Program Advisory Council

The Program Advisory Council provides strategic council and support to the leadership team at the School of Fashion.

Anjli Patel (external link, opens in new window)

Fashion Lawyer

Patel hopes the next generation of fashion creatives embody diversity.

Krishna Nikhil (external link, opens in new window)

Chief Executive Officer at Pangaia

Nikhil hopes to see the next generation of fashion creatives and leaders who fully reflect a diversity of backgrounds and perspectives.

Sage Paul (external link, opens in new window)

Designer/Artistic Director, Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto

Paul wishes to foster and support the next generation of conscious fashion creatives who are inclusive, generous and curious.

Brian A. Richards (external link, opens in new window)

Event Producer, THE COLLECTIONS

Fashion Manager, Studio Co-director, The Fashion Zone

Richards hopes the next generation of fashion creatives, conscientiously use fashion as a platform to engage in social discourse, making less ‘fashion statements’ and more political ones.

Heidi Ruggier (external link, opens in new window)

President & Founder, Matte PR Inc.

Ruggier hopes the next generation of fashion creatives address diversity.

Mary Turner

President, Town Shoes Limited

Turner hopes the next generation of fashion creatives solve the lifecycle problem! The timing of when product arrives in store and when the consumer needs or wants it, is drastically off in all parts of the apparel and footwear business.

Laurie Belzak

Sector Development Office for Fashion and Design, City of Toronto

Belzak hopes the next generation of fashion creatives are poised to take advantage of the wide range of career opportunities that exist, to help grow the fashion industry in a sustainable manner, to ensure future prosperity and global success.

Aisha Fairclough (external link, opens in new window)

TV Producer, Diversity Consultant and Body Image Advocate

Fairclough hopes the next generation of fashion creatives truly understand that diversity and inclusion isn’t a gimmick. It must be implemented across the board from designers to stylists, photographers, magazine editors and buyers. True change occurs when we all have a seat at the table.

Nina Boccia (external link, opens in new window)

Director of Marketing, KPMG Architects

Boccia hopes the next generation of fashion creatives create stylish, ethically-made and sustainably-made clothing that is both accessible and inclusive.

Lynda Friendly

President & CEO, Lynda Friendly and Associates Inc.

Friendly hopes to see the next generation of fashion creatives in the fashion industry focus more on the conception and development of new fabric technology, including but not limited to intelligent, interactive textiles, smart fabrics, wearable technology and wearable art.

Dr. Jill Andrew (external link, opens in new window)

Educator & Community Advocate, Co-Founder of Body Confidence Canada

Dr. Andrew is excited to see how the next generation of fashion creatives will continue to design fashion through a lens of social responsibility, sustainability, access and diversity.