Nicole Van Der Elst Desai

Nicole van der Elst Desai is the founder of VDE Consultancy, established in 2008, specializing in consulting and advisory services for the textile and fashion industry with a focus on innovation, sustainability, and technology. Currently, Nicole serves as a member of the Board of Advisors at Delvify and as an advisor for Mana Impact, while also holding a position on the Supervisory Board of Lenzing Group, contributing to committees on Strategy, Growth, and Innovation, and ESG. As a Technical Advisor/Partner for Forum for the Future, Nicole provides expertise on various programs aimed at enhancing sustainability within the fashion sector. Previous roles include advisory positions with Livingwear, training at TaF.tc, and key managerial positions in innovation and operations at Tong Siang Co. Ltd and Sustainable Textile Solutions. Nicole holds a Bachelor of Science in Fashion Technology and Management from the Amsterdam Fashion Institute and has furthered education at INSEAD.