PRIA

Ms. Sheela Patel
Chairperson
Sheela Patel is the Founder Director of SPARC (Society for the Promotion of Area Resource Centres), a non-profit society working on issues of equity and social justice in India. After completing her Masters in Social Sciences from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, she began her career as a child counsellor at the Nagpada Neighbourhood House, a community centre in the inner city of Mumbai. She has been on the board of organisations like Mobile Creches for Children of Construction Workers, Swayam Shikshan Prayog (which supports women's empowerment in rural areas in India), and Partners for Urban Knowledge Action Research (PUKAR).

Dr. Rajesh Tandon
President
A PhD from Case Western Reserve University and an electronic engineer (IIT Kanpur) with a degree in management (IIM Calcutta), Dr. Tandon has specialised in social and organisational change. His contributions to the enhancement of perspectives and capacities of many voluntary activists and organisations revolve around issues of participatory research, advocating for people-centred development, policy reform and networking in India, South Asia and beyond. He founded the Society for Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA) in 1982, a voluntary organisation providing support to grassroots initiatives in South Asia. For his distinguished work on gender issues, the Government of India honoured Dr. Tandon with the Prestigious Award in Social Justice in March 2007. The University of Victoria, Canada, awarded him the ‘Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) in June 2008 in recognition of his pioneering work in the area of civic engagement, governance and community based research, and the key role played by him in bringing visibility to the vast network of non-governmental and voluntary associations throughout the world. Besides being Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Montreal International Forum (FIM), Canada, and Voluntary Action Network India (VANI), New Delhi, he serves on the governing boards of many national civil society organisations.

Mr. Ravi Seth
Treasurer
A science graduate with a specialisation in mathematics and statistics, Mr. Seth qualified as a chartered accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in India. He joined ITC Ltd. as a Management Trainee and in the last two decades, has worked in a number of industries including tobacco, hotel, financial services, real estate, media and pharmaceuticals. In 2000, he moved to the HT Media Ltd. (then Hindustan Times Ltd.) as its CFO responsible for finance, legal/secretarial, IT and Projects. Mr. Seth was the Director (finance) at Abbott India, a listed subsidiary of Abbott Laboratories, USA and is currently the CEO International Operations of Strides Arcolab Ltd.

Mr. K Shivakumar
Member
A chartered accountant and an alumnus of the University of Madras, Shivakumar is treasurer, Gandhigram Trust, and the Managing Trustee of V.K. Foundation, Gandhigram, Tamil Nadu. He is also the author of numerous articles, seminar papers and publications on the not-for-profit sector.