Mr. Anna Charly J

Director – Volunteer Programs and Individual Giving

Anna Charly began his career in 1995. From writing housing needs proposals to becoming Habitat India’s Director in Volunteer Programs, he has seen dramatic changes in the entire country in meeting the vision and mission of Habitat for Humanity India.

Now in his 24th year of service with the organisation, Charly leads Habitat India’s Global Village Volunteer Program. He has been facilitating the success of domestic and school volunteer programs through special campaigns. Recently, he has traveled far and wide, training and conducting housing and health sanitation awareness sessions across India, with 8.1 million participants under Habitat Young Leaders Build.

Passion and dedication is Charly’s valuable contribution to Habitat. He hopes that his Habitat life-story touches both volunteers and staff alike, during difficulties and self-doubt.

Mr. Ritwik Sawant

Director – Communications

A firm believer in the power of visuals and the art of storytelling, Ritwik serves as the Director - Communications for Habitat for Humanity India. In his present role, he spearheads brand management, public relations, digital media and is obsessed about telling Habitat’s story to the outside world.

An alumnus of Department of Communication Studies at the University of Pune, Ritwik brings with him 10 years of experience in media and communication. His love for social development brought him to the non-profit sector. Prior to joining Habitat, Ritwik led Communications for Naandi Foundation.

Apart from his work, Ritwik is passionate about art, cinema, photography, literature, food and travelling.

Mrs. Sheila Kripalani

Chairperson - Board of Trustees
Director - Pijikay Group of Companies

Sheila Kripalani is the Director of Pijikay Group of Companies, an international trading house focused on sourcing the best quality frozen seafood from India.

As the Chairperson of Habitat for Humanity India’s Board of Trustees, Mrs. Kripalani champions the cause of housing for low-income families. She has been associated with Habitat India for more than a decade and has played an influential role in the growth of the organisation. She has also served as the Chair of Habitat India’s Women Build India committee that brings together women leaders, entrepreneurs and achievers to support our vision of building a world where everyone has a decent place to live.

Mrs. Kripalani has been associated with a variety of social causes such as Bombay Teen Challenge, the Terry Fox Run and was the former President of the Indian Merchants’ Chamber (IMC) Ladies Wing. At present she serves as the member of IMC Ladies Wing’s Executive Committee and Safe Mumbai Committee.

Sheila Kripalani has graduated with a major in English Literature. For her contribution to the society, Sheila Kripalani has been honoured with the Nehemiah Award by Habitat for Humanity International and Iconic Leader Award by the Women Economic Forum.

Dr. Belinda Bennet

Trustee
Chief International Programmes Officer, Children Believe

Dr. Belinda Bennet has over four decades of impactful work experience in international development, national, reginal, and grassroots. A versatile and passionate leader, Dr. Bennet brings expertise in shaping inclusive development policies and practices. Throughout her career, she nurtured leadership and agency among the marginalized and vulnerable communities.

Since 2017, Dr. Bennet has served as the Chief International Programmes Officer at Children Believe, Canada, where she leads global programme and policy work to break barriers to education for children in Asia, Latin America, and Africa. Prior to this, Dr. Bennet was the CEO of Change Alliance. She played a strategic role in bringing issues of social exclusion to the forefront of development discourses, having chaired the civil society consortium that delivered the Poorest Areas Civil Society Programme of Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO, formerly known as Department for International Development) positively impacting 9 million households in 90 of India’s poorest districts.

From 1993 to 2003, Dr. Bennet worked as an organisational development consultant and counselor with the private sector, civil society, and FCDO. In the early 1990s, she founded Sakthi, an NGO supporting Dalits and street children in Tamil Nadu, and established the Family Counselling Centre for the TVS Group in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.

Dr. Bennet’s professional experience is complemented by a Ph.D. in Social Work from Shivaji University, an M. Phil in Psychiatric Social Work from the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore University and an M.A. in Social Work from M.K. University. She also chairs the K.T. Wilcox Education Association of Lady Doak College Board in Madurai and is the Managing Trustee of Partnering Hope into Action Foundation, New Delhi. She has previously served on the boards of Brooke UK, Micah Challenge International UK, and World YWCA, Geneva. She was the National President of YWCA of India from 2002 to 2006.

