From the Sector

The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) announced the appointment of Katherine White as the organization’s new Vice President of Policy, effective February 18, 2025.

As Vice President of Policy at NCTO, Katherine White will work on critical policy priorities to the U.S. textile industry and provide expertise and support to the association’s extensive lobbying efforts in D.C.

“We are excited to welcome Katie to NCTO,” said NCTO President and CEO Kim Glas. “Her extensive expertise and ongoing engagement with the U.S. textile industry is instrumental in advancing our advocacy agenda and supporting this vital industry.”

“I am thrilled and grateful to have the opportunity to contribute to NCTO’s advocacy on behalf of the U.S. textile industry,” White said. “The textile industry is a critical, strategic manufacturing sector and a key contributor to our national defense and the overall U.S. economy. I look forward to working with the NCTO team and our textile association members to advance priority issues and opportunities that impact the industry’s competitiveness and growth.”

White recently served as the U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) Chief Textiles and Apparel Negotiator and previously served on the House Ways and Means Committee as an International Trade Policy Advisor.  

In her roles at USTR and on the Ways and Means Committee, White worked specifically on trade policy matters, including de minimis and customs enforcement, and helped shape U.S. trade laws. She also participated in the negotiation, implementation, and enforcement of U.S. trade agreements, including the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

Further, White has worked closely with the textile and apparel industry during the development of trade legislation on Capitol Hill.

She has also previously worked at the International Trade Administration at the Department of Commerce and at the White House on the National Economic Council.

White is a North Carolina native and earned a Master of Public Policy from Duke University and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science and International Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The Management Board of the European Chemicals Agency has selected Dr Sharon McGuinness as ECHA’s next Executive Director. As part of the appointment procedure, she will make a statement before the European Parliament and answer questions from its members. This is tentatively scheduled for 4 July 2022.

Dr Sharon McGuinness, an Irish national, is the Chief Executive Officer of the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) in Ireland since 2018. Prior to this, she was the Assistant Chief Executive for the Chemicals and Prevention Division within the Authority, with responsibility for division management, policy provision, advice and enforcement for a wide range of occupational health and safety, chemical and market surveillance legislation aimed at protecting human health and safety for workers and consumers.

She was a member of ECHA’s Management Board between 2014-2020 and Chair of the Board between 2016-2020. She graduated from the University College Dublin with a B.Sc. (Hons) in pharmacology and chemistry, and she holds a PhD in pharmacology, as well as diplomas in Legal Studies and Company Direction.

Dr McGuinness was one of the candidates preselected by the European Commission after an open competition and interviewed by the Management Board for the post.

Her selection follows that of Bjorn Hansen who retired in March 2022. Since 1 April 2022, Shay O’Malley has been ECHA’s acting Executive Director.

The term of office of the Executive Director is five years. It may be prolonged by the Management Board once, for a further term of five years.