The In4Sustain Ambassadors

The In4Sustain consortium implements collaboration with a wider community of stakeholders that encompasses educational institutions, textile and clothing companies and consumers. The goal is to holistically address sustainability issues of the apparel market and have a direct effect on reducing the environmental impact of the industry.

The project ambassadors play a vital role in disseminating the In4Sustain outcomes and fostering community engagement. They act as bridges between the project consortium and the broader audience, ensuring the accessibility of tools and methodologies developed during the project.

Raluca Maria Aileni

EU

Bio

Raluca Maria Aileni

Raluca Maria Aileni is a Scientific Researcher 1st Degree (Principal Investigator), Project Manager and Head of the Research Department in Materials Engineering and Textile Processes of INCDTP. She holds two 2 PhD in Industrial Engineering (TUIASI, 2012), respectively in Electronics and Telecommunication (UPB, 2022). Her expertise is in Materials Science, Computers Science, Electronics and Telecommunication. She was a member of the Technical Program Committees of several conferences and member of the Reviewer Board or Reviewer for more than 32 peer-reviewed journals.

Envelope Linkedin

Barbara Annunziata

ITALY

Bio

Barbara Annunziata

Teacher of Fashion Design & Management and Textile Design at Accademia Italiana (AI). Degree in Architecture and Master of Science in Landscape Design. Innovator in the field of sustainability applied to fashion. Founder of the a-ba brand and Action Women Social Tailoring for inclusive, circular and conscious fashion. For ICE (Italian Trade Agency) she has worked on blockchain and the protection of Made in Italy.

Envelope Linkedin

Mònica Ardanuy

SPAIN

Bio

Monica Ardanuy

Prof. Ardanuy is a Full Professor and head of the Textile Engineering Section at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-UPC and the Textile Technology Research Group- TECTEX. Her research focuses on textile recycling and sustainable fiber-reinforced cement-based composites. She has over 70 SCI-indexed publications, co-authored two patents, and contributed to various books. She coordinates several Spanish and European projects and has taught Materials and Textile Engineering courses since 2002.

Envelope Linkedin

Gytė Bėkštienė

EU

Bio

Gytė Bėkštienė

Director General at LATIA. Lithuanian Apparel and Textile Industry Association LATIA is a private business association representing interests of Lithuanian apparel, textile and leather products manufacturers, traders, and service companies. It was established in 1991. LATIA activities are regulated by the associations’ law of the Rep. of Lithuania. LATIA is registered under national law. LATIA association unites around 100 member companies.

Envelope Linkedin

Matea Benedetti

SLOVENIA

Bio

Matea Benedetti

Matea is a visionary in ethical and eco-friendly luxury fashion, a renowned fashion designer, and founder of the sustainable brand Benedetti Life. She has pioneered groundbreaking collections that merge high-end aesthetics with revolutionary sustainable materials (wood, seaweed, and pineapple waste). Her creations received international acclaim by Vogue Italia, Suzy Menkes, and Livia Firth and have graced the Oscars Red Carpet Green Dress, Cannes and the Venice Film Festival. She was named among the 100 most extraordinary brands in the world and her work has received prestigious awards (e.g., the Vegan Fashion Award 2024).

Envelope Linkedin Window-maximize

Marta Casadesús

SPAIN

Bio

Marta Casadesús

PhD in textile engineering, currently working as project manager at Tèxtils.cat, specialised in projects focused on the sustainability of the advanced textile materials sector. Experience in different European and Catalan fundings, and also in lecturing, as a freelance consultant, as a researcher and as a technician in various textile companies. Focus on research, circular economy, biomaterials and sustainability in the textile sector.

Envelope Linkedin

Luminita Ciobanu

EU

Bio

Luminita Ciobanu

Luminita Ciobanu is an associate professor in the Department of Knitting and Clothing Engineering, from the Faculty of Industrial Design and Business Management from the Technical University of Iasi, Romania. She specialises in material design, 2D and 3D knitted fabrics and technical textiles. She participated in different ERASMUS projects targeting sustainability and circularity of the textile sector.

