Who we are

H.E. Csaba Kőrösi, born in Szeged, Hungary, in 1958, is a distinguished diplomat specializing in multilateral diplomacy, security policy, human rights, and environmental sustainability. A graduate of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, he also studied at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the University of Leeds, and Harvard Kennedy School. Mr. Kőrösi served as President of the United Nations General Assembly during its 77th session (2022–2023). Since joining Hungary’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1983, he has held postings in Libya, the UAE, Israel, Greece, and at the UN in New York.

His leadership roles include Deputy State Secretary for security policy, Vice-President of the 66th UNGA, Co-Chair of the SDG Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Chief Adviser to the President of Hungary on the High-level Panel on Water, Director of Environmental Sustainability in the Office of the President of Hungary, and Hungary’s Permanent Representative to the UN. He also served as Vice-Chair of the Bureau of HABITAT III (2014), Sherpa to the President of Hungary, at the High Level Panel on Water co-convened by the UN Secretary General and the President of the World Bank Group, Head of the 1st and 2nd European Departments in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and others. He is a founding member of the Hungarian Scientific Panel on Climate Change and a permanent invitee to the Presidential Committee on Sustainable Development at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and the National Council on Sustainable Development at the Hungarian National Assembly.

Ms. Athena Ballesteros is a recognized leader in global climate policy, sustainable finance, and institutional reform, with more than two decades of experience working across Asia and internationally. She has held senior leadership roles in major climate and finance initiatives, including Managing Director of Global Climate Strategies at Climate Lead and Climate Finance Director for Asia at the Growald Family Fund. Previously, she served as Global Director of the Center for Sustainable Finance at the World Resources Institute, where she advanced innovative approaches to aligning financial systems with climate and development goals. Earlier in her career, Athena led Greenpeace International’s Climate and Energy Program in the Asia-Pacific region, overseeing advocacy and policy engagement in China, India, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and Japan. She has been a long-standing policy advisor to the Philippine government’s official climate change negotiating team under the UNFCCC, and has supported multiple Philippine ministries on climate, energy, and finance issues in high-level international forums, including APEC, ASEAN, and the WSSD. Athena’s professional background spans work with Friends of the Earth/Legal Rights Center, Greenpeace International, Greenpeace Southeast Asia, and the Green Renewable Independent Power Producer Foundation. She is a founding member of the Asian NGO Forum on the Asian Development Bank, now a coalition of over 100 organizations advocating for ADB reform. She also founded and chairs the board of the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) in the Philippines.

She serves on the boards of several nonprofit organizations in the USA and Asia, including the Bank Information Center, SunFunder, International Rivers, and ICSC, and is a policy advisor to the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development. Her pioneering initiative on climate-friendly cities has received international recognition, including citations from Discovery Channel’s Ecopolis series (2008) and the Philippine National Commission on Culture and the Arts’ Fr. Neri Satur Award for Environmental Heroism (2009). Athena is a graduate of the University of the Philippines, the Asian Institute of Management, the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, and Tufts University.

Dr. Oyun Sanjaasuren currently serves as Director of External Affairs at the Green Climate Fund, where she leads teams responsible for resource mobilization, communications, and partnerships. She previously chaired the Global Water Partnership, an intergovernmental organization promoting water security in over 180 countries. Dr. Oyun was the first President of the United Nations Environment Assembly of UNEP and continues to advise several international organizations focused on sustainable development. From 1998 to 2016, she served five terms as a Member of the Parliament of Mongolia, including roles as Vice-Speaker, Minister of Environment and Green Development, and Minister of Foreign Affairs. 

During her tenure, she championed key reforms in governance, green development, and the rights of children with disabilities. Dr. Oyun also chairs several Mongolian NGOs, including the Zorig Foundation, which advances democracy, Special Olympics Mongolia, and Women Corporate Directors. She is a founding member of the Down Syndrome Association of Mongolia and Special Olympics Mongolia. Her professional background includes work as a geologist in Mongolia (Mongolian-Czech JV), with UNDP, and in the UK at Rio Tinto. She serves on advisory boards for global initiatives such as the Green Growth Knowledge Platform, Future Earth, and UNEP’s International Environment Technology Centre. Dr. Oyun earned her degree from Charles University in Prague and holds a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge, UK.

