Our Team

Umesh Zirpe

Founder Director

Awarded by Shiv Chhatrapati Sports award, Umesh Zirpe is the leader of Giripremi's six expeditions to 8000m mountains. Namely Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu.
He has climbed many peaks in Garhwal Himalaya,

Manish Sabade

Director

CMD, GUardian Corp., he is the backbone of the institute. Having an immense enthusiasm for mountaineering sport, he has been a strong pillar in Giripremi and GGIM's every higher steps.

Avinash Foujdar

Director

He is a cost accountant by profession and an experienced mountaineer. He is one of the core team members of Giripremi since 1986. His contribution to to expeditions like Mt. Satopanth, Mt. Shivaling, Mt. Everest is invaluable. His meticulousness and minute planing helps the team to achieve the desired goals.

Chandan Chavan

Director

One of the seniormost members of Giripremi, Chandan Chavan looks after all the administrative aspects of the institute.

Vijay Joshi

Director

Niranjan Palsule

Director

Shripad Gokhale

Director

Bhushan Harshe

Head - Operations

Bhushan is Giripremi's summitter of Mt. Everest in 2013. He has completed his Masters in Instrumentation but having a passion for mountaineering, he has opted for this profession. For past 10 years, he has completed Basic, Advance mountaineering courses; followed by Search & Rescue Course; Alpine Mountaineering Course and numerous expeditions in India, Nepal Himalayas.

Vivek Shivade

Head - Content and Syllabus design

Vivek is a graduate in Metallurgical Engineering & Materials Science from IIT Bombay. But having a passion for mountaineering and outdoor education, he has stepped into this field. He has completed graduation from NOLS, UIAA conducted Ice Climbing in France, Basic, Advance Mountaineering Courses and various mountaineering expeditions and high altitude treks in India & abroad

Dinesh Kotkar

Course Coordinator

Dinesh is a commerce graduate from Pune University. He has completed Basic, Advance, Search & Rescue courses in mountaineering. In 2015, he summitted a peak 5268, a virgin peak in Himachal Pradesh. In July 2017, He summitted Mt. Kun, a technically challenging 7000der mountain in J&K regions.

Ankit Sohoni

Course Coordinator

Ankit is a passionate trekker and a budding mountaineer from Giripremi. He, a commerce graduate, has led numerous treks in Sahyadri and Indian Himalaya. Recently he led a trek to Everest Base Camp.

Dr. Sumit Mandale

Senior Instructor & Medical Officer

Dr. Sumit is one of the most experienced rock climbers in Giripremi. He derives immense knowledge of Sahyadri range. He has climbed numerous Himalaya mountains including Mt. Cho Oyu (world's 6th highest mountain), Mt. Kun, Mt. Mera, Mt. Stok Kangri etc. Being a doctor, he is an asset to GGIM as he is the Medical officer for GGIM programmes