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PRESESENTED BY SUPPORTED BY

A Message From AAFA President and CEO Steve Lamar

Thank you for attending and welcoming the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) team back to Ho Chi Minh City!

It may feel like an annual warning, but it is increasingly accurate - governments worldwide are proposing and enacting new requirements at an unprecedented speed that we haven’t seen in our industry. Ever. International, regional, national, and subnational authorities are actively imposing new laws and regulations on our industry.

These regulations span supply chain disciplines, including transparency, due diligence, climate change, traceability, chemical management, workers’ rights, and extended producer responsibility. Most recently, this encompasses ‘extended producer responsibility (EPR)’ which is being established to hold companies responsible for the waste that is created when consumers discard their clothes and shoes. We are also feeling the cost of repeated audits – we are all too familiar with the problem of ‘audit fatigue’ – as barrier to innovation.

We’re proud to be an essential partner in helping AAFA members navigate deeper, more strategic, and more ethical partnerships around due diligence, traceability, and ambitious eco-responsibility standards. We look forward to supporting you over the course of this program, and we thank you in advance for your engagement and tireless efforts to ensure a fully responsible and compliant industry.

I extend a special thank you to the American Chamber of Commerce of Vietnam, including Executive Director Travis Mitchell and Deputy Principal Officer Anne Benjaminson from the U.S. Embassy & Consulate. Our sincere gratitude also goes to our generous sponsors and, of course, our speakers. Additionally, we thank AAFA’s official corporate social responsibility partner, Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP). Thank you ALL for your relentless focus on collaboration.

Sincerely,

Steve Lamar | President and CEO | AAFA

A Message From AmCham

Executive Director Travis Mitchell

Welcome to the International Apparel & Footwear Compliance Conference 2024, organized by the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) and supported by the American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh City (AmCham)!

We are thrilled to host industry leaders, factory executives, compliance specialists, and other stakeholders at this important event. Compliance remains a core priority for U.S. brands and AAFA, and today’s discussions will focus on challenges, strategies, and best practices to advance operations while maintaining compliance.

According to the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association, Vietnam’s textile and garment industry saw export growth, reaching over $32.5 billion in the first nine months of 2024—a 9.2% increase compared to last year. The footwear sector followed, with exports estimated at $20 billion.

The U.S. remains a vital trading partner, making up half of Vietnam’s garment and textile exports and reflecting a 25% increase overall. AmCham anticipates continued strong U.S.-Vietnamese business ties, as we recently celebrated the first anniversary of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Vietnam’s business environment continues to attract U.S. companies and we are committed to promoting a transparent and equitable environment for the benefit of all.

Today’s sessions cover critical areas: compliance and due diligence, renewable energy and climate impacts in Vietnam, and supply chain traceability. I encourage you to connect with fellow participants and engage with the experts here today. We hope this conference provides valuable insights and actionable takeaways for you and your businesses.

Sincererely,

Travis Mitchell | Executive Director | AmCham

AGENDA

Wednesday, December 11

8:30 - 9:30 AM

9:30 - 9:40 AM

9:40 - 9:50 AM

REGISTRATION & WELCOME REFRESHMENTS

OPENING

Nate Herman, Senior Vice President, Policy, American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA)

WELCOME ADDRESS

Anne Benjaminson, Deputy Consul General, U.S. Embassy & Consulate, Vietnam

9:50 - 10:20 AM

10:20 - 10:50 AM

10:50 - 11:35 AM

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

Colin Browne, CEO, Cascale

MORNING COFFEE BREAK

BEAT

THE HEAT ON CLIMATE CHANGE

Annie Agle, VP of Sustainability and Impact, Cotopaxi

Mandy Lam, Global Head of Supplier Sustainability, REI Co-op

Veronique Rochet, Senior Head of Sustainability, Puma

Moderated by: Nate Herman, Senior Vice President, Policy, AAFA

2:40 - 3:10 PM

3:10 - 3:50 PM

3:50 - 4:25 PM

COFFEE BREAK

CHƯƠNG TRÌNH

Thứ Tư, ngày 11 tháng 12 năm

8g30 – 9g30

9g30 – 9g40

9g40 – 9g50

9g50 – 10g20

10g20 – 10g50

10g50 – 11g35

ĐĂNG KÝ VÀ TIỆC TRÀ CHÀO MỪNG

KHAI MẠC

Nate Herman, Phó chủ tịch cấp cao, Quản lý Chính sách, Hiệp hội May mặc và Giày dép Hoa Kỳ (AAFA)

