What Kevin doesn’t know about making shoes isn’t worth knowing. With expertise from fitting to podiatry, and from factory design to quality control, he’s worked for some of the largest producers in the UK as well as global brands such as Dr Martens, Scholl and Chanel.

He works all over the world, from Central America, Africa to South Asia and beyond, setting up and managing production facilities. 

He plays a central and engaging role, positioned between Design team, Buying & Merchandising team & Production team, managing the development Critical Path process from footwear concept formation, SMS production and volume production stage. He produces risk-based vendor targeted surveillance and DC auditing.

Susan spent 20 years as a buyer for Marks and Spencer developing product by working closely with UK, European and Far East factories. 

Susan joined Start-rite shoes in 2005 as Product Director, developing product for the model of branded wholesale.

Since 2015 working as a consultant to companies entering the footwear industry from an existing business and start ups creating product ranges and sourcing production, managing the supply chain including specifications and critical paths. 

Vanessa started her career with Clarks Shoes, then progressing through production and sourcing roles in the UK and overseas at Coach, Pentland brands, Jimmy Choo and Burberry.

In her final role as VP of Supply Chain Sustainability at Burberry she was able to cement her belief in the power of good sourcing practice as a route to better social governance in supply chains.

Now consulting across a range of strategic supply chain issues within the footwear and fashion sector she brings practical sourcing skills and experience to some of the day to day challenges of running a responsible supply chain. She also works with leadership teams as they navigate the challenges of aligning sustainable practice with commercial reality. 

The Like Minded are an award winning creative agency based in Marlow, England. Specialising in animation, film and graphic design the team has extensive experience of working on learning & development programmes for membership organisations and large international organisations