OUR PEOPLE
Rubina Philip, Director
Rubina Ann Philip is a development professional with deep experience in children’s and women’s rights across India. She has worked extensively with survivors of violence, trafficking, and child marriage—ensuring access to justice and rehabilitation. Her work has led to improved delivery of services and sustainable reintegration programs. She has contributed to policy advocacy initiatives with several southern state governments, bringing grassroots insight to systemic reform. In 2019, she was selected for the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program. Rubina holds a post-graduate degree in Social Work from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, and a bachelor’s in Psychology, Political Science, and English Literature.
Harjiv Singh Swani, Director
An alumnus of Harvard Business School and a trained industrial engineer, Harjiv brings technical depth and strategic vision. He has led global innovations in plant design and process automation, transforming Swani Spice into a professionally governed, globally recognised enterprise. His leadership has advanced sustainability, quality control, and brand authenticity. Harjiv’s focus on systems and innovation supports WholeChild’s mission with strategic foresight and operational expertise.
Dhiraj Mehra, Director
Dhiraj is a serial entrepreneur with a background in business administration from the University of Notre Dame. He has scaled multiple ventures and led successful exits. He also manages a family trust that supports education and healthcare for underprivileged communities in Mumbai. Outside work, he’s a passionate sports enthusiast and a devoted family man who loves investing valuable time with his wife Superna and their son Samay.
Lakshmi PM Shashi, Stakeholder Engagement Officer
Lakshmi holds postgraduate degrees in Sociology and Social Work, with over 15 years of experience in community development and public health. She has led rights-based initiatives focused on education, health, and empowerment for women and children across rural and semi-urban regions of Telangana, including Nalgonda, Warangal, and Mahbubnagar. Her work on programs like National Deworming Day and school sanitation reflects her strength in building trust, navigating local governance, and aligning communities with systemic change.
Lalitha Ragunath, Program Officer
Lalitha has 8+ years of experience in education, with expertise in teacher training, school evaluation, and curriculum development. Holding degrees in Education and Sociology, she is deeply passionate about alternative education models and aims to establish a school in the Indian Himalayan region. She is also a blogger on social and gender issues.
Pooja Manda, Program Officer
Pooja holds a master’s in Development from Azim Premji University and is an alumna of TSWREIS. She has worked with Dalit and Adivasi communities, particularly in East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh, through NABARD-funded rural projects. Pooja blends academic insight with grassroots experience, ensuring context-driven, inclusive education programs. Her passion lies in advancing equity for historically marginalized groups.
Abraham Noel, Program Officer
Noel holds a master’s in Public Policy and Governance from TISS, Hyderabad, and has worked extensively on child development and protection. His experience includes working with children living with HIV and advising child care institutions and government departments. He has conducted research on disability in tribal and scheduled caste communities and is committed to evidence-based, rights-affirming approaches to child safety and well-being.
Saketh Gayam, Senior Program Coordinator
Saketh began his professional journey as a Teach for India fellow and went on to serve as a Legislative Assistant to a Member of Parliament. He holds a degree in Political Science from Delhi University and has worked across education policy, ed-tech, and community development. He brings systems thinking to program design and implementation, bridging grassroots engagement with scalable education innovation.
Shalini Pathi, Education Coordinator
Shalini is a seasoned educator and researcher with over a decade of experience in development and academia. She has worked with organisations like WIEGO, LaunchGURLs, and academic institutions like NLSIU and the University of Bath. Her interdisciplinary expertise spans gender, education, environmental justice, and trauma-informed practice. She is a trained facilitator in non-violent communication, oral history, and narrative practices, with research experience in urban political ecology.
Mani Chandana, Program Officer
Mani Chandana holds an M.A. in Education from Azim Premji University. Before joining her current role, she worked on the Andhra Pradesh Government’s SALT project (supported by the World Bank), contributing to research and teacher training content. During the COVID-19 lockdown, she actively supported migrant workers with fundraising and logistics. She has also mentored teenagers in life skills over the years and believes systemic change is key to creating nurturing environments for children.
