Leadership Team
Mr. Nealesh Dalal
Managing Trustee, JD Educational Trust
Mr. Nealesh Dalal, the Managing Trustee, JD Educational Trust, is amongst the prominent revolutionaries who shaped the base of the JD Institute of Fashion Technology. Taking the Vision forward and the dream set by his father, Nealesh has made immense contribution in the field of Art and Design Education.
In 2002, he became the Managing Trustee of JD Educational Trust and has led exceptional work with his systematic approach that involves several path-breaking analyses like the interpretation of design, innovation, technology and market intelligence to name a few. As a frequent commentator on Fashion and Design, he lends his expertise to various events in the industry. He aims to redefine fashion and design education in India in sync with local and global standards.
“I have always believed that leadership is not a destination, it’s a journey,” adds Nealesh. With strategic thinking and a keen eye for the current trend, he is quick to observe the changing dynamics of the education as well as industrial sector. As a leader, Nealesh affirms that it is his undertaking to empower students to culminate their uniqueness into reality and strives to achieve constant innovation by imparting a cutting edge curriculum to them.
His zest, strong belief in the power of imagination and sense of exuberance has made this Institute be the Global League Institute in India (Awarded by Great Place to Study (GPTS) at House of Commons, London).
Yogesh Dalal
Trustee
Yogesh Dalal, a visionary in the true sense, is known for his remarkable spirit and an ability to consistently extract excellence from each and every student. His innovative ideal and professional ethics make him stand out of crowd, giving him a very valuable position in the industry of fashion. Having a very positive outlook towards every new introductions in the fashion industry and experimenting with all possibilities is what Mr. Yogesh Dalal is very well known for. Having a very positive outlook towards every new introduction in the fashion industry and experimenting with all possibilities is what Yogesh Dalal is very well known for.
Ms. Sandra Agnes D’Souza
Director, South
Sandra Agnes is a holder of Master degree in Social Work (Medical and Psychiatric, Family and Child Welfare and Counseling) from School of Social Work, Roshinilaya, Mangalore. She has also attained a Diploma in Public Communication and Fund Raising from Murray Culshaw Consulting (sponsored by Ford Foundation). With an experience of 5 years in Dalit Microfinance Federations as Regional Training Coordinator and 2 years as national fundraiser for National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights, she has been instrumental in giving new dimension to societal responsibilities based on humanitarian grounds. She ventured into the creative field of Art and Design for the last 15 years and has significantly contributed to art and design education system in terms of management and marketing. Her specialization lies in developing interpersonal relationships, team and leadership management, strategic and risk management, Franchise business development plans and establishing industry connect. She is currently working as the Director, South with JD Institute of Fashion Technology.
Mr. Pramod Adhikari
Chief Mentor
Retail Professional with an experience of 19 years in Branded Fashion Industry. A NIFT Delhi alumnus in design and merchandise planning. He has served some of the leading branded fashion houses of India. Aditya Birla Fashion, Future Lifestyle, Celebrity Fashions, Myntra Fashion and more forms his portfolio of clients. Currently a Principal Consultant & Founder of Ideaworx Associates – A Buying house providing merchandising and supply chain solutions. As an entrepreneur he is associated with few Start Ups in Fashion & Retail, founding members of Charmboard – a technology driven marketing platform. One of the founder of sportswear brand I’MORPH. As a mentor of JD Institute of Fashion Technology, he is creating a smooth interface between education and industry.
Academic Team
Ms. Suma M
Academic Manager, South
Suma Satish is our Academics- in- Charge, JD South. She has completed her Post Graduate Diploma in Fashion Design & Boutique Management. She comes with 8 years of Industry experience and 6 years of academic experience. Her specialization includes Design, Fashion Thinking, Illustrations, Fabric Manipulation and Ornamentation. She incorporates best practices to ensure compliance with educational standards, and college and and student performance. She coordinates between all JD South centres and manages academics, final projects, course content, and overall functioning. In addition, she has also been mentoring and guiding students in their design projects and is in charge of the execution for the JD Annual Design Awards, South.
