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

Katie Kutskill

Sam Taylor

Zain Akber
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

Ralph Arbeid

Kevin Latner

Chirag Patel

Rosie Wollacott Phillips
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

Claudia di Bernardino

Jiska Gojowczyk

Reiner Hengstmann

Leisha Hewitt

Ivan Kral

Thomas Yu
Our Patron

Suzie Fletcher
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.