The conference is co-hosted by International Leather Maker (ILM) and APLF Ltd and will be moderated by ILM.

Agenda:
There will be a total of six presentations (+5 mins Q&A) and an interactive expert panel discussing the hottest topics facing the leather supply chain.

Presentations will be in English only.

Date:
Wednesday (pm), March 11, 2026.
Day before the start of APLF 2026.

Where:
Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Centre,
Hong Kong. Room next to the APLF fair.

Time: (please note specific timings may change)
12:15 -1pm – Registration/coffee/networking

3.10 – 3.40pm – Networking: Coffee break (Sponsored by National Beef Leathers)

1 – 5pm – Conference programme.

Delegate Fee:
US$140 per person pre-registered (non pre-registered delegates will be charged US$170 per person on the day of the event to enter).
(Discounts offered for multiple bookings of three or more people from the same organisation.)

Delegate bookings and payments can be made by clicking here.

Confirmed speakers and presentation titles:

  • Geoff Holmes, Director, New Zealand Leather and Shoe Research Association (LASRA): “The Technician’s Toolkit: Using AI and Digital Twins to Solve Practical Tannery Challenges.”
  • Deborah Taylor, Founder & Managing Director of the Sustainable Leather Foundation: “Traceability: A new standard for the industry”
  • Federico Brugnoli, Founder and CEO, SPIN360 – A Bureau Veritas Company: Sustainable Quality and Durability: “The importance of a strategic interaction between Environmental and Technical performances of materials and products.”
  • Vita Kobiela, Projects & Communications Manager, Cotance: “From tanneries to virtual reality: Reimagining leather education with METASKILLS4TCLF.”
  • Barbara Mannucci, Director, Consorzio Vera Pelle Italiana Conciata al Vegetale: “Craft the Leather: Designing means choosing.”
  • Burak Uyguner, Owner of Uyguner Deri Group, President of International Council of Tanners and the Turkish Leather Industrialists Association. “R3: Reset, Rethink, REACT.”

Panel discussion (moderated by Martin Ricker, ILM): 

  • “The Partnership Perspective: When Global Scale Meets Verified Data.” Introduced by James Bayly, CEO, Mindhive Global.

A customer-led conversation with JBS Couros exploring the real-world journey of implementing AI-powered grading at scale – from strategic decision to operational transformation. With Sergio Sfreddo, Head of Global Quality, JBS Couros and Ray Connor, COO, Mindhive Global.

Organisers:

Lead Sponsors:

             

 

Coffee Break Sponsor: