SALLYANN HOUGHTON

Sallyann Houghton, an Industry Manager specializing in Fashion and Apparel at Epic Games, is a passionate advocate for the emergence of the Metaverse, driven by the principles of identity and self-expression. With a keen eye for innovation, Sallyann is at the forefront of shaping the digital landscape, particularly in the realms of Digital Design/Fashion, Virtual Production, Avatars/MetaHumans, Real-Time technologies, Virtual Goods, and Digital Pipelines.

In her role at Epic Games, Sallyann champions the idea that the Metaverse is not just a virtual world but a canvas for individuals to express their unique identities and styles. Her commitment to this vision fuels her work, where she collaborates with fashion and apparel industry leaders to redefine the boundaries of digital creativity and immersive experiences.

Sallyann's expertise lies in harnessing the power of technology to enable real-time interactions and experiences within the digital realm. She understands the profound impact that avatars and MetaHumans can have on shaping our virtual identities and the way we engage with the digital universe.

Moreover, Sallyann's contributions extend to the world of Virtual Goods, where she explores new dimensions of consumer engagement and commerce. Her work helps bridge the gap between the physical and digital, unlocking exciting possibilities for the fashion and apparel industry.

As an expert in Digital Pipelines, Sallyann streamlines the processes that underpin the creation and distribution of digital content, ensuring efficiency and innovation in every project she undertakes.

MATTHEW DRINKWATER | FASHION INNOVATION AGENCY, LCF

Matthew is a world-renowned expert in emerging technologies and their application to the creative industries.

A specialist in immersive technologies (XR/MR/AR/VR), he and his team are building pathways for a truly digitized world.

Named as a ‘fashion-tech trailblazer’ by Draper’s, a ‘pioneer and a visionary’ by Wired and the 'OG of Digital Fashion' by RTFKT Studios, Matthew has delivered groundbreaking experiences and a stunning range of projects that have captured the imagination of both the fashion and technology industries, including what Forbes described as ‘the first example of truly beautiful wearable tech’. He was also named as a "Digital World's Influencer" by Stylus for 2020.

ANDREA ABRAMS | PHYGICODE & FAITHTRIBE

Andrea Abrams is the founder and CEO of PHYGICODE, a consortium and lab, creating a phygital approach to Web3 adoption. Andrea is also Chief of Strategy at Faith Tribe, a Web2-to-Web3 platform providing physical and digital tools for fashion creators. She is a Board Advisor at 3D engine, Threedium, and EVM blockchain, Lukso, and a Strategic Advisor to Web3 investment firm, Scytale Ventures.  Andrea is a lead pre-seed investor in wearable NFT marketplace, The Dematerialised, and in sustainability platform, Pool Berlin, among others. She is featured in the Women of The Future book, Vol.1, is the Davos Blockchain Hub (WEF) 2022 and 2023 keynote speaker on NFTs and Spatial Web for fashion, a  featured speaker at Vogue Greece Game Changers 2022 and a Threedium Top 50 XR Award recipient. Andrea is a Mentor at Farfetch Dream Assembly Base Camp, a member of 100 Women of Davos and Global Women Dubai.  She was a Metaverse Fashion Week 2023 curator and is a Board Trustee of Women of The Future Latin America.

MICHAEL FERRARO | FASHION INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Mr. Ferraro is the Executive Director of the FIT Design and Technology Lab (DTech) at the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC. The DTech Lab was founded as a public/private partnership with a mission to engage faculty and students solving industry problems using design and technology. The strategic goals of DTech's high-impact experiential learning are accomplished through projects that envision the future, empower entrepreneurs and engage industry partners ranging from innovative tech startups to global technology leaders. Creative technologist, researcher, artist and educator, Mr. Ferraro’s career spans the worlds of software development, virtual reality media production, fine art, commercial entertainment and higher education. He came to FIT from Lehman College/CUNY where he spent 12 years as an associate professor in the digital media program of the art department. In 2015, working with students, he won a NY Emmy for Graphics and Animation Supervision for a series of PSA’s entitled “Best of the Bronx”. Mr. Ferraro co-authored a $5M CUNY 2020 grant, awarded in 2016, to build a New Media Jobs Incubator and Innovation Lab.

