2024 Speakers

As a packaging developer who has worked in the Tech, Pharma, Personal Care, and Beauty Industry, Sebba brings over a decade of insight of what it means to have a truly immersive and holistic product experience through packaging. With a passion for brands, she is able to craft a story through beautiful packaging.

Currently, Sebba holds the position of Director of Packaging Sustainability at MAC Cosmetics, where she leads initiatives to drive sustainability across packaging practices. Additionally, Sebba serves as an adjunct professor, teaching Sustainable Packaging Design at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT).

Sebba is committed to pushing the boundaries of packaging innovation while championing sustainability practices that resonate with both consumers and industry stakeholders alike.

Jana is the Head of the Luxury Sector for Capgemini Switzerland, a global consulting firm where she provides strategic leadership and oversees financial and operational management for the luxury sector. Additionally, she is a co-founder and Executive Board Member at IMD Luxury 2050 Forum and serves as an Advisory Board Member for several startups in the luxury skincare sector. Her expertise lies in providing strategic counsel to brands, enabling them to develop consumer propositions that command premium pricing. Before entering the consulting field, Jana held a number of positions in the high-end retail sector in both Asia and Europe. She graduated from Harvard University with a Master of Liberal Arts in Industrial-Organizational Psychology and the IMD Business School with an MBA. She is an active contributor to a range of business magazines and academic periodicals such as Forbes and Bloomberg establishing herself as a thought leader in the industry.

Millie Carrasquillo is one of the leading Hispanic market experts in the marketplace today with over 30 years’ experience working in Spanish language media at the two major Spanish-language broadcast networks. She is a respected expert in research design that properly measures Hispanic and multicultural audiences. Considered an innovator, Millie is known for embracing new techniques to better understand consumer dynamics. Her passion is advocating for the Hispanic consumer, giving them a voice inside corporate hallways.

While holding senior-level positions at Telemundo, Univision she was instrumental in partnering with the major research firms: Nielsen, MRI and Simmons to develop methodologies that accurately measure U.S. Hispanics. Carasquillo was a major force in developing the NHTI (Nielsen Hispanic Television Index), a ratings service dedicated to measuring US Hispanic TV preferences, which enabled the Spanish-language networks to receive bigger allocations of advertising dollars. While she served as SVP at Telemundo, she was instrumental in launching research content innovations that helped the network leap from an eight share to a 30 share among A18-49.

Throughout her career Millie was a member of the MRC (Media Rating Council), the most prestigious committee in the world dedicated to approving and maintaining measurement standards for syndicated services used by advertisers and agencies.

Millie launched Millie C Consultancy in 2016 offering business advisory services, spanning Hispanic marketplace insights, research design and marketing strategy consultation, and content assessment after leaving corporate environment.

Her impressive media client roster includes leading entertainment and sports companies in the U.S. and Mexico.

Carrasquillo is part of LatinUs Beauty in 2017 serving as one of the founders focused on consumer insights, media buying and strategy.

Carrasquillo is on the board of Screen Engine/ASI, a research and data analytics firm focused on maximizing market potential while assessing risk for clients in the entertainment and media industries.

Carrasquillo collaborated on the published work “Extraordinary Latinas Volume II” released in March 2023 which focused on stories about breaking the narrative and redefining one’s power.

James Davidson is the Chief Commercial Officer at Genera, the largest vertically integrated, alternative fiber & molded fiber packaging producer in the United States.  His passion is creating value for brand owners by helping them move toward alternative fiber-based products, helping brands reach their sustainability commitments.   James Davidson’s career spans more than 20 years working in a series of high level commercial and operational roles at top tier companies including global packaging leaders such as Amcor and Sonoco as well as transformational leadership roles in privately held companies with focus throughout his career on food, consumer, medical and industrial segments.