Paul Shrivastava is Co-President of the Club of Rome, a global sustainability think-and-act tank, and an internationally recognised leader in management and sustainability. He brings over three decades of experience spanning management education, entrepreneurship, and strategic consulting with major multinational corporations.

He previously served as Chief Sustainability Officer and Director of the Sustainability Institute at The Pennsylvania State University, where he is currently Professor of Management and Organizations. Prior to this, he was Executive Director of Future Earth, where he led the establishment of its global secretariat and advanced international environmental change programmes.

Professor Shrivastava has held several distinguished academic appointments, including David O’Brien Distinguished Professor of Sustainable Enterprise at Concordia University in Montreal. He founded the UNESCO Chair for Arts and Sustainable Enterprise at ICN Business School in Nancy, France, and previously served as a tenured Associate Professor of Management at the NYU Stern School of Business, as well as the Howard I. Scott Professor of Management at Bucknell University.

He advises a number of international initiatives, including the Network for Education and Research on Peace and Sustainability (NERPS) at Hiroshima University, Japan, and the Future Potentials Observatory at Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary. Earlier in his career, he was part of the management team that launched Hindustan Computers Ltd., one of India’s largest computer companies. He subsequently founded multiple private companies, nonprofit organisations, and the ONE Division of the Academy of Management.

Professor Shrivastava earned his Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh. He is the author of 18 books and more than 100 scholarly articles on sustainable management, organisational strategy, and crisis management.

Mr. Jawaid Akhtar is a distinguished former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer and an accomplished public policy leader with over 35 years of experience in governance, policy formulation, and program implementation. He has held pivotal roles as Additional Chief Secretary for Health & Family Welfare and Forest, Environment & Ecology in Karnataka, where he spearheaded major healthcare initiatives and environmental policies. Mr. Akhtar played a critical role in strengthening Karnataka’s health sector, notably during the COVID-19 pandemic, and is widely recognized for fostering collaboration between public and private stakeholders in healthcare delivery. His leadership extended to national health policy discussions and skill development programs, shaping impactful reforms across sectors. Beyond health and governance, he served as Chairman of the Coffee Board of India and was elected Chairperson of the International Coffee Council, contributing to global coffee trade and sustainability dialogues. Following his retirement from the IAS, he continues to influence regulatory frameworks as a Member of the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (since 2024). 

Mr. Toshiyuki Yamasaki is a dedicated environmental expert with nearly 25 years of experience in environmental policy, management, and international cooperation. He began his career at Japan’s Ministry of the Environment (MOEJ), where he played a pivotal role in shaping national strategies for air and water quality management and waste management. Over the years, his work has increasingly focused on global collaboration in environmental governance. From 2016 to 2019, he served as Environmental Policy Advisor to Vietnam’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, contributing to policy development and capacity building. He later returned to MOEJ as Director of International Cooperation in Air and Water Quality Management (2020–2022), leading cross-border initiatives and partnerships. Most recently, he worked as Senior Environmental Specialist at the Global Environment Facility (2022–2025), advancing international programs for sustainable development and environmental protection. Mr. Yamasaki graduated from Kyoto University and the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Professor Jamie Pittock is based at the Fenner School of Environment and Society at the Australian National University. He is a renowned environmental scientist whose research focuses on environmental governance, freshwater ecosystems, hydropower, natural resource management, river basin and landscape management, energy, and climate change on vulnerability and adaptation. He leads research programs on agriculture in Africa, hydropower development in South and Southeast Asia, and sustainable water management in Australia’s Murray–Darling Basin. Before join to Australian National Univeristy, from 1989 to 2007, he worked with environmental organizations in Australia and internationally, including serving as Director of WWF’s Global Freshwater Programme (2001–2007). He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Professor Jamie is actively engaged in policy and advocacy. He is a member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists and the World Commission on Protected Areas, President of Friends of Grasslands, and serves on the public fund of Water Stewardship Asia-Pacific. He is also a board member and chair of the Eminent Scientists Group of WWF Australia. Additionally, he chairs the Natural Resources Management Advisory Committee to the ACT Government and, as a result, sits on the board of the national peak body, Natural Resources Management Regions Australia. He contributes to academic publishing as an editor for ‘Regional Environmental Change’ and ‘Frontiers in Freshwater Science’. Professor Jamie earned his PhD from the Australian National University’s Fenner School of Environment and Society and holds a bachelor’s degree from Monash University. 

