People

About Us

People

Key Stakeholders
Advisory Committee
Technical Support Unit

Key Stakeholders

U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (USAID)/INDIA

As a strategic partner and ally in maintaining regional stability, expanding regional trade and addressing development challenges, the U.S. supports India’s efforts towards delivering access to quality health care, potable water, education and clean energy.

USAID leverages India’s growing human and financial resources through partnerships that catalyze innovation and entrepreneurship to solve critical local and global development challenges. USAID has a wealth of experience in leveraging private capital through traditional funding mechanisms. With the increasing focus on enterprise-led development, USAID is exploring opportunities to collaborate with new partners to create new financial mechanisms to entice investment and build on its activities to accelerate sustainability. Among the innovations that USAID is using are development impact bonds, venture grants, and first-loss guarantees.

ATAL INNOVATION MISSION (AIM), NITI AAYOG

Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog is Government of India’s flagship initiative to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the country and was setup in 2016. Towards this end AIM has taken a holistic approach to ensure creation of a problem-solving innovative mindset in schools and creating an ecosystem of entrepreneurship in universities, research institutions, private and MSME sector. AIM has so far launched five programs with Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) as its flagship initiative. ATL is a state-of-the-art space established in a school with a goal to foster curiosity and innovation in young minds. Other programs include Atal Incubation Centers (AICs), Atal Community Innovation Centers (ACIC), Atal New India Challenge (ANIC), Ecosystem building and partnerships, Mentor India Program and Vernacular Innovation Program (VIP). AIM’s objective is to develop new programs and policies for fostering innovation in different sectors of the economy, provide platforms and collaboration opportunities for different stakeholders, and create an umbrella structure to oversee the innovation & entrepreneurship ecosystem of the country.

INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY DELHI (IIT-D)

IIT-D is an autonomous statutory organization functioning in terms of Institutes of Technology ACT 1961, amended vide the Institutes of Technology (Amendment) Act, 1963, is a premier academic and research institution of International repute. Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT-D) is one of the 23 IITs created to be Centres of Excellence for training, research and development in science, engineering and technology in India. Established as College of Engineering in 1961, the Institute was later declared as an Institution of National Importance under the “Institutes of Technology (Amendment) Act, 1963” and was renamed as “Indian Institute of Technology Delhi”. It was then accorded the status of a Deemed University with powers to decide its own academic policy, to conduct its own examinations, and to award its own degrees.

THE NATIONAL HEALTH AUTHORITY (NHA), GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

National Health Authority (NHA) is the apex body responsible for implementing India’s flagship public health insurance/assurance scheme called “Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana” (PM-JAY) & has been entrusted with the role of designing strategy, building technological infrastructure and implementation of “National Digital Health Mission” (NDHM) to create a National Digital Health Eco-system. An attached office of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare with full functional autonomy, NHA is governed by a Governing Board chaired by the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare. It is headed by a Chief Executive Officer (CEO), an officer of the rank of Secretary to the Government of India, who manages its affairs. The CEO is the ex-officio Member Secretary of the NHA Governing Board.

ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION

The Rockefeller Foundation is a pioneering philanthropy built on collaborative partnerships at the frontiers of science, technology, and innovation to enable individuals, families, and communities to flourish. We work to promote the well-being of humanity and make opportunity universal. Our focus is on scaling renewable energy for all, stimulating economic mobility, and ensuring equitable access to healthy and nutritious food. For more information, sign up for our newsletter at rockefellerfoundation.org and follow us on Twitter @RockefellerFdn.

AXIS BANK

Axis Bank is the third largest private sector bank in India. Axis Bank offers the entire spectrum of services to customer segments covering Large and Mid-Corporates, SME, Agriculture and Retail Businesses. With its 4,700 domestic branches (including extension counters) and 11,060 ATMs across the country as on 31st December 2021, the network of Axis Bank spreads across 2,665 centers, enabling the Bank to reach out to a large cross-section of customers with an array of products and services. The Axis Group includes Axis Mutual Fund, Axis Securities Ltd., Axis Finance, Axis Trustee, Axis Capital, A.TReDS Ltd., Freecharge and Axis Bank Foundation.

For further information on Axis Bank, please refer to the website: https://www.axisbank.com

INDUSIND BANK

IndusInd Bank, which commenced operations in 1994, caters to the needs of both consumer and corporate customers. Its technology platform supports multi-channel delivery capabilities. As on June 30, 2021, IndusInd Bank has 2,015 Branches/ Banking Outlet and 2,870 ATMs spread across 760 geographical locations of the country. The Bank also has representative offices in London, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The Bank believes in driving its business through technology. It enjoys clearing bank status for both major stock exchanges - BSE and NSE - and major commodity exchanges in the country, including MCX, NCDEX and NMCE. IndusInd Bank was included in the NIFTY 50 benchmark index on April 1, 2013.