Gale Epstein’s fashion journey started at 12 years-old, creating designs and selling them in her native St. Louis. After studying at Washington University and Parsons School of Design, she began her professional career in knitwear, designing for domestic companies while making custom accessory and clothing designs for NYC boutiques under her own label, ‘recycled by gale’.  In 1977, intrigued by the idea of turning modest Victorian-era inspired hand-embroidered handkerchiefs into a modern female statement, she crafted a bra and bikini birthday gift for her friend Lida Orzeck. It was a gift that launched Hanky Panky, a lingerie brand now sold in over 70 countries.

By 1986 Gale had set her mind to a new challenge – designing a comfortable thong for the new stretch jeans generation. She launched product no. 4811, the perfect one-size lace thong.  Hanky Panky’s Signature Lace has since seen 500 colors and over 270 prints, as well as a multitude of other popular silhouettes. In 2004, the thongs gained wider distribution with her “anti-package” approach of rolling them and securing with a branded band. Hanky Panky has always been a strong supporter of US production of fabrics, garment manufacturing, and packaging.

Not one to rest on her laurels, Gale continues to champion Hanky Panky’s sustainability journey, advocating for best practices in fabric, packaging, production and recycling. In 2017 she initiated Lingeriecycle® as a way for customers to recycle used underwear. She is thrilled to partner with Canopy Planet to help create a market for Next Gen packaging and fabric solutions.

Gale has a lifelong commitment to supporting environmental, animal rights, social and arts organizations.

She is a board member of Sing Sing Prison Museum, a patron of Pace University Seidenberg School’s BluCoLab program and a member of WellMet Philanthropy.

Carley plays an instrumental role in leading Sephora’s sustainability efforts including the development and launch of its US Public Chemicals Policy, Clean at Sephora, and Planet Aware at Sephora brand parameters. She is responsible for driving sustainability and impact across the company’s brand partner portfolio which includes developing resources, policies and programs around sustainability and safer chemistries.

She has led Sephora’s commitment and implementation strategy to eliminate and replace high-priority chemicals in formula and packaging by 2030. She has also worked to double the number of brands meeting sustainability commitments in the Clean + Planet Positive program in less than a year and led the standards work to globalize Sephora’s product formulation and environmental seals.

As a leader in conscious business, Carley has worked across the beauty and sustainability industry for more than 15 years. Previously holding roles at Biossance/Amyris, Bare Escentuals, environmental NGO’s, purpose driven tech startups in the Bay Area and is an EDF Climate Corps Fellow.

In 2018, Carley founded her own consulting business, CleanB Consulting and supports leading beauty brands in their sustainability efforts. Carley studied undergrad at the University of California, Santa Barbara and has an MBA in Sustainable Management from Presidio Graduate School in San Francisco where she was on the Presidio Alumni Association Board of Directors.

Sheri is the Co-Founder and Chief Strategist of MSLK, a branding agency based in New York. MSLK specializes in helping beauty companies find their voice in today’s crowded marketplace through 360° positioning — from overall brand strategy to brand identity, packaging, websites and digital marketing campaigns. Sheri has worked with clients such as Aveda, Chanel, Joico, John Masters Organics, Maybelline, Ouidad, Redken, Sephora, in addition to many smaller brands.

She frequently speaks about marketing and branding at conferences around the world. In 2002 Sheri co-founded the non-profit organization, Spark Design Professionals and in 2012 Evolve Symposium. Both produce events and workshops dedicated to best practices and business acumen for design agencies.

Sheri is the Co-Founder and Chief Strategist of MSLK, a branding agency based in New York. MSLK specializes in helping beauty companies find their voice in today’s crowded marketplace through 360° positioning — from overall brand strategy to brand identity, packaging, websites and digital marketing campaigns. Sheri has worked with clients such as Aveda, Chanel, Joico, John Masters Organics, Maybelline, Ouidad, Redken, Sephora, in addition to many smaller brands.

She frequently speaks about marketing and branding at conferences around the world. In 2002 Sheri co-founded the non-profit organization, Spark Design Professionals and in 2012 Evolve Symposium. Both produce events and workshops dedicated to best practices and business acumen for design agencies.