Professor Taniguchi is a renowned hydrologist specializing in groundwater hydrology, sustainability, land–ocean interactions, subsurface warming, and the water–energy–food nexus. He teaches hydrogeology at the University of Tsukuba and Nara University of Education. Currently, he serves as Deputy Director-General (Research) at the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN), Japan, where he has been since 2003 and became a full professor in 2009. Professor Taniguchi is an elected Fellow of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics and the Japan Geoscience Union. He is also a Cooperation Member of the Science Council of Japan, a member of the Future Earth Assembly, and serves on the Steering Committee of the Water–Energy–Food Nexus Knowledge–Action Network (KAN). He has led and contributed to numerous international research projects, including UNESCO-GRAPHIC, Groundwater in Asian Megacities, Water–Energy–Food Nexus, and the Belmont Forum SUGI Food–Energy–Water Nexus.

With extensive global experience in water-related research, Professor Taniguchi has authored or co-authored over 180 scientific articles and edited or co-edited eight books. He currently serves as Vice President of the International Association of Hydrogeologists and President of the Japanese Association of Groundwater Hydrology. His previous roles include Coordinator of the UNESCO GRAPHIC Project and GWSP-Asia Network, Associate Editor for ‘Ground Water’ and ‘Hydrological Processes’, and Vice-President of the International Committee on Groundwater under IAHS/IUGG. Professor Taniguchi earned his Ph.D. from the University of Tsukuba, Japan. He has held visiting scholar positions at CSIRO (Australia), the University of Arizona, and Florida State University (USA).

Professor Candice Lung is an environmental health scientist specializing in the impacts of environmental factors on human health, with a focus on air quality, climate change, and health adaptation. She serves as Research Fellow and Deputy Director at the Research Center for Environmental Changes, Academia Sinica, and as Deputy Executive Secretary of the Center for Sustainability Science, Academia Sinica in Taiwan. Her current research addresses two critical issues: PM2.5 and health, climate change, and health adaptation. She leads the Asian research initiative Health Investigation and Air Sensing for Asian Pollution (Hi-ASAP) and chairs its Science Steering Committee, an Asian regional activity under Future Earth. Professor Lung is also an adjunct faculty member at National Taiwan University and a member of the advisory group for the Future Earth Health Knowledge-Action Network (Health KAN). She earned her Sc.D. and M.S. from Harvard University’s School of Public Health and her bachelor’s degree from National Taiwan University.

South African Astronomer Dr. Vanessa McBride brings over fifteen years of experience in academia, research infrastructure, and science-for-development initiatives within an international context. She joined the International Science Council (ISC) in 2023 as Science Director and Acting Head of the Centre for Science Futures, based in Paris. Previously, she served at the International Astronomical Union’s Office of Astronomy for Development, where she worked to bridge the gap between academic astronomy and development communities. In her new role, Dr. McBride leads the Science Division, overseeing scientific priorities, project management, collaborations, and strategic guidance to strengthen ISC’s global impact. She brings a deep passion for science and society, a perspective from the Global South, and strong connections with ISC’s member organizations. Before joining ISC, she was an Astronomer and Deputy Director at the IAU Office of Astronomy for Development in South Africa and a faculty member at the University of Cape Town. Dr. McBride holds degrees from the University of Cape Town and the University of Southampton, UK.

Dr. Anik Bhaduri is the Director of the Asia Science Mission (ASM), where he leads a region-wide, mission-oriented platform that designs and tests scalable pathways for resilience and sustainability across Asia. An environment and resource economist with more than twenty years of international experience, he has worked extensively on socio-ecological risk assessment, climate adaptation, and the development of solution-oriented science programmes. He also serves as Co-Chair of the Future Earth Asia Regional Committee and is an Honorary Professor at the Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, and an Adjunct Professor at the Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University. Over his career, Anik has led major initiatives with UNESCO, FAO, and Future Earth, advancing system diagnostics, transdisciplinary collaboration, and innovation approaches that link scientific insight with real-world decision-making. His work focuses on integrating community priorities, scientific evidence, and catalytic capital to accelerate impactful mission outcomes across Asia.

