Reese Fernandez-Ruiz – Keynote Speaker

Therese Clarence Fernandez-Ruiz is the president and founding partner of Intentionality (brand owner of Rags2Riches, Inc.), an eco-ethical lifestyle brand based in the Philippines that creates urban artisanal home and fashion masterpieces. Central to Intentionality Inc.’s purpose for being is the community of artisans who are lifting their families out of poverty through carefully crafting products from upcycled and indigenous materials. Intentionality Inc. has fostered sustainable partnerships with these artisans as well as premiere Philippine designers who re-imagine and interpret urban artisanal skills and indigenous materials.

For the past fifteen years, Fernandez-Ruiz and the Intentionality team were able to build an eco-ethical, high-value fashion and home brand in the Philippines that has trained 800 Filipino community-based artisans. Fernandez-Ruiz and the company have also been recognized internationally through the Business In Development Challenge Award, Ecouterre, Fast Company and Sundance Channel, among others.

Because of her work in Intentionality, which is now considered one of the most successful and pioneering social enterprises in the Philippines and in Asia, Fernandez-Ruiz has been recognized as one of five Rolex Young Laureates for 2010, the youngest recipient in history of The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service for 2010, Young Entrepreneur Awardee of the World Entrepreneurship Forum 2011 and Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum 2012.

In 2022, Reese was one of the Gawad Parangal Awardee – an award given to outstanding individuals and institutions that have not only brought honor and pride to Quezon City, but also to the entire nation. In the same year, she was also named Asia’s Most Influential 2022 by Philippine Tatler and Asia Tatler.

Beginning 2023, Reese represented the Philippines and Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises to Davos Switzerland for the World Economic Forum.

Fernandez-Ruiz enjoys fostering sustainable partnerships, curating indigenous and handmade products from all over the world, and creating positive impact through design and social entrepreneurship.