Dr. Katherine Locock

OPENING KEYNOTE

Dr. Katherine Locock leads CSIRO’s Bioactive Natural Products team, overseeing expertise in botanical chemistry, analysis, and process scale-up.

 

With over 10 years of experience, she specializes in collaborating with First Nations groups to drive economic empowerment by integrating Western science with Cultural knowledge.

 

Her research prioritizes Indigenous-led, co-developed engagement to ensure respectful benefits for communities and the support of healthy Country.

 

Stronger together: Delivering innovative Australian botanical products by leveraging Western and Indigenous science.

Australia is home to an estimated 24,000 native plant species, the vast majority of which are not found anywhere else on the planet. In response to the extreme environmental stressors experienced here, many plants have responded by producing high concentrations of protective phytochemicals to survive such as antioxidants, polyphenols and antimicrobials. 

 

Australia is also home to the oldest, continuous living culture on the planet with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Our country’s first scientists have amassed over 65,000 years of knowledge of how to harness the power of these unique Australian native plants for food, to support Health and Wellbeing and to treat disease.

If this Indigenous science could be respectfully brought together with Western science, it would support the growth and success of Indigenous owned and led botanical enterprises, delivering truly innovative products into skin-health markets. Which would bring a flow back of opportunities for education, employment and revenue to their communities.

 

One of the main barriers to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups engaging with Western scientists has been a perception that such collaborations will be transactional, involve a loss of control over their knowledge, or that their contributions will not be adequately recognised. 

To address this we have been co-developing ethical frameworks which establish guidelines for working respectfully with Indigenous groups in botanical research. This includes recognition of the value of cultural knowledge, and the need for this to be controlled and owned by the knowledge holders, as well as an emphasis on Indigenous initiated and/or co-designed research.

 

This talk will discuss how such frameworks have been integrated in the research and development process, and how findings help to unlock further benefits for the communities.
 

Dr. Isabelle Castiel

KEYNOTE 2

Dr. Isabelle Castiel-Higounenc is a pharmacist with a PhD in Dermopharmacology. Her extensive experience has led her to spearhead research across various fields, including oral cosmetics and skin care. During her carreer, she has specialized in skin and hair health, with a particular focus on aging, longevity, pigmentation, photoprotection, the microbiome, the exposome, acne, dandruff, and atopy.

 

As Scientific Director for L’Oréal, she champions the Group’s scientific expertise and innovation ambitions. Her primary focus is on scientific research and medical advocacy, showcasing L’Oréal’s research excellence and innovations to a wide range of audiences. She is particularly dedicated to engaging with scientific experts and the medical community through three key pillars: high-impact publications, international congresses, and medical education.

 

An integrative longevity approach to modern skin health.
As the global climate crisis accelerates, human skin, the primary biological interface with the environment—faces unprecedented stressors. Increased UV radiation, volatile temperatures, and escalating pollution levels represent more than external threats; they function as biological accelerators of "Exposome-driven" aging, disrupting fundamental hallmarks of aging. At the crossroads of this challenge lies a pivotal scientific opportunity: the application of Longevity Integrative Science to maintain skin healthier for longer.

Building upon this context, the keynote presentation explores a paradigm shift from traditional "anti-aging" interventions to a holistic "Longevity" framework. This evolution moves beyond surface-level correction to target the fundamental Hallmarks of Aging. By leveraging deep-tech insights into cellular senescence, cell metabolism and epigenetic adaptation, evidence is presented on how skin can be "primed" for resilience, maintaining peak physiological function for extended durations despite a harshening external environment.

Crucial to this transition is the integration of artificial intelligence, which facilitates a move from mere observation to active anticipation and proactive control of the skin. The utilization of digital models and AI-driven diagnostics helps predict biological aging trajectories with high precision. Through the analysis of vast multi-omic datasets, "sub-clinical" signs of aging can now be identified, allowing for targeted interventions before visible damage occurs.

Finally, the discussion examines how tech-led innovations—ranging from smart devices to personalized formulations—enable the delivery of the exact dose of active ingredients required by an individual’s skin at a specific moment. This integrative approach further encompasses the engineering of the next generation of bio-based actives derived from Green Sciences. Consequently, this session serves as a call to the industry to innovate at the intersection of biology and ecology, ensuring that the design for skin longevity solutions simultaneously safeguards the longevity of the ecosystems.

Dr. Fan Yang

KEYNOTE 3

Dr. Fan Yang is a distinguished cosmetic scientist with over 20 years of international R&D experience, currently serving as Chief R&D Officer at MAGELINE and formerly a Senior Scientist at P&G. A prolific innovator, he has published 60+ papers, filed 100+ patents, and led the creation of four industry standards.

 

Dr. Yang holds several prestigious leadership roles, including IFSCC Chair of Education (2025–2028), and was recognized as the "2022 National Commercial Technology Innovation Figure" for his contributions to skin health and anti-aging science.

Artificial Intelligence Reshaping Cosmetic Innovation and Personalized Beauty.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping cosmetic innovation by integrating large-scale data analytics with increasingly connected consumer experiences. By analyzing multidimensional datasets, including skin characteristics, environmental exposure, lifestyle factors, and consumer preferences, AI enables a deeper understanding of individual skincare needs and supports more precise product development. 

 

In formulation science, AI can guide the rational design of cosmetic products; for example, consumer data analysis can inform the development of skin type–specific cleansers through optimized surfactant systems and formulation strategies. Once products are launched, consumer feedback, instrumental measurements, and usage data can be further analyzed by AI to evaluate performance and refine formulation design. 

 

This continuous feedback loop links big data insights, AI-assisted formulation development, and real-world product performance, establishing a new paradigm for data-driven cosmetic innovation and personalized beauty.

Dr. Julie Edgar

KEYNOTE 4

Dr. Julie Edgar is Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for The Lubrizol Corporation, a Berkshire Hathaway Company. In this role, she is responsible for leading the continuous innovation that keeps Lubrizol and its customers at the leading edge of the industries they serve, delivering sustainable solutions to advance mobility, improve well-being and enhance modern life. Julie joined Lubrizol in 1995 as a research chemist at the company’s Hazelwood, U.K., facility. 

 

She has held several technology leadership positions within the company across multiple businesses. She also served as Director of Research and Development for Lubrizol Advanced Materials in Asia, Director of Research and Development for Lubrizol Oilfield Solutions and Vice President of Corporate Research and Development and Chief Sustainability Officer

Julie holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and a Ph.D. in Chemistry, both from the University of Surrey in the U.K. 

 

The Evolution of New Ingredient Innovation and Development through a Sustainable Lens.
Ingredient innovation has evolved dramatically, from sequential, intuition‑driven development to a more agile, sustainability‑anchored approach powered by smarter tools. This keynote explores how sustainable design principles can be integrated with emerging technologies to accelerate the creation of high‑performing, environmentally responsible ingredients for the cosmetics industry.

 

Julie Edgar, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, will highlight how Lubrizol has leveraged AI and decision science in the innovation journey, augmenting scientific expertise while supporting more efficient, lower‑impact development. The session reflects on how modern corporate science leadership transforms these capabilities into meaningful advances for customers and the planet.