Ankita has worked in the development sector for almost 10 years. She studied journalism in Delhi and completed her first master’s in Communication for Development at St. Xavier’s, Mumbai. Her second master’s is in Human Rights from IIHR, Delhi. Ankita’s experience of working with unique communities, from sex workers in the red-light area in Mumbai, Maharashtra, to rural communities in the remote villages of Unnao, Lucknow, has been transformational. Her consulting experience with leading companies like Reliance, Adani, Mahindra, Bajaj, Axis Bank, Yes Bank, and the Government of Maharashtra, has helped her understand the end-to-end landscape and dynamics of the ever-evolving CSR in the country. Despite a grueling day in the field, or perhaps because of it, she comes back home every day to write about her experiences in her blog diary. Ankita is also an aspiring entrepreneur. She runs a small business Aai ki Kala that revisits her Aai’s (mother) passion for creating beautiful macrame products!

Ashok is the heart and soul of The Antara Foundation. He drives our thinking, values and relationships. He was earlier the Director of McKinsey and Co, and then set up the Gates Foundation’s India office. At BMGF, he led Avahan, the world’s largest private HIV prevention program. He then set up The Antara Foundation in 2013, and brought with him the idea of implementing public health at scale, which he had learned through his work with the Avahan program.

Ashok was also a Menschel Senior Fellow at the Harvard School of Public Health. He was educated at St. Stephen’s College, Delhi School of Economics and IIM Ahmedabad. A renaissance man, Ashok is passionate about chess, art and writing

He published his first book “A Stranger Truth: Lessons in Love, Leadership and Courage from India’s Sex Workers (Juggernaut)” in November 2018.

Ashutosh has more than 8 years of experience in the development and pharmaceutical sector. He has extensive experience in marketing and research for the pharmaceutical industry and for the last five years, he has been working in the core development field. He has worked across 3 different states & provided techno-managerial support for healthcare system strengthening & quality improvement. Ashutosh has PGDPM from IIHMR Jaipur. In his leisure time, Ashutosh loves spending time with his family & friends.

Balaji leads the finance section at TAF. He brings vast experience in managing and implementing financial systems, and administrative processes, training in financial management, and ensuring the statutory compliances of the organisation are always met. Balaji has worked with several national-level civil society organisations and has effectively managed finance projects in the fields of education, health and livelihoods. He also has experience in handling projects supported by Global Fund, SDTT, Misereor and WHO. Balaji has an MBA in Finance & HR. He loves history and travelling. Balaji can speak Tamil, Hindi and English.

Bijayalaxmi Panda, a development professional with 14 years of experience, has worked in various states including Delhi, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. Her expertise spans research, advocacy (media and research-policy advocacy), partnership and strategic management, and community engagement in maternal-child, adolescent health, and nutrition. With two graduate degrees in Social Work and Population Studies, as well as a Ph.D. in Social Work focused on Community Engagement and Policy Influencing, Bijayalaxmi is well-versed in her field. She also holds a post-graduate diploma in Development, Urban Planning and Development, Disaster Management, and Health and Nutrition. With approximately 40 publications in reputable journals, books, policy papers, and position papers, Bijayalaxmi has covered a range of topics including budget analysis, nutrition financing, PRIs engagement, media as development partners, elderly care, POSHAN programs, and maternal, child, adolescent, and child nutrition.

In her personal life, Bijayalaxmi finds fulfillment in continuous learning, writing, practicing yoga and meditation, dancing, and cooking. She values her alone time and cherishes quality moments with her family.

Chandrika has worked at the crossroads of international policy, organisational leadership, and research. Most recently, she was President of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Association and Founder-Director of the SDG Academy. Previously, she helped set up the Reliance Foundation and worked at the United Nations in various capacities from 2001-2008. She has master’s degrees from the Harvard Kennedy School and the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, and a bachelor’s degree from Delhi University.

An IT professional with 12 years of experience, Danish specializes in IT infrastructure management including hardware, software, applications, storage, networking, security, policies, processes, and IT facilities. Danish previously worked for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Statistics with Physics and Mathematics from AMU and a Master’s degree in Computer Application from Inderprastha Engineering College. It is his passion to work on big, challenging tasks that involve technology, innovation, and creativity.

Dinesh is passionate about making a difference in the lives of the less fortunate. This passion drives him as a young professional leader in the development and public health space. He has spent 8 years implementing Public Health programs, specifically to improve the status of health and nutrition.

Neeraj is a seasoned public health professional, with over 20 years of experience in program management, capacity building, organisation development and government relations. He holds a master’s degree in social work and MBA in healthcare management. He enjoys working in the field and interacting with different communities across geographies. He loves travelling and spends most of his time in the field. He likes playing games and sports more than watching them.

Paras is a humanitarian professional with over 13 years of experience in public health, disaster management, and corporate social responsibility. His vast experience involves program management and planning, both at the state and community level, with a focus on system strengthening and quality improvement. Earlier, he has worked with several organisations, including Pathfinder International, HLFPPT, and Sphere, in different states across India. He has a master’s in social work and MBA in healthcare management. Paras is passionate about social work and has often volunteered in disaster-hit areas. When he’s not working, he loves to spend time with his family.

