Zinnia Kumar Portrait

ABOUT ZINNIA

Based out of London, Zinnia has a long-term commitment & passion for humanitarianism, leadership, empowerment, research, ecology, sustainability authentic representation, deconstructing beauty ideals and stigmatising narratives in fashion & beyond. Zinnia is also a strong advocate for education and empowerment.

Recognised by Vogue India in the Most Influential Global Indians List 2019. Zinnia is a Published Scientist in Human Evolutionary Psychology and Ecology. Zinnia also attended Brasenose College, University of Oxford in MPhil Modern South Asian Studies program. Zinnia is currently studying MSc in Industrial and Organisational Psychology at the prestigious University College London, UK, she is a CIEEM accredited Ecologist and Conservation Biologist, having worked in the Australian outback with government and non-government organisations carrying out Environmental Impact Assessment’s and large-scale surveys and reports as well as the preservation of wildlife and rehabilitation of mass land areas due to post industry impacts. Zinnia’s work addresses sustainability and environmental impacts and addressing circularity in manufacturing fashion and business practices.

Among her other passions Zinnia is an internationally recognised Fashion Model (clients include H&M, OFF-White, MSGM, Dior, Chanel, Roksanda, Vogue, Harpers Bazaar among others), RADA trained Actress, NIDA trained presenter and Public Speaker. Zinnia is an advocate in addressing colourism, South Asian representation, identity, dogma, decolonising & deconstructing the politics of beauty. A recipient of the Rotary Youth Leadership award. Zinnia is a social impact entrepreneur, CEO & founder of The Dotted Line a sustainability, diversity & inclusion consultancy.

Environment, Ecology & Sustainability

A conservation biologist & a Chartered Institute of Ecological & Environmental Managers (CIEEM) accredited Ecologist who has conducted field work in remote locations, Zinnia has first-hand knowledge of biodiversity, ecosystems, sustainability and anthropogenic impact of human activities on the environment.

Her extensive conservation, ecological & sustainability background involves working with EPA (Environmental Impact Authority), Department of Environment, Ecology & Evolution Research Centre, UNSW, UCL, H&M, Planet Ark, World Heritage sites, Ramsar convention wetlands among others.

Zinnia’s sustainable advocacy crosses over into fashion, joining Vivienne Westwood on a climate protest, speaking & advocating across mixed media interviews & podcasts (below), practicing minimalism in buying practices and winning best speech at Sydney Town Hall performed to 2000 people at an Eco competition.

In her spare time Zinnia is an avid landscapist and gardener, growing her own organic crops and creating microbiomes for local invertebrates. Zinnia’s has a passion for birds having started out her career as a bird conservationist. She currently has a mini sanctuary, giving new free-range life to former battery hens and other abandoned and injured birds. Her dream is to open a bird sanctuary for sick, injured and unwanted birds.

Beauty Research & Science Communication

Zinnia’s first science paper in Human Evolutionary Biology was featured in international press by Forbes, BBC, Time, The Guardian among others.

Trained in presenting from NIDA & Toastmasters International, Zinnia has been a sustainability & empowerment motivational speaker & educator for the past decade. Zinnia has spoken for the likes of The Cancer Council, UN Women, The Australian Museum, Conferences, UNSW among others. She has conducted talks & participated in podcasts related to decolonisation of beauty, social phobia, colourism & representation and sustainability. Zinnia is also a writer and has written on the topic of colorism, sustainability & representation for various publications & is currently writing a series of essays on decolonising & deconstructing beauty.

Diversity & Inclusion

Using her Science, Ecology, Fashion and Business Psychology background, Zinnia is the founder of start-up ‘The Dotted Line’ which is a diversity, equity, inclusion & sustainability 360 degree consultancy & production house which caters to businesses both within & outside the fashion/media sector, who require Diversity, Inclusion & Sustainability accreditation, production, EIA’s and access to sustainable and equitable supply chains.

Education

Zinnia holds a 1st class Honours in Bachelor of Advanced Science in Ecology & Human Evolutionary Psychology from UNSW, Australia with), and studied a Diploma in Innovation Management from the UNSW Business School. Matriculated at Brasenose College, University of Oxford on MPhil Modern South Asian Studies, researching colourism and women’s disempowerment.

Zinnia is currently studying an MSc in Industrial, Organisational & Business Psychology from the UCL Business & Psychology Schools (ranked no.2 worldwide after Stanford THE) focus and research on increasing authentic diversity, inclusion & sustainable practices within organisations in the media & fashion sector, by combining human evolutionary biology and sustainability with consumer/marketing and Business Psychology to create tangible quantifiable change.