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Better Cotton Welcomes New Council Members Liz Hershfield and Kevin Quinlan

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Governance

Better Cotton today announces that both Liz Hershfield, Senior Vice President, and Head of Sustainability at J.Crew Group and SVP of Sourcing at Madewell, and Kevin Quinlan, Independent Member, have been appointed to the Better Cotton Council. As new members, they will be involved in shaping the organisation’s policy that supports cotton communities to survive and thrive, while protecting and restoring the environment. 

Liz brings nearly 30 years’ experience in sustainability, supply chains and operations across the apparel industry for both start-ups and globally established brands. She initially joined J.Crew Group as SVP of Sourcing and Sustainability at Madewell in 2019. Under her leadership, she has led the company’s initiatives in regenerative agriculture and resale, and helped ensure sustainability is incorporated across all aspects of the J.Crew Group’s brand. 

Kevin has worked within senior policy, finance, corporate and operational roles for the past 30+ years. He is currently the Scottish Government’s Director of Environment and Forestry overseeing efforts to protect the environment, increase biodiversity and address climate change-related issues. In joining the Council, he will occupy an independent seat not affiliated with his work in government. 

It brings me great pleasure to welcome Liz and Kevin to the Better Cotton Council as they bring a great deal of experience and expertise to our ranks. We look forward to working with them and I’ve no doubt that they’ll be hugely influential in advancing the organisation’s work.

Alan McClay, CEO, Better Cotton

The Better Cotton Council sits at the centre of the organisation and is responsible for its strategic direction. Council members represent brands, retailers, manufacturers, suppliers, producers, and civil society across the cotton industry. 

Throughout my 30-year career, I have always been passionate about advancing sustainability in the fashion and apparel sectors. As more and more brands seek to integrate responsible farming and sourcing initiatives into their supply chains, I believe the opportunities to educate and instil best practices have never been greater. It is an honour to be joining the Better Cotton Council at this very exciting time, and I look forward to working hard to drive meaningful, long-term change in how companies source sustainably-grown cotton.

Liz Hershfield, Senior Vice President of Sourcing, Madewell, and Head of Sustainability, J.Crew Group

Better Cotton’s mission aligns to my values and reinforces two of my passions for change. Firstly, over twenty years of international development work with Oxfam and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office to enable rural markets to work better for low-income people. Secondly, it resonates strongly with the sustainability policy issues that we grapple with daily to ensure human prosperity in harmony with nature.

Kevin Quinlan, Independent Member

Read more about the Better Cotton Council and Governance here.

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