Cascale Forum Colombo: First speakers, programme & certifications

This event will bring together voices from across the entire supply chain, from manufacturers to brands and beyond, to strengthen trust and partnerships while tackling responsible purchasing practices, decarbonisation and climate resilience, foundational environmental performance, and real-world brand–manufacturer engagement models that drive both sustainability and business performance through the Higg Index.

List of First Speakers

1. Chandrima Chatterjee

Secretary General, Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI)

2. Eranga Dilhan

Head of Labour Operations and Sustainability,

MAS Capital Private Limited- Activewear Division

3. Lisa Frost

Climate Programs Director, Apparel Impact Institute

4. Savithri Rodrigo

Managing Director/Media Consultant, Stratyx Promotions & Media Concepts

5. Sanith de S. Wijeyeratne

Director/CEO, The Climate & Conservation Consortium

6. Shashi Dayarathne

Head of Sustainability, SgT&API

7. Dr. Vidhura Ralapanawe

Executive Vice President, Epic Group

8. Dr. Leonie Vaas

General Manager - Group Sustainability, Hirdaramani Apparel

9. Eranthi Premaratne

Consultant, Sustainable Business Practices

“We are thrilled to be joined by some of the industry’s top experts at this year’s Cascale Forum: Colombo. Together we’ll strengthen trust and partnerships while tackling responsible purchasing practices, decarbonization and climate resilience, foundational environmental performance, and real-world brand–manufacturer engagement models that drive both sustainability and business performance through the Higg Index and Better Buying tools. We’re excited to introduce our first speakers who will shape these critical conversations,” the company said.

Program Highlights

Defining Climate Partnership: The Behaviors That Go Beyond the Target
An interactive workshop to explore what effective climate partnership between manufacturers and their brand customers looks like in practice.

Designing Trust, Transparency, and Value in Better Buying Results

This roundtable focuses on closing the loop from a supplier perspective.

Business Decisions in a Disrupted World: Sustainability at the Core

Industry pioneers from across APAC examine how climate risk is shaping sourcing strategies, investment choices, and long-term competitiveness.

Shared Lessons from the Factory Floor: Environmental Sustainability in Practice

Hear directly from manufacturers — panelists will share how expectations are translated into real actions, where gaps between brand requirements and operational reality show up, and how learning from peers can make implementation easier and more effective.

Human Rights Due Diligence and SMEs: Designing Proportionate Systems That Work

This session explores how HRDD systems can be designed and applied in ways that are effective, proportionate, and workable for SMEs, while still delivering meaningful outcomes for workers.

Certifications

Participants attending Cascale Forum: Colombo will have opportunity to walk away with more than insights—and can earn two certifications by participating in select Forum sessions. These certifications are designed to build practical skills, strengthen sustainability credentials, and support organization’s climate action progress.

Higg FEM 4.0 Masterclass

One certification is offered through the Higg FEM 4.0 Masterclass, a hands-on session designed for facilities and brands to build confidence in using Higg FEM 4.0. The masterclass provides practical guidance on interpreting questions, avoiding common pitfalls, and managing scoring and documentation aligned with on-ground realities. Participants completing the session will receive a certificate of completion.

Science-Based Targets Training

The second certification comes from the Science-Based Targets Training, which focuses on how Science-Based Targets help manufacturers set emission reduction goals aligned with climate science. The session covers their importance, benefits, and implementation steps for business sustainability. It concludes with an online assessment, and participants scoring 70 per cent or higher will receive a course certification.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (MS)