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President
With a double doctorate, one in nuclear physics and another in gender studies, Dr. Kalpana Sankar has specialised in participatory assessment of Self Help Groups, NGOs, participatory rural appraisal, gender-differentiated impact, developing monitoring tools and indicators, and preparation of manuals / guidelines on gender issues for the past 20 years. She has handled several international missions and received special commendation from the United Nations Office for Project Services. Dr. Sankar has trained high-level government delegates from South Africa and Afghanistan and has supported microfinance and poverty reduction programmes in Afghanistan and Brazil. She has been a consultant to UNDP, UNOPS, Wetlands International, and Christian Aid. She was awarded the Nari Shakti Puraskar in 2017 and the Global Award for Women Empowerment from UN Women and the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Dr. Sankar is currently Chairperson of Hand in Hand India and formerly served as Managing Director of Belstar Microfinance Private Ltd. She has received scholarships to attend the INSEAD Business School and HBS – ACCION programme and has been a student of the TRIUM E-MBA course. In 2009, she was felicitated by the US Congress as a leading Woman Social Entrepreneur in recognition of her role in providing leadership and fostering economic growth in local communities.
Founder Member
Mr. Tripathi has been a distinguished Indian diplomat, having served in the Indian Foreign Service since 1971. He has held different critical assignments in Karachi, Dhaka, UNO, apart from being India’s ambassador to Brazil and Switzerland. A postgraduate from Cambridge University, Mr. Tripathi, following his laying down office, has dedicated himself to social development and charity work. Apart from serving Hand in Hand Switzerland, he has been involved with Action for Food Protection as President of the Governing Body. Mr. Tripathi is also on various panels of the Ministry of External Affairs, Govt. of India, and is often invited to deliver addresses and share his experience in various international platforms.
Chief Executive Officer and Member
Mr. Soret is a senior Corporate Counsel and Lawyer with over 15 years of experience in commercial law. He has worked primarily in Europe and the UK with corporate giants such as Toshiba, Symantic, and Lonza. Highly specialised and known for his negotiation acumen, he comes with strong business knowledge and passion, having briefly worked for the UN and a law firm in the US.
Wanting to bring about positive change since his younger days, especially since he heard about alarming infant mortality rates, Mr. Soret has dedicated his passion towards social causes. He co-founded Humanium, a voluntary child rights-oriented non-profit, in 2008 in Switzerland, Germany, and France. Through Humanium, he has visited grassroots projects in India, a place that transformed him and where he has made some of his closest friends. Calling himself ‘an Indian at heart,’ Arndt is dedicated and committed to making a difference to those who most need it.
Ms. Weill Halle has over 40 years of experience working with international organisations and in the non-profit sector. Vera started her career working with the Population Reference Bureau in Washington, D.C., and later joined the UN Secretariat and subsequently the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in Rome. She was head of delegation in a number of the UN and other international conferences. She currently runs her own firm, Brighter Ventures, for the empowerment of women.
Member
Ms. Kobayashi is the Director of Management Committee Governance for the regions of Africa, Middle East, India, Oceania, and Europe in a global corporate, and is also an executive coach serving leaders to make a difference. Mihoko says, “I met Dr. Kalpana 10 years ago, inspired by her passion and the clear governance of Hand in Hand India, and occasionally had my own charitable activities with the organisation. I’m honoured and delighted to be a part of it and hope to make my contribution with love and care.”
Ms. Mautone is the founder and CEO of Consima Treuhand AG. She completed a commercial apprenticeship in 1989 and obtained a Federal Certificate of Proficiency in fiduciary services in 1994. Her professional journey includes working as a commercial employee from 1989 to 1990, followed by roles as a trustee administrator. In 1995, Karin founded and became the owner of Consima Treuhand AG, where she continues to lead the company.
Director General
Mr. Mookerjee is a seasoned professional with over three decades of experience in the general insurance sector, having worked across public and private enterprises, as well as multinational corporations. He has held leadership roles and possesses extensive expertise in People Management, Human Resources, Learning & Development, Insurance Underwriting, and Sales. Throughout his career, Mr. Mookerjee has taken on key responsibilities, including at Royal Sundaram Alliance Insurance Co. Ltd. and Bharti AXA General Insurance Co. Ltd., where he served as Vice President, Human Resources, and was a member of the company’s Executive Committee. Driven by his passion for social development, he transitioned into the sector and now leads Swiss operations for the Hand in Hand group. He currently serves as Advisor, Director, and is also the CEO of Hand in Hand Inclusive Development and Services.