HDFC BANK

Promoted in 1995 by Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC), India's leading housing finance company, HDFC Bank is one of India's premier banks providing a wide range of financial products and services to its 7.1 crore customers across hundreds of Indian cities using multiple distribution channels including a pan-India network of branches, ATMs, phone banking, net banking and mobile banking. Within a relatively short span of time, the bank has emerged as a leading player in retail banking, wholesale banking, and treasury operations, its three principal business segments. The bank’s competitive strength clearly lies in the use of technology and the ability to deliver world-class service with rapid response time. Over the last 27 years, the bank has successfully gained market share in its target customer franchises while maintaining healthy profitability and asset quality. As of June 30, 2022, the Bank had a nationwide distribution network of 6,378 branches and 18,620 ATM's in 3,203 cities/towns. Around 53% of all branches in its national network are now located in semi-urban and rural areas. Leading Indian and international publications have recognised the bank for its performance and quality. For more information please log on to: www.hdfcbank.com

CASPIAN DEBT

For further information on Axis Bank, please refer to the website: https://www.axisbank.com

Advisory Committee

Dr. A.K. Nandakumar

Dr. Nandakumar is an internationally recognized health-financing expert, known specifically for his work in resource tracking, health financing, and healthcare policy and research. After leaving the Indian Administrative Service, Dr. Nandakumar has been an Assistant Professor at the Harvard School of Public Health, a Principal Associate with Abt Associates and a Senior Health Economist with RTI International. He has worked with Bill and Melinda Gates foundation as a Senior Program officer on the development of the of the Global Health Delivery Area strategy, the India strategy and represented the Foundation in international working groups.
Dr. Nandakumar is the Professor of the Practice at Brandeis University along with Director of the PhD Program at the Heller School of Social Policy. Additionally, he is the Director of the Institute for Global Health and Development. Dr. Nandakumar was also appointed as the first Chief Economist at the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator. Prior to that, Dr. Nandakumar served as the first Chief Economist for the Global Health Bureau at USAID. He was responsible to foster a culture of economic analysis into USAID’s global health programming, to ensure value for money in terms of health impact, and to foster sustainable country-owned health systems. He helped set up and provide technical leadership to the Practice Group on Health Financing. His main focus entailed building internal capacity in health financing issues. He worked extensively on understanding how the rapid economic transition taking place in low and middle-income countries could be leveraged to increase their spending on health.

Mr. C.K. MISHRA

Mr. C.K. Mishra, Former Secretary, Ministry of Health and presently Director, IPE Global Limited, has been a Civil Servant with over 37 years of experience most notably in the fields of Health, Environment & Climate Change and Industry & Power related sectors. Mr. Mishra has played a pivotal role in policy making both at the national and state level. He led the National Health Mission, one of the largest public health programmes globally. Mission Indradhanush, the Government of India’s programme for complete immunization was launched under his guidance as well.
Mr. C.K. Mishra has also taken centre stage at all International Forums beyond the Health Sector specifically on issues related to Environment/Climate Change. He ensured the ratification of the Minamata Convention by India. He led India’s efforts and viewpoint in several Forums like WHO, FCTC, GAVI, BMGF, FP 2020, etc. and then led negotiations at the UNFCC on Climate Change, Montreal Protocol, GEF and several other platforms. He was nominated by the UN Secretary General as a member on the Global Strategic Group for formulating the Global Strategy for Maternal Child and Adolescent health post MDG. In the policy space, Mr. Mishra has consistently introduced new National Policies which have withstood the test of time - starting in the 1990s with a policy for Handloom Weavers of India, then moving on to the Industrial Policy of Bihar for 2011; the implementation of the Food Processing Policy; a New National Health Policy in 2006, Draft Indian National Forest Policy 2020, the India Cooling Action Plan (First of its kind globally), the National Clean Air Programme, the National Dialysis Programme, etc.

Ms. Manisha Bhinge

Ms. Manisha Bhinge has been the Managing Director, Programs, Health Initiative, the Rockefeller Foundation since October 2016. Manisha leads the program strategy and manages the portfolio of implementation partners for the Rockefeller Foundation’s Precision Public Health Initiative. She has over a decade and a half of experience in social innovation and implementation science in global health. Prior to this role, she created and led the strategic partnerships office at the Tata Trusts, India’s oldest philanthropic organization and launched The India Health Fund, a leverage fund in collaboration with the Global Fund. In addition, Manisha was Vice President at BRAC, the world’s largest NGO for over six years, where she developed and managed programs that promote access to health, education, economic empowerment, and social justice. She has worked extensively across Africa and South Asia on community-based service delivery and women’s health and empowerment.
Manisha’s experience includes management of field operations, program strategy and design and partnerships for scaling innovation. She spent her early career in the private sector working in technology consulting and then at the UN. She is a graduate of Harvard University with specializations in health economics and international development, as well as an undergraduate focus on computer science and mathematics.

Dr. Neeta Rao

Dr. Neeta Rao, Senior Health Lead with USAID/India, is a senior public health professional with over 18 years’ experience in health systems strengthening, including health financing, research and evaluation, policy, and program management. She has worked with diverse stakeholders in the development sector, including World Health Organization, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, implementing organizations, grassroots NGOs, and multinational agencies.

At USAID over the past eleven years, she worked on various health systems strengthening initiatives, especially on health financing and evidence-based policy and program. She is currently leading the world’s first ever $250 million healthcare blended financing facility, and various risk pooling and results-based financing initiatives at USAID and provides strategic guidance and oversight to USAID’s over $100 million worth health investment in the Western region of the country.

Dr. Rao strives to ensure that the most vulnerable and marginalized populations in India have access to affordable and quality healthcare.

Prof. Preeti Ranjan Panda

Prof. Preeti Ranjan Panda is the Managing Director of FITT and Dean, Corporate Relations at IIT Delhi. He holds a B. Tech. in Computer Science and Engineering from IIT Madras, and M. S. and Ph.D. degrees in Information and Computer Science from the University of California, Irvine. He is a Professor at IIT Delhi’s Department of Computer Science and Engineering, with prior experience at Texas Instruments and Synopsys Inc., and at Stanford University as a visiting scholar.

