They will be covering the vital industry topics on trends, trade, innovation and design, as well as the resourceful benefits of incorporating natural fibres into textiles.

Hosted by the Institute of Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants, the conference aims to establish international interdisciplinary cooperation in various fields of science, research and economy that are linked by textile technology in its broadest meaning. The event will this year take place under the central theme Textiles: Inseparable from the human environment.

Dr Terry Townsend

Dr Terry Townsend, a consultant on commodity issues, especially those involving the cotton industry, will present on the topic The role of innovation in ensuring the future of natural fibres.

He serves as the Vice Chair of the Discover Natural Fibre Initiative (DNFI), Chair of the Steering Committee of the International Task Force on Cotton Testing Methods, and Chair of the Fund Raising Subcommittee of the International Cotton Researchers Association.

Dr Terry Townsend served as executive director of the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) from 1999 to 2013. He worked at the US Department of Agriculture for five years in the 1980s analysing the US cotton industry and editing a magazine devoted to a cross-section of agricultural issues. He joined the ICAC in 1987 as statistician and was promoted to executive director in 1999. He has a PhD in Agricultural and Resource Economics from Oregon State University in the US.

Professor Yi, Li

Prof Yi, Li is a full professor and chair of Textile Science and Engineering in the School of Materials, the University of Manchester. He is a Life Fellow of Royal Society of Art, Commerce and Manufacturing and International Biographical Association and Fellow of The Textile Institute, and adjunct professors of a number of universities in China and a member of several professional bodies.

By securing over £10 million research funding and obtaining support from government funding bodies and industry in the past ten years, he established the Textile Bioengineering Framework to conduct systematic research in textile thermal bioengineering, biomechanical engineering, sensory bioengineering and biomedical engineering. He will discuss Setting the patterns of future textiles.

Lutz Walter

Lutz Walter is Head of the R&D, Innovation and Projects Department of Euratex, the European Apparel and Textile Confederation based in Brussels. At the event, he will present on Textile research driving innovation across high added value applications and markets.

Since he joined Euratex in 1999, he has been coordinator of various European collaborative research and networking projects. His further responsibilities at Euratex include the monitoring of EU research policies and programmes, which are of interest for the textile/clothing sector as well as the development of strategies and position papers on the future of textile and clothing research and innovation in Europe.

Andrzej Garlikowski

Andrzej Garlikowski has been President of SAFILIN (Poland) the branch of French company Safilin, which is one of the biggest bast fibre spinning mills in Europe. He is an active member of CELC - The European Confederation of Linen and Hemp as well as Polish Chamber of Flax and Hemp. At the Conference, Andrzej Garlikowski will present on the topic Economic potential and future trends of Europen Flax fibres.

Safilin is well known for the production and sale of its pure or blended linen or hemp yarns. One of the important assets of Safilin is its experience and business relations, developed over the years, with the providers of the raw material, i.e. scotched flax fibre.

The company's strategic goal is achieving very high quality of yarn. Safilin produces yarns for luxury natural woven and knitted textiles, as well as for textiles for technical applications, including roving and special low twist yarns for use as reinforcement in composite production.

Professor Izabella Krucinska

Izabella Krucinska has been employed as a full professor at the Lodz University of Technology, Poland since 2003. In a period of 2002-2008 served as the Dean of the Faculty of Material Technologies and Textile Design. Currently she is holding the position of the Head of the Department of Material and Commodity Sciences and Textile Metrology.

Her scientific research is oriented to the textile metrology and nonwoven technology. She developed the accredited laboratory LabTex (PCA 1421) for inspection the quality of textiles. She also established the laboratory for textile physics and nonwoven technology in Poland, supported by the European found, called Centre of advanced technologies for the human friendly textiles - Pro Humano Tex.

Izabella Krucinska will be discussing Characteristics of biodegradable and compostable polyester nonwovens at the Textile Institute World Conference.

www.tiworldconference.org