Anish is a digital health expert, social innovator, and entrepreneur known for driving impactful solutions in healthcare and education. As Managing Director (Asia) at Propel Labs, he leads initiatives that leverage digital solutions to advance global public health. Anish co-founded GoodEd Technologies, providing education access to over 2 million learners in India, and played a pivotal role in mobilizing healthcare resources during the pandemic through the COVID-19 Crypto Relief initiative. He also led the Gender Alliance initiative, using technology to combat child marriage and empower women, earning praise from Melinda Gates.
A World Economic Forum Global Shaper, Anish champions the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and global collaboration. His entrepreneurial achievements, including being named Most Promising Entrepreneur of the Year by TiE, extend to advising startups on scaling and sustainable growth.
With an MPA from Harvard Kennedy School and an MBA from the Asian Institute of Management (Manila), Anish is also the author of four books, including a national bestseller. His work with the Asian Development Research Institute further deepened his expertise in corporate social responsibility and innovation-driven growth.
Aparna Singh is a legal and operations professional with expertise in corporate law, intellectual property rights, environmental law, and compliance management. She holds an LL.M in Corporate Law from National Law University, Jodhpur. Aparna specializes in intellectual property law, competition law, and environmental regulations.
Her analytical skills, combined with a keen understanding of policy development and legal frameworks, make her well-suited for managing complex projects that require legal and operational oversight.
Kirat Kaur is a researcher and analyst specializing in sustainability, business management, and data-driven insights. Currently pursuing an MBA from TERI School of Advanced Studies, she holds a B.A. (Hons.) in History from Hansraj College, University of Delhi. Kirat has worked as a Research Intern at the United Nations Global Compact, focusing on sustainability reporting and Industry 4.0 technologies.
She has authored a research paper on leveraging emerging technologies to bridge Indian and global sustainability frameworks, which is set to be published. Proficient in Power BI, SPSS, R, and Minitab, she brings expertise in data analysis, business research, and strategic consulting to drive impactful solutions.
Nikhil Deshpande is a seasoned filmmaker, producer, and content strategist with extensive experience in the film, advertising, and digital media industries. Over his 12-year tenure in Mumbai, he worked on renowned feature films like Rock On and Delhi Belly and contributed to numerous high-profile TV commercials as an assistant director. He then spent two years in Dubai, managing TV commercials and live event productions.
Transitioning into digital media, Nikhil served as Senior Producer at Newslick for five years, where he led the production of impactful short documentaries, managed studio operations, and directed video teams. With a proven track record in storytelling, production leadership, and content strategy, he excels at overseeing large-scale multimedia projects and driving engaging, high-quality visual narratives for diverse platforms.
Pranjal Pandey is a media professional with over a decade of experience in journalism, content production, media strategy, and book editing. As a Writing Fellow at Globetrotter Media, he has reported on South Asian elections with a strong focus on bringing people-centered narratives to the forefront. He has also developed successful media and social media strategies for a national political party, executing impactful campaigns around the Lok Sabha elections.
As Managing Editor at NewsClick.in, he led editorial teams and managed content production to boost audience engagement across multiple platforms. Additionally, he has a solid research background from his roles at Tata Institute of Social Sciences and HISTORY TV18, where he focused on socio-political issues and historical movements in India. He has also edited over 7 books. His expertise spans reporting, content creation, editorial management, media strategy, and building narratives that connect with people.
Pushkin Chakraborty is an accomplished visual designer and multimedia expert with over eight years of experience across branding, UI/UX design, packaging, and digital content production. With an MFA in Animation from Arunachal University and a BFA in Applied Art from the College of Art, Delhi, he has honed his expertise in graphic design, motion graphics, cartography, and data visualization.
Pushkin has worked with leading organizations, including NewsClick, The Morning Context, and Reach to Teach, where he managed brand identity, social media design, and publication projects. His proficiency spans Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, Procreate, QGIS, and WordPress, making him adept at crafting compelling visual narratives across platforms.
As a freelancer and consultant, he has collaborated with United Nations (UNFPA-PREM), and various e-commerce brands, delivering impactful designs that merge creativity with functionality.
Rajalakshmi Nair is a seasoned professional with 15 years of experience, including a decade at the Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability (CBGA). She specializes in planning and executing training workshops, consultations, and stakeholder meetings across online and offline formats. With expertise in program monitoring and evaluation, communications, and outreach, Rajalakshmi ensures operational efficiency and impactful engagement.
