- 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.
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.
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.
CASPIAN DEBT
Caspian Debt is a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC), registered with the Reserve Bank of India, that specializes in providing customized, collateral-free debt to high-impact small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and financial institutions across sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, clean energy, education, and affordable housing. Established in 2013, Caspian Debt’s mission is to support the growth of enterprises that create social and environmental impact in a responsible, transparent, and sustainable manner. Over the years, Caspian Debt has become a trusted partner for SMEs and NBFCs, offering a range of innovative financing solutions tailored to their specific needs. The company is a leader in blended financing, having developed eight programs to fund enterprises addressing critical challenges like climate change, healthcare access, and food supply chain improvements. Caspian Debt goes beyond traditional lending by enabling scalable and sustainable businesses that contribute to the overall development of India’s economy. As the first Indian NBFC to sign the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF), Caspian Debt is committed to measuring and managing the carbon emissions of its portfolio, demonstrating its focus on driving sustainable impact.
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. Nikhil Agarwal
Dr. Nikhil Agarwal is India’s foremost Innovation and Policy expert. He is currently serving as Managing Director of Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT) at IIT Delhi. Between 2019-24 he was holding the dual charge of CEO of SIIC and AIIDE at IIT - Kanpur. He was given additional charge as CEO of C3iHub (Cybersecurity and Cybersecurity of Physical-Systems Innovation Hub). Between 2021-22.
In 2018, he was appointed as Vice Chairman, Mahaashmita Livelihood Rural Accelerator Program (MILAP), Govt of Maharashtra – a program in joint collaboration with MSRLM and FICCI. Between 2015-2017, he joined Govt of Andhra Pradesh as Chief Executive Officer, Andhra Pradesh Innovation Society (CEO, APIS) to kickstart the statewide innovation agenda. He was involved in developing large scale innovation projects such as cyber security innovation park, rural innovation labs, incubation centers, startup ec system, setup startup fund, to name a few. He is also the founder of Entrepreneur Café – a global movement spread in 110 cities and six continents, connecting over 45,000 entrepreneurs. Dr Agarwal has founded businesses and advised firms on strategic matters in the last 20 years of his career. He has worked with global multinationals and has lectured at leading universities. He has served on many international think tanks and holds leadership positions in global organizations such as QuestionBox and WBAF. Between 2006 -13 he served as high-level-advisor to United Nations Global Alliance on ICT & Development (UNGAID). He was the International Advisory Board Member at World-Entrepreneurship-Forum (WEF) and Open Mind Foundation. He was the first Asian to be elected as Co-Chair of prestigious Internet Society Advisory Council (ISOC-AC) for 2008-10. Between 2017-19, he was the Hon Fellow of IC2 Institute, University of Texas at Austin. He is recipient of ‘Excellence in Promoting Innovation in Governance” by Govt of Rajasthan, India. He has published over 70 research papers, conference publications, editorials and articles in leading publications.
Dr Nikhil Agarwal has earned his MPhil (University of Cambridge) and PhD (University of Edinburgh) in United Kingdom.
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
Director, SAMRIDH Impact Solutions
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.
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
A versatile development sector professional with over 16 years of experience spanning public health, nutrition, and WASH sectors, with extensive implementation experience across India, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Niger, and Bangladesh. Having worked with organizations like BBC Media Action and Digital Green, she has successfully designed and implemented technology-driven solutions and behaviour-change communications at scale. Her expertise includes managing multi-million-dollar USAID-funded projects across six Indian states (Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, and Assam), focusing on digital platforms for family planning, maternal-child health, and nutrition outcomes. As a former Project Director at Digital Green and having served at BBC Media Action developing mobile-based solutions using human-centered design principles, she brings deep experience in leveraging digital innovations for development. In her current role as the Vice President- Health, Nutrition, and WASH and Lead - Implementation, she provides technical assistance and business advisory to healthcare enterprises while championing gender lens investing. A Development Studies graduate from TISS, she excels in research-driven program design, stakeholder management, and creating sustainable impact through innovative approaches in public health and nutrition sectors.
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.
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.
Biswajit Biswal
Program Management and Technical Support
Biswajit Biswal is a seasoned development professional with over 13 years of experience in program management, technical planning, and multi-sectoral implementation across government and donor-led initiatives. He holds a B.Tech in Civil Engineering from BPUT, Odisha, and has worked with reputed organizations such as IPE Global Ltd., Ernst & Young LLP, and TUV-SUD South Asia.
His core areas of expertise include program coordination, quality assurance, climate-resilient planning, watershed management, and technical support under flagship initiatives such as DMF, OTELP, and other tribal and rural development programs. Biswajit has developed strong working relationships with government counterparts in Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh, enabling effective collaboration and smooth program implementation at the state and district levels. Known for his proactive approach and problem-solving skills, Biswajit is committed to advancing sustainable and inclusive development outcomes through well-coordinated and technically sound program delivery.
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 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. 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. 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.
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.
Mayank Kapoor
Team Lead - Health Systems Strengthening
Mayank Kapoor is a seasoned public health professional with over 19 years of experience in strengthening and reforming healthcare systems across India. With expertise spanning Human Resources, Change Management, Organisation Development, and Program Management, he has conceptualized and implemented numerous initiatives for state health departments and international agencies. As Team Lead for Human Resources for Health (HRH) at the World Bank-funded ASSIST project in Assam, Mayank oversees project implementation, provides technical assistance, and develops HR management frameworks to support policy reforms.
Mayank's background includes an MBA in Human Resources and a Commerce degree from Kanpur University. He has worked extensively with government agencies, including the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, and has led technical assistance programs funded by UNDP, DFID, ADB, and the World Bank. With a strong commitment to improving public health outcomes, Mayank continues to develop impactful solutions for complex health challenges, leveraging his expertise in policy formulation, advocacy, and institutional strengthening.
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.
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.
Snigdha Rana
Analyst
Snigdha is an Associate in the Impact Financing Practice at IPE Global. Her work involves conducting rigorous research and market analysis to inform strategic decisions, with a focus on healthcare and results-based financing models. She supports initiatives that mobilize public, private, and philanthropic capital to address critical social challenges. She has contributed to capital mobilization efforts through the design and development of impact financing proposals for multilateral agencies, philanthropic institutions, and CSR partners. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Commerce (Honours) from Shri Ram College of Commerce, University of Delhi, where she studied investment analysis, financial management, economics, and international business. Her academic background aligns with her interest in the transformative potential of impact investing to address complex social problems.
Vinayak Sarolia
Associate Vice President – Health Systems Strengthening
Vinayak Sarolia is a public health professional with over 17 years of experience in managing and scaling health programs across India. As Associate Vice President at IPE Global Limited, he leads the health business development function and contributes to strategic initiatives aimed at strengthening health systems. His expertise spans project operations, proposal development, client engagement, and partnerships with governments and international agencies including USAID, UNICEF, UNDP, WHO, and the World Bank. Vinayak’s core focus areas include RMNCH+A, quality of care, community processes, and system strengthening, with a strong foundation in evidence-based planning and monitoring. Committed to improving public health outcomes, Vinayak continues to play a key role in designing impactful solutions for complex health challenges.
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