With her expertise spanning governance, institution building, gender justice, and social inclusion, Dr. Bennet is dedicated to advancing Habitat for Humanity India’s mission of building a world where everyone has a decent place to live.

Air Vice Marshal Samuel M. Nicodemus (Retd.)

Trustee
Director – International Business Development for Boeing Defence, Space and Security

Air Vice Marshal Samuel Nicodemus serves as the Director of International Business Development for Boeing Defense, Space and Security in India. In this role, he is responsible for the growth of defence and training sales, as well as space-related activities with the Government of India.

Nicodemus retired from the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 2020 after a distinguished career spanning 36 years, primarily focused on aviation operations, experimental test flying, and defence procurement. As a pilot in the IAF, he accumulated over 4,700 flight hours across India, with the Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka, on two scientific expeditions in Antarctica, and in Congo as part of a United Nations mission. His career also included roles as a Flying Instructor, Experimental Test Pilot, and Senior Test Flying Instructor.

His expertise in defence procurement and strategic planning was repeatedly sought, leading to his management of various high-profile projects at the IAF headquarters and the Ministry of Defence. He was appointed to oversee Transport and Helicopter operations of the IAF as the Assistant Chief of Air Staff Operations, and Joint Service Operations as the Assistant Chief of Integrated Defence Staff. Additionally, he served on the board of Pawan Hans Limited during this time.

Nicodemus is a recipient of two Presidential medals – the Vir Chakra for gallantry and the Vishisht Seva Medal for outstanding service. His academic credentials include a Master of Philosophy in Business Management and Master’s degrees in Defence Studies and Management Studies. He also served as a Head of Faculty at the College of Defence Management in Telangana and frequently gives talks on leadership at various corporate forums.

He is married to Nima and resides in New Delhi. They have a son who is currently in college. In his leisure time, he enjoys cycling, painting, reading, and music.

With his extensive experience in defence and strategic planning, Air Vice Marshal Nicodemus is committed to supporting Habitat for Humanity India’s mission of building a world where everyone has a decent place to live.

Mrs. Rajni Basumatary

Trustee
Filmmaker, Screen-writer and Actor

Rajni Basumatary is an acclaimed filmmaker, screen-writer and an actor who has made significant contributions to the Indian cinema. Hailing from Rangapara, Assam, she was born into a Boro family and pursued her undergraduate degree in Assamese literature from Handique Girls College, Guwahati University. She also holds diplomas in various disciplines including in Travel and Tourism Management.

Rajni strongly believes in the power of culture and creativity to drive social change. Her directorial debut, Raag, the Rhythm of Love (2014), marked the beginning of her journey as a filmmaker. Her critically acclaimed film Jwlwi - The Seed (2019), inspired by her personal experiences, won multiple awards including the Assam State Film Award for Best Actor (Female) and Best Film in Other Language as well as recognitions at international film festivals. Her third directorial venture, Wild Swans (Gorai Phakhri), premiered at the Vancouver International Film Festival (2023) and received accolades including Best Film at the Kolkata International Film Festival (2023), Best International Film at Nepal International Film Festival, Best Director at the Sailadhar Baruah Film Awards (North East) (2023) and Director’s Vision Award 2024 at the Indian Film Festival, Stuttgart.

Beyond filmmaking, Rajni has been an advocate for humanitarian causes, particularly in Assam and Jammu and Kashmir. She has served as the Brand Ambassador for the Election Commission of India's Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) programme encouraging democratic participation. She is two times TEDx speaker. In 2017, she delivered a TEDx talk at Chiang Mai Women on ‘Bridging through Cinema’, reflecting her commitment to use storytelling as a tool for social transformation. She spoke on ‘Impermanence of Suffering and Pain’ at TEDx IITGuwahati ’25.

As a Trustee of Habitat for Humanity India, Rajni brings her passion for community development and her voice as a changemaker to support the mission of building a world where everyone has a decent place to live.

