FASHION FWD TEAM

Alexandra McNair Quinn, FOUNDER/CEO

Alexandra is a globally recognized change agent in non-toxic fashion and a leading voice in the international dialogue to turn fashion lovers into conscious consumers through education and action. To help shed light on the hidden epidemic of harmful chemicals in clothing, Alexandra founded Fashion FWD in 2018. A frequent speaker on sustainable fashion topics, Alexandra previously served on the U.S. sustainability team, Sancroft, Chaired by the UK’s former Secretary of State for the Environment and Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Lord Deben. When not sharing ideas to move fashion forward in the boardrooms of leading brands around the world, Alexandra can be found educating students in the classroom and through the global business of fashion.

Gavin Gillas, JD, CHAIRMAN

Gavin is the founder of Giving Docs, a philanthropic long-term funding site. He is an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the University of Texas and the former CEO of The Magazine Channel.  Gavin mentors and teaches entrepreneurship and social impact at TechStars, DivInc, Impact Hub, Galvanize and General Assembly. 

Bethany Bennett, SECRETARY

Bethany is a retail and consumer goods consultant for Accenture with a focus on transformational strategies with experience across the retail and consumer goods industries. She is passionate about sustainability and innovation and supports Fashion FWD with strategy and business development.

Jon Slizza, DIRECTOR

Jon Slizza has had a 30-year career that includes founding multiple businesses, consulting for start-ups, investment banking, financial analyst, VP of Finance and Investor Relations for a public company, advisory board member for tech start-ups, and as a Board member of several non-profit organizations.

Jon has bought and sold multiple businesses and advised on several business unit divestitures. He has been involved in over 100 transactions raising more than half a billion dollars for companies both private and public, and has provided coaching to CEOs and CFOs on the intricacies of fundraising, pitching, messaging, etc. to professional investors.

He is passionate about sustainability, ethical manufacturing, and Conscious Capitalism, Jon is the founder and CEO of Qhipas Footwear whose social mission is to help sustain indigenous communities and preserve their ancestral artisanal legacies.

James Connelly, DIRECTOR

One of the most influential leaders in the corporate sustainability and green building movement today, James Connelly is the Chief Executive Officer of My Green Lab. James is a frequent keynote speaker on regenerative design, sustainable business, and laboratory sustainability. He is an avid writer, and his research and commentary have been featured in news outlets such as China Dialogue, CGTN TV, Engineering News Record, Building Green, Trim Tab, Sustainable Brands, and GreenBiz. 

Before joining My Green Lab, James was the Vice President of Strategic Growth for the International Living Future Institute, where he led international growth strategy and became a founding board member of Living Future Institute Europe. During his time at ILFI, James created several leading-edge sustainability programs, including Declare, an innovative ingredient transparency label for non-toxic building products, Living Product Challenge, the world’s most advanced sustainability standard for building products and Just, a social equity label for organizations and Zero Carbon Building Certification. 

Tiffany Tran, Educational Resource Manager

Tiffany Tran received her Bachelor's degree in Human Biology and Ethics at the University of Toronto, Canada. She is passionate about all things sustainable, with a special interest in circular economy. Tiffany helps to develop educational resources for Fashion FWD.

Lexie Korol, Project Manager

Lexie earned her Masters of Urban Planning from Hunter College, CUNY. She is an advocate for change in the fashion industry through her research and project management assistance with Fashion FWD.

Jeff Ruffolo, a three-time Summer Olympic Sportscaster for Westwood One and the CBS Radio Network at the 1996 Atlanta, 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Summer Olympic Games, is sought after lecturer to major global business organizations and consultant to governments across China and the Middle East. Mr. Ruffolo served as President of the Los Angeles-based Travel Tourism Marketing Association. Mr. Ruffolo served on the White House Advance Staff for US President Ronald Reagan, and was Vice President, Marketing for Los Angeles-based Regent Air, an all-luxury airline and for eight years owned his own marketing company, Ruffolo Communications, based in Irvine, California.

Xiaofei Li joined Eileen Fisher, Inc. in 2014 where she currently manages their MRSL/RSL compliance program while working with suppliers to adopt safe chemistry and improve chemical management. Prior to joining Eileen Fisher, Xiaofei worked at Guilford Performance Textiles where she was devoted to chemical analysis, product development and regulatory compliance.

Roger Williams is an award-winning Director/Producer and Director of Photography, who has worked with some of the world’s most respected broadcasters and entertainment companies. He is the Producer of River Blue, a documentary that demonstrates how the fashion industry is polluting rivers around the world. While his career spans decades, perhaps one of his most memorable productions was working as Executive Producer and creative guru behind Canada’s Olympic Torch Relay, an event that has been called “monumental” in its coverage. His work has crossed from documentary, to reality, to drama, as well as commercials in both 3D and 2D and 360 environments.