Kurt Kretten is Global Chief Creative Officer at Marks. A creative leader and curious soul with over 20 years of experience in everything from brand design to product development, advertising and film,
Kurt is a multi-disciplined designer in a mad pursuit of experiences that connect people, culture, brands, and technology in meaningful ways.

Nancy Mahon, Chief Sustainability Officer, is a transformational, collaborative leader with deep global experience in enterprise-wide management as well as leading Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy, operations, marketing, reporting and risk reduction. In the increasingly disruptive ESG arena, Nancy is a trusted and sought-after advisor, speaker and enterprise ambassador. She is committed to taking the long view on building sustainable and inclusive companies, teams and communities. Nancy is an influential and effective company liaison with investors, ESG rankers and raters, government officials, NGOs, employees and customers. A senior executive at The Estée Lauder Companies who serves on the CEO’s Executive Leadership Team, Nancy helms best practices, synergizing them across brands, regions and functions, integrating ESG operations into the enterprise and ensuring compliance with all local and international laws. Nancy oversees the enterprise-wide leadership initiative on sustainability at The Estée Lauder Companies and serves on the Inclusion and Diversity Council.

Jamie Matusow is the Editor-in-Chief of Beauty Packaging magazine, where she writes about packaging suppliers, beauty brands, market trends and innovations in the global cosmetics packaging industry. She has held positions at a variety of magazines for more than 20 years, for the past 10, at Beauty Packaging.

Bill McCool is the Editor-in-Chief at Dieline, a leading online media platform for packaging design, branding, and sustainability. With a keen eye for innovation and a passion for connecting the design community, Bill has been instrumental in shaping Dieline into a must-read resource for creative professionals worldwide.

Before joining Dieline, Bill honed his editorial skills as a freelancer and ghostwriter, covering a wide range of topics. Not only have his words appeared in publications like The Muse and Branders, but he was also the Managing Editor at PRINT. Bill and his family call Massachusetts home, but he is still very much a Philadelphia Phillies fan, so don’t worry too much about where his allegiances are.

Liz Morris is the Global Brand Manager-Packaging at Tiffany & Co and has been with Tiffany & Co since 2017. Before coming to Tiffany, she had her own company, Sanitation Creations, and holds multiple patents for a waterless toilet. She has focused her career for the past 10+ years on sustainable packaging solutions. She has a MBA and a Master of Environmental Sciences and Engineering from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida in Packaging Science.

As head of Product Design Trends at Stylus, Dewi’s work defines how shifts in consumer behaviour, material innovation and technological advancements influence the future of design. Her reporting and presentations inspire product development and concept creation, spanning a broad range of topics – from furniture and architecture, to interaction design and automotive. Dewi is motivated by the positive impact of great design – be it enabling a comfortable home for all or regenerative innovations that can undo environmental damage.

Rick Ponte is a seasoned engineering executive currently serving as the Vice President of Project Engineering at APC Packaging. With a distinguished career spanning 30 years in the industry, Rick has demonstrated exceptional leadership and technical prowess in guiding engineering projects to successful outcomes. In his role at APC Packaging, Rick oversees the strategic direction and execution of engineering initiatives, playing a pivotal role in driving innovation, efficiency, sustainability and quality across all projects. He leads a multidisciplinary team of engineers and project managers, fostering a collaborative environment focused on delivering cutting-edge solutions to meet client needs and exceed industry standards. Rick brings a wealth of experience to his position, having previously held key leadership roles in engineering and project management. His expertise extends across various domains, including product development, process optimization, and quality assurance, enabling him to navigate complex challenges and deliver tangible results in dynamic business environments. Known for his strategic vision and hands-on approach, Rick is committed to driving continuous improvement and fostering a culture of excellence within his team. He leverages his technical acumen and industry insights to identify emerging opportunities and develop innovative strategies that position APC Packaging as a leader in the field.

Heather is a self-proclaimed science lover turned packaging developer with 15 years in the Consumer Goods and Beauty industry. She has held roles spanning from consumer insights to global procurement.

