Past IFRC Speakers

Aditya Natraj is the CEO of Piramal Foundation. He is a qualified chartered accountant, holds a master's in economics and has an MBA from INSEAD. He started his career working with KPMG for 5 years and then joined the start-up team of an internet company in Europe for 2 years. For the last 18 years, he has worked in the Development sector - first with Pratham in Gujarat for 5 years and the Piramal Foundation for the last 13 years.

Aditya is an Ashoka Fellow, an Echoing Green Fellow and an Aspen India Fellow.

Aditya was awarded the Times Now Amazing Indian award in the Education category. He was previously the founder and director of Kaivalya Education Foundation (KEF) and the Piramal School of Leadership.

Mr. Ajay Piramal is one of India’s leading industrialists and philanthropists. As Chairman of the Piramal Group, he has transformed it into a USD 10 billion global conglomerate with diverse interests spanning financial services, pharmaceuticals, and real estate. The Group today operates across 30 countries, with products sold in over 100 markets worldwide. He is deeply committed to strengthening India’s socio-economic potential through the Piramal Foundation. Working in partnership with governments across 25 states, the Foundation has impacted over 143 million lives, with a focus on healthcare, education, and human development in underserved and marginalized communities. In recognition of his contribution to strengthening the UK–India trade relationship, Mr. Piramal was conferred the honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2022 by Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, for his role as India Co-Chair of the UK–India CEO Forum.

Mr. Piramal served on the Harvard Business School’s Board of Dean’s Advisors from 2012 to 2024. He is also the Co-Chair of the UK–India CEO Forum and serves as President and Chairman of Anant National University. He has been awarded honorary doctorates by the Indian Institutes of Technology and several other leading universities in recognition of his contributions to business, leadership, and philanthropy.

In the next phase of his life, his head and heart are focused on addressing India’s intergenerational challenges and building India as an exemplar for the Global South. He now works full-time with partners across India and globally, engaging closely with communities, particularly across the Purvodaya states.

Amit is the Chairperson & founding member of Bain Capital’s Mumbai office. He is former MD/Board Member of DSP Merrill Lynch and has been active in the social sector for over 25 years. He has been a member of the Boards /Advisory Boards of many of India’s leading Corporates & NGOs/Trusts as well as served on numerous government committees. His social sector roles have included being a trustee of Tata Trusts, a founder/board member of Ashoka University, a board member of Give India and The Akanksha Foundation. Amit has also been a member of the advisory boards of Bridgespan India, the Centre for Social Impact & Philanthropy, and Swades Foundation. Amit was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2007 and was on the Asia’s Heroes of Philanthropy list by Forbes in 2016, along with his wife Archana.

Under Anshu’s leadership, Goonj has reimagined material surplus as a trigger for rural development and civic participation. Goonj has built a systemic, people-led model of circularity and dignity through an innovative way of matching material with the dynamic needs of rural communities. What began with 67 pieces of clothing from Anshu and his wife Meenakshi’s home has grown into a nationwide movement. Every year, thousands of tons of surplus materials are mobilised through Goonj to nudge rural communities to work on their own critical issues like water, agriculture, sanitation, education, menstrual health, livelihoods, disaster response, and recovery.

Anshu speaks regularly at national and international forums, including TED and the World Economic Forum. He serves on the boards and advisory groups of several grassroots and national-level organisations. He is a Forbes-recognized rural entrepreneur, an Ashoka Fellow, and a Schwab Fellow. Under his leadership Goonj has won numerous prestigious recognitions, including the World Bank’s Development Marketplace Award, Jamnalal Bajaj Award for Fair Business Practices, Lien i3 Challenge and Changemakers Innovation Awards by Ashoka among many others.

Archana Chandra is Co-Founder A.T.E. Chandra Foundation and CEO of Jai Vakeel Foundation. Archana has over 20 years of experience in the social sector & has served on the Boards/ Advisory Boards of many leading NGOs/Trusts. She is well regarded as an expert in the field of intellectual disability and capacity building.

Gayatri Nair Lobo is the Chief Executive Officer of Educate Girls, a nonprofit that mobilises rural and remote communities across India to advance girls’ education. With nearly 25 years of leadership experience in the development sector, she brings deep expertise in strategy, operations, and grassroots impact. She currently leads Educate Girls’ ambitious decade-long strategy to enable 10 million learners to access education, agency, and opportunity.

Previously, Gayatri served as CEO of the A.T.E. Chandra Foundation, driving initiatives in sustainable development and nonprofit capacity building. She has also held leadership roles at the India School Leadership Institute and Teach For India, where she helped strengthen school leadership and scale delivery systems. Earlier in her career, she worked with Dalberg Advisors, leading multi-sectoral projects for nonprofits, multilaterals, and foundations.

Kevin L. Brown is Founding Partner and CEO of Mighty Ally, the nonprofit hybrid he co-founded in 2017 between Uganda and the United States. The organisation guides early- and growth-stage nonprofits to become fundable and findable — building theory of change, strategy, positioning and communications so that brands can attract the right funding and advance social justice. Under his leadership, Mighty Ally has worked with more than 500 partners across 62 countries and developed the Fundable/Findable Framework that now sits at the centre of its consulting, training and field-building work.

Kevin is the organisation’s visionary: he leads product development and publishes widely to democratise brand and funding expertise that is too often reserved for well-resourced institutions. He is an Acumen East Africa Fellow and serves as an advisor to grantmakers including Greenwood Place and the Roddenberry Foundation. He is a connector between doers and donors — a role he has carried from the private sector into the social sector.

