Apparel product compliance/product integrity seminar - Montreal

Dr. Min Zhu is at the helm of SGS North American Softlines technical and operation teams with an impressive 20-year track record in textile research, product development, performance evaluation, and technical marketing. She drives the development of cutting-edge testing programs and global harmonization, and implement SGS Softlines policies, governance, new services and technical initiatives.

Prior to SGS, Dr. Zhu worked with global companies including BASF, Cotton Incorporated, TAL Apparel Ltd. in various roles and taught as an Assistant Professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York.

Dr. Zhu is an active member of AATCC, ASTM, AAFA and other global and industry standard organizations on behalf of SGS.

Emma Brennen is a restricted materials specialist with Claigan Environmental, with a primary focus on apparel and medical devices.  She has been with Claigan for 8 years, and has a BioChemistry education background with a specialization in Synthetic Material Design.

Emma has extensive knowledge into PFAS and related regulations, such as CEPA, Canadian Plastics, TSCA, and the Minnesota PFAS Registration. She brings to the table a full understanding of PFAS at the substance and molecular level.

Claigan Environmental Inc. is a leading provider of global regulatory and materials compliance testing of consumer products. Our mission is clear: to empower our clients to navigate the complex landscape of compliance with confidence. We understand the critical importance of testing for substances such as phthalates, PFAS (forever chemicals), and various flame retardants.

At KPMG Law, Conor leads a collaborative, cross-functional and inter-disciplinary team of legal, sustainability, environmental and regulatory professionals who advise clients on regulatory & legal compliance, disclosure risks (e.g. greenwashing), environmental reporting (e.g. PFAS / Federal Plastics Registry) major project development (e.g. Bill C-5 / Building Canada Act), supply chain due diligence (e.g. modern slavery), and related policy development and training.

Conor holds a Global Competent Boards Designation (GCB.D) in ESG and a Certificate in Sustainable Finance and ESG from UC Berkeley School of Law. Conor has been named a Top 40 Lawyer in Canada under the age of 40 by LexisNexis, is listed as "Frequently Recommended" for ESG Law by Lexpert, and has been named a Canadian Environmental Thought Leader twice by Mondaq.

Conor speaks frequently across North America on sustainability law topics, and has been featured in the Globe and Mail, Financial Post, Toronto Star, Canadian Lawyer, Industry West Magazine, the Canadian Bar Association National Magazine, the Daily Oil Bulletin, Investment Executive, Advisor's Edge, Net Zero Investor, and Lexology, among others.

Consultant, attorney, and facilitator of apparel and footwear industry collaborative initiatives to advance chemicals management and quality testing. Nate regularly represents the industry in front of EU and US regulators to support ambitious and pragmatic policies for safe, durable, and recyclable products.

Nate leads the Apparel and Footwear International RSL Management (AFIRM_®) Group, which provides an opportunity for EHS professionals to advance chemicals management in the apparel and footwear industry on a collaborative basis.

 VP Consulting Services at Claigan Environmental

Specializing in global Regulatory compliance, global market access, outsourcing, subcontracting, CRM software, and executive management.

Claigan Environmental Inc. is a leading provider of global regulatory and materials compliance testing of consumer products. Our mission is clear: to empower our clients to navigate the complex landscape of compliance with confidence. We understand the critical importance of testing for substances such as phthalates, PFAS (forever chemicals), and various flame retardants.

Head of Brand Partnerships | OEKO-TEX® | ex-Shirley Institute - I help brands and retailers use certification to evidence compliance and to articulate corporate strategy surrounding chemical, environmental and ethical supply chain commitments. 
My specialisms are voluntary and legislative chemical compliance for global market entry, alongside sustainability communication via analytical testing and certification.
My background spans over a decade in textile development, across both apparel and home textiles, in-house at several brands based across London and Paris.

Technical Manager, SGS North America

Brenda has over 10 years of experience in consumer product safety and quality, specializing in chemical testing for softlines products. She is a member of the SGS Global Softlines Technical Team, where she manages technical projects and provide supports for product testing. She also interprets regulatory requirements and provides guidance to clients in U.S and Canada, as well as assisting global laboratory teams.