Dr. Lis Suarez Visbal is a charismatic and determined system-thinker and sustainability leader with over 17 years of combined experience in circular economy research and sustainable economic development. She has demonstrated expertise in mobilizing stakeholders, managing projects, and driving collective action towards more sustainable outcomes in highly feminized value chains for which she received the ASHOKA fellowship. As a researcher she has shown proficiency in conducting transformative, robust research, fundraising, negotiation, and strategic planning. Her field of expertise is Circular Economy, social impacts, just transitions and she has several years of applied experience in the textile and apparel value chain. She has worked in several countries including (The Netherlands, Spain, Bolivia, India, Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, Mali and Thailand) connecting producers and consumers, governments and academic institutions to co-create a more sustainable and just industry. She has co-authored three book chapters around social impact, Justice and Circular Economy in the sector and have published three peer reviewed scientific articles and three white papers on the subject too. She founded and directed FEM International and ETHIK Eco design hub two pioneer international initiatives established in Montreal, that over more than 13 years contributed to building a more sustainable fashion culture.
She recently defended her Phd thesis around Circular Economy and social Impacts, to find evidence of social impact in the apparel value chain and how can companies and policymakers in the sector can reduce the asymmetry between social and environmental impacts toward a just and transformative transition of improved working conditions and well-being for all workers and greater circularity practices in the sector. Since June 2025 She is also working as a fellow researcher on the ACT! project which aims to accelerate the transition to a more circular society in the Netherlands.鈥ㄢ赌�
Highlights of my previous work include:
-MUTREC: I was the instigator to create along with several educational institutions, Canada鈥檚 first multi-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder initiative to find concrete solutions to the textile waste problem in Quebec.
-ETHIKA 2018: Canadian first market study of the Canadian Sustainable Fashion Ecosystem. 鈥ㄢ赌�-SFD: the Sustainable Fashion Day and Modethik. Two initiatives with the Montr茅al Fashion week, that over ten years contributed to building a sustainable Industry in Quebec.
-ETHIK Eco design hub: First incubator of ethical fashion businesses in Canada (2009-2018).
-Another Fashion of Engagement/ Un Autre MODE d鈥檃gir: a bilingual ( English/French) primary and secondary educational toolkit to stimulate eco-citizenship skills in youth through the lens of the global apparel industry and its impacts.鈥ㄢ赌�Awards:鈥�-Ashoka Globalizer Fabric of Change (2017)
-Mention of Honor for her engagement to contribute to gender and environment. Quebec Network of Women and Environment (2014)
-Equiterre鈥檚 list of 12 Women committed to the environment (2013)
-Ashoka Fellow (2011)
-Commitment to Sustainability; -Coup Coeur Latin-American Chamber of Commerce in Quebec (2009)鈥�
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