Dr. Lambino (Masters and PhD, Kyoto University) is Director of Future Earth Center at the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature and Deputy Director of Future Earth Global Hub Japan.  Her experience spans 20+ years as a practitioner and researcher focusing on environmental conservation and sustainability in Asia.  She has worked at WWF Philippines (including as Vice president for Sustainable Production) undertaking collaborative multi-stakeholder projects at different scales, at RIHN engaging in various transdisciplinary projects, and at Future Earth coordinating diverse research and knowledge-action networks.  She works as a boundary-spanner in the in-between spaces of science and policy, research and practice, and transdisciplinarity.  

Dr. Nadaoka has been contributing to realizing sustainable and resilient socio-ecological systems under increasing threat by various anthropogenic stresses, including climate change impacts. Dr. Nadaoka introduces transdisciplinary approaches through many international projects and in close collaboration with various stakeholders. One of his recent projects is “Developing a Meta-Network (Network of Networks) for Collaboration of Programs on Oceans, Marginal Seas and Coasts Under the Future Earth”, a 3-year international joint project from April 2024 funded by Future Earth Cross-Cutting Initiatives Grant. Based on this project, he has suggested the key concept of “Meta-Network Hub” for this proposal.

Dr. Shih-Yu’s research focuses on large-scale climate dynamics and the interactions with atmosphere, ocean, and land systems. Her newly developed research interest focuses on anthropogenic climate impact and sustainability adaptation. Dr. Lee is an Associate Research Fellow of the Research Center for the Environmental Changes in the Academia Sinica. She currently serves as the Deputy Director of Future Earth Taipei Hub.

Dr. Nairn connects and convenes transdisciplinary research at Future Earth Australia to tackle the world's wicked sustainability issues and provide robust and visionary evidence to policy makers that is grounded in people and place.  She has 15 years of experience in government, academia and the not-for-profit sector. Her holistic experience ranges from climate change and energy to marine debris and biodiversity. She was awarded her Masters in 2013, investigating ways to enhance Indigenous participation in marine research of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. This married her long-standing dedication for ocean conservation with my commitment to Indigenous sovereignty and justice.  

Dr. Subbanna is a Project Scientist III at Divecha Center for Climate Change, Indian Institute of Science, and a Science Policy Analyst: Food Security and Malnutrition at Future Earth South Asia. Her research tries to bridge the science-to-society policy gap by creating sustainable solution pathways through policy briefs and conducting activities to strengthen the science-society-policy interface. In the past, she has worked with research institutes like ISEC, not-for-profit organizations like ESG and CSD, and international think tanks like WRI. She also serves as an NGC Member at the Bamboo Society of India. 

Dr. Habibur holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural Science with a specialization in Forest Science from Kyoto University and completed postdoctoral research through the prestigious JSPS Fellowship. His academic background includes Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Forestry from Shahjalal University of Science and Technology and a Master’s degree in Climate Change and Development from Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB). With more than 12 years of experience in academia and research across Bangladesh and Japan, his work focuses on coupled human–nature system dynamics in natural resource utilization, conservation and management, landscape restoration, cooking energy transitions, climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and sustainability science. His research consistently bridges global environmental challenges with locally relevant solutions through interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches. Before joining the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, he served as a project researcher at Kyoto University, investigating the role of forests in sustaining rice production in Madagascar, and held positions as Program-Specific Assistant Professor and Postdoctoral Researcher, as well as Researcher at National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences (NIAES-NARO), Japan. As a consultant, he worked with CIFOR, USAID, GIZ, Winrock International, JICA, WaterAid, Concern Worldwide, Save the Children, and Mott MacDonald, as well as government departments in Bangladesh, further strengthening his expertise in transdisciplinary research and practical policy implementation. Dr. Habibur has authored and co-authored ~45 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters. 

