Australian Fashion Council announces CEO Leila Naja Hibri will depart in 2024

The Australian Fashion Council announced today that after almost four years as CEO Leila Naja Hibri has decided to hand over the role in early 2024, once a new chief is found.

Leila will continue to play an advisory role as the AFC’s nominated Director on the board of Seamless, Australia’s new national clothing product stewardship scheme.

Making the announcement, AFC Chair Marianne Perkovic said: “Leila is no ordinary CEO. She places people at the heart of all she does and is passionate about driving positive industry change, responsible growth and social and environmental justice.

“Over the past four years Leila has brought the Australian fashion industry together, increasing recognition of our $27.2bn contribution to the Australian economy, including $7.2bn in export revenue.

“With technology and innovation, diversity and inclusion always at the forefront, She has also led the development of an ambitious vision based on foundational strategic pillars:

promoting the Australian Fashion Trademark to grow demand for design-led brands committed to responsible practice;
building future manufacturing capability of 'fibre and its derivatives’ to boost jobs, the economy and our sovereign capability and close the supply chain loop;
developing skills and career pathways to address current and future skills needs, create jobs and boost the economic security; and
launching Seamless, to transition the sector to a circular economy by 2030 and create a just transformation towards Net Zero by 2050.

“This has created an incredible opportunity, and a secure and positive environment for our next CEO to champion the Australian fashion and textile industry. On behalf of the board and our team I sincerely thank Leila for her inspiring leadership,” Marianne continued.

Leila said: “With a well-defined vision and strategic direction in place, it feels like the right time to hand responsibility for the AFC’s next phase on to a new CEO.

“I am immensely proud of the AFC for guiding the beginning of our industry’s just transformation.

“Together we have navigated the challenges of the COVID era and commanded government attention by delivering groundbreaking reports that unveiled our industry’s true economic value and potential.

“We also established the progressive Australian Fashion Trademark, the pivotal Seamless clothing product stewardship scheme, and initiated the AFC Fashtech Lab as well as an Indigenous Fashion Fund.

“My most sincere thanks go to the incomparable AFC team, our Chair and Board and of course our loyal members, invaluable Patrons and industry partners. I also thank all the organisations and agencies, industry leaders and individuals who continue to support the AFC and our work.

“I am confident that the AFC, through collaboration, creativity and courage, will continue guiding this great industry as it transitions to a world-class thriving circular economy by 2030”, Leila added.

Marianne Perkovic, Chair of AFC Board

Marianne Perkovic is the Chair of the AFC Board. She brings deep commercial and technical experience across business strategy and execution and a passion for driving sustainable transformation with a positive environmental and social impact.

Marianne’s executive career spans over 28 years across the financial services sector including executive roles at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), where she was head of CBA’s Private Bank. Prior to that, Marianne was the CEO of Count Financial Limited, and at the time of her appointment, was reported as the youngest female CEO of an ASX listed company.

In 2017, Marianne was recognised by the Financial Services Council with the Industry Contribution Award for her two decades of work in the financial services industry. She has also been recognised as a finalist for the FINSIA Pinnacle Award for the Most Outstanding Woman in Financial Services and for Money Management’s Female of the Year.

Marianne currently has a portfolio career that includes non-executive directorships across the financial services industry and is a Special Advisor for KPMG Australia. She is also a Non-Executive Director at the Orygen Youth Mental Health Foundation and Non-Executive Director at the Prince of Wales Hospital Foundation. Marianne is an advocate for diversity and inclusion and a member of Chief Executive Women (CEW).