Digital Product Passport Workshop: From Compliance to Competitive Edge

Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technology Officer, Cobalt Fashion (Hong Kong) Limited

Vice Chairman, Textile Council of Hong Kong

Chairman, Hong Kong Woollen & Synthetic Knitting Manufacturers' Association

Roger Chan has extensive experience in the knitwear manufacturing sector, holding significant leadership positions at Cobalt Fashion and in the broader textile and garment industry in Hong Kong.  

As the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Cobalt Fashion, Roger oversees both the operational and technological aspects of the company. Under his leadership, Cobalt Fashion leverages cutting-edge technological tools and digital initiatives, such as the joint venture with Shima Seiki and the Search Engine project with Alibaba Cloud, to enhance its production processes and design capabilities.  

As part of Fung Group and one of the sister companies of Li & Fung, Cobalt Fashion position as a trailblazer in the knitwear industry, catering to a diverse clientele from mass retailers to premium brands. By leveraging AI and the industry’s foremost digital knitwear asset library, Roger and his team deliver high-quality virtual designs and production-ready data, transforming traditional knitwear manufacturing into a technology-driven industry.

Beyond his role at Cobalt Fashion, Roger serves as the Chairman of the Hong Kong Woollen & Synthetic Knitting Manufacturers' Association and Vice Chairman of the Textile Council of Hong Kong, respectively, highlight his broader influence in the industry. These leadership roles involve shaping industry standards, advocating for sector interests, and promoting innovation along sustainability initiatives. 

Francesca Poggiali is Vice President Global Public Policy at GS1 after 8 years as Chief Public Policy Officer Europe. She started her career at GS1 in 2016 and she is based in Brussels, Belgium (Avenue Louise 523, 1050).

Francesca Poggiali is a public policy professional with 25 years of experience in complex political and technical environments linked to fast moving consumer good products. Her career includes both public and private sectors experience gained at:

• The European Commission and European Parliament – from 1996 to 2005
• Cosmetics Europe and the Federation of Chemical Industries – from 2005 to 2007
• Ferrero International as public policy lead and later global sustainability lead – from 2007 to 2015
• GS1 as Public Policy Director, then Chief Public Policy Officer Europe and as of July 2024 as Vice President Global Public Policy
   

Among her biggest achievements so far:

• The negotiations of the TBT agreement between WTO and the EU,
• The development of the EU TRIS mechanism,
• The corporate social responsibility program for Ferrero International,
• The convergence of environmental protection and chemical industry impacts in the framework of the EU Chemical reform,
• The fight against illicit trade program and digital product passports engagement through open non-proprietary standards for GS1.
   

Francesca studied Corporate Social Responsibility at the Harvard Business School, and International and European Law in the UK and Italy where she received the highest recognition cum laude. She speaks Italian, English, French, Spanish fluently。

• Global Traceability Trainer, GS1 Global
• Principal Consultant, GS1 Hong Kong
• Certified ESG Planner, CEP™
• Certified Agile Leader
• Project Management Professional, PMP®
• SCOR® Trainer and Certified Lean (Service) Professional
• Seasoned trainer in supply chain and traceability with 24+ years experience in leading regional supply chain function for FMCG and MNC Food corporations
• Accredited Auditor, clients include General Mills, Lam Soon, AEON, Maxim’s, Swire Coca-Cola, etc.
• Member of Centre of Food Safety’s Trade Consultation Group, International Food Safety Association, Hong Kong Food Council, Hong Kong Logistics Association,
• Chartered of Transport and Logistics, and iProA
• Supply Chain Qualifications:  MSc in Industrial Logistics, SCOR-Professional, Certificate of Supply Chain Professional, Global Traceability Auditor and Trainer,
• Certificate in MIT’s AI and Digital Transformation in Supply Chain
• Project Management:  PMP, Certified Agile Leader
• Others:  Registered Lean Leader, Design Thinking Certification, Certified ESG Planner

Pat was a Partner and the Head of ESG practice in Hong Kong at KPMG China. He also led the Sustainable Finance practice in Hong Kong and is very active in developing the ESG landscape for Hong Kong and international financial centres in the region.

He has been active for over 17 years in the field of sustainable development. In his previous capacity as a director at Central Textiles, through his leadership, Central Textiles was the first textile company in Asia to issue a Sustainability Report under the Global Reporting Initiatives (“GRI”) Guidelines in 2008. The report subsequently received an award from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (“ACCA”).
For his contribution to the textile industry with regards to sustainability, Pat received the Young Industrialist of the Year award from the Federation of Hong Kong Industries in 2009.

Through his initiatives Central Textiles subsequently won the Gold Award for the Hang Seng Pearl River Delta Environmental Award in 2012 and the Hong Kong Award for Environmental Excellence (“HKAEE”) – Manufacturing Sector in 2013. He also helped KPMG win the HKAEE Gold Award–Service and Trading Sector in 2019.
 

Since 2018, Pat has chaired two working groups on the development of ESG strategy for Hong Kong for the Financial Services Development Council. The working groups have issued 2 policy papers during his term and the recommendations made aiming to catalyse the development of the sustainable finance market in Hong Kong have been well received.