REI, Kantar, Frankie4, and More Join the SFF26 Lineup
Top row (L-R): Izzie Kalaja (Frankie4), Brian Adams (The Return), Liz Katsadouros (Kantar), Ajay Chadha (REI)
SFF26 is excited to welcome leaders from Kantar, FRANKIE4, REI, and The Return to our 2026 speaker lineup!
Spanning the entire product lifecycle from raw material innovation and demand forecasting to point-of-purchase conversion and reverse logistics, these four operators bring a data-backed look at how understanding consumer behavior is the key to driving systems change, proving commercial value, and winning internal C-suite buy-in.
For many sustainability professionals, one of the biggest barriers to progress isn't just changing consumer behavior, it's internal adoption.
Securing budget, maintaining headcount, and getting cross-functional support from C-suite decision-makers requires proving that sustainability isn't an isolated marketing narrative or a passive cost center, but a core engine of business growth.
To gain real operational leverage, sustainability leaders must demonstrate how behavioral insights directly impact the bottom line across every stage of the business, from upstream material R&D and demand planning to checkout conversion and downstream reverse logistics.
That’s why we’re thrilled to announce the next group of industry leaders joining the SFF26 MainStage this October 28–30 in Portland, Oregon. Together, they bring an operator-led, evidence-based roadmap for turning consumer psychology into organizational action and commercial results.
Meet the Speakers
Liz Katsadouros
North America Commercial Partner, Sustainable Transformation Practice, Kantar
Drawing on fresh findings from Kantar’s Consumer-Led Sustainability Brand Ranking—measuring over 2,000 brands across 12 countries—Liz brings hard data on why sustainable options succeed or stall at the moment of choice. She offers a clear look at how brand leaders can navigate consumer skepticism, overcome point-of-purchase friction, and translate behavioral insights into measurable brand equity and commercial growth.
Izzie Kalaja
Director of Operations & ESG, FRANKIE4
Holding dual accountability for commercial P&L performance and ESG execution at FRANKIE4, Izzie demonstrates how translating real consumer purchasing behavior into demand planning serves as a brand’s primary waste-reduction strategy. Her perspective offers a practical roadmap for aligning ESG targets with buying, forecasting, and range architecture to protect gross margins—giving sustainability leaders the operational leverage needed to win C-suite buy-in and secure long-term budget.
Ajay Chadha
Director, Advanced Materials Innovation, REI
Having led complex material overhauls across Nike, Coach, and REI, Ajay understands that even the most ambitious material innovations fail if they don't meet consumer expectations for quality, durability, and price. He brings a grounded operator perspective on how consumer expectations dictate internal R&D decisions and how technical leaders bridge the gap between product creation, sourcing, and commercial teams to secure internal support.
Brian Adams
Founder & CEO, The Return
With e-commerce normalizing "living-room shopping" and high return rates, Brian brings a sharp operator's reality check to circular fashion: sustainability without unit economics will fail. As creator of the R4 Returns Engine, Brian explores how brands can reframe reverse logistics and post-purchase return data from a hidden cost center into a capital allocation strategy that recovers revenue, protects margins, and satisfies modern consumer habits.
Join the Conversation at SFF26
Tickets are available now. Join sustainability leaders exploring how consumer behavior shapes whether sustainability initiatives gain traction, create business value, and continue earning investment.
