2024 Annual Meeting – Agenda
2024 Annual Meeting – Agenda
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Agenda
Feb 26, 2024
International Steering Committee Meeting - Committee Members Only
Joint Government Affairs and Communications Steering Committee Meeting - Committee Members Only
Registration Desk Open
Board of Directors Meeting - Board Members Only
President's Reception - All Attendees Welcome
Madam C.J. Walker Award Presentation with Special Guest A'Lelia Bundles
During PCPC’s opening night President’s Reception, the third Madam C.J. Walker Award for Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) will be presented by American journalist, news producer and author A’Lelia Bundles, Madam Walker’s great-great-granddaughter and the family historian. The Award recognizes individuals in the beauty and personal care products industry who demonstrate an outstanding commitment to DEI through strong leadership and sustained efforts with a focus on workplace culture, program and policies, or through external engagement with consumers and communities. Past recipients include Latriece Watkins, Walmart, and Esi Eggleston Bracey, Unilever.

Board of Directors Dinner - Board Members Only
Feb 27, 2025
Networking Breakfast
Election of Officers by Keech Combe Shetty, PCPC Immediate Past Board Chair

Board of Directors Chair Remarks

President's Remarks

Keynote Address: How Conversational AI Will Change E-Commerce Forever
Conversational Artificial Intelligence (AI) – the technology that enables brands to speak to each customer individually in real time – has been a dream for many decades but is only now coming to fruition. Independent brands and retailers did not benefit from the shift to e-commerce 25 years ago; Amazon, Google and Facebook reaped the majority of these benefits. The shift toward conversational AI will be different and will uniquely empower independent brands and retailers.

Fireside Chat with Best-Selling Author Evan Osnos


Grounds for Discussion: Coffee & Networking
Legal Steering Committee Meeting and Luncheon - Committee Members Only
Luncheon: Exploring the Complexities of the New Value Chain
As the complexities of the cosmetics industry steadily increase, the “value chain” has morphed to an amorphous web-like ecosystem. The value chain conventionally includes feedstock and ingredient suppliers, R&D experts, finished goods manufacturers, contract manufacturers, brand owners and retailers. In the new view, the broad-reaching demand for transparency by consumers, regulators, NGOs, influencers and the media is reshaping the value ecosystem. This creates a new challenge for our industry: how can information be communicated efficiently throughout the ecosystem, and how can our industry communicate information broadly and publicly in a manner that can be trusted?


Breakout Session: Demystifying Science Through Storytelling

Breakout Session: UN Plastics Pollution Treaty
In March 2022, the United Nations Environment Assembly resumed its fifth session and adopted a historic resolution to develop an international legally binding treaty on plastic pollution, including plastic waste in the marine environment. This treaty, which has been dubbed the “most important climate deal since Paris,” aims to tackle the issue of plastic pollution throughout the entire lifecycle of plastic, from production to disposal. This treaty is likely to have a direct impact on cosmetics and personal care products business operations, supply chain and consumers.
Melissa Kopolow, an associate partner in Albright Stonebridge Group’s Sustainability practice, will provide insights into the draft treaty process led by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and its Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), including what is and isn’t included in the draft text, as well as the likely ramifications for the cosmetics industry.

SACX Committee Meeting - Open to All
Breakout Session: Relationship with Customers - It's Complicated!
Customers: Why attracting them, doing business with them and maintaining them has become increasingly more difficult because of the media, government and litigation. Join this session to learn more about risks inherent to consumer facing interactions, from traditional advertising and marketing to online tracking and AI methods. Tony Dias, partner, Jones Day, will explore this important and complicated dynamic.

Breakout Session: Safeguard Your Brand & Increase Your Profits: Combating Counterfeits and Securing the Beauty Industry Supply Chain
In the glittering world of cosmetics and personal care, the shadow of counterfeiting looms large, threatening to tarnish brand reputations and dilute profits. This session is designed for industry leaders, manufacturers, innovators, distributors and marketers of beauty brands. This session delves into the multifaceted challenges posed by counterfeit goods, knockoffs, and infringing products. Attendees will gain invaluable insights into the latest strategies and technological advancements for protecting their brands and securing their supply chains. Through a blend of presentations and real-world case studies by brand protection lawyers (Justin Pierce and William Mansfield), participants will learn how to identify vulnerabilities, implement robust protective measures, and effectively fight back against counterfeiting, knockoffs and unauthorized product diversion. Join us to learn how to better protect your brand’s integrity, enhance profits and reduce the risk posed by counterfeit and infringing products.


