SPRF Team

Editorial Associate and Coordinator

Adrita Choudhury

Adrita graduated from the English and Foreign Languages University with a master’s degree in English. Since then, she has worked as an academic editor and an ELT editor in the publishing industry. She enjoys reading books and comics, writing, painting and baking.

Associate, Research

Akanksha Chopra

Akanksha Chopra holds Advanced Master’s Degrees in International Development Practice from Monash University, Australia, and the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. She also completed a Master’s in Political Science (International Relations) from Panjab University and a Master’s in Journalism and Mass Communication from Kurukshetra University.

A skilled Communicator, Public Speaker, and Researcher who feels right at home when holding a mic – Akanksha has had stints with prestigious organisations such as the Ministry of External Affairs, India, Observer Research Foundation (ORF), Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), and Vision India Foundation (VIF). She has engaged in Research and Stakeholder Engagement on topics including Foreign Policy, Geopolitics, Development Economics, Global Governance, and Multilateralism, with various published research pieces.
Through her latest degree and work in Sustainability and Climate Change, her expertise and interests lie at the intersection of Public Policy, Climate Change Management, Welfarism and Social Development. She is also passionate about different cultures and languages making her proficient in Chinese Language.
Raised in an Armed Forces fraternity, Akanksha balances her discipline and work ethic with outdoor hikes, flat whites, and spending time with dogs.

Communications Associate

Alice Tobias

Alice Tobias (she/her) finds her interest anchored in research, and advocacy, particularly in the realm of gender, youth, and democratic participation. Soon graduating with Honors in Philosophy from Hansraj College, University of Delhi, her focus is rooted in socio-political issues. Working under Dr. Prannoy Roy she has focused on understanding how triangulation of electoral data strengthens public knowledge. Collaborative research findings and opinion features in print and podcast by The Economic Times have further allowed her to take meaningful conversations beyond her immediate practice. While navigating through her college years, she has learned from conversations and curated them into socially conscious narratives. As Alice prepares to graduate, she strives to tailor her work toward fostering informed citizenship and empowering the next generation of leaders in India.

Manager, Digital Media and Communications

Amaan Abid

Amaan Abid maintains multidisciplinary interests in communications research, leveraging academic proficiency in Media Governance and Political Science. Amaan demonstrates hands-on expertise in media production and business consulting. Presently immersed in extensive research spanning the philosophy of technology, internet and social sciences, and media and the margins. The strategic orientation underscores Amaan’s focused exploration of the ethics of AI and policy, particularly within the formal domain of emerging technologies.

Consultant, Research

Anusha Arif

Anusha is an environmental law enthusiast with an LL.M. from the TERI School of Advanced Studies, specializing in Environment Law, and a B.A.LL.B(H) from Aligarh Muslim University. Passionate about the intersection of climate change, environment, and human rights, she has previously been part of the special cohort on Intersectional Feminism and Digital Rights with Ideosync and UNESCO. Anusha also gained valuable experience in the energy policy sector while working at the World Energy Council (WEC-India).Currently, she’s on a journey of reinvention in a new country, exploring fresh opportunities and perspectives. When she’s not delving into research, you can find her binge-watching true crime documentaries on Netflix or immersing herself in paranormal podcasts.

Chief Corporate Relations & Administrative Officer

Lakshmanaswamy TV

Lakshamanaswamy’s experience with office management, corporate communications, and administrative support with SGT University, Gurgaon; Indo Gulf Hospital, Noida; RIL, New Delhi; Network 18 Media & Investments Ltd., Noida; India TV, Noida; and several others makes him an indispensable asset for internal operations and managerial support. He continues to remain associated with multiple networks and public forums, such as the All India Management Association, Public Relations Society of India, Alliance Française de Delhi, India Islamic Cultural Centre, and others.

Manager - Finance and Accounts

Manish Singh Bhati

Manish has a B.Com (Hons) from Shaheed Bhagat Singh College, Delhi University. He also completed a Diploma in Finance Banking from F-Tec Skill Development. Before joining SPRF, Manish worked at The Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia as Finance Assistant Manager.

