Advisors and Trustees

Dr. Bani Bora (Ph.D, LLB) has professional experience of working with academic institutions and social sectors since 1996. She received her education from esteemed academic institutions namely Assam Agricultural University, Avinashilingam University and Delhi University, and specialized in the field of Extension Education along with a degree in Law. “Empowerment of Women through Gender Resource Centres in Delhi”, an impact study of government’s intervention programme in collaboration with non-governmental organizations was her research area for Ph.D study. As a guest faculty at the department of Adult, Continuing Education and Extension, University of Delhi, Dr. Bani used to teach Research Methodology, Counselling of Marginalized Communities and Extension Education. She recently joined the panel of Visiting Professorship at the International Institute of Adult and Lifelong Education (IIALE), New Delhi. Dr. Bani also has association as visiting scholar at the Julius-Maximilians-University, Wurzburg, Germany and the University of British Columbia, Canada. Dr. Bani’s research papers were published in journals of national and international repute. She has also authored two books: Empowerment of Marginalized Women: A Study of Gender Resource Centres in Delhi and Legal Right Awareness for Women: Trainer’s Handbook
Her associations with National & International NGOs as well as Academic Institutions has contributed towards her expertise in planning and management of development programs, training, teaching and research. Dr. Bani recognizes that the quality extension education, empathetic approach and people’s participation are the three powerful agents of social change. It was with this vision of joining together to bring the desired positive changes in the society Dr. Bani coupled with like-minded believers of change and formed Centre for Social Change, a Registered Charitable Trust in 2018. Award and Association as Member Recipient of Ambassador for Peace Award from Universal Peace Federation, New Delhi Member, Indian Adult Education Association, New Delhi Member, Mobilization: Society for Community Mobilization for Sustainable Development, New Delhi Member, Editorial Advisory Team, Journal of Contemporary Issues in Education, Hosted by University of Alberta Libraries in 2014-15 Member, Visiting Committee of Home for Female Beggars, Constituted by Department of Social Welfare, Government of NCT of Delhi in 2008

Dr Mridula Seth was teaching for 25 years in the Lady Irwin College (Delhi University) and took voluntary retirement to join the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) India as Technical Adviser (Adolescents & Youth) for 9 years. She is volunteering with NGOs in the area of adolescent drug abuse and mental health. Her special interest is in capacity building of field level functionaries for building life skills for empowerment of various group with special needs.
Dr Seth strongly believes in promoting partnership between academic institutions and grassroots organizations involving youth as advocates for mental health and substance abuse. She is recipient of Fulbright post-doctoral research fellowship and Tagore Literacy award.

Dr. Shankar Chowdhury has more than thirty years of experience in health, education and development sector. He worked closely with Government and Civil Society Organisation in national programmes, such as Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Sakshar Bharat Abhiyan, Technical & Vocational Education, Adolescence Education, AIDS and Life skills Education. Dr. Chowdhury superannuated from UNESCO Cluster Office (for Bhutan, India, Maldives and Sri Lanka) located in New Delhi. As Senior Program Manager in the Education Sector, he engaged with the Governments of the above mentioned countries for advocacy and program implementation of UNESCO flagship programs such as, ‘Education for All’, ‘Literacy and Adult Education’ and ‘Preventive AIDS Education in Schools’ among others. While at UNESCO, he played key advocacy role in various UN thematic areas, such as the Common Country Assessment (CCA), United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and Joint UN Technical Assistance on AIDS (JUNTA) and was an active team member in instituting Knowledge Management Communities. In addition, he also served as a Program Specialist in Division for the Promotion of Quality Education at UNESCO HQ in Paris, where he was responsible for capacity building of member countries in developing action plans for implementing health promotion, life skills and AIDS education in schools. Prior to his UN tenure, Dr. Chowdhury was a Faculty member (Addl. Prof) at the Centre for Community Medicine, AII India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, where he taught health behavior and health promotion to medical and nursing students. In 1992, even before the Government’s response to HIV prevention (NACO), Dr. Chowdhury and team started NGO-AIDS Cell at AIIMS for spread heading HIV prevention with Civil Society partners. The focus was on capacity enhancement of CSOs to dovetail HIV and life skills related issues into their existing agenda. Dr. Chowdhury holds a PhD degree and is currently a freelance consultant - technically supporting national and International Civil Society Organizations in ending violence against children including child marriage.

