The Jury


  • Canada

    Nathalie Dionne is a Canadian Creative Director and entrepreneur with over 20 years of international experience in the fashion industry, spanning Europe and North America. Based in Paris, she has built a distinguished career leading the development of global collections and driving creative vision for brands distributed in more than 30 countries. With a unique blend of artistic direction and business expertise, she has contributed to generating significant commercial success while maintaining a strong focus on innovation and brand storytelling.

    As the Founder and CEO of Thalie Paris, Nathalie Dionne is a pioneer in sustainable luxury, redefining the codes of haute maroquinerie through the development of next-generation biomaterials. Committed to reducing the environmental impact of the leather industry, she leads initiatives at the intersection of craftsmanship, technology, and responsible design. Her work has positioned her as a key voice in the future of fashion, combining creativity with purpose on a global scale.


  • Dubai

    A background in strategic design graduated with a Master of Science at Politecnico of Milan in 2002, she works as a trend forecaster and consultant for top companies in order to help them gain a competitive advantage by leveraging emerging trends, therefore supporting innovation processes and inspiring marketing and communication strategies consistently with the evolution of consumers’ needs and social and cultural change. As the Head of Trend Research at Nextatlas.com, an AI-driven trend forecasting platform aimed to identify emerging trends on social media by focusing on trend setters, micro influencers and industry insiders, Elena is a specialist in spotting social-media driven trends that are able to both affecting our current social imaginaries and creating business opportunities. 



    Over a period of nearly 20 years, she has gained a solid expertise in trend analysis applied to such areas as: design&living, fashion, luxury, adv communication, food&beverage, visual languages, new lifestyles, strategic branding, retail innovations, metaverse economy. 



    Elena is also an experienced lecturer with a demonstrated history of working in the education management industry. Since 2007 she is a lecturer at Istituto Marangoni across the fashion and design campuses for Trend Forecasting, Future Fashion, Contemporary Fashion Panorama, Cool Hunting & Cult Searching, Brand Strategy, Aesthetic Trends History, Contemporary Design Analysis, Sociology Of Design, Contemporary Market Scenario. Between 2020 and 2022 she has been the Programme Leader for the Visual Design Department at Istituto Marangoni School of Design (Milan, Italy) supervising the 3Y undergraduate program in Visual Design and the Master programs in Digital Art Direction and Digital Design for Immersive Experiences. In August 2022 she has been appointed Director of Education at Istituto Marangoni Dubai, located in the beating heart of the DIFC, which is set to become a key community hub for top fashion and design professionals based in the Middle East region. 

  • Madina is the Country Director for Canada at Christian Louboutin, with 20 years of experience in luxury retail. She is recognized for shaping high-performing teams and elevating brand experience through a balance of precision, style, and human connection.

    Her perspective is shaped by a deep understanding of visual identity, storytelling, and cultural nuance within the luxury space. With a refined eye, she brings a strong appreciation for craftsmanship, aesthetic coherence, and the emotional impact of experience.


  • Branko Popović is a multidisciplinary artistic director, curator, and creative entrepreneur in the fields of fashion and performing arts. Born in former Yugoslavia (Croatia) in 1983, he and his family immigrated to the Netherlands due to war, eventually settling in Maastricht.

    As co-director of FASHIONCLASH Foundation, an interdisciplinary showcase and development platform for fashion and fashion culture, he has co-created more than 300 projects and events across various countries from Europe to China and South Africa. One of the most recognized projects is the annual FASHIONCLASH Festival in Maastricht, which will hold its 17th consecutive edition in November 2025.

    Beyond his work with FASHIONCLASH, Popović operated his namesake studio 'BRANKOPOPOVIC' from 2005 - 2017, focusing on menswear fashion and performing arts projects including costume and design. He is also a founding initiator of Culture.Fashion, the value-driven fashion and textile network in the Netherlands and together with State of Fashion representing The Netherlands at European Fashion Alliance.

    Branko has served as advisor and chair at Creative Industries Fund NL and is currently a member of the advisory committee for the Council for Culture for the Dutch Ministry of Culture, Education and Science. He is active as a lecturer at the Performing Arts Institute and other art academies in the Netherlands, and continues to run the BRANKOPOPOVICBLOG covering arts, culture

  • Nikki Wirthensohn Yassemi approaches fashion as a language, one that speaks through texture, silhouette, and craftsmanship. As the Designer and Creative Director of NARCES, for her clothing is more than adornment. It is a means of transformation, a way to step into different characters and express facets of oneself that spoken words can’t always capture. Each piece is designed with intent, allowing the wearer to embody confidence, mystery, romance, or power, whatever that specific moment calls for.

    Raised in an environment steeped in design, Nikki’s creative journey was shaped by a lineage of craftsmanship. Her mother worked alongside British tailor Victor Edelstein, known for creating some of Princess Diana’s most iconic gowns. With roots spanning Austria, Iran, and the UK, Nikki’s perspective is both deeply personal and distinctly global, blending heritage craftsmanship, theatrical allure, popular culture and a fearless modern edge as a portal into a transformation—where every piece invites the wearer to embody a new story, a new character, a new moment.

    At NARCES, fashion is more than what you wear, it’s a mood, a conversation and a transformation. Through intricate detailing, daring silhouettes, and unexpected contrasts, Nikki designs pieces that don’t just fit the body but redefine it for the specific moment. Each design carries meaning, allowing the wearer, the muse, to not just dress, but become.

  • Stefan Wirthensohn is an innovative entrepreneur in the Film & Fashion industries.

    He led the Industry Office at TIFF, with a pivotal role in TIFF's international relationships and moving into Lightbox. His deep network in film distribution and production led to further consulting in the industry.

    Currently, Stefan is a co-founder of the luxury fashion brand NARCES, where he has been instrumental in establishing it as one of Canada’s leading evening and bridal labels.

    Raised in an environment steeped in design, Nikki’s creative journey was shaped by a lineage of craftsmanship. Her mother worked alongside British tailor Victor Edelstein, known for creating some of Princess Diana’s most iconic gowns. With roots spanning Austria, Iran, and the UK, Nikki’s perspective is both deeply personal and distinctly global, blending heritage craftsmanship, theatrical allure, popular culture and a fearless modern edge as a portal into a transformation—where every piece invites the wearer to embody a new story, a new character, a new moment.