Trustee, Founder-Director

Neha Simlai

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.

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.

Manager, Editorial

Riya Singh Rathore

Riya is a political science enthusiast passionate about gender, security, and decolonisation studies. She is an International Relations postgraduate from University College Dublin and a Delhi University alumni. Prior to SPRF, she worked as a research assistant in the Irish Parliament and assisted Dr Heidi Riley in editing her book on the Maoist insurgency in Nepal. Riya’s research has been published in The Diplomat, Hindu Business Line, Mint, and Business Insider.

When she is not researching, you can find her obsessing over citations and oxford commas.

Associate and Coordinator, Research and Partnerships

Soumya Singhal

Soumya Singhal holds a B.A. (Honours) Political Science with a minor in Sociology and a Diploma in Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding from Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi. Invested in the social sector, she has successfully collaborated with the likes of the UNHCR, FTF-I, and UNCTAD for projects on period poverty and refugee livelihoods. She has also previously worked with the International Growth Center at LSE and the office of an MLA. Soumya has published with reputed publications like The Diplomat and The Quint. Her research interests include Indian foreign policy, South Asian geopolitics, and climate politics.

When not working, she can be found reading a book or organising her planner.

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.

Associate, Research and Strategic Partnerships

Neha Chauhan

Neha holds a Master’s degree in Economics from Jawaharlal Nehru University and a  Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Indraprastha College for Women, University of Delhi.  Previously, she has worked as a Research Assistant for Dr Jayati Ghosh on a study for United  Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. She has also interned with Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations, Public Policy Research  Centre, and Nikore Associates. Neha’s work has been published in publications such as The Wire, India Ahead, and News18

Her research interests include international relations, gender economics, and food security.

Associate, Design

Tahani Khan

Tahani is a graduate architect from Gateway College of Architecture and Design. She has worked on several architectural and interior projects in Delhi NCR. Holding a keen interest in urban design and its socio-cultural impact, she has previously written narratives on urban living conditions in collaboration with organizations such as The Multilogue Collective. She is also an independent mural artist, working in collaboration with local design studios alongside pursuing her passion as a painter.

Graphic Designer

Somnath Chakraborty

Somnath Chakraborty is an economics graduate and has a master’s degree in communication from Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan. As a communication designer, after drinking a cup of coffee, he believes in the confluence of data and design. Before joining SPRF, he worked in various NGOs and several organisations as a designer.
His favourite subjects are photography, infographics and layout designing. In his spare time, he plays chess and studies advertisements.

Consultant, Communications

Surbhi Dhawan

Surbhi Dhawan has 9+ years of experience in Content Marketing with a specialization in blog implementation, email marketing, and social media management. In the past, she has written, curated, edited, and published content for B2C and B2B companies across different verticals. She has also worked alongside product, tech, and sales teams, to develop and deploy multi-channel marketing campaigns. She’s currently a Master’s (Public Policy) student at St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai. In the future, she hopes to work at the intersection of research, communication, social impact and gender-focused policies.

She spends her spare time befriending felines, and falling down Wikipedia rabbit-holes.

Office Assistant

Biplab Roy

Biplab Roy is SPRF’s office assistant. He’s grown up in Orissa’s Malkangiri district and moved to Delhi five years ago. He assists the team with administrative tasks, manages the timesheet, and ensures the office remains orderly. When he is not at work, he tends to his young daughter, who recently started school.

Communications Associate

Nipunika Sachdeva

Nipunika is a content creator, writer, poet, and podcaster with a background in Political Science and Education. They are passionate about understanding people, education, podcasts, and social media and the ways they can be used to bring about social transformation. They have previously worked with the likes of Kommune India, Feminism in India, Slam Out Loud, Claylab, One Future Collective, and the YP Foundation. They have a wide range of interests, from curriculum studies, comparative politics, early childhood care and education, artificial intelligence, gender and sexuality, mental health, and intersectional feminism.

Research Associate

Sakshi Sharda

Editorial Associate and Coordinator

Avishi Gupta

Avishi Gupta recently graduated from St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi, with a B.A. (Honours) in History. She has previously worked with The Swaddle as a video production intern. She has also been associated with Shakti Shalini, an organisation working with victims of gender and sexual violence, for the past year. Her research explores the intersections of gender, caste, and class through various historical, socio-legal, linguistic, and current policy-oriented themes. She is particularly interested in learning more about the consciousness-raising strategies and methods of autonomous women’s groups, their negotiations with law enforcement bodies, and understanding the patriarchal underpinnings of the state.
In her spare time, you will find us obsessing over the new cat reel trend of the week. Editorial Associate and
Coordinator