Dr. Chinnababu Sunkavalli

Trustee
Clinical Director of Robotic Surgery and Surgical Oncology

Dr. Chinnababu Sunkavalli is a distinguished robotic onco-surgeon, cancer crusader and humanitarian dedicated to transforming cancer care and community health. With over two decades of experience in surgical oncology, he has pioneered advancements in robotic surgery and cancer treatment while advocating for early detection and patient-centered care.

Dr. Sunkavalli serves as the Clinical Director of Robotic Surgery and Surgical Oncology at Yashoda Hospitals, Hyderabad. He has also been a leading surgical oncologist at Apollo Hospitals and an educator, mentoring the next generation of cancer specialists. His research contributions in translational medicine and immunotherapy have positioned him at the forefront of innovative cancer treatment strategies.

Beyond his medical practice, Dr. Sunkavalli is the Founder and President of Grace Cancer Foundation, a global non-profit organisation committed to cancer awareness, early detection, treatment and rehabilitation. Under his leadership, the foundation has impacted over 12 million individuals across 130 nations, advocating for policy changes and ensuring equitable healthcare access. His initiatives, such as mobile cancer screening units, have revolutionised cancer detection in remote and underserved communities.

A recipient of multiple honors, Dr. Sunkavalli holds Guinness World Records for the largest breast and oral cancer screenings, along with recognitions such as the Young Oncologist of the Year (Times of India, 2018) and the Vaidya Rathna Award. He is also an accomplished author, speaker and advocate for integrating technology and healthcare innovation to serve marginalized communities.

As a Trustee of Habitat for Humanity India, Dr. Sunkavalli brings his expertise in public health and community outreach to further the organisation’s mission of building strength, stability, and self-reliance through shelter.

Smt. Rajashree Birla

Chairperson - Advisory Committee
Chairperson - The Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development.

Rajashree Birla is a Director on the Board of all the major Aditya Birla Group of Companies. As Chairperson of the Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development , she oversees the Group's social and welfare driven work across 30 companies.
She is also the Chairperson of the Advisory Board of the University of Kanchipuram. She is Member of the Advisory Board of "The Research Society For The Care, Treatment and Training of Children in Need of Special Care", Mumbai, and a Trustee of "Population First", India, and of BAIF Development Research Foundation, Pune in addition to several other organizations.
Mrs. Birla has received several honors and awards including “The Economic Times' Corporate Citizen 2001-2002 Award". The Rotary Club of Bombay conferred "The Citizen of Bombay Award 2003", while the Rotarians in Action named her for "The Seva Shiromani Award". Mrs. Birla was conferred the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 2011 for her exemplary contribution in the area of social work

Mr. Asit Koticha

Member – Advisory Committee
Chairman and Founder, ASK Group

Asit Koticha has over three decades of experience in the Indian capital markets and is well renowned in the Indian financial markets. He has featured in CNBC TV18's 'Wizards of Dalal Street'. Under his mentorship, ASK Group has developed independent and focused expertise in the areas of Equity Research, Asset Management (both Equities and Real Estate), Financial Planning and Wealth Advisory.

As an active contributor to society, Mr. Koticha has supported the Mumbai University in building a Philosophy Center and a Convention Center, which are now both work-in-progress. He is on the advisory board of Habitat for Humanity India. He has pioneered the house-for- a-house campaign, which contributed towards building homes for more than 2500 families. He has been instrumental in setup, registration and strategy for MicroBuild India. In addition, he is Vice-Chairman on the board of the Saurashtra Medical and Charitable Trust, set up in Rajkot, Gujarat. The Olympic Gold Quest is another of Mr. Koticha’s contributions through which he supports the Indian athletes training for championship in the Olympics.

Mr. Sanjay Nayar

Member – Advisory Committee
Founder and Chairman - Sorin

Mr. Sanjay Nayar is one of the most well-known and seasoned investors in the Indian private investing landscape – with over 38 years of experience in the financial markets.

After spending 14 years with KKR India as the CEO, he served as Senior Advisor to KKR; he has also previously served on the Asian investment and portfolio management committees of KKR.