Trustee, Founder-Director

Neha Simlai

Neha is a member of the Board of Trustees at SPRF India. Neha founded SPRF and has continued to lead the team since its inception in 2018. In her full-time role as the Head of Market Development (Asia-Pacific) at the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®), Neha works on climate change risk management and circular economy-related portfolios across South and Southeast Asia. In her current roles, Neha leads strategic engagements with government and market stakeholders, focusing on sustainable value chains and food systems. In previous roles, Neha has drafted the framework for India Sustainable Palm Oil Coalition and is a Founding Member of the Food and Land Use Coalition India Action Coalition for Responsible Sourcing & Trade of Commodities (FOLU-CREST).

With two Masters degrees (from Jamia Millia Islamia and the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, NUS) as well as an Executive MBA (IIM Lucknow), Neha is also among the only Indian women to have lived on a fishing boat (for 45 days) in the Bangladesh Sundarbans and the Bay of Bengal for a marine megafauna survey. Originally from Lucknow, Neha is passionate about tea and travel.

Consultant, Research

Sai Ankit Parashar

Sai is a dedicated researcher specializing in tribal development, nutrition, and maternal and child health. He completed his Master’s from Dr. Hari Singh Gour Central University and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences. Sai Ankit combines academic rigor with practical insights to address socio-economic and health challenges in underserved communities through evidence-based research and policy contributions

Treasurer and Director of POLSTRAT

Shiv Sehgal

Shiv’s interests in surveying and data collection and prior experience with C-Voter, a polling and data-creation firm in Aceh, Indonesia, and some of India’s poorest districts drive him to build expertise in political strategy and perception building. He worked with the Conservative Party (Cardiff North) in 2012 and assisted Steve Jarding, lecturer in public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, during the run-up to Uttar Pradesh’s state elections in 2017. Shiv has been working on a political consultancy and management ever graduating from Cardiff University with a background in law and politics, specialising in international law. Shiv has also played cricket for Uttar Pradesh, India representing it in the Under-19 and Under-23 categories.

Legal Consultant

Siddharth Kumar

Siddharth, a graduate of Cardiff University, is currently practising his trade as a litigator and dispute resolution specialist. He holds diplomas from the National Law University, Delhi as well as the Indian Law Institute. As a dispute resolution practitioner, he guides companies, organisations as well as individuals on establishing best practices and standard operating procedures with risk mitigation at their core. Siddharth, being an avid advocate for the use of alternative dispute resolution methods, encourages his clients to mediate at the first instance and to litigate only as the last resort.

Associate, Research

Varada Marathe

With two masters degrees – in Computer Science and in Public Policy – Varada is most passionate about the intersection of policy, technology and governance. As an activist in her student days, she also has keen interest in education policy. Varada has had prior experience working at esteemed organizations such as WRI, NITI Aayog and ORF, and has worked on areas such as freight policy, uniform civil code, innovation, social media policy, etc. Varada is a complete foodie who loves to read. In her spare time, she can be found planning her next trip.

Deputy Director

Vasundhara Puri

Starting out in New Delhi, Vasundhara pursued a degree in literature from Lady Shri Ram College, followed by a masters in publishing from Oxford Brookes University. Her journey led her into working in communications for the international development sector, first at the International Labour Organization in Geneva, and then at the International Committee of the Red Cross in Delhi. Her experiences have provided her with a structure for her goal of contributing to the Indian development sector and policy space, and have guided her to deepen her expertise, both practically and academically. Vasundhara is currently reading Refugee Protection and Forced Migration from the University of London. Her focus lies on the critical issues of climate change-induced migration and its profound impact on human adaptation strategies.

A competitive sportsperson, avid reader, and coffee enthusiast, Vasundhara is driven towards making an impact as a leader and mentor for young thinkers and founders.

Associate, Research

Yashoroop Dey

Yashoroop completed his MA in political economy from King’s College, London and has a deep interest in critical analysis, education and the politics of public life. An avid debater, Yashoroop’s background, as he likes to say, is “haphazard, yet I’m making it work”- with experience in sectors ranging within education, postgraduate teaching, theatre and music. In his spare time, Yashoroop likes to walk around aimlessly- with intent.

Senior Research Associate

Yugank Mishra