During Heather’s time in procurement, she managed the Global Plastic Jars and Bottles commercial supplier management focusing on Category sourcing strategies, supplier strategies, service and quality, market intelligence, contract negotiations, sustainability, and building capabilities supporting innovation and growth.

Heather joined The Estée Lauder Companies in 2019 and has supported the successful integration of Too Faced and Le Labo brands, led packaging development for Prescriptives and Rodin, and facilitated the Rodin collaboration under Jo Malone London.

Heather brings with her expertise in Skin Care plastic packaging and proven success in developing supplier led innovations with direct suppliers and TPM’s, leading new business integration, and managing new product development for small and large (>$1 Bi) Global Brands.

Currently, Heather is the Director of Packaging at Clinique, where she leads global new product launches for the skincare category. Heather’s personal commitment to sustainability aligns with the Clinique brands philosophy supporting responsible packaging.

Lisa Price’s journey begins like that of many entrepreneurs—with curiosity and determination mixed with moments of panic and a resounding belief that products that were made with love and delivered on their promise would find their following. It was a company born of Price’s love for fragrance and a passion for scent alchemy that formed the foundation of her high-performing products. More than a quarter of a century later, even amid massive industry disruption, new company leadership, and acquisition by L’Oréal, Carol’s Daughter continues to thrive and remain relevant in an industry where brands come and go as quickly as trends change.

Carol’s Daughter began in Price’s Brooklyn kitchen. With a career in TV production, mixing up fragrances, perfume sprays, and creams served as a creative outlet. It wasn’t long before Price began dabbling in aromatherapeutic oils, educating herself on their healing properties.

In 1993, Price, with the gentle nudge from her mother Carol, began to sell her products. With $100 in
cash and a cramped kitchen, she crafted a collection that would become the foundation of a beauty
empire. Selling her homespun concoctions at flea markets, and later out of her living room, favorable
word-of-mouth began to spread for early iterations of Almond Cookie, Hair Milk, and Black Vanilla Hair
Smoothie—all of which retain their cult status today.

“To name my company, I listed everything I was, and wanted to be, and realized the most special thing
that I am, is Lisa, Carol’s daughter.”

Over the next few years, word spread, with celebrities like Jada Pinkett-Smith, Erykah Badu, Rosie Perez,
and Halle Berry becoming loyal customers.

Joining the L’Oréal family in November 2014, Carol’s Daughter widened its extensive footprint, selling its
hair, body, and skincare solutions nationwide at key retailers.

During the Obama administration, Price was appointed to the National Women’s Business Council, an
independent source of advice and policy recommendations to the President, Congress, and the U.S.
Small Business Administration, on economic issues that face female business owners.

Price was featured in the film She Did That (2019) and is the recipient of numerous awards, including
the National Black MBA Association’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award (2000), the Working Woman
Magazine’s Entrepreneurial Excellence Award (2001), and a Cosmetic Executive Women Achiever Award
(2010). She is also the author of “Success Never Smelled So Sweet,” a memoir that chronicles her
transformation from a young Black woman deep in debt to president of a paradigm-changing business.
Price is also a member of the Board of Directors for First Watch Restaurants (July 2020.)

In April 2021, Price and Carol’s Daughter partnered with the world-renown doula Latham Thomas and
her foundation, The Mama Glow Foundation to launch Love Delivered, an initiative focused on raising
awareness of the Black Maternal Health Crisis in the United States and the importance of advocates and
doulas at the times when Black birthing people and babies are most vulnerable—before, during and
after birth. Love Delivered will work over the next 3 years, to positively impact the lives of Black birthing
people and babies by raising awareness about Black Maternal Health amongst 100 Million people and
directly engaging 10,000 people to be advocates.