He has been on the boards of various KKR portfolio companies and served as Chairman of Avendus Capital.

In addition, he also serves as a Non-Executive Director at NYKAA and will oversee organic and inorganic expansion in the UAE, UK and the USA.

Prior to joining KKR, he served as CEO of Citigroup's Indian and South Asian operations and was a member of Citigroup’s Global Management Committee and Asia Executive Operating Committee.

Marquee affiliations: Member of the Board of US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), Governing Board of Indian School of Business (ISB), member of Advisory Board of Habitat for Humanity India, Chairman of Grameen Impact Investments India (GIII); and Founder – Board Member of Center for Social and Economic Progress (CSEP).

Previously served as: Member of NISM (SEBI’s National Institute of Securities Markets), Member of the first AIF committee led by Narayan Murthy under the SEBI, President of the IVCA, served on Board of EMPEA – Washington DC from 2015 to 2019.

Mr. Gul Kripalani

Member – Advisory Committee
Chairman and Managing Director - Pijikay Group of Companies

Gul Kripalani is the Chairman & Managing Director of Pijikay Group of Companies and has been in the business for 45 years. He has served as the Regional President and the National Vice President of Seafood Exporters’ Association of India. He has led several delegations on behalf of the Industry as well as been part of several delegation s to Israel, Taiwan, France, UK and Belgium.

He is currently the President of the Federation of Indo-Israel Chambers of Commerce. He is the Convenor for Terry Fox (India) Committee, an organization which espouses the cause of research of cancer amongst children. He is on the Board of Jai Hind College. He is the Past President of the Rotary Club of Bombay, Past President of Maharashtra Chapter of International Christian Chamber of Commerce and also the Past National President of the Indo-Canadian Business Chamber. He is on the Advisory Board of Habitat for Humanity, India. He has been the District Chairman of “The Peace Conference” for Rotary District 3140 for the last 3 years.

Since September 2010, he has been appointed as the Honorary Consul General of Iceland in Mumbai. Since July 2013, he has been appointed the Chairman of Honorary Consular Corps Diplomatique (HCCD) and Vice Dean of Consular Corps Association Mumbai (CCAM).

Mr. Chandrakant Nayak

Member – Advisory Committee
Country President - Dow India

Mr. Chandrakant Nayak has been with the company for over 25 years and has held several key leadership positions across multiple business units and regions. Closely associated with the rapid growth in India, he has played a key role in establishing Dow India’s business partnerships across major industries including packaging, telecom, automotive, and consumer markets through local business models and innovative product solutions.

Mr. Nayak joined Dow in 1995 in Mumbai as Business Manager for the Polyethylene business and has had extensive experience in key growth economies in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Passionate about community initiatives, he was instrumental in the development and launch of the company’s signature CSR program – the Polyurethanes Jaipur Foot Project – which has received international acclaim. He is also deeply invested in the organization’s inclusion and diversity initiatives and an avid advocate of improving representation of minority groups in society.

Mr. Nayak is a gold medallist in bachelor’s degree in Polymers Technology from Institute of Chemical Technology (formerly UDCT), Mumbai University and holds a master’s degree in Marketing Management from the same university.

Ms. Elina Meswani

Member – Advisory Committee
Philanthropist

Ms. Elina Meswani has graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Southern California at Los Angeles, and has completed a Graduate and Post Graduate course on Children’s brain development from the Institute for the Achievement of Human Potential, Philadelphia.

In addition to serving on the advisory committee of Habitat for Humanity India, Elina Meswani is involved in various charitable causes such as Eye Camps, Jaipur Foot Camps and Schools for the Deaf and Disabled.

Mr. Niranjan Hiranandani

Member – Advisory Committee
Managing Director – Hiranandani Group of Companies

From his early beginnings of teaching chartered accountancy, Mr. Niranjan Hiranandani began his initial business by venturing into textiles with a weaving unit at Charkop in Kandivali in 1981. His first spark of recognition in the construction line came with their work in Versova, Andheri in the mid-eighties. Since then, the Hiranandani Group has come a long way to be recognized countrywide for their modern and state-of-the-art mix-user township projects in Powai and Thane.