Dr. Kim serves on the Asia Regional Committee and Governing Council of Future Earth, representing regional, national, and local entities. He has 30+ years of teaching and research experience at several universities in biometeorology, rural systems engineering, complex systems, and sustainability science. He has served as editor of journals such as Agricultural and Forest Meteorology and Weather and Climate Extremes. He oversees the Advisory Committee of AsiaFlux –– a regional network for science, service and stewardship in monitoring energy, materials (carbon, water), and information flows in key ecosystems in Asia. He’s developing a visioneering-based complexity framework, along with information-theoretic sustainability measures for complex systems. 

Dr. Niles is a human-environmental geographer at the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Kyoto. His research examines how different forms of traditional environmental knowledge remain sensible through time, and the continuing relevance of these longstanding fields of experience to the Anthropocene. His fieldwork examines traditional agricultural systems and material culture complexes, and has taken place in several countries of Asia and the Americas. His work often involves collaboration with natural scientists, philosophers, farmers, craftspeople, and government officials. and leads him to see transdisciplinarity as especially valuable in linking different kinds of knowledge to understand and act effectively the world today. 

Dr. Giles B. Sioen is co-Lead for Research and Innovation based in the Future Earth Global Hub Japan, Research Associate at the National Institute for Environmental Studies of Japan, and chair of the KU Leuven Alumni Chapter Japan. Among other activities, he works on the research and innovation portfolio with colleagues from across the Future Earth community, coordinates the Future Earth Urban and Health Knowledge-Action Networks, conducts individual research, and supports a range of domestic projects and activities. His research focuses on the development of a transdisciplinary system-based guideline to reduce the impact of climate change and other disasters on cities and health. Before joining Future Earth, he worked as a project researcher at the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences of the University of Tokyo in collaboration with Massachusetts Institute of Technology – System Design and Management Program where he applied sustainability science concepts in the fields of urban planning and public health using a systems approach. Dr. Sioen holds a Ph.D. in Sustainability Science from the University of Tokyo, a Master’s degree in Urban Planning and Design from KU Leuven (Luca-Arts, campus Ghent), and a Bachelor’s degree in Garden and Landscape Architecture from University College Ghent. 

Dr. Nairn connects and convenes transdisciplinary research at Future Earth Australia to tackle the world's wicked sustainability issues and provide robust and visionary evidence to policy makers that is grounded in people and place.  She has 15 years of experience in government, academia and the not-for-profit sector. Her holistic experience ranges from climate change and energy to marine debris and biodiversity. She was awarded her Masters in 2013, investigating ways to enhance Indigenous participation in marine research of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. This married her long-standing dedication for ocean conservation with my commitment to Indigenous sovereignty and justice.  

Dr Segundo Joaquin E. Romero, Jr. is the President of the Universities and Research Councils Network on Innovation for Inclusive Development in Southeast Asia, a nonprofit organisation affiliated with the Development Studies Program of the Ateneo de Manila University, where he is also a Professorial Lecturer. Dr Romero had previously served as a Professor of Political Science at the University of the Philippines, as well as the Executive Vice-President and Dean of the Graduate School of Public and Development Management of the Development Academy of the Philippines. Dr Romero writes a weekly opinion column for the local newspaper, Philippine Daily Inquirer. 

Dr. Stevenson is the Acting Director of the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN), with over two decades of expertise in global change research. Her work focuses on climate change, biodiversity, ecosystems, and resilience across the region. She leads the implementation of APN’s research and capacity-building programmes, overseeing up to 60 transformative projects annually. She oversees the APN Annual Call for Proposals, collaborating with the Steering Committee to review and approve project funding. In addition to working with local and regional stakeholders, she engages with international organisations such as the UNFCCC, IPCC and IPBES to bridge science and policy. She also serves as Managing Editor of APN’s Science Bulletin. 

Dr. Kasuga has been the Future Earth Japan Hub Director since 2015 and is also a Professor at Nagasaki University. Her former posts include Vice-President of the Science Council of Japan, member of ICSU’s Committee on Scientific Planning and Review, Senior Fellow at the National Institute for Environmental Studies, and Visiting Professor at The University of Tokyo. She has worked as a government researcher on microbiological food safety in the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan. Internationally, she has worked with the World Health Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and the International Commission on Microbiological Specifications for Foods.