All-Attendee Social Hour
Feb 28, 2024
Networking Breakfast
Building Trust in an Era of Polarization
With the growing politicization and polarization, companies face heightened risks when communicating on a broad range of issues. How can corporations build trust and minimize risk when their stakeholders are bombarded daily with competing and often contradictory messages. Language expert and strategist Michael Maslansky will highlight recent research from Maslansky + Partners, which holds key insights into how the issue of ESG polarization is evolving and why, when it comes to building trust, it’s not what you say, it’s what they hear that matters.

The Power of Language in Sustainability Communications
In a world where consumers demand greater social responsibility and sustainable practices from businesses, effective communication has become paramount. Drawing inspiration from the cutting-edge research presented by Michael Maslansky, this session will be dynamic and instructive for communicators and sustainability and operations practitioners. Featuring real-life cases from PCPC members and others outside of the industry, this session will provide insightful approaches and actionable strategies leveraging language to ensure social impact and sustainability commitments are reaching core audiences – especially consumers, employees and communities, building trust and reputation with them.
Carol Cone, CEO of Carol Cone ON PURPOSE and named the “OG of Purpose” by Sustainable Brands, and Harold Hamana, managing partner at global business consultancy firm Knight & Pawn, will reflect on their extensive experience in executing impactful sustainability communications for esteemed companies such as Biogen, Campbell Soup Company, Dolce & Gabbana, Johnson & Johnson, P&G, Unilever and others. Cone and Hamana will delve into the nuances of effectively communicating sustainability initiatives and their real-world impact, discussing strategies, insights and practical tips for safeguarding reputation, engaging employees, reporting impact and connecting sustainability investments to sales.



Regulatory and Policy Outlook - Navigating a Changing Landscape & What Personal Care Companies Can Expect in 2024
Wade Ackerman, Covington & Burling, will examine critical changes that impact our industry and offer guidance on ways to navigate them, including:
- MoCRA. A look at FDA’s recent efforts to implement MoCRA – which represents the most comprehensive change to cosmetic regulation in more than 80 years – and what companies can expect to see from FDA in 2024.
- States. State legislators and regulators continue to advance policies that impact our industry’s products and ingredients, creating both challenges and opportunities. Ackerman will delve into the industry’s top priorities and what companies should expect in 2024.
- Broader Changes. A host of societal changes demand our industry’s attention, from ESG and DEI to the adoption of AI and other new digital tools. Ackerman will provide insights on how companies can better understand and respond to these shifts.

Ground for Discussion: Coffee & Networking
Luncheon: Reaching for a Higher Purpose - Look Good Feel Better & CSR
For 35 years, the Look Good Feel Better program has reached directly into the lives of people with cancer to deliver hope and help at a moment of profound need. By helping people address the appearance-related side effects of their treatment with valuable content and gentle guidance – shared by caring beauty professionals – in an environment that encourages connection and builds community, Look Good Feel Better makes purpose personal.
Don’t miss this dynamic luncheon discussion featuring a panel of cancer patients, professional volunteers and psychosocial oncology specialists from the University of Miami’s Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, a Look Good Feel Better Alliance partner. The panel will explore the impact of this groundbreaking initiative and share their personal stories and insights, and PCPC members will discuss how Look Good Feel Better extends and enriches their CSR and broader sustainability platforms through direct community impact, including creative ways to engage internal stakeholders in the Look Good Feel Better mission.






Breakout Session: A Global Perspective on the Cosmetics Industry
This panel discussion will feature association leaders from some of the largest cosmetics markets around the world, representing Europe, Latin America and Canada. Panelists will discuss the critical regulatory issues that impact their respective regions and how these issues could potentially affect the global cosmetics industry.
For the global cosmetics industry, changes in one market can have far-reaching consequences on others. Panelists will also provide their perspectives on how the global cosmetics industry can unite to address these challenges effectively.



Breakout Session: Recent Developments in Advertising and Claim Substantiation
What You Need to Know About Recent OTC & NAD Activity and How it Could Affect Your Marketing Strategies
In the past year, the FTC has been quite active in addressing consumer product marketing practices, including its expectations for endorsement disclosures, claim substantiation, and “green claims.” We have also seen increased activity before NAD particularly in the personal care space. This session will provide a deep dive of developments, what we expect to see in the coming years, and what this means for your business and your brands.