Price and her husband, Gordon, have three children and still live in Brooklyn. When she can find the
time, Price enjoys going to the beach, reading, crocheting, knitting, and watching movies

Nicole leads the strategic direction of solutions-driven not-for-profit Canopy, and is committed to ensuring that the power of the global marketplace leverages tangible conservation gains for the world’s forests, species, climate, and frontline communities. Canopy has transformed unsustainable supply chains, kickstarted commercial production of innovative solutions, and greened the practices of 750+ large companies including H&M, Li and Fung and Penguin Random House. Nicole is a member of the UBS Global Visionaries Program, an Ashoka Fellow, recipient of a Canadian Environment Award Gold Medal, recipient of the Meritorious Service Cross of Canada, winner of the 2020 Climate Breakthrough Award, recipient of a Global Australian Award in Sustainability, and a 2023 awardee of The Audacious Project.

Christian Saclier is a multifaceted Innovation and Creative Design expert, who currently serves as the Vice President of Design Innovation at PepsiCo. His focus is on operationalizing innovation through design, leading to added strategic business value across PepsiCo’s global brands and businesses. With over 20 years of experience in multiple industries (Pharmaceuticals, Skin Care, Food & Beverages) at leading companies such as Roche, Novartis, Nestlé and now PepsiCo, Christian has taken the stage to share his unique cross-functional knowledge at design and innovation conferences all over the globe. Associate professor in Design & Innovation Strategy at the prestigious Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, and a respected guest lecturer at highly ranked MBA and Design schools worldwide, Christian Saclier is leveraging and extending his hands-on practical knowledge in a variety of future-facing industries.

Vicki Strull is a left-brain Ivy League intellectual and a right-brain dynamic creative with over 25 years in the industry.
Known for the energy she brings to graphic design, strategic thinking, and brand positioning, Vicki is a design strategist, consultant, and packaging designer who has become an indispensable marketing and creative partner for some of the top brands in America, including HP Sappi, Bayer, Coppertone, and Pizza Hut. Vicki is not only a regular contributor and columnist in various design, branding, and print focused trade publications, but she is also an adjunct professor at Tulane University.
Through keynotes, webinars, and master classes, Vicki has presented to CMOs, marketers, and agencies at meetings and both national and international conferences for HP, Xeikon, the Design Management Institute, Printing United, Sappi, and AIGA. In the words of Bill Hodges, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Oliver, “Vicki Strull thinks like a consumer and strategizes like a general.”

Vicki Strull has more than 25 years of experience in the marketing and design industry as a brand strategist, creative director, and packaging designer.
She is known for the sensibility she bestows on strategic thinking and brand positioning, paired with the cutting-edge creativity she brings to branding and design.
She has advised both top-tier B2C and B2B brands, such as HP, Sappi, Bayer, Coppertone, and Pizza Hut, as well as DTC emerging brands, on how to leverage the power of
design and packaging to increase sales, create new revenue streams, and build brand loyalty. Vicki not only writes articles in global trade publications, such as Print, Labels & Labeling, and Printing Impressions, but she is also an adjunct professor at Tulane University. She consults with corporate leaders on building a design culture within their organization and gives keynotes at industry conferences—both in the US and internationally.
One of her clients, a VP of Sales & Marketing, describes her this way, “What makes Vicki unique is that she thinks like a consumer and strategizes
like a general”

Diana Verde Nieto, is a prominent business leader and sustainability expert. Diana has a remarkable track record of over 20 years of experience in guiding companies towards sustainable economic growth and innovation. She established one of the world’s pioneering sustainability communication consultancies in 2002, which she exited in 2010. In 2011, she co-founded Positive Luxury and spearheaded the enterprise until 2022, continuing to sit on the board.

Diana serves as an advisor to several noteworthy organizations, including Sustainnovate, The British Beauty Council, La Prairie, The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affair. Her education in Global Leadership & Public Policy was attained from the esteemed Harvard Kennedy School. She was trained by former US Vice President Al Gore at the Alliance of Climate Protection and received title of Young Global Leader from the World Economic Forum.

Diana has recently released a book- Reimagining Luxury: How to Build a Sustainable Future for Your Brand in January 2024, which further solidifies her as a highly respected authority in the realm of sustainability and business.