Dr. Nadaoka has been contributing to realizing sustainable and resilient socio-ecological systems under increasing threat by various anthropogenic stresses, including climate change impacts. Dr. Nadaoka introduces transdisciplinary approaches through many international projects and in close collaboration with various stakeholders. One of his recent projects is “Developing a Meta-Network (Network of Networks) for Collaboration of Programs on Oceans, Marginal Seas and Coasts Under the Future Earth”, a 3-year international joint project from April 2024 funded by Future Earth Cross-Cutting Initiatives Grant. Based on this project, he has suggested the key concept of “Meta-Network Hub” for this proposal. 

Dr. Ram Avtar is an Associate Professor at Hokkaido University (Faculty of Environmental Earth Science) and Director of the Global Land Programme (GLP) Japan Nodal Office. He serves in the Asia Science Mission (ASM) Coordination Unit as a member of the Task Force on Knowledge Infrastructure & Data. His research focuses on land systems and sustainability, advancing multi-sensor remote sensing and geospatial approaches—including UAV and machine-learning methods—to monitor terrestrial ecosystems and the climate-change interface, and to support vulnerability, resilience, and sustainability solutions from global to local scales. Previously, he was a Research Fellow at the United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS) (2012–2016). He holds a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Tokyo (Japan). He has contributed to IPBES as a Lead Author and is a recipient of Global Young Academy and Green Talents awards, with 200+ peer-reviewed publications and experience leading externally funded research projects. 

Dr. Kuaanan Techato is currently working as Associate Professor at Faculty of Environmental Management, Prince of Songkla University. He has completed his Ph.D. in Environmental Management from Chulalongkorn University, Thailand after previous master of industrial engineering and mechanical engineering. From 2012 until now, his main area of interest focuses on Environmental Sciences and Environmental Management. His area of expertise includes Energy and Environment Policy.

Dr. Shih-Yu’s research focuses on large-scale climate dynamics and the interactions with atmosphere, ocean, and land systems. Her newly developed research interest focuses on anthropogenic climate impact and sustainability adaptation. Dr. Lee is an Associate Research Fellow of the Research Center for the Environmental Changes in the Academia Sinica. She currently serves as the Deputy Director of Future Earth Taipei Hub. 

Amitaksha works at the intersection of strategy, collaboration, and systems complexity, helping programs align partners, capital, and learning within challenging and dynamic contexts. He initiated the Sanjeevan initiative in early 2023, shaping it into a multi-organization platform grounded in systems thinking and adaptive approaches.

With the Asia Science Mission (ASM) joining the initiative and its evolution into ASM–Sanjeevan, he continues to steward its direction, strengthening the work in Purulia as a demonstration site and prototype for similar place-based initiatives. His key responsibilities are:

• Programmatic leadership for the ASM–Sanjeevan initiative, systems-oriented design, focusing on innovation pathways, scaling strategies, and systems informed impact financing models.

• Position and represent ASM–Sanjeevan across relevant platforms, partnerships, and strategic forums.

• Build project portfolios within the initiative

• Facilitate interdisciplinary approaches and learning instruments, including surveys and participatory methods

• Serve as the key interface between ASM and the Sanjeevan team for initiative-wide and projectspecific alignment.

• Build internal team capacity in systems thinking, adaptive approaches, and innovation practices.

Dr. Nirmalya Mukherjee is a public health specialist and development practitioner with over 24 years of experience working at the intersection of health, sustainability, and community empowerment. As Chief Executive of MANT (Manbhum Ananda Ashram Nityananda Trust), the anchoring organization for the ASM–Sanjeevan Purulia demonstration site, he brings deep experience in non-profit leadership and field-level program delivery. In this role, he provides overall institutional, operational, and implementation oversight for ASM–Sanjeevan activities in Purulia, ensuring effective execution of demonstration-site interventions.

His key responsibilities are:

• Act as the primary institutional point of contact for ASM on all contractual, fiduciary, compliance, and statutory obligations on behalf of MANT and participating local partners.

• Provide oversight of research execution and on-ground implementation to ensure alignment with approved designs, timelines, and quality standards.

• Guide site-level operational management, including coordination of field teams, partners, and resources for the Purulia demonstration site.

• Interface with ASM for timely delivery of project outputs and inputs to reporting, learning, and review processes.