He is actively associated with and holds key positions in various Government Bodies, Private and Social Institutions, Schools and Colleges. Continuing to serve the society in the best possible manner, the Group has forayed into the Healthcare sector with the 188 bedded Dr. L. H. Hiranandani Super Specialty Hospitals at Powai and Thane. He calls it his “Building of Passion”.

From June 2012 to June 2013, he was the President of the Indian Merchant Chamber ( IMC). Some of his past achievements include drafting the State Policy for Slum Rehabilitation in Mumbai designed to improve the wellbeing of over 6 million slum inhabitants; acting as a trustee for the creation of Nathdwara Township as a heritage destination; serving on the board of the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO), acting as an adviser to the Government of India on housing and habitat policy for over a decade; and serving as Chairman of Housing Committee of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

Mr. Nikhil Srivastava

Member – Advisory Committee
Partner and Managing Director, Head of India Private Equity at PAG

Nikhil Srivastava is a Partner and Managing Director, Head of India Private Equity at PAG, one of Asia's largest alternative investment managers with USD 45 billion in assets under management. He started PAG's India office and is currently investing from a USD 6 billion private equity fund. Prior to joining PAG, Mr. Srivastava spent almost a decade at KKR in India, Singapore, and the United States. Previously, he worked in investment banking at Goldman Sachs and was an early employee at Inphi (NYSE: IPHI).

Mr. Srivastava has an MBA from Harvard Business School, a Masters in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University and a Bachelors in Electrical Engineering from BITS-Pilani where he graduated as University gold medallist. He is the author of several patents.

Mr. Navin Agarwal

Member – Advisory Committee
Group Chairman, Vedanta Resources Plc and Chairman Emeritus, Vedanta Limited

Navin Agarwal is the Executive Chairman of Vedanta Ltd and Chairman of Cairn India Ltd, and Executive Vice Chairman of Vedanta Resources Plc. He has been with the Vedanta group since its founding days and has extensive experience in the natural resources industry.

Mr. Agarwal plays a key role in the strategic and governance framework of the Vedanta Group, and provides leadership for its long-term planning, business development and capital planning. He has been instrumental in the growth of the group, through world-scale organic projects, as well as acquisitions. He is a member of the nomination and remuneration committees for both Vedanta Limited and Cairn India Limited. He is passionate about developing leadership talent for the group, and identifying and nurturing future leaders.

Mr. Anand K. Bolimera

National Director
Habitat for Humanity India

Anand Kumar Bolimera is the National Director of Habitat for Humanity India, bringing over two and a half decades of extensive experience in strategic planning, programme development, monitoring, and delivery of inclusive humanitarian response initiatives. Anand is a seasoned professional with deep rooted knowledge about the development sector in India. He has led numerous humanitarian response programmes, including relief, rehabilitation, and resettlement efforts, demonstrating his ability to navigate complex challenges and deliver impactful solutions.

Prior to his current role, Anand was the Chief Executive Office and Founder Director of Change Alliance. As a Director, he also successfully led the Poorest Areas Civil Society Programme (PACS) of Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO, Formerly known as Department for International Development) in India.

His deep understanding of poverty and marginalisation, coupled with the experience of multi-stakeholder engagement and inclusive policy promotion, underscores his dedication to building complex partnerships and initiatives that drive sustainable change and social impact.

As the National Director of Habitat India, Anand leads the organisation in its efforts to address housing challenges, promote community resilience, and create lasting change for families in need of decent shelter. His strategic vision, coupled with his commitment to inclusivity and social justice, guides Habitat for Humanity India as it continues to support families to build brighter futures through shelter.

Based in Mumbai, Anand is a dedicated professional with diverse interests. He enjoys travelling, reading about leadership and social issues, and engaging in conversations on economic, historical, and cultural topics. This well- roundedness adds depth to his understanding of the world and enriches his work, making him an impactful leader in the development sector.