Treasurer
Mr. S. Padmanabhan brings over 30 years of expertise in financial planning, MIS, accounting, fund management, and auditing. With experience spanning multiple sectors, including banking, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and microfinance, he has a well-rounded understanding of diverse industries. Mr. Padmanabhan currently oversees our Finance and Audit functions.
Member
Mr. Pabari founded a management consulting company to offer specialised services in the fields of finance, tax advisory, conflict resolution, compliance monitoring, and continuous improvement training. Known for his ‘never-give-up’ mindset, empathy, exceptional communication, and interpersonal skills, he effectively builds relationships and drives collaboration. In addition to his professional experience, Mr. Pabari is an author and has contributed to various international organisations in a voluntary capacity, supporting several causes. He is based in Geneva.
Member
Ms. Mani is a Child, Adolescent, and Young Adult Counsellor based in Switzerland, with over 14 years of experience across India and Switzerland. She holds a Master's in Counselling from Webster University and is a licensed counsellor with the Swiss Association for Counselling. Pritha facilitates support groups for LGBTQIA+ youth and male athletes, leads workshops, and supervises counselling students. She is also a visiting professor at Webster University and the author of ‘It’s On Us!: Sexual Violence Prevention Handbook.’ Passionate about mental health and social advocacy, Pritha is committed to raising awareness and driving positive change.
Member
Ms. Sankar combines her background as an Electronics and Communications Engineer with a Management degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science, where she specialised in marketing and strategy. She is passionate about the development sector, and her stint with Hand in Hand Switzerland and Hand in Hand India is the first in this field. Prior to this, Sahaana has held various leadership and editorial positions throughout her education. She has worked with a start-up, Wimbletech, in the UK for a year as the Financial and Community Manager, where she handled the audit, accounts, and expansion strategy alongside a small team. Sahaana has also worked with the United Nations Chief Executive Board in New York.
Consultant for Partnerships and Fundraising
Mr. Martin has over 15 years of experience in the operational and financial management of organisations and projects in the non-profit sector. He studied financial management at the HEC business school in Lausanne (Switzerland) before exploring various sectors and cultures. He worked in Latin America as a consultant in the field of microfinance and subsequently with numerous non-profit organisations in Switzerland, such as euforia and Collaboratio Helvetica. His involvement in financial management led him to develop strong know-how of the fundraising process. David brings to his work not only technical skills but also a work ethic and a passion for causes that enable positive change in society.
Hand in Hand India, our founding organisation, was registered in 2004. The organisation’s roots can be traced to the vision of eradicating child labour in Kancheepuram, a district in Tamil Nadu, India, known for its 500-year-old silk weaving industry. What began as a focus on one thematic area has significantly expanded into five major thematic areas, namely, Child Labour Elimination and Education, Women Empowerment and Job Creation, Access to Affordable Healthcare, Skill Development & Technology Centres, and Environment – Natural Resource Management and Sustainable Waste Management. Hand in Hand India now works in 20 states in India, and our global presence can be traced in 9 countries spread over 3 continents. It is also noteworthy to highlight that Hand in Hand India is a UNFCCC Observer NGO.
The Socio Economic and Education Development (SEED) Trust targets people at the bottom of the pyramid and aims to create a sustainable and replicable poverty reduction model. Sharing Hand in Hand India’s vision and mission, SEED Trust focuses on implementing integrated community development projects for poverty reduction in the spheres of waste management, health, and skill development.
Hand in Hand Consulting offers monitoring and evaluation services for projects implemented across India and Cambodia.
Member
Ms. Blerina Zoto is a dedicated advocate for human rights, education, and humanitarian work. With nearly a decade of holding positions in the Albanian government, she championed the rights of vulnerable minorities, working to advance their social, economic, and intellectual development, and founded and led the Albanian Association of University Women (AAFDU). In 2015, Ms. Zoto moved to Switzerland, serving as a human rights expert diplomat representing Albania at the United Nations Human Rights Council. As an ambassador for FEDE (Federation for Education in Europe) in Switzerland and the current president of the Liaison Center for Women’s Associations in Geneva, she continues to lead initiatives that uplift women and strengthen civil society across Europe and beyond.
Member
Prof. Dr. Jaya Krishnakumar holds the title of Honorary Professor Emeritus at the University of Geneva, Switzerland, where she was a Full Professor of Econometrics. Her research spans panel data econometrics, multivariate modeling, household consumption, inequality and human development, and quantitative methods to analyse well-being. She has published extensively in top-tier journals such as Econometric Theory, Journal of Econometrics, World Development, and Health Economics. Dr. Krishnakumar serves on various editorial boards, international advisory panels, and research committees, including for the UNDP and World Bank. Featured in the book ‘100 Women and Thousands More’, she is celebrated for her impactful academic and professional journey.