Envelope Linkedin

Sónia Seixas

PORTUGAL

Bio

Dr. Sónia Seixas

Dr. Sónia Seixas is a researcher with a PhD in Design from the Lisbon School of Architecture, Universidade de Lisboa, specializing in design education. She currently teaches at different educational levels in the fields of design, fashion design and textile design.

Envelope Linkedin

Alessandro De Rosa

ITALY

Bio

Alessandro De Rosa

Master Degree in Economics and Management Sciences, Certificate of “Learning and competence assessment expert”.
Since 2006 he is the Head of the Higher Education and Training Office at PIN, in charge of planning, management and delivering of vocational training courses; assistant management of Higher Education activities of the University of Florence located in Prato; internship and placement management; EU educational programmes; training need analysis; competence assessment process; networking.

Envelope Linkedin

Livia Di Nardo

ITALY

Bio

Livia Di Nardo

Livia is a professional with over 15 years of experience in development, project management, and stakeholder relations, both nationally and internationally. She currently holds the role of Campus Manager at Accademia Italiana, Arte, Moda, Design in Rome, where she manages campus activities and coordinates projects and partnerships. Her career includes prominent roles at JA Italia and JA Europe, where she was involved in development, fundraising, and managing relationships with donors from corporations, foundations, and public institutions.

Envelope Linkedin

Veronica Guagliumi

ITALY

Bio

Veronica Guagliumi

Senior EU project designer and expert in public funding, with extensive experience in managing EU direct programmes such as LIFE, Erasmus+, and CERV. Her work is focused on digital transformation, cybersecurity, entrepreneurship, and increasingly, internationalisation and sustainable development. She is the founder of EREB, EREB Cambodia, and Orchidea Antigua LTD, two companies that bridge access to public funding and international opportunities for companies, public bodies, and nonprofit organisations, guiding them from idea to implementation.

Envelope Linkedin

Sweta Iyer

EU

Bio

Sweta Iyer

Dr. Sweta Iyer is a distinguished researcher in textile materials technology, with expertise in material science, polymer science, biomaterials, and textile chemistry. She holds a Ph.D. in Textile Material Technology from the University of Borås (Sweden), ENSAIT (France), and Soochow University (China). Currently, working as a researcher at the University of Borås, leading projects on sustainable, smart, and digital innovations in textiles, including digital printing of sustainable inks, functional clothing, and advanced textile chemistry.
Envelope Linkedin

Joana Olivera

PORTUGAL

Bio

Joana Olivera

Currently a researcher at the Department of Textile Engineering at the University of Minho, working on the be@t project. Trainer in the field of sustainability in the T&C sector. Holds a Master’s degree in Textile Product Design and Marketing and a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering with a specialization in Energy and Environment. Founder of the clothing brand “Bubamara,” based on circular economy principles.

Envelope Linkedin

Lilia Sabantina

GERMANY

Bio

Lilia Sabantina

Prof. Dr. Lilia Sabantina is an academic in the field of textile and clothing engineering with a prolific research record of more than 100 publications (h-index 21). She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Malaga, Spain, and her research focuses on the production and carbonisation of nanofiber nonwovens from bio-based and synthetic polymers, as well as the development of hybrid composites based on fungal mycelium. Her work contributes to the advancement of sustainable materials science by integrating textile technologies with innovative materials solutions.

Envelope

Alice Schwab

GERMANY

Bio

Alice Schwab​

Alice Schwab studied Textile and Leather Technology as well as Business Administration at the West Saxon University of Applied Sciences Zwickau, where she earned her degrees as a Diplom-Ingenieur. With 15 years of professional experience in the industry, she now applies her expertise as a group leader for sustainability and circular economy at the Textile Research Institute Thüringen-Vogtland e. V.

Envelope Linkedin

Anja Verbič

SLOVENIA

Bio

Dr. Anja Verbič

Dr. Anja Verbič is a researcher with a PhD from the University of Ljubljana, specializing in materials development. Currently, she is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the National Institute of Chemistry, Slovenia, where she leads a work package within the Horizon Europe PROPLANET project. 

Envelope Linkedin