Ms. Elizabeth Satow

Vice President - Asia Pacific, Habitat for Humanity International

Elizabeth “Liz” Satow is a humanitarian and development leader with more than 20 years of experience leading multinational teams in complex contexts. She has deep expertise in implementing organizational strategies and is passionate about fostering inclusive cultures. Liz excels in change management, coaching and mentoring — helping individuals and teams realize their potential. She has a proven track record in fundraising with institutional donors, including USAID, the World Bank and the European Union. Her extensive field experience spans countries like Nepal, India, Haiti, Jordan and the Philippines, where she has focused on both long-term development and immediate disaster relief. As a consultant, she contributed as a contracted senior evaluator to the USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance global COVID response evaluation and also served as interim national director for World Vision International Laos. She previously served as national director for Plan International Nepal and national director for World Vision International Nepal, where she demonstrated her ability to enhance organizational health, ensure accountability and drive successful disaster responses. Liz is from the United States, though she was born in India and has spent a significant part of her life in Asia. She holds a Master of Arts in international development from The American University and a Bachelor of Arts in political science from The College of Wooster. Liz is also a certified life and executive coach.

Ms. Belaynesh Tadesse

Director - Finance, Administration and Business Strategy - Asia Pacific, Habitat for Humanity International

Ms. Belaynesh Tadesse is an accomplished finance and administration professional with over 30 years of experience in the international development sector. Currently, she serves as the Director of Finance, Administration, and Business Strategy for the Asia Pacific region of Habitat for Humanity International and is a trustee on Habitat India’s Board of Trustees.

In her role at Habitat for Humanity, Ms. Belaynesh is responsible for overseeing finance operations in seventeen countries, including grant management, donor compliance, internal control, and information systems. She has held various positions during her 16 years at Habitat for Humanity.

Prior to joining Habitat, Ms. Belaynesh spent over two decades at Food for the Hungry International, where she began as a junior accountant and rose through the ranks to become the International Director of Finance and Administration.

Ms. Belaynesh holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a major in accounting and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Accountants (AICPA) and the Arizona Society of Certified Public Accountants.

With her extensive experience and expertise, Ms. Belaynesh is a valuable member of the Habitat for Humanity team and an asset to the international development community.

Mr. Rajeev Menon

Managing Partner - Paradgem

Rajeev Menon is currently serving as the Managing Partner of Paradgem, a specialised design strategy firm that brings together business strategy and design thinking. Prior to this, he was the CEO of All Tact IT Solutions - a software development consulting firm specialising in the insurance domain.

In 2001, Mr. Menon founded N-able Solutions (India) Pvt. Ltd. an offshore software application development company based in Mumbai with offshore office in Dallas, Texas. He also served as Vice President – Business Development of Lavasa Corporation, looking after all corporate, institutional, retail and residential side of the business. He used to be the Group Investment Advisor for Expat Group of Companies and was the India Head for an Asset Solution Infrastructure company based out of Sydney.

Rajeev Menon has more than thirty years of experience that includes business and financial strategy consulting, managing portfolios and businesses in various capacities at firms like Nestle, HSBC, Deutsche Bank, and more.

Mr. Menon is deeply passionate about Habitat’s cause and has a keen interest in business development, sales, wealth creation and Golf.

Mr. Shirish Damle

Head India CSC - Treasury and Trade Solutions Client Operations, CSIPL Citibank India

Shirish Damle has 23 years of vast experience spread across Operations & Corporate Banking including 16 years with Citi. After joining Citi in 1995, he has performed a varied range of roles in Citibank Treasury, Cash Management, Product Management and Global Investigations. As a Product Manager, he was part of the launch of the first Electronic payments for the commercial disbursements product – Paylink. Before taking to Operations, Shirish has also worked as EVP & COO Head of BFS Corporate Banking at TCS eServe after the divestiture.

In his current role as Head India CSC for TTS Ops, CSIPL, he is heading the Global Operations for Cash and Trade services for a team of 600 in Mumbai and Chennai. He is also the Co-chair for Asia O&T Women in Leadership Council.

Shirish holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Management from Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad, in addition a qualified Associate Chartered Accountant with all India Ranking 18th and also a Cost and Works Accountant. He likes playing cricket, football and other adventure sports in his leisure time.