Nirmallya brings around 20 years of experience in social and market research, project management, and consultancy across sustainability, livelihoods, agriculture, and enterprise development. For ASM–Sanjeevan, he supports project delivery, facilitates stakeholder engagement, and ensures quality and rigor in implementation, leveraging his expertise in

value-chain analysis, sectoral knowledge, and multi-state field experience. He also strengthens collaboration between field teams, government bodies, and community groups to align interventions with local needs and priorities.

Soumya brings nearly two decades of experience in program coordination, operational planning, and cross-team alignment across sectors and geographies. He has worked with government programs, nonprofits, skilling missions, and community-led initiatives, supporting implementation, systems setup, and coordination between research, operations, and field teams to ensure effective execution. Soumya Chandra serves as Operations Coordinator for ASM–Sanjeevan, overseeing program implementation, cross-team coordination, and operational systems to ensure smooth and effective project delivery.

He is a community development professional with over 14 years of experience in program administration, financial coordination, and implementation oversight. Anirban will bring in his expertise in institutional systems, donor compliance, budgeting, and participatory program design, ensuring that the program is operationally sound, financially aligned, and grounded in field realities.

She holds a Ph.D. in Economics and brings extensive experience in healthcare financing, economic evaluation, and policy-oriented research, currently serving as Director of the Centre for Public Health Research (CPHR). For the ASM–Sanjeevan project, she will lead the research and evidence agenda, guiding study design, economic and impact analysis, and synthesis across climate, health, and livelihoods to ensure that demonstration-site insights are rigorous, policy-relevant, and decision-oriented.

She holds a PhD in Geography & Well-being and is a Research Officer at the Centre for Public Health Research (CPHR), MANT, with strong expertise in spatial analysis, GIS, remote sensing, and mixed-methods research. Within ASM–Sanjeevan, she will serve as a Senior Analyst, leading spatial and data-driven analysis across climate, health, livelihoods, and land-use systems, strengthening evidence synthesis, vulnerability mapping, monitoring frameworks, and decision-support for demonstration-site interventions.

Krishna is a value chain expert with nearly 20 years of experience working on SHG formation, collective management, and producer aggregation across farm and non-farm sectors in Eastern India. Within ASM–Sanjeevan, he will lead value-chain assessment and strengthening, supporting SHG-based enterprise development, producer collectives, and linkages to

markets, finance, and appropriate technologies, drawing on his experience in livelihoods, renewable energy integration, and field-level evaluations.

He serves as a Geologist and Systems Modelling Specialist for ASM–Sanjeevan, applying geological, soil, and environmental data to inform climate-resilient, land-based interventions. He contributes to scenario and feasibility modelling, evidence-based intervention design, risk assessment, and the development of monitoring frameworks for climate-vulnerable landscapes.

Madhuparna serves as a Geologist and Data Specialist for ASM–Sanjeevan, ensuring that project interventions are informed by accurate, high-quality scientific data. She supports project teams in data collection, validation, analysis, and interpretation, strengthens monitoring and evaluation frameworks, and translates technical findings into actionable insights for climate-resilient land, soil, and agriculture interventions.

She supports ASM–Sanjeevan by integrating research insights with field-based interventions, emphasizing participatory approaches that actively engage communities in decision-making. Arpita contributes to the design and implementation

of climate-resilient agriculture, livelihood, and nutrition initiatives, ensuring women and youth are central to building sustainable value chains and locally led development solutions. Her work ensures that interventions are shaped by both evidence and community perspectives, enhancing relevance, inclusivity, and impact in climate-vulnerable regions.

Bandana is a development professional with a background in human physiology and extensive experience in coordinating community-focused programs on health, climate resilience, and social justice. For ASM–Sanjeevan, she is supporting the

management and coordination of initiatives that integrate climate resilience, public health, and community engagement. She oversees documentation and content generation, and facilitates community outreach, including through the Nityananda Janavani radio platform, to amplify local voices and promote rights-based, gender-sensitive, and health-focused interventions.