His research interest covers Embedded Systems Design, CAD/VLSI, Post-silicon Debug/Validation, System Specification and Synthesis, Memory Architectures and Optimisations, Hardware/Software Codesign, and Low Power Design. He authored books - Memory issues in Embedded Systems-on-chip: Optimizations and Exploration and Power-efficient System Design.

Prof. Panda received IBM Faculty, the IESA Techno Mentor, and DST Young Scientist Awards. His research has earned Best Paper nominations and ACM Transactions on Design Automation of Electronic Systems (TODAES) recognition. He’s the Editor-in-Chief of IEEE Embedded Systems Letters and served on editorial boards of IEEE Transactions on Computer Aided Design of Integrated Circuits and Systems, ACM TODAES, and more. He chaired conferences in the areas of Embedded Systems and Design Automation, including DAC, ICCAD, DATE, CODES+ISSS, IPDPS, ASPDAC, and EMSOFT.

Ms. Roopa Satish

An alumnus of IIM Lucknow, Roopa Satish is a career banker with close to 30 years of banking experience, across domestic and multinational banks in the corporate banking domain. She is currently part of the Core Management Team at IndusInd Bank.

An avid green thinker, Roopa has formulated the ESG lending policy for the Bank, integrating ESG risk into the Bank’s lending process and filtering out high ESG risk companies. She set up the “Impact Investing” unit to provide debt to Social Enterprises. The unit has developed a unique partnership approach, collaborating with development financial institutions (DFIs), multilateral development banks (MDBs), impact funds and foundations to curate customized lending products and scale up access to debt.

She also heads the Bank’s CSR and Sustainability Unit and is committed to supporting livelihood generation, environment sustainability, community health & inclusive sports.

Roopa is a member of the Board of Governors of IIM Lucknow, and is on the Board of the IIM Lucknow Incubator for start-ups. She is also a member of the India-UK Sustainable Finance Working Group, which is a multi-disciplinary body set up to identify challenges in ESG investing in India and suggest policy level changes to increase the flow of capital into India’s sustainable business.

Dr. Sapna Poti

Dr Sapna Poti is the Director, strategic alliances in the Principal Scientific Advisor’s Office, Government of India. Her primary role is to promote Scientific R&D and Innovations for social impact and to address industry problems through Industry, Foundations and Government channels. This includes engaging Science & Technology institutes and the entire start up ecosystem to meet National Missions & National priorities including COVID 19, doubling farmers income, make in India, water mission, waste management mission etc. Dr Poti is a PhD from IIT Madras with a dissertation in Enterprise Resources Planning (ERP)and has around 26 years of experience in Industry, Consulting and Government. Her previous stints were with Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs, Tata Trusts and National Skill Development Corporation (under the aegis of Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship) in the social development and Government sector. Dr. Poti also has industry and consulting experience with ITC, Hewitt Associates, Deloitte, Toyota Kirloskar, Tatas and Crompton Greaves. Dr Poti is a member of Niti Aayog’s Expert Group on ‘Skill Development for Mountain States’, Member of GIZ MSME committee and MESA’s advisory committees. Further, Dr Poti is a Chevening Awardee 2015. She is also a member on the Board of studies of skill development and educational institutes. She has authored national and international journal papers.

Technical Support Unit

Project Director

Himanshu Sikka

Project Director, SAMRIDH;
Chief Strategy & Diversification Officer, IPE Global

Himanshu Sikka is strategy and operations management specialist with experience in supporting government and private sector clients in policy and project development in the healthcare sector. He has conceptualised and delivered several projects in the health systems strengthening and health financing space. He has worked with several international agencies including The World Bank, DFID, USAID, UNICEF, ADB, and WHO, in diverse geographic settings of India, Bangladesh, Philippines, Myanmar, Ethiopia, Kenya, and UK.

He holds a M.Sc. degree in Development and Planning from University College London, United Kingdom and is a Shell Centenary Chevening Scholar and Otto Königsberger Scholar.

Advisory Team

Ashwajit Singh

Vice Chairman & Managing Director, IPE Global

Ashwajit Singh is the Founder & Managing Director of IPE Global, the largest social sector management consultancy firm in South Asia. He is the Chairman of Triple Line Consulting (an IPE Global Group company), a UK based international development consulting firm.

An alumnus of Harvard Business School and the London School of Economics and Political Science, Ashwajit has over 30 years of experience in the sector and has led several complex projects across Asia and Africa. An Inlaks scholar, Ashwajit is a Chartered Accountant, Company Secretary (Gold Medallist) and a graduate from Shri Ram College of Commerce.

Ashwajit is also Director on Ajooni Impact Investment Advisor Private Limited – a social impact fund. He is the former Chairman of the Public Administration and Management- Technical Advisory Panel (PAMNET) of the Africa Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF). In addition, he is a Trustee of Centre for Urban and Regional Excellence (CURE), an NGO that focuses on building resilient communities and cities.

As a mark of recognition and commitment of his work in the sector, Ashwajit has won several awards like the Distinguished Alumni Award, Shri Ram College of Commerce from the (Late) Honorable Finance Minister of India, Shri Arun Jaitley (2019); CA Business Leader (Global) Award by ICAI (2015); Global Punjabi Society Achiever Award by Former Indian PM Dr. Manmohan Singh (2015) and, ranked in the Top 10 Global CEOs in Consulting & Business Services (2017).

