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Speaking at FXPO

If you know someone who belongs on the FXPO stage, or if you belong there yourself, we want to hear from you!
Please use our speaker nomination form.

About Our Speakers

We curate speakers year-round. The best FXPO talks do three things:

  • Share a clear idea that moves footwear forward

  • Back it up with real work, real lessons, and real outcomes

  • Leave the audience with practical takeaways they can apply

FXPO is not a typical conference. We keep a high bar for clarity, relevance, and timing.

Suggest a Speaker

To suggest a speaker, please submit:

  1. Speaker name and current role

  2. A proposed talk title

  3. A short abstract and key takeaways

  4. Why this topic matters to the footwear industry now

  5. Any links that help us evaluate the work (articles, interviews, past talks, projects)

Multiple nominations for the same person do not influence selection. One strong suggestion is sufficient.

Sessions & Formats

FXPO speaking is built around three formats. We keep timing strictly so every session stays audience-first.

XTalk

A TED-level keynote style talk built for powerful insights, bold stories, and perspective shifts that can drive the footwear industry. XTalk welcomes voices from executives, designers, factory innovators, athletes, and creators.

• Recommended length: around 18 minutes

 

10 in 10

A learning series for brands. Solution partners share industry insights, typically 10 slides in 10 minutes. Sessions are grouped by track so your team can scan options, compare approaches, and act.

• Recommended length: 10 minutes

• Typical format: 10 slides in 10 minutes

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Common tracks include:

   • Design Innovation

   • Product Innovation

   • 3D Printing

   • Sustainability

   • Digitization

   • Smart Manufacturing and Sourcing

   • Go to Market

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Panel

A moderated roundtable conversation. Panels are designed to surface real trade-offs, contrasting viewpoints, and practical decisions. Each major theme typically includes one panel.

• Typical length: 30 minutes

• Typical panel size: 5 to 7 speakers

To help us manage timing, transitions, and on-stage flow across April 28 to 29, speakers are asked to share their topic and content early. This helps the program team keep each session within its slot during the event.

Recommended Checkpoints​

To keep timing strict for XTalk, 10 in 10, and panels, we recommend:

  • Confirming participation early

  • Submitting a talk title, abstract, and key takeaways once confirmed

  • Sharing a draft outline or draft deck in advance for timing review

  • Finalizing slides ahead of the event for smooth transitions on-site

Earlier submissions help us place each talk in the best session and track.

FAQ: Speaking at FXPO

Past Speakers

Titles reflect the time of speaking and may have changed.

Footwear brands, labs, fit, testing

  • Bruno Forcione, Head of Footwear Innovation, New Balance

  • Paul Bridge, Business Manager, Footwear and Leather, SGS

  • Ales Jurca, VP Footwear Research, Volumental

  • Anna Ultvedt Malkan, VP Sales, Volumental

  • Dr. Geoffrey, Founder, Heeluxe

  • Shamil Hargovan, Co-founder and CEO, Wiivv
     

Footwear adjacent technology, 3D, digital and materials

  • Sean Lane, Director of Digital Innovation, Vans

  • Christopher R. Lane, CEO, 3dMD

  • Natacha Alpert, Future of Tech and Product Innovation, Miras 3D, Founder, NATUREVERSE

  • Ben Coway, COO and Co-founder, VNTANA

  • Fabian Krauss, Head of Strategic Growth and New Business Incubation, EOS

  • Meizi Yan, Head of Strategy APAC, 3D and Immersive, Adobe

  • Keith Hoover, President, Black Swan Textiles

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