Her strategic leadership in capacity-building, coupled with her strong background in public policy, governance, and financial accountability, makes her a key asset in program management and advocacy efforts.
Rajashekharan is a seasoned Finance and Operations Management professional with over 25 years of experience, including 17 years in the development sector. He brings expertise in financial systems, analysis, and statutory compliance, alongside strong capabilities in HR and administration. With a proven track record in policy development, process optimization, and regulatory adherence, Rajashekharan ensures efficient financial governance and operational excellence.
His deep understanding of finance and compliance makes him a valuable advisor for organizations navigating complex regulatory landscapes.
Siddharth Singh is a seasoned creative consultant and video production expert with extensive experience in film editing, 3D animation, and post-production. Formerly he served as a Creative Consultant at NewsClick, where he has been instrumental in art consulting, product management, and multimedia storytelling. Before this, he co-founded VIBGYOR STUDIOS, where he spent nearly seven years as a 3D Generalist and Senior Video Editor, spearheading high-end post-production, visual effects, and animation projects.
With a deep understanding of video editing, motion graphics, and content strategy, Siddharth combines artistic vision with technical expertise to craft compelling visual narratives across digital and broadcast platforms.
Dheeraj Batra is a leading healthcare innovation expert who has built several significant healthcare models globally. He is the founder of Arogya Finance, an award-winning social venture that enables people who cannot afford therapy to access financing, which has impacted over a million lives globally. He also launched the Healthy Heart for All program for Medtronic focused on increasing access to healthcare for the underserved which won an Edison award in 2013.
Dheeraj is also the founder and CEO of Propel Labs, a boutique innovation strategy and venture building services firm which works with leading private and public organizations worldwide. Previously, he was a Partner at EY, which he joined when EY acquired his innovation-focused consulting firm in 2017. Prior to that, he was part of the founding team that launched IDEO in India where he was the Head of Business Design and a Venture Director at Innosight Ventures. He holds an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Tanya Aldred is a British journalist who writes about cricket and climate change, contributing to The Guardian, Wisden Cricket Monthly, and more. She covers both men’s and women’s cricket, often exploring the sport’s cultural and social dimensions, with a particular focus on gender equality and sustainability. Aldred is also deeply committed to environmental issues, writing about how cricket is affected by climate change. From the carbon footprint of major tournamentsto how the sport can be more eco-friendly, she advocates for a greener future for cricket.
She’s involved with The Next Test, a project pushing for sustainability in cricket, advocating for solutions like reducing travel and using renewable energy at events. Her work seamlessly blends her two passions, pushing both cricket and the world at large to think more sustainably.
Vijay is a leading social innovator, an author, and a WEF Global Leadership Fellow who has launched social innovations across the world including India, Mexico, Bangladesh, and Brazil. In particular, he played a key role in launching Healthy Heart for All for Medtronic in India which won an Edison award for best social funding model. In addition, he was involved in several social innovations including a nationwide social media campaign in Mexico and Brazil to target teenage mothers, a global community of changemakers across 500 cities for the World Economic Forum, and India’s first computer animation series for Cartoon Network worldwide to name a few.
Previously, Vijay was the Head of Strategy at the World Economic Forum, Venture Director at Innosight Ventures, Deputy Head of the Global Shapers Community, and Creative Director at Crest Animation Studios. Vijay holds an MBA from the International University of Japan where he was a Monbukagakusho scholar and a Masters in Global Leadership offered by the World Economic Forum jointly with INSEAD, Columbia, Wharton, London Business School, and CEIBS China.
Yogesh is a visionary leader and social entrepreneur, with a decade of experience driving transformative initiatives in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. He has successfully founded and led two impactful organizations – Delhi OYE (2014) and Even Cargo (2016) – and serves as a visiting faculty at Ambedkar University, Delhi, inspiring the next generation of social entrepreneurs. Yogesh’s tireless efforts to foster positive change have earned him prestigious recognition, including fellowships from Fulbright, Acumen India, and TISS-DBS, as well as the Commonwealth and Global Citizen’s Disruptor award.
Yogesh’s academic credentials include a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School, a Master’s degree in Social Entrepreneurship from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, and a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering.