Chairman of London School of Economics, Delhi Alumni, Ashwajit is former President of Modern School Old Student Association (MSOSA) and has been a Central Council member of Institute of Chartered Accountant of India. He is an avid reader and traveller, a regular speaker and writer at several prestigious development sector forums.

Rattan Chhabra

Chief Financial Officer, IPE Global

Rattan Chhabra, a seasoned professional with over 30 years of expertise in Finance & Corporate Business Services, currently holds the position of Senior Director at IPE Global. His extensive career encompasses key roles at Phoenix International and TSL technologies, where he served as Head of Finance. Renowned as a skilled dealmaker, Rattan has successfully led equity transactions exceeding $10 million, structured investor exits, and managed funds totalling over INR 1,500 million across diverse financial instruments. With a global perspective, he has navigated international business units and orchestrated cross-border transactions in the UK, Africa, and Southeast Asia. As a strategic advisor, Rattan has played a pivotal role in guiding the allocation of more than INR 500 million over the past five years, collaborating closely with leadership to translate vision into actionable financial strategies. Beyond his financial acumen, Rattan is a dedicated leader and mentor, actively fostering ethical growth and contributing significantly to SAMRIDH's overall success.

Sudarshan Panda

Director – Corporate Risk and Compliance, IPE Global

Sudarshan Panda is a Procurement and Compliance Specialist extensive experience in implementing robust compliance programs ensuring organization not only meet legal and industry standards but also achieve operational excellence through strategic procurement practices. He brings over two decades of experience in corporate risk management, compliance, and strategic procurement. He has experience in risk identification and mitigation, policy development, and leading procurement teams to achieve cost-saving objectives. He has worked with several international agencies including The World Bank, DFID, USIAD, ADB, UNICEF, WHO in geographies of India, Bangladesh, Kenya, Ethiopia, Kenya, Myanmar and Philippines. He holds a Master’s in business administration from Sambalpur University, Odisha. Beyond his professional endeavours, he finds tranquillity in long-distance cycling and conducting in-depth research on the when-how-why of various cuisines and food.

Vertical Leads

Aanchal Jain

Lead - Blended Finance

Aanchal holds extensive experience in impact investing, innovative finance consulting, and financial advisory domains. Professionally, she has worked with consulting firms such as KPMG and leading investment banks in India, wherein she worked closely with private equity and venture capital funders to gain experience around structuring and executing investment deals for sustainable organizations. At forefront, Aanchal is responsible for assessing high impact enterprises and device and deploy blended finance structures to enable access to affordable capital and strike meaningful partnerships to foster innovative finance to promote development.

Aanchal is working on expanding SAMRIDH's footprint beyond India and ensuring its sustainability. She is an enterprising person, who is uniquely combining her core financial and investment experience to promote on-ground development impact. When she is off work, she enjoys reading, travelling, and experiencing new cultures and cuisines. Academically, she is a Chartered Financial Analyst and holds a bachelors degree in financial and investment analysis.

Achin Biyani

Lead - Fund Mobilization Achin brings in 15+ years of experience, having worked across the infrastructure and development sector, such as, urban (water/ wastewater), healthcare, transport, and renewable energy. He has rich experience of working in the areas of transaction advisory services (TAS/PPPs), project appraisal, policy/guideline development, training & capacity building, monitoring&evaluation, and program management. He brings in a blend of working as a technical (PPP and finance) expert across infrastructure sectors and an M&E expert across the infrastructure & development sector programs. He has vast experience of working with governments at the national, state and local levels, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donor agencies (DFID, The World Bank, ADB, BMGF, JICA, AFD, EU), and CSR organizations. He worked as a technical expert for Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, (GOI) from 2014-2017, and again in 2018-19, wherein, he was engaged in program management including project appraisal with a focus on project / infrastructure finance, development of project concepts, providing policy support, development of knowledge-based products (PPP renegotiation framework, contract management guidelines), capacity building through development of on-line toolkits, coordinating workshops and seminars for structured facilitation among various stakeholders, among others. Achin is an MBA from Faculty of Management Studies, University of Delhi. He has experience of working in India and Africa. He is driven by sports – not just the adrenalin rush of it, but also the sweat and the tears behind the game, as he enjoys all forms of sports, specifically outdoor; be it tennis, cricket, soccer, squash, cycling and / or running (having completed half-marathons and full-marathon).

Dr. Manjunath Shankar

Head - Strategic Inititaives and Technical Lead

Dr. Manjunath Shankar is a senior public health specialist. He did his MBBS from the Bangalore University, India and Masters in Health Administration from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, India. He completed his Doctorate Studies in International Health (Health Systems track) at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore. He joined Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, Atlanta as a Prevention Effectiveness fellow in 2010 and then continued as Senior Service fellow till 2017. He has over 14 years of work experience in International Public Health and was involved in the CDC’s EOC response to the West African Ebola outbreak. He has worked as an advisor, consultant, health economist and infectious disease modeler for different entities in various capacities. He has co-authored numerous peer reviewed journal articles.

He is an avid reader who loves travelling. He enjoys hiking, camping and outdoors.

Ritika Pandey

Lead - Implementation and Program Management; Vice President - Health, Nutrition & WASH

Ritika has more than 12 years of unique experience with an eclectic mix of technical know-how, research acumen, project management, partners and people management skills. Some of her key competencies include program designing and implementation, proposal designing, research and insights aided decision making, key stakeholder relationship management, social behavior change communication development, and managing internal as well as external priorities, simultaneously.

