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Archana Nambiar
Chief Executive Officer
With over two decades of experience in the development sector, she is a seasoned professional deeply committed to social development, impact, and philanthropy. She has worked extensively on education and child rights, with a primary focus on addressing inequities in education within underprivileged communities, particularly in remote and underserved regions across India. She has led consultancy engagements in the non-profit sector with a focus on program design, planning, partnership building and evaluation. Her professional journey includes significant roles in organizations such as Pratham Books, Tata Trusts, Education Development Center, and Aga Khan Education Service, India. Currently, she contributes to the board of SATHI (Society for Assistance to Children in Difficult Situations) and Prajayatna. Additionally, she serves as an Advisor to Yunus Social Business Fund Bengaluru, a social impact investor providing financial and business support to social enterprises. Archana holds a postgraduate degree in Social Work from the University of Mumbai, and her core areas of interest encompass early learning, children’s literature, care and protection of vulnerable children and entrepreneurship.
Vinatha M Reddy
Former Chairperson
As the Managing Trustee of T. Muniswamappa Trust, a registered public charitable trust, Vinatha has been working in the development sector since 1995. As a trailblazer in the microfinance sector in India, she is among the pioneers, collaborating with Nobel Laureate Prof. Muhammad Yunus to establish GrameenKoota in Bangalore, in 1999. She recognized microfinance as a powerful tool to lift people out of poverty. Through her sheer will and determination, she transformed GrameenKoota from a project within a not-for-profit entity into a fully-fledged NBFC-MFI. It has evolved into a leading microfinance institution in India, serving nearly 2 million women and their families. Vinatha is also a co-founder of Yunus Social Business Fund Bengaluru, envisioning an enabling environment for social businesses in India. Vinatha is deeply committed to improving social situations through education and empowerment. Together with Suresh, she has been the driving force behind Navya Disha’s success, embodying inspirational work ethics. Retiring as the Chairperson of the Trust in 2020, she now enjoys her retirement with family.
Thykat Muralidharan
Trustee
Muralidharan has an extensive career spanning more than 40 years within the banking and development sectors. His profound expertise encompasses microfinance, financial access, value chain financing, enterprise development, and agriculture. Presently, he serves as the Director of Financial Access and Services at Vrutti, an organization dedicated to implementing transformative livelihood solutions for small-scale farmers. His leadership contributes significantly to the enhancement and sustainability of livelihoods within these communities.
Raviprakash M S
Co-founder and Trustee
Raviprakash has over 25 years of invaluable experience in the development sector. His expertise spans across governmental and non-profit realms, particularly in the specialized domain of water resources management. Presently, he holds the role of Principal Coordinator for Capacity Building of Engineers at the Advanced Centre for Integrated Water Resource Management, showcasing his dedication to enhancing and cultivating expertise in this crucial field.
Suresh K Krishna
Chairperson & Managing Trustee
Suresh is a pivotal figure in shaping India’s microfinance sector, with decades of experience in uplifting poor and low-income communities. As the Chairperson and Managing Trustee of Navya Disha, he provides visionary leadership, driving impactful change. Suresh is also the Co-Founder, Managing Director, and Chief Executive Officer of Yunus Social Business Fund Bengaluru, as well as the Co-founder and Partner of Yunus Social Business India Initiatives. Prior to this, he served as the Managing Director of GrameenKoota from its inception in 1999, guiding it to become a substantial and socially responsible microfinance institution with a presence in five states across India. Suresh’s influence extends to co-founding key industry associations, including Microfinance Institutions Network and Association of Karnataka Microfinance Institutions. He currently serves on the board of Sanghamitra Rural Financial Services, Grameen Foundation for Social Impact, Child Fund India among others. He is passionate about social businesses, micro housing, entrepreneurship and livelihoods for the poor. With a background in teaching, Suresh has dedicated over 25 years to leading and working with social businesses. He holds a wealth of knowledge acquired from studying international microfinance models and strategies at esteemed institutions like Grameen Bank, Bankakademie (Germany), and Harvard Business School (USA). An alumnus of the Indian Institute of Management, Bengaluru, Suresh continues to be a driving force in sustainable community development.