THE 2026 TEAM
The aim of the Conference Planning Committee is to ensure that future conference hosts are supported whilst planning each year's event.
The Group will be responsible for providing best practice templates and technical advice, leaving hosts confident that they are not alone when offering to host future conferences.
Philip Taylor
Trading as The Cordwainer, Philip is a bespoke orthopaedic shoemaker from Derbyshire, UK. He has hosted previous conferences in 2005, 2011 and 2020. Philip is a member of the Worshipful Company of Pattenmakers.
Mike Watson-Smith
Mike is the serving Trade Warden of the Worshipful Company of Pattenmakers. He retired from the footwear industry after 44 years including 14 years as Global Sourcing Director at Dr Marten's Shoes.
Jackie Crawford
After earning a bachelor's degree from Moore College of Art and Design in Philadelphia, Jackie went on to pursue a career in graphic design. Years ago, her son was born with Moebius syndrome, a rare congenital neurological disorder that can impact the formation of feet and hands. As he grew, Jackie became acutely aware of just how challenging it is for those with orthopaedic conditions to find comfortable, fashionable footwear—so she decided to do something about it. After years of learning the craft of shoemaking, Jackie went on to study with Bill Bird and completed the Pattenmaker's Certificate in Orthopaedic Footwear. Jackie is a member of the Honorable Company of Pattenmakers.
Jemitra Hairston
Jemitra hails from the rolling green foothills of the Appalachian mountains. Her restless and adventurous spirit took her to Washington, DC for university, then to San Francisco, California, the Netherlands, and the UK.
It was in the Netherlands where Jemitra literally woke up one morning with a desire to work with her hands. A series of synchronicities later, Jemitra found herself enrolled in the Dutch Shoe Academy where she learned the craft of making shoes by hand from Rene Van Den Berg and Liesel Swart. Most recently, she studied with Bill Bird and completed the Pattenmaker's Certificate in Orthopaedic Footwear. She has also received private instruction from James Ducker and Brian Harvey.
When Jemitra is not making shoes, she can be found foraging, gardening, and roaming the hills and valleys of south Wales where she currently resides.
Robert Covaciu
Robert works with one of the city of London's long-established firms. He is currently enrolled on Bill Bird's apprenticeship scheme. He says:
"Shoemaking found me more than ten years ago. I started out in Hungary as an apprentice, doing the gritty, hands-on jobs in a handmade shoe workshop. From there, I moved into making equestrian boots, which taught me a lot about precision and fit. I moved to England seven years ago and joined what’s now called Gilbert & Lisson, where I make bespoke footwear and insoles. I love getting lost in the details—it’s where the magic happens. For me, it’s all about staying true to the craft and being honest with the work I do".