PHÁT BIỂU KHAI MẠC

Anne Benjaminson, Phó tổng lãnh sự Hoa Kỳ tại Việt Nam

PHÁT BIỂU ĐỀ DẪN

Colin Browne, CEO, Cascale

GIẢI LAO

Đơn vị tài trợ Avery Dennison

TOÀN CẢNH VỀ BỐI CẢNH TUÂN THỦ TOÀN CẦU

Nate Herman, Phó chủ tịch cấp cao, Quản lý Chính sách, AAFA

Chelsea Murtha, Giám đốc Cấp cao phụ trách mảng Phát triển Bền vững, AAFA

11g35 – 12g15

12g15 – 13g10

XÁC ĐỊNH PHƯƠNG THỨC THỰC HÀNH TỐT NHẤT VỀ CÔNG TÁC THẨM ĐỊNH

Avedis Seferian, Chủ tịch và Giám đốc điều hành, Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP)

Nate Herman, Phó chủ tịch cấp cao, Quản lý Chính sách, AAFA

ĂN TRƯA

Đơn vị tài trợ UL Solutions

13g10 – 13g50

13g50 – 14g40

HỢP TÁC ĐỂ PHÁT TRIỂN: SỨC MẠNH CỦA QUAN

HỆ THƯƠNG HIỆU VÀ NHÀ CUNG CẤP

Antonio Leon de la Barra Rocha, Phó Chủ tịch Chiến lược, Phát triển và Đổi mới, Inspectorio

Mark Millar, Giám đốc Cấp cao, phụ trách Văn phòng Liên

lạc ngành May mặc, Columbia Sportswear

Điều phối viên: Nate Herman, Phó chủ tịch cấp cao, Quản

Chính sách, AAFA

GIẢM NHIỆT CHO TIẾN TRÌNH BIẾN ĐỔI KHÍ HẬU

Annie Agle, Phó chủ tịch phụ trách Bền vững và Tác động, Cotopaxi

Mandy Lam, PGiám đốc toàn cầu về tính Bền vững của nhà

cung cấp, REI Co-op

Veronique Rochet, Trưởng phòng cấp cao về Bền vững,

Puma

Điều phối viên: Nate Herman, Phó chủ tịch cấp cao, Quản lí

Chính sách, AAFA

14g40 – 15g10

15g10 – 15g50

15g50 – 16g25

GIẢI LAO

Đơn vị tài trợ Inspectorio

CHUYỂN ĐỔI NĂNG LƯỢNG TÁI TẠO TẠI VIỆT NAM

Thomas Jakobsen, Giám đốc Điều hành, Indochina Energy Partners Pte. Ltd.

Tony Hung, Ph.D, Manager, Giám đốc Chuỗi Cung ứng Bền vững, New Balance Athletics, Inc.

Điều phối viên: Chelsea Murtha, Giám đốc Cấp cao phụ trách mảng Phát triển Bền vững, AAFA

TỪ BÔNG ĐẾN VẢI: THEO DÕI CHUỖI CUNG ỨNG

BÔNG

Prakash Menakel Philip, Giám đốc Toàn cầu, mảng Chiến

lược và Tác động, CottonConnect Limited

Điều phối viên: Nate Herman, Phó chủ tịch cấp cao, Quản lí

Chính sách, AAFA

16g25 - 16g30

KẾT THÚC VÀ

CẢM ƠN

Chelsea Murtha, Giám đốc Cấp cao phụ trách mảng Phát triển Bền vững, AAFA

MEET THE SPEAKERS

Annie Agle

VP of Sustainability and Impact

Cotopaxi

In her role as Vice President of Sustainability and Impact at Cotopaxi, Annie steers giving, corporate responsibility, and sustainability. She oversees Cotopaxi’s reporting and certifications (SBT, GRI, B Corp, 1% for the Planet) as well as its ESG strategy. Alongside her team of lion-hearted llamas, Annie aims to ensure that every aspect of Cotopaxi’s brand is leveraged to generate a positive benefit to society and the communities the company touches. She is a graduate of Columbia University and holds a Master’s of Science in Sustainability from Cambridge University. In her spare time, Annie spends as much time as possible outside and traveling.

Madhawa Atapattu

Joint Managing Director Hirdaramani

Madhawa Atapattu is the Joint Managing Director of Hirdaramani Apparel, responsible for overseeing the company’s overall operations in Sri Lanka and Vietnam and managing supply chain, marketing, and front-end operations in Bangladesh and Ethiopia.

With over 20 years of experience in the apparel industry, Madhawa specialises in Marketing, Business Acquisition, and Corporate Strategy. He has a proven track record of driving business growth in global markets and fostering partnerships with leading retail brands.