She has previously worked with Digital Green as the Project Director, managing a $6 million USAID-funded project being implemented across 6 Indian states on using Digital Platforms for improving Family planning, Maternal-Child Health, and Nutrition outcomes. Ritika has also managed multiple projects across Africa and Asia on using community videos approach to bring about social and behaviour change. Furthermore she has also been associated with BBC Media Action and worked on developing and strategizing their mobile-based solutions as well as 360- degree communication which can be implemented at scale following the human-centred design principles. Ritika started her career with IMRB International (now Kantar) in social research and managed end to end execution of researches on issues related to maternal & child health, HIV/AIDS, social marketing, livelihoods and most importantly behavior change communication research.

Apart from her work, she likes traveling, making mandala art and listening to Sufi and Folk music.

(Masters in Development Studies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai; B.A. in Economics, Ranchi University)

Sudheer Nadipally

Lead - Impact Measurement and Management

Sudheer holds an MPhil degree in Social Anthropology, specializing in Medical Anthropology, from the University of Hyderabad. With over 20 years of experience in the Public Health and Development Sector, he has expertise in Program Management, Research, and Monitoring and Evaluation.

Throughout his career, Sudheer has held various positions in governments, not-for-profit organizations, funding institutions, and research centers. Prior to joining IPE Global, he worked with Piramal Swasthya Management and Research Institute, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC), the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), Naandi Foundation, and IPSOS Research. He has successfully led numerous large-scale research projects and programs, showcasing his proficiency in monitoring and evaluation systems. Sudheer's research work has been featured in conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals. He has also served as a guest faculty at academic institutions.

At IPE Global, Sudheer is responsible for leading the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning activities in the PAHAL-SAMRIDH project. Additionally, he leads TB projects at PAHAL. He is fluent in English, Telugu, and Hindi, and possesses a good understanding of Tamil, Kannada, Assamese, and Odiya.

Vinaina Suri

Lead - Communications and Advocacy

Bringing in rich experience from her stints in the advertising industry, Vinaina has a knack of turning nuggets of insights into meaningful communication solutions. With over 16 years of industry experience, she has developed and implemented numerous cross-channel communication campaigns and initiatives. She started her career working with advertising firms such as Lintas IMAG and Saatchi & Saatchi, and served as a brand manager at a leading Indian daily - The Times of India.
Having managed marketing and communication responsibilities in the business sector for a few years, Vinaina is now making its principles work in the policy context. She transitioned to the development sector in 2011 and has been spearheading communication and policy outreach roles for development projects supported by the Government of India, international development agencies and corporate philanthropies.
Vinaina has a bachelor's degree in design, and is a postgraduate in Development Management from the London School of Economics.

Aniket Choudhary

Senior Manager - Grant Management

Aniket is a Prime Minister’s Rural Development Fellow (PMRDF) and has worked in remote and underserved areas of Kashmir and Odisha with the District and State administration. Prior to joining IPE Global, he was working with National Health Authority (NHA) in the implementation of the world’s largest health assurance scheme – ‘Ayushman Bharat’. Having worked with District, State and National level, he brings in more than 10 years of diverse experience from developmental sector.

In addition to being recognized for his outstanding contribution, he was also awarded by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India in 2016 for presenting the best idea for a flagship scheme – ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’.

He has completed his Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) from IIM Raipur and has worked with organizations like EY and KPMG.

Bharat Sharma

Assistant Manager Communications – Health Nutrition & Wash

Bharat is an integrated strategic and creative communications professional with a professional experience spanning over five years specifically in the development sector. His professional journey is underscored by the receipt of a gold medal for postgraduate studies in Development Communications from Jamia Millia Islamia and an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Indraprastha University. As a seasoned communication professional, Bharat has artfully navigated both marcomm agency and nonprofit environments, fostering a profound understanding of the intricacies within the realm of communications and the development sector. He has excelled in crafting comprehensive communication strategies and successfully overseeing a myriad of projects, engaging with a diverse array of stakeholders, including bilateral and multilateral institutions, government bodies, corporate entities, NGOs, and CSR partners. Beyond professional accomplishments, Bharat is a certified life coach, specializing in holistic internal well-being. His passion for knowledge and personal growth is fuelled through his dedication to continuously learn which reinforces his adaptability in this ever-evolving field.

Deepti Nirwal

Program Manager - TB Initiatives

Deepti is a public health professional with 12 years of work experience. Her expertise lies in managing and implementing programs focused on critical areas such as HIV/AIDS, TB, maternal and child health, sexual reproductive health, and non-communicable diseases. Through her strong background in program management, monitoring and evaluation, data management, and capacity building, she has made significant contributions to the field of public health in India. As a seasoned leader and manager of national- and state-level activities, Deepti has consistently demonstrated her ability to foster strong partnerships with stakeholders, facilitating effective collaboration and successful achievement of project objectives. Her unwavering dedication to improving public health outcomes sets her apart, and she brings a unique combination of analytical prowess, technical proficiency, and a deep commitment to making a positive impact.

Deepti holds a Master's degree in Public Health Informatics (MBA) and a Bachelor's degree in Microbiology. She has also obtained certifications in "ERP SAP- Business Intelligence" from C-DAC and "Leadership and Health Management" from the University of Washington.

