Society of Dyers and Colourists announces new President

Global industry body the Society of Dyers and Colourists has elected a new president for 2026/27 following its recent annual general meeting in Bradford, UK. The educational charity has also three new trustees.

Liz Straughan, Managing Director of STP Ltd, succeeds outgoing President Stuart Wilkinson.

Liz has spent her career working across textile dyeing, finishing, machinery sales, and textile chemicals, building extensive expertise across both technical and commercial areas of the global textile industry. She first joined the SDC during her early career at Loughborough Dyeworks, when she attended SDC Council meetings as a representative of the Midlands Region.

Her career later took her into international textile machinery sales across Africa, Central and Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, before she co-founded a UK-based dyestuff and chemical trading company supplying specialist textile products to global markets alongside her late husband, Richard Straughan, who also served as President of the Society of Dyers and Colourists in 2013-15.

Liz currently serves as Chair of the SDC Enterprises Group Ltd Board and has previously served as a Trustee and Trustee-Director on the board of SDC Enterprises. She was awarded FSDC CCol in 2009 and received the Society’s Silver Medal in 2016.

Commenting on her appointment, Liz said: “It is a tremendous honour to take on the role of President of the Society of Dyers and Colourists. During my presidential year, I want to help broaden the Society’s reach beyond textiles and strengthen engagement with other colour-using industries, while also supporting the exciting future development of both the Society and SDC Enterprises.

“This appointment is also very personal to me. My late husband, Richard Straughan, served as President of the society in 2013/14, and I believe this makes us the only married couple both to have served as Presidents of the Society. To now follow in his footsteps is both a privilege and a proud moment for me personally.”

Outgoing president Stuart Wilkinson recently completed his term after focusing on promoting the society’s historical resources and encouraging the younger generation to explore careers within the textiles industry.

Now retired, Stuart has been a member of the Society for 36 years. During his longstanding involvement with the SDC, he was awarded the Society’s Bronze Medal in 2003 for enthusiastic contributions to the Huddersfield Region of the Society, followed by the Silver Medal in 2009 for dedicated service to the Colour Index™ and the North of England Region.

Chief Executive of the SDC, Graham Clayton, concluded: “Liz brings with her an exceptional breadth of international industry experience and a longstanding commitment to the Society through both governance and leadership roles.

“Her passion for strengthening collaboration across the industry, broadening engagement beyond textiles, and creating further opportunities for education and industry partnership aligns strongly with the Society’s future ambitions.

“I would also like to sincerely thank outgoing President Stuart Wilkinson for his dedication and support over the past year, and for his many years of service to the Society and the wider colour community.”