V. Venkataramana is a dedicated social development professional with over 29 years of experience in leading large-scale projects across sectors such as education, school health, shelter and school construction, and livelihoods. He has effectively managed multi-cultural and multi-sectoral teams in various national and international development organizations, including UNDP, Save the Children, Room to Read, Aga Khan Foundation, Naandi Foundation, and the Language and Learning Foundation.

As a Senior Consultant, Venkataramana played a key role in supporting the Government of India (MHRD) in the planning, budgeting, and implementation of significant government-owned projects such as the District Primary Education Programme (DPEP) and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). This experience has given him a deep understanding of government policies and systems.

In his role as Senior Asia Regional Program Manager at Room to Read, he provided guidance to teams across seven Asian countries, helping to design and implement country-specific education programs in collaboration with government partners.

With extensive expertise in fostering and managing government partnerships, Venkataramana specializes in designing and implementing results-based projects, particularly in areas such as pay-for-results and development impact bond initiatives. He is recognized for his expertise in applying system-strengthening approaches to achieve sustainable development outcomes.

Dr. Leena Deshpande is a highly experienced educator and researcher with over 30 years of expertise in the Sociological and Philosophical Foundations of Education, Research Methodology, Advanced Statistics, Co-operative Learning, Evaluation, and Training.

She holds exceptional academic qualifications, including a BSc, MA, MEd, and PhD, and has received prestigious honors such as the National Merit Scholarship for her M.Ed. and UGC fellowships during her Ph.D. studies.

Dr. Deshpande has held prominent leadership roles, including serving as the former Principal of S.N.D.T. College and the Department of Education (Institute of Advanced Studies in Education). Additionally, she has been the Chairperson of the Board of Studies and the Dean of the Faculty of Education at SNDT Women’s University.

Throughout her career, Dr. Deshpande has provided research guidance to over 100 students and has supervised 12 PhD candidates. Her areas of research supervision include scientific attitude, education for disadvantaged groups, research aptitude, and co-operative learning. She has also been involved in numerous research projects funded by esteemed organizations such as SCERT Maharashtra, UNICEF, UGC, CRY, and the World Bank.

An accomplished author, Dr. Deshpande has published extensively in areas like Mental Measurement, Sociology of Education, Action Research, and Research Methodology. She has contributed to the academic community as a member of the research advisory board of the Textbook Bureau of Maharashtra and has served as a resource person and advisor on several committees of NCERT, SCERT, NAAC, and NCTE.

Shri Vidhyadhar Shukla is a highly respected educationist and retired Deputy Director from the Maharashtra State Council of Educational Research and Training (MSCERT), Pune. With a strong academic background, he holds a Bachelor’s degree in Science, as well as a BEd, MEd, and a PhD in Education.

As the head of Training, Shri Shukla played a pivotal role in the success of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), the Government of India's flagship program for universal education, as well as the Maharashtra Prathamik Shikshan Parishad. His leadership and expertise significantly advanced the goals of both initiatives.

In addition to his work at MSCERT, Shri Shukla served as the principal of the State Institute for Audio-Visual Education and worked as a consultant with prestigious organizations such as UNICEF, contributing to their Child-Friendly School projects.

An accomplished author, Shri Shukla has written two influential books for the D.Ed. program and has been instrumental in curriculum development. His contributions also include the creation of numerous state-level training modules and manuals.

Since 2010, he has been a key consultant for the Shantilal Muttha Foundation, where his invaluable insights have greatly supported the Foundation's educational initiatives.

Ashok transitioned to the development sector in 2000, after 15 years as a journalist with a prominent tabloid. With over 24 years of experience as a consultant in the development sector, he brings deep expertise in program design, content development, and educational materials creation.

Specializing in the areas of Social, Emotional, and Ethical Learning (SEEL), Ashok is well-versed in designing and developing both print and audiovisual educational materials, as well as training resources, instructional packages, and teacher support documentation. His extensive domain knowledge in education, combined with his ability to create impactful and innovative learning tools, has made him a valuable asset to the field.

Ashok has been a key contributor to the Shantilal Muttha Foundation’s Mulyavardhan initiative since 2012, where he has led the design and development of educational programs and content. In his current role as Director of Academics at the Foundation, he continues to drive the development of transformative educational initiatives aimed at fostering holistic learning and character development of children.

With 20 years of experience in education, spanning from primary to postgraduate levels, Meenal is an accomplished educator, trainer, and innovator dedicated to fostering excellence in teaching and learning. She holds a Master’s degree in English, a Bachelor’s degree in Education, and an M.Phil. from the University of Pune.