Deepti Tripathi

Senior Manager - Grant Management

Deepti comes with 9+ years of career expanding across diverse roles of program management, M&E, and business development with national/international agencies, consultancy groups, and grass-root NGOs. She has led projects in the domains of nutrition, health, WASH, education, and financial inclusion. Deepti is Instrumental in project life-cycle management, proposal writing, research surveys, long-term partnerships, M&E/impact assessment, proposal writing, and documentation.
Prior to joining IPE, Deepti was with The Akshaya Patra Foundation as a Program Manager for internal process improvements and beyond meal initiatives, where she undertook 10+ small- and large-scale surveys for improving efficiency in last mile Mid-day meal delivery and increased MDM uptake at government schools through behaviour change interventions.
She has twice received training fellowships for Monitoring & Evaluation systems and impact measurement from Wageningen University, Netherlands, and WITS University, South Africa. She holds bachelor’s in Health Sciences from Sam Higginbottom Institute of Technology and Sciences, and master’s in social work.
She is a multicuisine cook and a travel enthusiast. Her best-loved escape is to create ‘best out of waste’ products.

Dr. Ankita Arora, Ph.D.

Senior Manager – Health Nutrition and WASH

Dr. Ankita is a professional in healthcare innovation and WASH domain. She has a decade long experience ranging from the development of novel antibiotics, combating antibiotic pollution, to developing personal hygiene products including regulatory compliances and management of intellectual property rights. She has experience of working with several institutions in India and abroad from academic to medical research centre to healthcare start-up.

Dr. Ankita holds a Ph.D. in Bioengineering from IIT Gandhinagar with Best Thesis Award and Director’s Gold Medal. She is a visiting researcher at Texas Tech University Health Science Centre and a reviewer for journals of international repute in the space of antibiotics research and resistance. She is also a WIPO featured IP professional with record holder in India Book of Records. When she is not working you may find her experimenting in her kitchen lab with spices and idly.

Dr. Gunjan Sharma

Analyst- Health, Nutrition and WASH

Dr. Gunjan Sharma is a Dentist who holds a Master's degree in Public Health, specializing in health policy economics and finance, from TISS Mumbai. She recently completed her post-graduation and is eager to make a positive impact on the healthcare industry. During her academic journey.

Dr. Sharma worked on an internship project focusing on Adolescence Anemia with MAMTA NGO in Delhi. Additionally, she contributed to the National Tuberculosis Program under NHM Uttarakhand. Her experience with NHM provided her with insights into healthcare delivery in remote and hilly areas, enabling her to develop a comprehensive understanding of primary-level healthcare. Furthermore, she has two years of experience working as an Associate Dentist.

Dr. Sharma's interests extend beyond her professional endeavors. She is a nature lover and avid traveler, with a keen interest in exploring how traditions, culture, and education influence human interactions throughout the country.

Dr Rucha Wankhede

Analyst- Health, Nutrition and WASH

Dr. Rucha Wankhede graduated from Government Dental College and Hospital, Nagpur, Maharashtra, with a degree in dentistry. She further pursued her Master's in Public Health- Health Administration from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai.

Dr. Wankhede has made notable contributions to numerous national peer-reviewed journals and reputable national newspapers. With a deep-rooted passion for exploring the interplay of public health and its pivotal role in the development sector, Dr. Wankhede firmly believes in its influence on inclusive and holistic progress within the country. She also possesses a keen interest in understanding how gender intersects across all sectors of society. Apart from her professional pursuits, Dr. Wankhede indulges in various hobbies such as reading, traveling, writing, sketching, and stargazing.

Dr. Samriddhi Shree

Analyst - Program Management and Implementation

Samriddhi holds a post-graduate degree as a Doctor of Pharmacy, specializing in the field of Public Health. A rich and diverse background has helped her gain valuable experiences in various sectors.

During her tenure with the National Health Authority, Samriddhi actively contributed to the implementation of 'Ayushman Bharat', the world's largest healthcare scheme. Her involvement in this significant initiative allowed her to develop a deep understanding of the complexities and nuances of public health systems and policies. Furthermore, Samriddhi had the privilege of training with NITI Aayog. Adding to her repertoire, Samriddhi has also served as an Assistant Manager in a start-up pharmaceutical firm operating in the private sector.

At IPE Global, she is combining her experience in both the public and private sectors with blended finance to create an impact towards various socio-economic challenges and drive sustainable development. The diverse background equips her with a comprehensive perspective, allowing her to effectively navigate and address the intricate intersections between policy, healthcare, and societal well-being.

Dr. Sandeep Goyal

Senior Public Health and Health Technology Expert

Sandeep is a public health expert with a demonstrated track record in Health Systems Strengthening, Clinical Epidemiology & Research, Disease Surveillance Outbreak Response and Non-communicable diseases like Diabetes and Cancer. He has over 15 years of experience in the health sector and was extensively involved in COVID-19 Surveillance and Public Health Response.

He believes that IT in healthcare is going to be the biggest driver in Public Health. With the wider adoption of Health Information Systems, Digital Health, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning into healthcare, we are going to have newer insights into how best to target our efforts to the most vulnerable regions and populations as well as to individualise medicine.

Dr. Sandeep Mishra

Associate Director - Health Nutrition & Wash

Dr. Sandeep with a medical background in Ophthalmology brings nearly two decades of expertise in Public Health to SAMRIDH. His journey spans across the diverse Indian terrain including states like Bihar, MP, Uttarakhand, Goa, Maharashtra and Rajastha. He has also served a notable tenure at the national level in the CTD and E-Health Division of MOHFW. With a substantial focus on PPPs and Artificial Intelligence, he has significantly contributed to the TB Program, demonstrating a nuanced understanding of all National Health Programs and the intricacies of NHM operations. Dr. Mishra's diverse and intensive professional journey has seen collaborations with esteemed organizations such as WHO, IQVIA, VHAI, CBCI CARD, CBCI Health Commission, MPVHA, CTD, and Wadhwani AI, reflecting his commitment to advancing public health on both national and international fronts.