Dr. Lourdes J. Cruz is a distinguished National Scientist of the Philippines recognized for her pioneering work in biochemistry and marine toxin research. Her studies on cone snail venom led to the discovery of bioactive peptides that significantly advanced neuroscience and drug development. She has made substantial contributions to understanding ion channels and neuroreceptors, placing Philippine marine science on the global map. Through her research, mentorship, and scientific leadership, she has helped strengthen the country’s capacity in biomedical and natural products research. She is currently the Team Leader for the Future Earth Philippines (FEP).

Dr. Segundo Joaquin E. Romero Jr. is a Filipino social scientist and academic with expertise in Urban and regional studies, inclusive innovation, policy analysis, and public management. He is Professorial Lecturer at the Department of Development Studies of the Ateneo de Manila University and President of the Universities Network on Innovation for Inclusive Development in Southeast Asia (UNIID-SEA). Dr. Romero has held leadership and faculty roles in government, higher education, and civil society. He has written extensively on governance, social accountability, and development policy. He writes a regular opinion column in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, a national newspaper, bringing scholarly insight to public discourse. Dr. Romero is the Chair of the ASM-FEP-MPRRES Management Committee.

Dr. Benito M. Pacheco is a distinguished Filipino civil engineer and academic specializing in structural engineering and disaster risk management. He is a Professor Emeritus at the University of the Philippines Institute of Civil Engineering, where he has contributed decades of teaching, research, and leadership, including serving as founding director of the Institute. Dr. Pacheco earned his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Tokyo and has been actively involved in research on earthquake, wind, fire, and flood effects on structures as well as the development of policies such as the Philippine Building Act. He has also held leadership roles in professional organizations, including serving as president of the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers and as an Academician of the National Academy of Science and Technology of the Philippines.

Dr. Guillermo Q. Tabios III is a distinguished Filipino civil engineer and Professor Emeritus at the University of the Philippines Institute of Civil Engineering, recognized for his expertise in hydrology, hydraulics, and water resources systems engineering. He earned his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Colorado State University and has devoted decades to research, teaching, and advancing sustainable water resources management in the Philippines. Dr. Tabios has held leadership roles including director of the University’s National Hydraulic Research Center and board member of the National Water Resources Board, and he has been honored for linking science, policy, and sustainable development in his field. He is also an Academician of the National Academy of Science and Technology of the Philippines.

Dr. Gregorio E.H. del Pilar is a prominent Filipino psychologist and academic best known for founding and leading the Personality and Individual Differences Laboratory at the University of the Philippines Diliman. He served as Professor of Psychology, teaching personality traits, psychological measurement, and statistics, and has been a consultant for major government testing organizations. Dr. del Pilar was President of the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP) from 2020–2022 and is actively involved in interdisciplinary science initiatives like Future Earth Philippines. He is also recognized for authoring the Masaklaw na Panukat ng Loob (Mapa ng Loob), a key Filipino personality inventory, and for promoting the use of Filipino in research.

Ms. Doble works as a senior research associate and social science professional with UNIID-SEA, which is affiliated with under the Department of Development Studies of the Ateneo de Manila University. She has worked on community development and social research initiatives. Throughout her 43-year career, she has contributed to the design of impactful project proposals, policy briefs, and technical reports that support evidence-based decision-making. Her expertise spans data analysis, database development, and strategic project management, complemented by strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills. She is widely recognized for her commitment to meaningful and sustainable development work.

Ms. Laus is a social development professional and Senior Research Associate with the UNIID–SEA. She excels in research and writing  primarily on social innovation, technical assessment and public policy. She has participated in multi stakeholder forums and collaborative research efforts addressing socioeconomic issues such as housing policy and community development. She has also co-authored several articles for local and international publications. Ms. Laus is known for her analytical approach and commitment to evidence based research in support of sustainable and inclusive development outcomes.

Engr. Sampang is an Electronic Communication Engineer and active in technical and professional communities in the Philippines. He has been associated with professional engineering circles in the Central Luzon region. His professional profile reflects a commitment to continuous learning and application of engineering management principles in his work.

Mr. Flores is a sustainability practitioner affiliated with Future Earth Philippines, a national initiative that supports science based strategies for achieving environmental resilience and the Sustainable Development Goals in the Philippines. Mr. Flores’s work contributes to advancing collaborative approaches that bridge research, community engagement, and policy for sustainable and resilient development outcomes.