In 1996, Mr. Ferraro co-founded PossibleWorlds, Inc, where he invented the innovative real-time animation technology known as Kabuki™, which has been used by media outlets such as Cartoon Network, Disney TV, MTV and Warner Brothers. In the early 90’s Mr. Ferraro designed and built large scale virtual worlds which were constructed as interactive operas and were exhibited at important contemporary art centers around the world. In the late 90’s he designed a multiplayer virtual experience for the Lisbon World Exposition and helped Silicon Graphics launch their implementation of VRML the first web-based VR authoring tool. In 1986, Mr. Ferraro co-founded Blue Sky Studios, a feature length computer animation studio where he served as VP System Architecture for the Scientific & Technical Academy Award winning CGI Studio™ renderer.

The strategic goals of DTech's high-impact experiential learning are accomplished through projects that envision the future, empower entrepreneurs and engage industry partners ranging from innovative tech startups to global technology leaders.

DENISE HARRIS | SUM VIVAS

Sum Vivas is an artificial intelligence company that creates advanced digital humans to enhance customer interactions for use in today’s real world and tomorrow’s metaverse.

Denise has spent over 20 years as the founder/ Event Director organising large scale festivals, fashion events and concerts, Denise has now also utilised her entrepreneurial expertise to create and manage the UK’s first Digital Human DJ/Influencer, ‘Dex’.

Denise’s passions and experience in Music and fashion will be utilised to enable Dex to be a true ambassador for Digital Fashion and to help to highlight sustainability in fashion as a pressing social issue that addresses the environmental, social, and ethical concerns associated with the fashion industry.

BLAKE LEZENSKI | OUTLIER VENTURES

Blake is the Partner Program Director at Outlier Ventures and leads the execution of the FARFETCH Dream Assembly Base Camp program. Having successfully concluded the first edition, he is currently guiding the next cohort of 7 startups. Deeply embedded in the global digital fashion network, he established best practices in building program-specific deal flow and unique domain insights into what makes a web3 luxury fashion project successful long-term. He oversees a variety of key strategic partnerships with Outlier Ventures and the relationship with FARFETCH.

Blake’s personal winning track record of angel investing helped him formulate a robust knowledge base, experience with investor relations and how to best support early-stage founders in a niche but rapidly growing Web3 luxury commerce & digital fashion market.

LESLIE HOLDEN | THE DIGITAL FASHION GROUP

Leslie Holden, is co-founder at The Digital Fashion Group which is a European-led collaboration between Fashion Academics and Industry . The aim is to equip fashion education, professionals and brands with the relevant skills, mindset and strategies for tomorrow’s workplace. Previously as Head of fashion & design at the Amsterdam Fashion Institute (AMFI) and a member of the amfi board for over 14 years, was responsible for the redevelopment of the international curricula focussing on digitalisation and sustainability in fashion.

Being a design director and entrepreneur with over 20 years’ experience in the fashion industry for such companies as Dunhill, Stefanel, Byblos, Burberry and Liberty, he has extensive knowledge of the international luxury market and the relationship of education to business.

Leslie sits on the Steering Committee of The EU Worth Partnership Project, and is an EU expert for the creative industries. He was for many years an Executive Board member of the International Foundation of Fashion Technology Institutes (IFFTI), and a trustee of The UK Graduate Fashion Foundation, and has been a guest speaker at many major education and creative conferences.

ROXANNE IYER | SYKY

Roxanne is a recognized leader with 20+ years of experience in Asia & the US at world class agencies, media companies and brands. She was previously the Global Head of Digital Marketing at Ralph Lauren, the Vice President of Global Consumer Engagement at Estée Lauder, and in various media, marketing and innovation leadership roles at L’Oreal, where she led cross-functional capabilities while managing budgets of $500MM+, driving multi-million dollar business performance across marketing, innovation & operations focused on retail, beauty, consumer goods & finance. During her career, Roxanne has led innovation in AI, leadership in social innovation and media and marketing transformation.

Roxanne led industry first initiatives across Web3 while at Ralph Lauren forging partnerships with Snapchat's Bitmoji and Chance The Rapper for a virtual retail experience. She also led one of the first Web3 launches for the beauty industry with multiple campaigns at Estee Lauder focused on modernizing loyalty, as well as Clinique's 'Metaverse Like Us' campaign which focused on leading representation in the metaverse. Roxanne was awarded The Vogue Business top 100 innovators award in 2022 and the 'Top Women to Watch’ award by Brand Innovators.