Dr. Vijender Jeph

Lead- HealthTech Innovations

Vijender is a pathologist, public health expert, Black Belt in Lean Six Sigma + PMP, regulatory affairs and quality assurance expert. He has worked in the fields of public health, development of healthcare innovations, business, operations, research and validation, and regulatory affairs. In his vast career spanning over more than two decades, he has led the conceptualization, development, validation, implementation, and commercialization of six digital healthcare solutions; raised/booked grants, funding business of approximately USD 20 million; and managed more than 10 healthcare projects in India and globally.

Ishan Salhotra

Senior Investment Analyst

Ishan brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his role at IPE Global. As a former Investment Analyst with the Xander Group, Ishan played a crucial role in the Investment and Asset Management team, focusing on the North India real estate credit portfolio. Right from sourcing, screening, analysis, negotiations, execution, to monitoring of investment opportunities, he has acumen for strategic investments within the financial services sector.

Additionally, Ishan made notable contributions to the Private Equity team, evaluating diverse businesses, and making strategic investments. With a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics & Finance from Ashoka University, Ishan possesses a strong academic foundation that underpins his professional acumen.

His education has equipped him with a comprehensive understanding of the financial landscape, enabling him to navigate complex investment scenarios with precision and sound judgment. Beyond his professional pursuits, Ishan is an avid sports enthusiast, has a keen interest in gaming and nurtures his wanderlust through traveling. Combining his analytical prowess, investment expertise, and passion for diverse interests, Ishan is dedicated to making a positive impact at IPE Global.

Ishita Dhar

Analyst- Health, Nutrition and WASH

Ishita Dhar is a development practitioner with a diverse background. Holding a Master’s degree in development studies from the TATA Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, she harbors a keen interest in diverse areas, including women and child well-being, nutritional and hygiene initiatives, education, and skill enhancement. Throughout her Master’s journey, she enriched her skill set by interning with notable organisations including Invest India, Politics fir Impact, Centre for Regional Research and Sustainability Studies, among others.

Ishita’s academic journey also encompassed a Bachelor's degree in Political Science (Hons.) from Miranda House, University of Delhi. Her formative years were marked by meaningful internships with esteemed organizations such as Child Rights and You, Umeed, and Connecting Dreams Foundation. In these roles, she proactively engaged with marginalized communities, leading various initiatives and effectively organizing awareness campaigns and workshops. Her hands-on approach and adept management skills played a pivotal role in ameliorating conditions for the underserved.

Mayank Jain

Manager – Monitoring and Evaluation

Mayank has more than six years of experience in Monitoring, Learning and Evaluation of public health programs. Prior to joining IPE, he worked with Evidence Action and provided technical support to the Government of India’s flagship health programs-National Deworming Day and Iron Folic supplementation. He is proficient in designing and implementing MLE activities, large scale surveys, data analytics, and program management. He is also experienced in leading the development of digital platforms and MIS system for real time data collection and decision making.

Muskaan Johri

Communications Specialist

Muskaan is a multifaceted Communications Specialist with 11 years of work experience. She helps organisations in communicating both internally and externally. Her niche areas of expertise include strategic communications to create brand awareness, building strong offline and online campaigns, content management, and implementing storytelling approach for effective communication.

She holds a Master of Arts in Sociology from Delhi School of Economics, Delhi University, a Master of Arts in Mass Communication from Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, and a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication. Her work experience spans organisations including The Times of India Group, APTARA, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), and Development Alternatives.

In the past few years, she has held a key communications role in building and implementing communication campaigns in the sustainable development context. Some of these campaigns include Energy Wise Energy Rise - a TERI and BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd initiative and Development Alternatives' TARAgram Yatra 2022.

Ira Pundeer

Communications Manager

Ira is a media and communications professional with a background of working in mission-based organizations and higher education. Prior to joining IPE, Ira was the Communications Manager of The Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute, Harvard University, at their office in New Delhi, where she created compelling stories and multimedia about the faculty-led research projects, seminars and events in India. She was also responsible for the overall conceptualization and implementation of the communication needs of the projects funded through the Tata Trusts grant.
Ira has previously worked as an editor at Penguin Random House. She has served as the Chief Copy Editor at The 1947 Partition Archive, where she curated oral history content published on the website and the database of its library partner, Stanford University Libraries. She was the researcher on a social justice campaign by TheaCare, a knowledge and resource platform for women’s health, where she studied the various inequities that hinder women’s access to public bathrooms in India. She holds a master’s degree in English Literature from Hindu College at Delhi University and has a strong passion for furthering public engagement with the humanities and sciences.

Prabhupreet Singh, CFA

Investment Manager

Prabhupreet holds a post graduate diploma in management from the International Management Institute, New Delhi and has his expertise in the finance domain. He brings with him a year of experience in corporate banking with ICICI Bank where he was involved in financing start-ups/new age companies and 3 years in Investment Banking advisory with Crisil Ltd where he gained valuable insights into the Global Investment Banking space.

He is also currently pursuing the final level of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). His other interests include sports, music, poetry, and travel.

