Sociocultural anthropologist specializing in the study of footwear and identity. She is the founder of the Footwear Research Network and a founding member of the Global Footwear Future Coalition. Alexandra is also a lecturer in the undergraduate fashion and textiles programs at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia.

Has worked in the sports business in creative roles. After working with Adidas and Reebok, he developed a passion for sneaker history. He wrote his first book, ‘Golden Kicks – The Shoes That Changed Sport,’ published by Bloomsbury in 2016, revealing the stories behind the world’s most exceptional sneakers. He then went on to work with Stan Smith on his book ‘Some People Think I’m A Shoe’ (2018) and with Adidas design maestro Jacques Chassaing on a book about his career, ‘From Soul to Sole’ in 2022. His latest book, ‘Peter Moore-Sneaker Legend,’ was recently published by Rizzoli and reveals the life of the extraordinary creative director who brought Michael Jordan to Nike, designed the Air Jordan 1, and Dunk, and helped Adidas succeed again in the early 90s.

Matthew has become a well-known and successful investor and creative director for his understanding of design-conscious products, brands, and services in luxury and lifestyle markets. Through his brand consultancy, Thermal Brands, Matthew consults for dozens of clients within the Fashion, Beauty/Wellness, Food, and Home/Hospitality categories. He has designed exclusive products and consumer experiences (installations, presentations, charity events, concerts, pop-ups) for the NBA Draft, Art Basel, CES, ComplexCon, KidzCon, Paris Fashion Week, NY Fashion Week, and Formula One. 

Since February 2016, Matthew has served as Creative Director and Senior Advisor to PUMA on Art, Culture, & Fashion. He actively selects new designer candidates, brand collaborations, retail design, product innovation, charitable programs, and consumer experiences. Such impactful brand collaborations have included PUMA x RHUDE, PUMA x AMI Paris, PUMA x Kitsune, and PUMA x Collina Strada.

Matthew was previously named one of Boston’s “40 under 40” by the Boston Business Journal (2005) for his professional achievements and community contributions in New England. In 2010, Matthew was also given the Connected World “M2M PIONEERS” Award for contributing to the mobile industry. He has been a featured speaker worldwide and has contributed to several books on innovation and venture capital. He currently maintains several patents in product design.

Nico van Enter, founder of The Footwearists and often described as a “spider in the web,” is a globally recognized footwear fashion and technology forecaster, lecturer, and networking powerhouse. With deep expertise in cutting-edge local manufacturing and (bio)technologies, Nico is dedicated to driving impactful innovations within the industry. Passionate about creating meaningful change, Nico is also a connoisseur of Asian cuisine, a fan of The London Police’s art, and actively involved in raising foster children. Originally from the Netherlands and now based in Barcelona, Spain, Nico’s influence spans worldwide, connecting and inspiring the future of footwear and technology.

He was born and raised Brooklynite and fell in love with sneakers at 13. By age 15, with a few years of work experience, he began buying sneakers with his own money (no longer asking mom for the latest and freshest kicks). Sean has owned thousands of pairs of sneakers over the years; his love of sneakers has transformed in some noteworthy ways. 

In 2007, OSD (Obsessive Sneaker Disorder) was founded by long-time friend Dee Wells, and Sean was asked to join the historical movement. As a business partner in OSD, LLC, Sean’s love of sneakers has transformed into a mission for the company with three words: “Appreciate, Educate, Elevate.” These days, those three words are a part of everything Sean does regarding the world of sneakers. He has accepted the personal mission of ensuring that the younger generations know the potential for them in the athletic footwear business as not only consumers but as future professionals in the industry. Sean has been featured in various noteworthy TV shows, publications, and websites such as NBC’s “The Today Show,” Maxim magazine, Slate.com, and Sneaker Freaker, just to name a few. In 2012, Sean and his partner Dee made the list of “50 Most Influential People in Sneakers Right Now” published by Complex magazine. 

In 2018, Sean became a Rankin Scholar at Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA. It was the first such honor ever bestowed upon someone in sneaker culture. In 2019, Sean made history as Co-curator of the first Hip-Hop apparel and sneaker exhibition at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City. In 88 days of residency, the exhibition amassed foot traffic and exposure to 9.8 million people. In 2020, Business Insider added Sean to the “Power List: 28 Most Outstanding People of Color Transforming the Sneaker Industry”. In 2023, Sean is the Co-Founder of the newly established SOLEcial Studies CommUNITY Academy in the DUMBO section of Brooklyn. Now, in 2024, Sean was a recent recipient of an Anthem Award for his SOLEcial Studies work in France.

Holding credentials in Journalism, Fashion Design, Marketing, and a master’s in business communication. Educator and Visual Artist with over 35 years of experience, Valenzuela has dedicated his career to exploring unique artistic expressions. In 2007, he founded EarthDayMiami, followed by EcoArtFashion© in 2010, which launched the first EcoArtFashion Week™—a pioneering platform blending sustainable fashion and art, later evolving into The Art of Fashion Show™. In 2016, he established The Creators Lab, a New Media Art research center in Miami dedicated to advancing art, design, and technology. 

Valenzuela served as Director of Education at Coral Gables Museum and the Florida Grand Opera. Since 2010, Valenzuela has collected historical shoes, building a collection of nearly 800 pairs to preserve design history. This led to the founding of the MIAMI Shoe Museum (MSM) in 2022 and the MSM Research Center in downtown Miami in 2024.