His roots are in advertising and brand building. Over 15 years he worked on iconic names from Apple and adidas to Formula One and fintech startups. In his first four companies he helped each scale toward acquisition, including one he co-founded. He has founded two businesses of his own. He is the author of Fundable & Findable: The Brand-New Way to Fix Your Nonprofit Fundraising, and he writes daily for more than 130,000 LinkedIn followers and a growing Substack audience. Recognition along the way has included a Valiente Award at SXSW, a NEXT Award for Startup of the Year, and being named an Executive Influencer by Billboard Magazine. He previously served on the board of Impact Hub.

Kevin has spent the past decade living and working in Uganda, South Africa, Mauritius and Malaysia, advocating for justice in the Global South.

Naghma Mulla serves as the CEO and Director of EdelGive Foundation, where she has dedicated over a decade to foster collaborative philanthropy. Her mission is to democratise access to grants by bringing together government, business, philanthropic, and grassroots leaders to co-design ambitious projects. Her work emphasises creating solutions that integrate high accountability with measurable impact, particularly for smaller organisations striving for sustainability and serving the most marginalised and socially excluded communities in India. A chartered accountant by education, Naghma has leveraged her financial expertise to forge valuable partnerships with diverse stakeholders, both international and Indian.

Under Naghma’s leadership, EdelGive Foundation has transformed from a grant-making entity into a philanthropic asset management platform. Her commitment to collaborative philanthropy and innovative partnerships have driven this evolution, positioning EdelGive as a leader in the sector.

Naghma Mulla’s work exemplifies a blend of strategic vision, collaborative spirit, and unwavering dedication to social justice and empowerment. Her contributions continue to create meaningful and lasting change in the philanthropic landscape of India.

Radhika Bharat Ram is a leading voice in Indian philanthropy, dedicated to advancing gender equity, inclusive education, and systemic social change. With a focus on moving beyond traditional charity toward long-term empowerment, Radhika’s work centres on providing marginalized communities with the agency to lead their own transformation.

As the Founder of KARM for Young Indian Women, Radhika leads a high-impact fellowship for young women from underserved backgrounds. By combining financial support for Delhi University degrees with deep mentorship and professional readiness, KARM addresses the structural barriers that prevent women from entering the formal workforce.

As Joint Vice Chairperson of The Shri Ram Schools and Founder of The Shri Ram Millennium and Early Years Schools, she has played a pivotal role in building some of India’s most respected education institutions. Her commitment to inclusion is further reflected in her leadership as Chairperson of the Indian Blind Sports Association and Joint Secretary of the Blind Relief Association, where she champions the rights and vocational independence of the visually impaired.

Radhika is the Founding Member of the AVPN Asia Gender Network. Her work across boards, including HelpAge India, Ananta Aspen India, Teach For India (Delhi), Empower – The Emerging Markets Foundation, India and CAPED (Cancer Awareness, Prevention and Early Detection), focuses on strengthening the infrastructure of the social sector to unlock capital and knowledge for those at the last mile.

Recognised with the Shakti Award 2025 and the Mahatma Award 2021, Radhika continues to lead with purpose, advancing equity, building institutions, and driving systemic change to foster a more equitable future for India’s women and youth.

Rati Forbes has been a director of the Forbes Marshall group since 1992, where she headed the human resources function till 2011, together with learning and development. During her tenure, Great Place to Work ranked Forbes Marshall — not once but thrice — as a top-25 company to work for in India, the highest rank being six.

At present, Rati heads the Forbes Foundation and is responsible for its CSR and foundation activities. She is recognized for her social initiatives, both within the company and beyond. She chaired the western region cell of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) for six years, working on social development. The cell’s main objective is to sensitize corporate entities to their social responsibilities.

Rati has served on the boards of two international foundations, and continues to serve as an independent director on the boards of several listed companies, foundations and non-profits across India.

Rati graduated with psychology (honours) and sociology from the University of Mumbai, and has also undergone executive courses on human resources, organizational behaviour, and strategic philanthropy. She holds a master’s degree in sustainability management and leadership from Cambridge University, UK.

Sanjeev Bikhchandani is the Founder of Info Edge India Ltd. - the company that owns Naukri.com, India’s leading job site. It also owns 99acres.com, Jeevansathi.com and Shiksha.com. In addition it has invested in approximately fifty start-ups including Zomato, Policybazaar, Shopkirana, Ustraa, Gramophone, Bijnis, Shipsy and Dotpe.

Apart from this, Sanjeev is also engaged in philanthropy. He is a founding trustee of Ashoka University. He is a member of the Board of Chintan - a not for profit organization that works with waste pickers in Delhi.

Sanjeev was conferred with the Padma Shri Award 2020.

Willeke joined the Resource Alliance as CEO in March 2022 after serving as a board member. An experienced nonprofit leader, she previously led Strategy & Analysis at SOS Children’s Villages and spent 13 years at OXFAM, advising global affiliates on fundraising strategy, market development, and innovation. She also worked with FUNDES in Mexico, providing strategic guidance on capacity-building for small enterprises in emerging markets.

With expertise in resource development, international strategy, and financial management, Willeke has helped nonprofits scale impact globally. She has worked across diverse markets, including Mexico, India, South Africa, Brazil, Italy, Germany, and Belgium, driving innovation in fundraising and organizational growth. Passionate about social change, she excels in building high-performing teams and fostering cross-sector collaboration. Her leadership focuses on sustainable development and empowering nonprofits to create lasting impact.