Puneet Maan

Manager - Health, Nutrition & WASH

Puneet is a project management expert focused on facilitating cross-collaboration among healthcare initiatives. With nine years of extensive experience in project management, business operations, and militarization, Puneet has worked closely with state governments across 21 states and 12 aspirational districts, fostering synergies between public and private organizations. Holding a master's degree in project management from the University of Limerick, Puneet possesses a unique combination of strategic acumen, practical proficiency, and unwavering commitment to project success.

His expertise extends to working with startups across various programs, including RMNCH+A, cancer detection and prevalence, and entrepreneurial development. He has played a pivotal role in crafting revenue mechanisms to establish self-sustaining workforces within these startups. Additionally, he has provided extensive deployment support during the COVID-19 pandemic, defining project scopes, allocating resources judiciously, and effectively managing risks. His operational proficiency transcends theoretical knowledge, as evidenced by his track record of translating project plans into tangible outcomes and delivering impactful results.

Rishit Yadav

Asst. Manager- Fund Mobilisation

Rishit is an accomplished professional with over 5 years of experience, driven by a strong commitment to the values of agency and equity for himself and others. He brings a wealth of expertise in mobilizing funds, fostering strategic partnerships, stakeholder management, program design, and successful execution of large-scale projects.

Throughout his career, Rishit has collaborated with government entities, corporate organizations, and esteemed international agencies, including UNICEF. Rishit's impactful work extends to corporate social responsibility initiatives and social enterprises, which ultimately led him to establish his own organization focused solely on advancing child education.

Rishit holds a degree in Business Economics, complemented by a Post Graduate Program (PGP) in Development Leadership. He has also completed an Accelerated Management Program, further enhancing his knowledge and skills in organizational management. Guided by an unwavering belief in the transformative power of education, Rishit channels his passion towards catalyzing sustainable change through collaborative efforts.

Shiv Kumar Yadav

Senior Analyst - Health, Nutrition & WASH

Shiv Kumar Yadav’s professional journey commenced at SIIC IIT Kanpur, where he efficiently managed the BIRAC BIG program, providing crucial management support to numerous healthcare and agritech startups. Further, he transitioned to India Accelerator, assuming the role of Investment Analyst within the healthcare vertical. At India Accelerator, Shiv Kumar streamlined processes and optimized the accelerator program for enhanced efficiency. Additionally, he skillfully managed cohorts while concurrently evaluating prospective healthcare startups for potential inclusion in the acceleration program.

He earned his B Tech degree in Chemical Engineering from NIT Jalandhar and demonstrated his academic prowess by successfully clearing the GATE 2021 examination. Beyond his professional pursuits, Shiv Kumar finds joy in playing cricket and volleyball, immersing himself in music, and exploring new destinations through travel.

Siddhartha Kumar

Senior Analyst - Health Nutrition & Wash

Siddhartha possesses a diverse academic background encompassing Political Science, International Development, and Global Health Policy and Management. His academic pursuits have propelled him through various domains within the development sector. Transitioning from green energy research, Siddhartha has established himself as a polished professional in public health by drawing from his extensive international experience in China and the USA. Beginning with a foundation in Political Science, he smoothly transitioned into specialized areas such as Public Administration (International Development) and Global Health. With three published works, including a SAGE publication, Siddhartha has explored multifaceted topics like the Multidimensional Poverty Index and Resilient Health Systems. His professional journey is marked through the milestones of various renowned organizations including Jhpiego, Global Health Strategies, UNDP, Piramal Foundation, USAID Project ASSIST, Inclusive Energy (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Institute of Global Health and Development, UNICEF, and Edelman. This diverse background reflects his adaptability and expertise within the public health and development sectors. Outside his professional engagements, Siddhartha nurtures a passion for reading and writing, as is evident from his WhatsApp Display Picture which mirrors his fervent literary pursuits.

Sneha Singh

Senior Manager - Impact Measurement and Management

Sneha is a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) professional with a strong passion for improving program effectiveness and driving impactful social change. With over 13 years of experience, she has demonstrated expertise in designing, implementing, and managing M&E frameworks across diverse sectors. Sneha possesses a deep understanding of quantitative and qualitative research methods, data collection and analysis techniques, and performance measurement frameworks.

Before joining IPE Global, Sneha played a pivotal role at PATH, where she successfully designed and implemented comprehensive monitoring plans, including designing data collection tools, developing data management systems, and leading evaluation for multiple projects on Oxygen and COVID-19. She believes in the power of evidence-based decision-making and has contributed to the development of digital health tools that empower healthcare workers and facilitate data-driven decision-making.

At SAMRIDH, Sneha is working with key stakeholders to identify key performance indicators and establish robust monitoring mechanisms to capture desired impact metrics. Sneha holds an MBA in Health Management from IIHMR Jaipur and is an alumna of the University of Delhi.

Vipin Sharma

Program Manager, MLE, Health Nutrition & Wash

Vipin holds a master’s degree in public health, specializing in Disaster and Non-Communicable Diseases. With over 18 years of diverse experience in Program Management, Implementation, Policy, Planning, Budgeting, and Monitoring and Evaluation within the Public Health and Development Sector, his dynamic career spans roles in government, non-profit organizations, and funding institutions. He has successfully led large-scale projects, making significant contributions to entities like the Woman and Child Development Department of M.P., National Health Mission-MP, MPTAST, Nutrition International (NI), and GIZ. Currently, he oversees Program Management, Monitoring & Evaluation, and Learning activities for the PAHAL project.