Nitha Palakshappa, also known as Nitha Dolli, is a New Zealand marketing academic, and is a full professor at Massey University, specialising in sustainability and marketing in the fashion and food sectors.

Nitha Palakshappa
Academic background
Alma materUniversity of Canterbury
Thesis
Doctoral advisorRobert T. Hamilton, Venkataraman Nilakant
Academic work
InstitutionsMassey University

Academic career

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Palakshappa completed a PhD titled Collaborative relationships in New Zealand: an exploratory examination at the University of Canterbury in 2003.[1] Palakshappa then joined the faculty of the University of Waikato, and then Massey University, rising to associate professor in 2022, and full professor in 2024.[2][3]

Palakshappa's research and teaching centre on sustainability in the fashion and food sectors, covering topics such as ethical value chains, conscious consumption, and how brands can meet sustainability goals.[3] Palakshappa was involved in a Swedish research project funded through the Swedish Institute for Strategic Environmental Research, a cross-disciplinary study aimed at understanding how environmental communication could transform Sweden's sustainability. The marketing stream of the research worked with brands such as IKEA, Global Compact Network, Nudie Jeans, KappAhl, and H&M on sustainability reporting, transparency and social responsibility.[3][4]

In New Zealand, Palakshappa has worked on food system sustainability, and was co-leader of the Farming to Flourish project in Taranaki. In this project Palakshappa worked with Sita Venkateswa (Massey), Dirk Roep (Wageningen University), and Carl Freeman (Farm Next Door and Freeman Farms) to learn how to educate people about farming, and how to encourage regenerative farming and diversify crops.[5][6][7]

Selected works

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References

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  1. ^ Palakshappa, Nitha (2003). Collaborative relationships in New Zealand : an exploratory examination (PhD thesis). UC Research Repository, University of Canterbury.
  2. ^ "2021 Professorial promotions announced". www.massey.ac.nz. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "2023 Professorial promotions announced". www.massey.ac.nz. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  4. ^ "Reflections on four years of Mistra Environmental Communication". SLU.SE. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  5. ^ "Farming to Flourish research partnership spreads seeds of local farming knowledge". www.massey.ac.nz. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Research focus on Taranaki's sustainable food producers". www.massey.ac.nz. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  7. ^ Watson, Mike (2 May 2021). "Taranaki foodies out to lunch on locally grown fare". Stuff. Retrieved 3 January 2024.