Board Of Directors

Trustees

Neeraj Gupta

Advisor

Neeraj Gupta is the father of Namam, a smart young man with autism and a happy friend at Arunima's since 2019! Neeraj is a Chartered Accountant by training and has been associated with a big-4 professional services firm since 1987. Neeraj has rich experience of rendering audit and business advisory services to not-for-profit and for-profit organizations. Neeraj has joined the Gateway Trust as an advisor.

Sohail Das

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) currently working as an Assurance Senior in Indianapolis, Indiana, for a big four accounting firm. He is a member of the Gateway Trust, and is the nephew of Arunima "Runi" Jacob, the inspiration for Project Arunima

Vitul Kwatra

A Traveler by Heart, Investor by Brain, and a Curator by Profession. But above all, Vitul is trying to continuously nurture the humanity within him. Vitul invests in People, Concepts and Organizations. Professionally Vitul has been in leadership positions in American Express, Citibank, GE, Airtel, and ISON while working in India, Asia, UAE, and Africa. He also runs his travel blog “#Baldystales” where he shares his experiences of 5 continents and 39 countries. He has been Chairperson of the GSMA Global Digital Identity Program, Ombudsman for a NBFC, Six sigma certified, and is part of S&P’s Industry Leaders.

Andrew Das

20 years experience working with students at Woodstock School, and currently the Admissions Coordinator. Andrew is a Trustee at the Gateway Trust, and brother in law of Arunima "Runi" Jacob, the inspiration for Project Arunima.

Umashankar Shankardas

Having spent the first 15 years of my career in the field of exports, ranging from engaging domestic factories to managing clients all across America, I have since 2007 moved over to the radically different, but wholly fulfilling work to support and engage children at risk here in India. I liaison with NGO's in the USA to help various programs that work with children at risk. My primary focus over the last decade has been to work amongst the HIV affected children and families in the North East State of Mizoram.

Jo McGowan-Chopra

President

Institution builder, activist for disabled, internationally published writer and highly skilled public speaker, photographer, team-builder, fund-raiser, dedicated to inspiring and mentoring youth.

Milind Sonawane

Vice President

Milind works to provide communication rehabilitation services to clients with from cradle to grave and teaches at local universities. He is also a consultant SLT with NeuroHero Company producing clinically useful apps for people with speech and language difficulties called “talk around it”. He is currently working as a consultant SLT for a health care company in China providing quality healthcare in China and directing services.

Manavi Jalan

Working in the disability sector for last 34 years Specialisation in the areas of inclusive education and AAC. Currently working as program manager and member of knowledge management team of AADI. Working as an educator for direct work with clients, trainer for teachers, parents and other specific groups. Developing training modules and material, developing communication assessment tool based on ICF, updating language assessment and other tools. A strong advocate for a rights based approach to working with people with disabilities based on the social model and not the medical or welfare model.

Rachna Khare

A mother of an adult with Autism, Rachna Khare is currently a Professor and Dean at School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal. Working in the area of ‘Universal Design’, ‘Accessibility’ and ‘Design for Autism’, she is a Fulbright Scholar in the USA and a Fellow of Jamsetji Tata Universal Design Research Chair at NID Ahmedabad.

Talvinder Kaur

Until 2020 April, Talvinder was ARUNIMA's Program Coordinator for four years! She has worked in the social sector in the United Kingdom, working primarily with individuals who are differently abled.

Jeet Bahadur

Project coordinator at the Burans Project based in Dehradun, India. With a Master's in Social Work and 26 years in the field, Jeet's current focus is in Mental Health. He is a strong advocate for better mental health practices and education of mental illnesses in the north of India.

Kethayun Mehta

Social Worker within diverse populations; this includes Adults with Mental Health illnesses in an outpatient setting, Survivor Advocate in a local hospital and a college, both in the United States. As well as, informal counselling and aid with migration paperwork in a refugee camp in Greece.

Ruma Nagpal

Freelance journalist and writer whose body of work includes short stories, feature articles, interviews, translations from the Hindi and travel writing. Currently on a sabbatical as she is parent of a child with autism. Has attended several workshops conducted by special educators and occupational therapists and has experience of dealing with special needs concerns.