Fashion, Luxury and Education Summit

08:45 – 09:15 | Registration

09:15 – 09:30 | Opening Remarks
George Bouvier, Chair, Academia Cerebra
Professor Helen Goworek, Co-Chair, Durham University Business School

09:30 – 09:40 | Keynote
Consumer Protection and the Future of Luxury Markets
Keynote Speaker: Cecilia Parker Aranha
A senior regulatory perspective on the increasing scrutiny facing luxury brands. This keynote highlights the growing importance of transparency, accountability and trust in the fashion industry.

09:40 – 10:15 | Panel Discussion
Regulation, Responsibility and Trust in Global Luxury
– Cecilia Parker Aranha
– Mirko Giuri
– George Bouvier
An in-depth discussion on how policies, legal frameworks, labour practices and corporate responsibility are reshaping the way luxury businesses operate. The session explores how brands can balance compliance with creativity while maintaining consumer trust.

10:15 – 11:00 | Panel Discussion
Innovation and Transformation in the Business of Luxury
Panel led by Dr Bethan Alexander
Luxury is evolving beyond traditional models. This session examines how brands are innovating across product, experience and business strategy to remain relevant in a rapidly shifting global environment.

11:00 – 11:05 | The Strategic Role of Finance in Powering the Next Era of Luxury
Ludovico Mantovani

11:05 – 11:45 | Panel Discussion
Capital, Entrepreneurship and Value Creation in Luxury Markets
Panel of speakers led by Ludovico Mantovani
A high-level exploration of how value is created, scaled and sustained in luxury today. From private equity to strategic expansion, the discussion reveals the key levers behind the industry’s most successful brands.

11:45 – 11:55 | Beauty as the New Engine of Luxury Growth
Carlotta Robbiano

11:55 – 12:30 | Panel Discussion
The Rise of Beauty: Scale, Strategy and Global Expansion
Carlotta Robbiano and panel of speakers
This session explores how beauty brands are achieving rapid global growth while maintaining desirability and positioning. It offers insights into brand building, distribution and the evolving expectations of the luxury consumer.

12:30 – 13:30 | Networking Lunch

13:30 – 13:35 | Hospitality and Experiential Luxury in a New Growth Cycle
Hadrian Beltrametti-Walker

13:35 – 14:15 | Panel Discussion
Hospitality, Experience and the Expansion of Luxury Ecosystems
Hadrian Beltrametti-Walker, Shazia Naqui, and a panel of speakers
Luxury is increasingly about experience, wellness and travel. This session examines how hospitality and experiential offerings are shaping brand extension, customer loyalty and new revenue streams.

14:15 – 14:20 | Keynote
Creativity, Identity and the Cultural Direction of Fashion
Mini-Keynote Speaker: Andre Landeros

14:25 – 14:50 | In Conversation
Creative Direction and the Future of Fashion Identity
Andre Landeros in conversation with George Bouvier
A rare, personal exchange with a leading designer on the realities of building and sustaining a creative vision today. The conversation offers insight into the intersection of artistry, diversity, business and cultural relevance.

14:50 – 15:10 | COFFEE BREAK

15:10 – 16:00 | New Challenges in Luxury Fashion Education & Research
Professor Christos Tsinopoulos and a panel of speakers.
– Professor Helen Goworek
– Dr. Alana James
– Fiona Bailey
– Professor Anne Pierson-Smith
A curated showcase of current academic research shaping the understanding of fashion and luxury. This session connects theory with practice, offering fresh perspectives on consumers, markets and emerging trends.

16:00 – 16:45 | Panel Discussion
Technology, the Impact of AI and the Future of Luxury Experience
Panel of experts
An exploration of how technology is transforming the way luxury is experienced, communicated and consumed. From digital ecosystems to personalised engagement, this session looks ahead to the next frontier of the industry.

16:45 – 16:55 | Closing Remarks
George Bouvier
Prof. Helen Goworek
A reflection on the key insights of the day and the conversations that will continue beyond the Summit. The closing remarks reinforce the role of collaboration between industry and academia in shaping the future of luxury.

16:55 – 17:10 | Awards Ceremony
Honouring outstanding individuals and emerging voices shaping the future of fashion, luxury and education through leadership, mentorship, research, creativity and cross-sector impact.