Mohammad Naved is a senior development professional
with Master of Social Work (MSW) from Aligarh Muslim University and around two decades of work experience with international development agencies, Global Health and Emergency Response Organisation, National civil society and Community-based organisations, and Multinational corporation. Naved has developed sector-leading expertise and experience in shaping and leading inclusive development approaches with special focus on Gender Transformative Approach. He has hands-on experience in developing Theory of Change (ToC), Program planning and strategy development, developing M&E framework, Program implementation, Policy advocacy and Campaigns, Grant-making, Donor management, partnership management, Government Relations, Financial management, Team Management, and capacity building of multiple stakeholders on diverse issues at pan India level. He has managed a team of 20 plus mid-senior level professionals and an annual budget of $ 32 million to deliver development programmes alongside 13 local partner organisations, that includes both grassroot organisations and International NGOs, such as Care International, India, Water.org, WaterAid, Institute for Sustainable Communities etc. Naved brings on board strong experience of implementing the projects and programs on issues related to child right and child protection, education, livelihood, youth development, gender integration, health & disability and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Emergency Response in both urban and rural setting. He has been professionally associated with Gap Inc., Project HOPE (U.S.), WaterAid India (UK based charity), CREA (A feminist organisation functioning in Global South), previously with ChildFund International (US based charity), Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF), International Youth Centre, and National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD), GoI. He has experience of managing grants from AusAID (DFAT), Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Government of India, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Several pharmaceutical companies/Project HOPE etc. Naved has presented his work on various international platforms in United Kingdom (UK), U.S. and Africa. He is a recipient of number of scholarships from The Dutch government, BMGF, World Health Organisation and Governor of Gangwon Province - Republic of Korea to present his papers/posters and participate in the technical trainings. He is a lifetime member of “National Association of Professional Social Workers in India (NAPSWI)

Nayana Chowdhury is a dotted mother for twenty years with multi tasking excellence starting from family management, pursuing hobby, professional contribution in the field of education as well as maintaining social relationships in a balanced way. Nayana used to teach children from marginalised communities nearly for ten years in a formal school set up and nearly for five years in informal set up. To make teaching & learning effective Nayana used to consult child psychologist and adopt different methodologies for teaching different child. Just after completion of her post graduation in English from Dibrugarh
University, Assam, Nayana worked in Tinisukia College, Assam for a short period of time before shifting to the Northern part of India. She intends to bring change in the lives of people by creating scopes through education, developing skills and bringing awareness for the environment .

Vinod Kumar Mishra was a civil servant and retired as Dy Director General, Ministry of Defence, Govt of India. After retirement, he worked for 2 years as consultant in the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports wherein he organised many sports meets at various locations in the country. Alumni of Punjab University and Ranchi University from where he did his MPhil (Public Administration) and Post Graduation (Physics) respectively he had been to France and UK during his training programme at Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi.

Amit Shukla is a finance management professional with around 12 years of experience sector, his technical strengths include financials management, statutory compliance, assurance and audit. he worked with IGSS, Sight Savers and AIF presently he is working with National Veterinary Foundation as a Finance Controller.

Mechanical Graduate from NIT, Rourkela, 1981 batch and started career with Engineers India Limited, New Delhi. In his professional career spanning over 41 years, he managed Mega projects in India and overseas in Oil and Gas, Refinery and Petrochemicals, Fertilizers for Companies like Indian Oil, BPCL, HPCL, ONGC,Matix Fertilizer, ESSAR Oil, Reliance Industeies and Saudi Aramco etc. Post retirement from Reliance Industeies Limited as Senior Vice President, engaged with ESSAR Group,Mumbai, for Bio Fuel and Green Energy Sector development. He is attached with various social activities for development of under privileged children for last 20 years collectively and individually. He also works on development if farmers in Odisha through application of Technology , innovation and supply chain management. He is also alumni of IIM, Ahmedabad in the area of Advanced Project Management.