Madhawa began his journey as CEO at Hirdaramani Vietnam – Fashion Garments Ltd (FGL) in 2004. Under his leadership, the Vietnam operation grew from a modest venture into a thriving, high-growth business, significantly expanding its revenue and customer base. Madhawa also played a key role in Hirdaramani’s entry into Nicaragua and Central America, unlocking new opportunities for the company in the region.

MEET THE SPEAKERS

Anne Benjaminson

Deputy Consul General

U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Vietnam

Anne Benjaminson is the Deputy Consul General at the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, a position she has held since July 2023. Most recently, she was the deputy director in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Office of Maritime Southeast Asia.

Since joining the Foreign Service in 2004, she has served as deputy economic counselor in Kyiv, economic officer in Kabul, cultural affairs officer in Dushanbe and consular officer in Budapest, as well as domestically in the Office of Afghanistan Affairs and Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs.

A native of New York City, she graduated from the University of California, Berkeley and the Foreign Service Economic Studies course. She is married and has two children.

Colin Browne CEO Cascale

Colin Browne is CEO of Cascale, a global nonprofit alliance catalyzing collective action toward equitable and restorative business practices in the consumer goods industry. The organization spans over 300 retailers, brands, manufacturers, governments, academics, industry associations, and NGO or nonprofit affiliates. Cascale’s membership includes apparel, footwear, home furnishings, sporting and outdoor goods, and bags and luggage companies. Formerly known as the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, Cascale owns and develops the Higg Index.

Colin has a wealth of global experience in supply chains and both brand and factory management. Prior to joining Cascale, he was Interim CEO and Chief Operating Officer of Under Armour, a Cascale member.

His business-oriented approach centers on sustainability and his focus at Cascale is scaling supplier-focused initiatives and driving accountability in the consumer goods industry.

MEET THE SPEAKERS

Nate Herman

Senior Vice President, Policy AAFA

Nate Herman oversees AAFA’s Policy department, managing the association’s lobbying, policy, and regulatory affairs activities. Nate leads AAFA’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) program, formulating and implementing CSR policy and representing AAFA and the industry on CSR issues before governments, NGOs, and other key stakeholders.

In addition, Nate develops all apparel and footwear industry data and statistics as AAFA’s resident economist. Prior to joining AAFA, Nate worked for six years at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration assisting U.S. firms in entering the global market. Nate spent the last two years as the Department’s industry analyst for the footwear and travel goods industries. Nate received a Masters of Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh in 1994 and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Economics from the University of Delaware in 1992.

Tony Hung

Ph.D, Manager, Supply Chain Sustainability New Balance Athletics, Inc.

Tony Hung is a Manager of Supply Chain Sustainability at New Balance Athletics, Inc., a global athletic company that has global suppliers in over thirty countries including footwear, apparel, and equipment.

He holds a Bachelor of Environmental Engineering (B.Eng.), a Master of Business Administration (MBA), and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Responsible Leadership and Sustainability. With over 20 years of professional experience, Tony has held various leadership and expert roles in Sustainability, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and circular economy. His career spans across the footwear, textile, and oil & gas industries, working with both brands and multinational manufacturers.

Tony has actively engaged with numerous stakeholders and contributed to significant sustainability programs. His leadership-oriented approach centers on sustainability and his focus at New Balance is engaging supplier-focused initiatives and driving responsible leadership on sustainability in the global supply chain.

MEET THE SPEAKERS

Thomas Jakobsen

Managing Director, Indochina Energy Partners

Thomas has 20 years of experience in Indochina, especially on renewable energies. He is the Managing Director of Indochina Energy Partners (IEP), specializing in direct investments and advisory services in the renewable energy sector.

IEP provides roof-top solar installation, maintenance, and financing solutions for commercial and industrial factory owners. The company is currently developing 450 MWp of rooftop solar installations in ASEAN and is also negotiating several large-scale DPPA’s in wind and solar, as well as Battery Energy Storage System in collaboration with its financing partners.

Mandy Lam

Global Head of Supplier Sustainability

REI Co-op

In this role, Mandy is responsible for developing and managing programs that uphold REI Co-op’s sustainability values and extend these values to suppliers. She aims to mobilize the entire REI Co-op brands’ supply chain to not just meet but exceed REI’s expectations in sustainability across three core pillars: Social Impact & Human Rights, Climate Actions & Environment, and Chemicals Management.

Mandy has over 20 years of experience in the apparel, footwear, and gear industry. She understands the complexities and challenges of managing a sustainable supply chain and embraces these challenges with enthusiasm. Mandy is eager to find and develop win-win solutions that benefit to create a sustainable business environment. She enjoys collaborating with internal and external experts to achieve shared goals and is always excited to find innovative solutions to industry challenges. Her extensive experience in the environmental programs of both manufacturing companies and sports brands’ supply chains has equipped her with valuable insights and expertise that she is eager to bring to new opportunities.

