Global Fashion Agenda Appoints CSO and Announces Updates to Leadership Team
As Global Fashion Agenda (GFA) continues to accelerate its impact in the fashion industry, the non-profit organisation has appointed Justin Pariag as Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO). In addition, GFA has promoted María Luisa Martínez Díez to VP, Public Affairs, and Dana Schou to VP, Partnerships & Development.
As CSO, Justin Pariag will be a member of the Executive Team and lead GFA’s sustainability initiatives, including the development and execution of impact programmes focused on key areas such as decarbonisation, circularity, and living wages. He will also oversee the publication of GFA’s trusted thought leadership, guiding the education and mobilisation of the industry. Across all of this work, he will ensure strategic engagement with key industry stakeholders and partners throughout the fashion value chain.
Pariag brings over 14 years of sustainability experience in global and regional roles across fashion brands, groups and retailers, offering a well-rounded perspective on sustainability and business strategy. He was formerly Global Senior Director of Sustainable Business Strategy & Director of Sustainable Product, Tommy Hilfiger Global & PVH Europe. He was also VP of Sustainable Business for the Dutch department store De Bijenkorf – part of the Selfridges Group. With qualifications in environmental science, policy and management, he will contribute his strong experience in establishing climate and circularity roadmaps for global brands and retailers.
In addition, María Luisa Martínez Díez will adopt the new role of VP, Public Affairs. Previously Public Affairs Director, Martínez Díez has been promoted to enhance GFA’s strategic policy engagements. Martínez Díez has played an instrumental role in shaping the organisation’s advocacy efforts to date by regularly convening core policymakers with industry leaders, and initiating new policy-centred publications to keep the industry informed on the latest developments in an increasingly complex regulatory environment.
Prior to joining GFA in 2019, Martínez Díez established over a decade’s worth of experience in Brussels where she worked at the European Commission, the Regional Office of Madrid and the Brussels-based consultancy EURALIA – working in the fields of circular economy and sustainability in the supply chains.
Furthermore, Dana Schou has been promoted to the role of VP, Partnerships and Development, advancing from her previous role as Director of Partnerships and Development. Since joining GFA in 2019, Schou has been dedicated to growing GFA’s convening power to facilitate pre-competitive industry collaboration and collective action. Schou will continue to build impact-centric partnerships with the diverse fashion ecosystem and establish fruitful collaborations with grantors and foundations.
Schou has a wealth of experience collaborating with foundations, philanthropists and corporations on strategic programmes. Prior to GFA she was a Director within the Partnerships and Philanthropy Directorate at the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), and spent 10 years in global marketing and communications roles for numerous Louis Vuitton-Moët Hennessy (LVMH) brands. She is passionate about bringing people and organisations together to create change.
Federica Marchionni, CEO, Global Fashion Agenda, says:
“In this tumultuous time for sustainability, agility, hope and perseverance towards our long-term impact goals are essential. We welcome Justin to GFA and look forward to applying his in-depth understanding of operationalising sustainability among brands and retailers. It is an honour to empower such a talented and committed Leadership team and I am confident Justin, Maria Luisa and Dana will flourish in their new roles as they work together to drive industry progress.”
Pariag commences his role on 19 May and Martinez and Schou’s promotions are effective immediately.
This article is a contribution from Next Gen Assembly 2024 Member, Aerielle Rojas.
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