Geoff Holmes, Director of the New Zealand Leather and Shoe Research Association (LASRA), will be one of the industry leading speakers at the half-day Leather Supply Chain Conference 2026 – The Great Leather Reset, taking place in Hong Kong on March 11, 2026.

In his presentation, ‘The Technician’s Toolkit: Using AI and Digital Twins to Solve Practical Tannery Challenges’, Holmes will share that for too long, valuable tannery data and global research have been “locked away” in spreadsheets and journals. The presentation explores a practical way to free that information so the technician can use it at the drum. Geoff Holmes will show how a new wave of accessible AI tools – working on standard PCs – allows experts to build their own predictive models for assessing chemical uptake, physical strength and shrinkage. By creating a virtual “Digital Twin” of their process, technicians can test ideas in seconds rather than days. It’s about giving the person on the tannery floor the tools to lead with confidence.

Geoff Holmes is Director of LASRA, where he leads industry-focused research and sustainability initiatives. With over 30 years of global experience, including roles with Ecco and Pittards, he brings a science-driven but practical perspective to leather processing. He is the current President of the International Union of Leather Technologists and Chemists Societies (IULTCS) for 2026-27.

International Leather Maker (ILM) and APLF Ltd will host the half-day conference on March 11, 2026 (the day before the start of the APLF).

It will feature six 25-minute oral presentations as well as a panel discussion focussing on the future trends and direction of the global leather supply chain. The conference will once again take place at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), which is the same venue as the show. The APLF show takes place March 12-14, 2026. More information about the provisional conference programme and timings can be found here.

Click here to register.

The ‘Leather Supply Chain 2026 – The Great Leather Reset’ conference is co-organised by ILM and APLF Ltd. The lead sponsors are Mindhive Global and Bureau Veritas. The coffee break is sponsored by National Beef Packing Co. ILM and APLF will post more information about the conference in the coming weeks as more speakers and topics are confirmed.