JONATHAN WARD Fashion360 Ambassador

Jonathan is one of Australia’s most prominent designers and is recognised for his innovation, creativity and vision. He has upheld a longstanding career in the Australian fashion landscape with over three decades in the business.

Jonathan is recognised for product excellence with a vast portfolio including women’s couture, women’s ready to wear, school uniforms, corporate uniforms, men’s wear, children’s wear and accessories.

He has worked with many of Australia’s corporate elite over the years. However, in his pioneering days he spent significant time abroad, training at the prestigious Parsons School of Design in New York. Jonathan has subsequently worked with global international fashion houses including Yves Saint Laurent, amongst others.

He was the Executive Designer at the iconic Australian company, R.M.Williams for 15 years and is currently the Creative Director of a new lifestyle brand called Shleep. He is also an ambassador and a judge for the Wool4School project for the Woolmark Company.

His fashion philosophy is simple: ‘Dress to suit your personality, lifestyle, and occasion.’

DR GENE SHERMAN AM Sherman Centre for culture + ideas

Dr Gene Sherman AM is a leading Australian cultural figure and philanthropist.

She is Founder, Executive and Artistic Director of the Sherman Centre for Culture and Ideas (SCCI), established in 2017 as a cultural-exchange platform for contemporary fashion and architecture.

For 21 years (1986-2007), Dr Sherman was Director and Proprietor of Sherman

Galleries, a commercial gallery with a focus on artists from Australia, the Asia Pacific and Middle East. From 2008-2017, Dr Sherman was Chair and Executive Director of the Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation, presenting 37 projects by significant visual practitioners across art, architecture, fashion, film and design from the Asia Pacific, Australia and Middle East.

She is Adjunct Professor, UNSW Art and Design, a Member of the Tate Asia-Pacific Acquisitions Committee (since 2009 and co-Chair from 2015-2019), a Member of the Tate International Council (since 2017), and a Board Member of the Australian Institute of Art History (since 2009). Dr Sherman regularly lectures on Australian and Asian contemporary art, Australian and Asian private foundations, gallery management, the art of collecting, and architecture and fashion. She was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2010 in recognition of her cultural philanthropy and support of emerging and established artists. The French Government has honoured Dr Sherman with two prestigious awards in its Legion of Honour awards system: the Officier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (2016), and the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (2003).

CLARE PRESS
Sustainability Editor-at-large, Vogue australia

Clare is an author, slow fashion influencer and speaker who consults to brands about sustainability communications. Via her book and podcast, Wardrobe Crisis, Clare raises awareness about ethical and sustainable fashion.

In 2018 Clare was made Vogue Australia’s Sustainability Editor-at-Large, the first in the world, and became the first Global Ambassador for the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Make Fashion Circular Initiative.

Clare led the launch team on Pacific Magazine’s first fashion e-commerce site, StyledBy Marie Claire.

Previous positions include: Fashion Editor-at-Large for Marie Claire and Features Director at Sunday Style (Australia), where her “Fash FWD” fashion news column reached 3 million readers each week. Clare was Daily Life’s “Sustainable Style” columnist at the Sydney Morning Herald.

Clare has spent five years as Features Director at Australian Vogue, was The Monthly‘s first fashion critic and her “Ask Mrs Press” and “Style Matters” columns appeared in InStyle. Her writing has been published in the US, UK, and Asia, in titles including Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, Marie Claire, Nylon, The Australian, The Sydney Morning Herald, The New York Times Magazine and more.

An experienced fashion commentator, Clare has appeared on The Project, The Feed, Lateline and The 7.30 Report, and spoken widely on radio and at live events.

Clare has also been a member of the Australian Advisory Board of Fashion Revolution since 2014. She sits on Copenhagen Fashion Week’s Sustainability Advisory Board and is one of Global Fashion Agenda’s Content Experts.

DAVID GILES-KAYE CEO, Australian Fashion Council

David is the CEO of the Australian Fashion Council - AFC (formerly Council of Textile & Fashion - CTF), and spent several years on the CTF board of directors.

He was recently involved with Imagine Intelligent Materials which is at the forefront of developing the future of wearables.

His primary background lies in technology and business development in sports apparel with a number of companies including WL Gore (Gore-Tex). As the former CEO of Australian Defence Apparel Pty Ltd, David has experience in the development and performance of personal protection clothing and equipment. He has also started his own sports fashion label.

David spent a number of years living and working in Germany and the UK and has been back in Australia since 2008.