MALATI KALMADI

Malati Shridhar Kalmadi is a distinguished educationist and social worker dedicated to fostering holistic education. As the Managing Trustee of Kannada Sangha, Pune, she has been a transformative force behind the Kaveri Group of Institutes since 1989, leading its expansion to include SSC, CBSE, and ICSE schools and a college under Savitribai Phule Pune University. Her vision emphasizes academic excellence, emotional well-being, and social responsibility, and seeks to prepare students for life beyond the classroom. Her commitment to equitable education extends to initiatives like Gram Setu, connecting urban and rural schools. In 2014, she established the Kaveri Gifted Education and Research Centre, affiliated with the European Council for High Ability, to identify and nurture gifted children through advanced research, teacher training, and counseling. Her leadership drives Kaveri’s Talent Hubs in STEM, Mathematics, and Performing Arts, ensuring inclusive access to specialized learning for all children.

VIPIN GHATE

Vipin has over thirty-five years of experience in leadership roles in Corporate HR/IR, Administration and CSR with a strategic and business-oriented approach to Human Resources. He is the founding director of Trans India Business Solutions Pvt. Ltd., an HR consulting company in Pune. Prior to that, Vipin worked in HR at the Lear Corporation. Vipin has worked with global multi-nationals and Indian businesses such as the Kalyani Group, Suzlon Group and Trenton Group, and has ongoing professional associations with many of them.

SHAMIN MEHROTRA

Shamin has a master’s degree in applied psychology from the University of Mumbai and a master’s degree in psychological services from the University of Pennsylvania. She has been on the leadership team at Ummeed since 2003 and now serves as the Senior Director of School Outreach Services, Mental Health and Awareness. As a senior mental health therapist, she also leads the Mental Health team at Ummeed. As head of the Awareness vertical at Ummeed, she is working with her team to build awareness in the space of Developmental Disabilities, especially in the contexts of early intervention, self-advocacy and inclusion.

SIDDESH SARMA

Siddesh is a founder and director of Leadership for Equity. An educationist and entrepreneur with over thirteen years of experience in the education and non-profit sector, he strives to create an equitable society and thriving life for all. His academic background includes degrees in clinical psychology from Christ University and in education from TISS Mumbai. He has represented SCERT, Maharashtra, on several NCERT committees. For the past seven years, Siddesh has consulted with the School Education Department of the Governments of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. He is currently leading a state-level teacher development project with the Government of Andhra Pradesh supported by the World Bank. Siddesh started his work in education through a Teach For India Fellowship in 2011.