Advisory Board
Our Advisory Board brings together experts from fashion, sustainability, education, culture, and business to support the strategic development of Circular Fashion Incubator CIC and its programmes, including the International Circular Fashion Week Conference.
Danielle Heward, Founder of Optimo
Operations and Change Expert
Danielle Heward, Founder of Optimo, is an operations and behaviour change professional working with environmental and social change innovators to optimise their operating models and create impactful change through their work.
Danielle has worked across many sectors, including health and social care, sustainable construction, waste management, greentech and creative industries, bringing operational solution-design and practical action to the industries playing a key part in the transition to a green, clean and circular future.
Francesca Favia
Sustainability, Circular Economy & Education
Francesca Favia is a sustainability and environmental strategist with over 15 years of experience driving innovation across sectors, including renewable energy, fashion, food systems, and urban development.
She specialises in climate policy, circular economy,bio-economy and EU-funded research, working at the intersection of environmental justice, systemic change, and measurable impact. Her work bridges high-level strategy and on-the-ground implementation, helping organisations align with climate goals, ESG priorities, and long-term resilience. She works closely with sustainable fashion startups across Europe and the UK to enhance their operations and business strategies.
Aiyesha Swarnn
Youth & Climate Policy
Aiyesha Swarnn is a model, climate advocate, and policy professional based in the West Midlands. She graduated with a Master’s in Global Public Policy from the University of Birmingham, after completing a First Class bachelor’s degree in History and International Relations. Aiyesha is passionate about ensuring young people have a voice in decision-making processes, particularly around issues that shape social and environmental futures. Alongside this, she has been a freelance writer for over two years, focusing on climate restoration and youth advocacy, with work published in Uprising, SAARI Collective, Studenteer, Lead the Change, and the Alpha Times newsletter in Brussels. Moreover, Aiyesha is a model, and since starting in September 2024, she has walked at Leicester Fashion Week, York Fashion Week, and The Good Clothes Show, including for sustainable and ethically focused brands, as well as appearing in editorial work.
Shannon Chisholm-Harris
Student Outreach and Corporate Relations
With a background in Politics and International Relations, I bring strategic insight and strong communication skills to building partnerships and engaging diverse communities. Having developed connections with leading firms, I have extensive experience in corporate outreach and use this network to create meaningful collaborations. I focus on enhancing student engagement and generating content to build excitement and visibility for events by combining creativity with a results-driven approach.
Dana Lisova
Finance & Fundraising
I have an academic background in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, with a strong interest in finance and sustainability. Fashion is a passion of mine, and I am excited to be part of the Circular Fashion community that actively shapes a more sustainable and circular fashion future. Over the past two years, I have served as Treasurer of the University of York Fashion Society, where I developed a range of transferable skills, from budget management and financial oversight to event organisation and liaising with stakeholders. I have also been involved in creative projects across the region and am committed to supporting local initiatives.
I am particularly keen to apply this experience, supporting financial planning, grant applications, and fundraising to help the project grow and scale its impact. I enjoy seeing how sustainability and cultural initiatives translate into measurable change. I am eager to contribute my skills and experience to strengthening the circular fashion ecosystem with Circular Fashion Incubator CIC.