Piyush has more than 14 years of experience in the development sector, working in the public health and livelihood domains. He has led various community interventions across states in India and possesses an in-depth understanding of rural India. He has been actively involved in capacity building of government and non-government staff, on the issues of maternal and child health and nutrition, adolescent health, HIV AIDS, livelihood promotion of women SHGs and CBOs, social and financial inclusion, etc. During his time at Reach India, he was awarded the best trainer in 2010 and the best social entrepreneur in 2011. At TAF, Piyush looks after various program management and planning activities, including the design and implementation of interventions. Piyush has an MBA in Human Resource Management.

Pooja is a strategic HR leader with over two decades of progressive experience in diverse non-profit organizations. She has worked in various dimensions of HR and has contributed to organizations such as Child Rights & You (CRY), Population Services International (PSI), International Planned Parenthood Federation South Asia Region (IPPF SARO), Piramal Foundation, John Snow International (India), and Aga Khan Foundation. Pooja holds an MBA in HR and a degree in Law. Additionally, she is an experienced soft skills trainer and certified in MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator), Assessment Development Centres (ADCs), and the Thomas Kilmann Index (TKI) tool for Conflict Management. She is also trained as a Leadership Coach.

Prerna started working at The Antara Foundation as a fellow in Rajasthan, became a program officer in Madhya Pradesh, and now holds the position of Chief of Staff to the CEO. Prerna has a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Delhi University where she specialised in endocrinology and physiology. She also has a masters in public health (MPH) from Imperial College London, with a specialisation in health systems strengthening in the global health context. Prerna is a published researcher with papers published in BioMed Central and Social Science and Medicine journals. She is also a trained Hindustani vocal singer and plays multiple instruments. Prerna has lived in three countries – London, Singapore, and now India.

Priyadarshini, a public health professional with 29+ years of experience, excels in managing large-scale service delivery programs, fundraising, donor management, and consulting. She has led social marketing and franchising programs in family planning, reproductive health, and adolescent health across Bihar, Jharkhand, and three other states. Priya has spearheaded grant-making and advocacy initiatives for child rights in four northern states of India, forging partnerships with state governments to enhance maternal and child health outcomes. With an M.A. in Medical and Psychiatric Social Work, and a PGD in Health Economics, Healthcare Financing, and Health Policy, Priyadarshini has made significant contributions to organizations such as Janani, Save The Children, CINI, Marie Stopes International, Naandi Foundation, Amaltas Consulting, and Antara Foundation. Her passion lies in working with young minds from diverse backgrounds, which fuels her drive and motivation during her second tenure at The Antara Foundation.

Rajesh is a development practitioner with over 15 years of experience managing and leading community development programs. His core expertise is in designing and implementing community-driven sustainable agriculture, health, and allied livelihoods for the rural poor. He holds an MBA in Rural Management from the Xavier Institute of Development and Action Studies. His work to improve the livelihoods of marginalised farming communities has helped more than 30,000 rural families.

Sanjat comes with over 3 decades of experience in the non-profit sector in India out of which he has been with Plan International and Plan India for over 25 years. His experience and skills include non-profit financial management, compliances, grant management, internal controls and audit. He is also a trained resource in quality management systems, risk management and emergency response systems.

Sanyam, formerly the Lead for Monitoring and Evaluation at NITI Aayog, specializes in assessing the implementation of government schemes throughout India. With expertise in monitoring and evaluation (M&E), he has worked across various sectors, including health, livelihoods, women’s empowerment, sanitation, road safety, education, environment, and climate change. His career began with a grassroots organization focused on remote villages in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Later, he transitioned to a consultancy role at Kantar Public, where he contributed to projects with GAVI, UNICEF, BMGF, and the Government of India. Sanyam holds academic qualifications in Demography and Economics.

Shelly is an expert in nutrition and health, with more than 14 years of experience in MIYCN, Facility-based management of SAM, and CSAM. She has developed a clear understanding of the demand and supply side barriers affecting the success of any program and has extensive experience working with the public sector and NGOs. She is passionate about improving the quality of life of rural communities and feels that nutrition and health are imperative to achieve true development. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in sociology and obtained PG diplomas in public health nutrition and district health management. She enjoys spending time with her family and playing with her dog.

Sremon’s chief focus is ensuring all our offices run at full throttle. She oversees day-to-day administrative operations, which include setting up offices, contract negotiations and agreements, vendor management, events, and development of organizational policies, among other things. Born and raised in Calcutta, Sre joined The Antara Foundation in 2015 after finishing her Masters in English Literature from St. Xavier’s College. She knows the location of everything, how things work, and where you can find them, both within the office and virtually.

Sremon is a history enthusiast, is hooked on crime stories and loves action films. In her spare time, she can be found chasing after her dog or brainstorming about her next holiday.