Babu Rajendra Prasadh R
Principal
Babu Rajendra Prasadh R studied Apparel Technology & Management from Bangalore University. His vast, diverse experience spans Academics in Research & Teaching and also industry experience in Garment Design, Production Management, working with Gerber CAD software, and Garment Production Management. He is also the Chief Superintendent of UG Examination, Bangalore University and Member, Board of Governing Council, Educational Institute of Management Studies and serves as educational consultant for fashion and commerce colleges. He has published reference books for MBA, Fashion and Retail Management, and BSc Fashion Technology, his research work was published in 3 national conferences. He won the silver medal from The Institute of Engineers (India) for designing a machine for the rural dyeing industry. He has published 3 study materials for MBA in Fashion & Retail Management and 5 study materials for B.Sc in Fashion Technology & Management course. His rich experience makes him our able Principal, affiliated to Bangalore University.
Mr. Pratik Kumar
Head of Department – Fashion Design
Mr. Pratik Kumar comes with over a decade of unparalleled experience as a Fashion & Textile Designer and a noteworthy alumnus of NIFT. His career has been a remarkable fusion of impactful contributions to the Fashion Industry and a profound dedication to education. Presently, he devotes his energies to skillfully fostering a dynamic environment of learning for students from diverse social and cultural backgrounds.
Mr. Pratik’s extensive skill set encompasses Design & Management, Textile Design, Merchandising & Sourcing, Visual Merchandising, Fashion & Retail, Electronic Commerce, and an in-depth understanding of the History and Evolution of Fashion. His expertise also extends to Event Management & Planning, Brand Management, and the world of Fashion Law.
Mr. Pratik’s commitment is unwavering—to nurture the future leaders of the fashion world, imparting not only knowledge but also a profound sense of creativity, unwavering dedication, and an infectious passion for the art of fashion.
Mr. Dhanush B
Head of Department – Interior Design
Dhanush B holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from the renowned BGS School of Architecture and Planning. His professional expertise is centered on Residential and Commercial Design. As a registered architect under the Council of Architecture in India, he upholds the highest industry standards.
Dhanush’s unique dual role as both a practitioner and educator allows him to seamlessly merge theoretical concepts with practical applications, cultivating a comprehensive understanding of Design. His contributions facilitate a profound appreciation of architectural artistry on our education platform.
Ms. Rupali Sarkar
Head of Department – Jewellery
Ms. Rupali Sarkar brings confidence and innovation to the jewellery design craft, creating designs that are both unforgettable and elegant. Her motivation for continuous growth and my ability to handle challenges with a positive attitude define her professional journey.
She has organised and managed the presence of JD at the India International Jewellery Show in 2021. Furthermore, she has mentored more than 340 students for the National Jewellery Awards, contributing to their success.
Ms. Rupali’s educational qualifications include a Diploma in Fine Jewellery Designing from JD Institute of Fashion Technology and a Masterclass in Graphic Designing by Lindsay Marsh through Demy Design Learning. These qualifications, along with my passion and experience, equip her to lead the Jewellery Design department and inspire the next generation of designers.
Mr. Kishore Ramachandra
Head of Department – Photography
Kishore Ramachandra graduated from MES College with a Bachelor ‘s degree in science. Currently he is the HOD, photography department. He trained and worked as an Associate Photographer with Sudhir Ramachandran, a very well known and widely acclaimed photographer. His career graph spans over 17 years during which he has worked with coveted clients like Toyota Motor Corp, Nikon Japan Inc, Neumann Kaffee group Germany, TVS Motors, Andritz Metals Australia, Titan, Westar & HMT, ING, Haworth, Stanley, Schwarzkopf as well as editorial clients like the Society, Bloomberg. He photographed the Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson for a French tabloid as well. He has also captured company profiles for Biocon, Honda and has done photo shoots for DAKS London.