLF Legal Advisor
Claudia is a partner at TMSHELL Law Firm and specialises in fashion sustainability with a passion for the elimination of greenwashing in all its forms. Claudia is a UNECE Consultant and the Legal Advisor for the Monitor for Circular Fashion.
Jiska Gojowczyk
Researcher, Suedwind-Institute, SLF Social Responsibility Advisor
As researcher at the SÜDWIND-Institute in Bonn, Germany, Jiska inquires into social and ecological flaws in the value chains of leather and shoes worldwide. She advocates for transparency and strong, effective social standards and regulation.
Reiner Hengstmann
VP Additional Materials, ISA TanTec Ltd, SLF Additional Materials Advisor
Reiner Hengstmann has a PhD in Chemistry and was the Global Director for Sustainability and Compliance at Puma, before moving to Hugo Boss as their Senior Head of Global Sustainability. In 2020 Reiner joined ISA TanTec as the Vice President Additional Materials, based in Vietnam.
Leisha Hewitt
Animal Welfare Specialist, SLF Animal Welfare Advisor
Dr Leisha Hewitt is a Consultant on animal welfare practice, industry standards and quality assurance frameworks, with a particular emphasis on animal welfare at slaughter. She holds the position of Adjunct Lecturer at Adelaide University, teaching animal welfare. She holds a PhD in Clinical Veterinary Science and is a qualified Lead Auditor and Animal Welfare Assessor.
Ivan Kral
Industrial Development Officer, UNIDO, SLF Industry Technology Advisor
Ivan co-authored UNIDO's "The Framework for Sustainable Leather Manufacturer" and specialises in Best Available Techniques for the leather sector. He oversees the UNDIO "Leather Panel" a website that contains a wealth of information around health & safety and best practice for the leather indusry.
Thomas Yu
General Manager, Jollity Enterprise, TILA Senior Officer, SLF Asia Regional Advisor
Thomas started his career in the leather industry in 1997 working in technical service, then R&D before becoming General Manager for Jollity Enterprise, a leather chemicals provider. Thomas previously held the position of Secretary General of TILA and is now the Senior Consultant for the association.
Our Patron
Suzie Fletcher
Patron
Suzie is a Master English Saddle Maker and member of the Society of Master Saddlers. She also specializes in the restoration and repair of saddles, leather goods and solid leather furniture from her workshop in Oxfordshire, England.