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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

Kritika Pandey is a tutor, technical mentor, and expert in public health. She has more than three years of experience in mentoring in MCHN components as well as managing block- and district-level government counterparts. She has expertise working at the grass-roots level and knows how to work with frontline healthcare workers to influence change. She graduated in the nursing field and has acquired a postgraduate degree in social work.

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.

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.

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.

Reenu leads our operations. She has been with TAF since its inception. She has played an integral role in managing TAF’s growth into a salient organisation. She has over twenty-five years of experience and has worked with the likes of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, ABN-AMRO and Airbus. She enjoys house pets, exploring art, and is proficient in English, French, Punjabi, and Hindi.

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.