MEET THE SPEAKERS

Antonio Leon de la Barra Rocha VP of Strategy, Growth, and Innovation Inspectorio

As VP of Strategy, Growth, and Innovation at Inspectorio, Antonio Leon de La Barra Rocha leads initiatives focused on optimizing supply chain performance through strategy and cutting-edge technology. With expertise in deploying AI and cloud-based platforms, Antonio enhances the efficiency and scalability of global supply chains. He has spearheaded the implementation of solutions for major brands such as Target, Walmart, and Inditex, driving supplier empowerment and fostering collaboration to meet evolving compliance and performance standards.

Antonio is committed to transforming traditional supply chain models into flexible, innovationdriven systems that enable suppliers to adapt and excel in dynamic markets.

Mark Millar

Senior Director, Apparel Liaison Offices Columbia Sportswear Company

Mark Millar is the Senior Director of Columbia Sportswear’s six Apparel Liaison Offices and Manufacturing Operations. He is an apparel supply chain leader with over 30 years of experience in the industry who has lived and worked in Asia for half of his career.

His interest in active outdoor pursuits and international business brought him to Columbia Sportswear where he has worked for the last 18 years in various manufacturing and supply chain roles; he is currently based in Ho Chi Minh City.

Mark is a graduate of Washington and Lee University in Virginia with a degree in East Asia Studies and Mandarin, and has his MBA from Thunderbird, School of Global Management.

MEET THE SPEAKERS

Chelsea Murtha

Senior Director of Sustainability

AAFA

Chelsea Murtha serves as the association’s advocate and spokesperson on matters of sustainability and product safety. She engages with Congress, the Executive Branch, independent agencies, as well as state and local legislatures and agencies and foreign governments on sustainability, product safety, and chemical management issues important to the industry. Chelsea is also the staff liaison to AAFA’s Environmental Committee and Product Safety Council.

Chelsea joined AAFA from a Washington, D.C., government affairs firm where she led advocacy efforts for clients, including several trade associations and apparel and footwear importers, on policy developments related to environmental, social, and governance issues in global supply chains. She has also worked for the U.S. Fashion Industry Association, and a Washington, D.C., international trade policy consultancy firm. Chelsea earned a Master of Science from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a Bachelor of Arts from the George Washington University.

Prakash Menakel Philip

Global Director, Strategy and Impact

CottonConnect Limited

Prakash Menakel Philip is the Global Director of Strategy and Impact at CottonConnect, a pioneering organization committed to reimagining the future for supply chains through sustainability and innovation. Prakash joined CottonConnect as a Director in 2021, having previously worked as a Project Manager at EY. In his current role leading Strategy and Impact, Prakash drives key global initiatives in Standards and Partnerships, Traceability, and Impact, central to CottonConnect’s mission of fostering environmental stewardship and social responsibility within the cotton industry. His vision and expertise in developing and implementing comprehensive strategic plans have played a vital role in maintaining CottonConnect’s position as a leader in sustainability innovation, ensuring positive outcomes across complex supply chains. Prakash envisions a world where production works harmoniously with nature, cultivating resilient, transparent, and ethical supply chains that drive positive environmental and social change from farm to fashion.

MEET THE SPEAKERS

Veronique Rochet

Senior Director Sustainability PUMA

Veronique Rochet has over 20 years international sustainability experience in the industry for apparel, footwear and accessories, driving mid- and long-term sustainability strategy aligned with business priorities, key stakeholders’ expectations, as well as product and country specificities. Today, Veronique is PUMA Senior Director of Sustainability. With her team, she has set up an implementation strategy for PUMA 10FOR25 and developed 2030 sustainability supply chain vision and goals, keeping in mind key stakeholders’ and business priorities.

Avedis Seferian President and CEO

Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production

Avedis Seferian is the President & CEO of WRAP (Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production). A recognized expert in the area of social compliance and responsible sourcing, he was named by Assent Compliance as one of the Top 100 Corporate Social Responsibility Influence Leaders in 2020. Mr. Seferian has extensive knowledge of social responsibility issues within the highly complex worldwide supply chains of the apparel, textile and footwear sectors, often speaking on topics in this field at different forums around the world and contributing to many leading trade publications and news outlets. He is the Chairman of the Board of the Association of Professional Social Compliance Auditors (APSCA), sits on the Impartiality Committees of several audit organizations and served on the Board of Advisors of the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety. Mr. Seferian speaks five languages, holds degrees from three continents (a BA from St. Stephen’s College in India, an MBA from the American University of Armenia, and a JD from Georgetown University in Washington, DC) and is a member of the American Bar Association and the Virginia State Bar.