A specialist in designing, developing, and delivering high-quality training programs, Meenal has worked extensively in the fields of teacher training, school leadership development, and capacity building for education officials. Her expertise also extends to School Quality Assessment (SQA), assessor training, and content translation and editing. She is a NABET-certified and a CBSE-empaneled school assessor.

Meenal is a forward-thinking educationist with a focus on continuous improvement. She has designed and implemented the Assessor Training Programme to prepare qualified assessors for school quality evaluations, and has created an innovative, multi-dimensional assessment tool that evaluates the emotional, social, physical, and intellectual development of students in Grade IV.

As a key member of the Shantilal Muttha Foundation’s Centre of Excellence (COE), she plays an integral role in the professional development of both internal and external stakeholders and contributes significantly to the foundation’s accreditation and quality assurance initiatives.

Her current role as the Head of Capacity Building at the Shantilal Muttha Foundation involves leading initiatives to strengthen educational practices and empower educators across India.

Payam Shoghi, a qualified engineer, transitioned into the education sector early in his career and has since accumulated over 30 years of experience in various leadership roles, including as a school principal, teacher trainer, school leader mentor, and social development practitioner. 

Throughout his career, Payam has played a pivotal role in designing and implementing transformative educational initiatives. He has been instrumental in launching Mulyavardhan, a values and life skills education program that has been adopted by both government and private schools across India. Additionally, he has led initiatives in Foundational Literacy and Numeracy and Competency-Based Learning in collaboration with the Goa State Council of Educational Research and Training (GSCERT), as well as spearheading innovative pedagogical practices in Vidya Bharti-managed schools and other leading institutions. 

Specializing in innovative classroom management and advanced pedagogical practices, he is an advocate for Cooperative Learning and values-based education. He has also developed a comprehensive, research-based reference guide on Cooperative Learning, which was published in December 2022 to support training and educational initiatives. 

His work extends beyond the classroom; he successfully piloted the Junior Youth Empowerment Program, a community-based moral education initiative that reached over 650,000 pre-youth participants across 55 centers in five states. He also partnered with Gram Mangal, a leading educational NGO, to test and document student-centered teaching methodologies in language and math in government schools in Beed, Maharashtra. 

Currently, Payam serves as the Director of the Centre of Excellence at Shantilal Muttha Foundation, where he continues to lead efforts to enhance the quality of education across India through innovative approaches and scalable initiatives. 

Ms.Meghana Desai brings 18 years of extensive experience across both the non-profit and corporate sectors, with a proven track record in strategy, program design and management, partnerships, strategic communication, government relations, and systems strengthening. Her expertise spans multiple sectors, including public education, social-emotional learning and life skills with a gender lens, water security, and mental health.

Currently, Meghana leads the Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Impact (MELI) function at Shantilal Muttha Foundation (SMF), where she also heads a dynamic, intersectional program focused on gender equality and life skills for adolescent girls. Her work involves steering strategy, program development, and implementation, ensuring the foundation’s initiatives are impactful and sustainable.

Ms.Meghana has represented SMF in significant national forums, such as serving as a delegate for the Core Consultation Group on Values Education, which was formed by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, and NCERT. This group worked on the development of the Common Minimum Program for Values Education in schools (2017-2019). She also spearheaded the design, curriculum development, and successful scale-up of a civic engagement program, collaborating with the Ministry of Education, along with public and private sector experts, to address critical issues like sanitation, waste management, and road safety across all government and aided schools in Goa.

In addition to her role at SMF, Ms.Meghana has co-authored two research papers in the fields of Education and Public Health. She is also a rank holder in the Advanced Programme in Strategy for Leaders from IIM Lucknow (2022) and a proud alumnus of Teach for India (2009). Academically, she holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management (with a focus on Finance and Marketing) and a degree in Electronics Engineering from NIT Nagpur.

Outside of her professional work, Ms.Meghana is a freelance content writer with a passion for creative pursuits. She enjoys traveling, painting, theater, music, and is a dedicated student of Kathak.

Gauri is a seasoned finance professional with over 30 years of experience in accounting and financial management across major corporate organizations. She holds both a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Commerce, along with professional credentials in ICWAI (Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India) and DCM (Diploma in Cost Management).

For the past nine years, she has been an integral part of the Shantilal Muttha Foundation, currently serving as the Senior Manager of Accounts & Finance. In this crucial role, she is responsible for managing the Foundation’s entire financial portfolio, including accounting, budgeting, audits, and statutory compliance. Additionally, she oversees donor reporting, including the preparation of utilization certificates, employee salary disbursements, and bank-related compliance matters.

With her deep expertise in finance and strategic management, Gauri ensures the smooth and efficient operation of the Foundation’s financial functions, providing essential support to other departments and contributing significantly to the Foundation’s overall organizational effectiveness.