Who holds the trust, and who tests the work.

Founder, Settlor & Managing Trustee

Dr Jagannath Patnaik, MBA, M.Law, Ph.D., D.Litt., D.Sc.

Vice Chancellor, The ICFAI University Sikkim. Served as Vice Chancellor of Indian universities for over 16 years and a renowned educationist and author. Holds the Foundation’s direction across education, health, youth skills, women’s livelihoods and household energy. Recorded in the World Book of Records and recipient of the Utkal Jyoti Award of the Government for social service.

Doctorate in Political Administration (Moscow, 2000), doctorate in Life Sciences (2016), D.Litt. in Education (2019), LL.M. in Commercial and Corporate Law, MBA and B.Com, with diplomas in human rights, intellectual property and cyber law. Served on university and education councils, including the Confederation of Indian Universities, and as Global Chairman of the UNACCC Governing Council.

Founder Trustee and Vice President

Dr Shrabani Patnaik, M.Sc., M.Phil., Ph.D., D.Litt.

M.Sc. Environment, M.Phil. Environment. National Co-Chairman, UNAccc. National President, Women Empowerment Forum. Director, Global Chamber of Consumer Rights, India. Executive Director, The Educational Standards and Testing Council of India, New Delhi. Co-Founder & Vice Chairman, Indo Global Business Park, New Delhi — co-founding and leading business park development, fostering international trade and investment opportunities. Member, Advisory Council, Africa Asia Scholars Global Network, UK. Former Secretary, FICCI-FLO Bhubaneswar.

Founder Trustee and Treasurer

Adv. Prakriti Patnaik, Ph.D. Scholar, LL.M. (Queen Mary, UK), LL.M. (India), BBA-LL.B. (Hons.)

Practising advocate before the High Court, District Courts, Consumer Redressal Forums, Real Estate Regulatory Forum and DRT in Odisha. Expert in dispute resolution and arbitration. Previously Research Officer, Department of Public Policy, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar; Research Associate, Pranab Mukherjee Foundation, New Delhi; Director & Legal Advisor, Indo Global Business Park, New Delhi. Empaneled Lawyer, YES Bank Ltd. Strengthens community engagement, strategic partnerships and the public presence of the Foundation.

Founder Trustee and Secretary

Mr Purushraj Patnaik, BBA-LL.B., LL.M.

Experience in policy advocacy and cyber law. Supports field follow-up, youth programmes and the longer association of members with the trust.

Chief Executive Officer

Ms Sarita Patwal, MBA

CEO, Board of Management. Holds operational leadership of the Foundation’s programmes and day-to-day administration.

Executive Director, Planning and Coordination

Adv. Prateek Nayak, LL.M. (UK), LL.M. (India)

An expert in criminal and civil laws, policy and advocacy. Coordinates planning across programmes, partners and districts so the work stays joined up.

Executive Director, International Affairs

Er. Samarendra Patra, B.Tech.

An expert in the Merchant Navy and in international relations and trade policy. Leads international partnerships, outreach and the Foundation’s work beyond India.

Non-Executive Director, Finance

CA Reema Diddee

Independent Director, LIC Mutual Fund. 31 years of experience in financial and management consultancy, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, private equity, business structuring, transaction advisory, treasury management, business valuations, capital markets, turnaround strategies, corporate governance, taxation and cost-reduction strategies. Has advised more than 150 mid-market clients. Provides independent financial oversight of the trust’s accounts, grants and application of income to its objects.

Head, Legal

Adv. Lhamu Tshering Tamang, B.A. LL.B., LL.M., Ph.D. Research Scholar

An expert in family law, government advocacy and women empowerment. Leads legal affairs, compliance and the Foundation’s duties as a public charitable trust.

Advisor

Dr Jagannath Patnaik

Chair, Board of Advisors

Founder, Settlor & Managing Trustee. Sets the questions the Foundation must answer after every intervention.

Advisor

Justice Chander Shekhar

Law, Justice & Public Institutions

Former Judge, High Court of Delhi. Former Chairperson, Real Estate Appellate Tribunal (NCT of Delhi & UT of Chandigarh). Former District & Sessions Judge, Delhi.

Advisor

Prof. (Dr.) Pradeep Kumar Joshi

Public Examinations & Higher Education

Chairman, National Testing Agency. Former Chairman, UPSC, MPPSC and CGPSC. Former Director, NIEPA.

Advisor

Lt Gen Shokin Chauhan, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, SM, VSM, PhD (Retd.)

Defence, Counter-Insurgency, Peace Processes & Strategic Affairs

Former Director General, Assam Rifles. Former Chairman, Cease Fire Monitoring Group (Northeast). Commissioned into the 11 Gorkha Rifles in December 1979. Commanded 1 Corps (oldest and largest Strike Corps), 8 Mountain Division in Western Ladakh and 70 Mountain Brigade in Kashmir and Eastern Ladakh. Served as Defence Attaché to Nepal. Extensive counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism experience. Scholar-soldier with a PhD on Indo-Nepal relations; author of Bridging Borders. Recipient of five Presidential awards.

Advisor

Lt Gen Gurbirpal Singh, PVSM, AVSM, VSM

National Cadet Corps & Defence

Former Director General, NCC (2021–2025). Parachute Regiment officer.

Advisor

Shri O.P. Singh, IPS (Retd.)

Public Order, Disaster Response & Police Reform

Former DGP, Uttar Pradesh; former Director General, CISF and NDRF; President & CEO, Indian Police Foundation.

Advisor

Maj Gen Vinod Pillai, VSM (Indian Army Veteran)

Defence, Border Command & Education

Thirty-seven years in the Indian Army. Two formation command tenures on the Line of Actual Control, in North Sikkim and Tawang. UN Military Observer in Cambodia; Staff Officer at United Nations Headquarters, New York. Commander, Higher Command Wing, Army War College. Director-cum-Principal, Tashi Namgyal Academy, Gangtok. Advisor to the Government of Sikkim’s EQUIP programme. Member, Board of Governors, Maharani Gayatri Devi Girls’ School, Jaipur.

Advisor

Shri Atul Sobti

Public Enterprises & International Labour

Director General, SCOPE. Titular Member, Governing Body, ILO, Geneva. Former Chairman & Managing Director, BHEL.

Advisor

Prof. (Dr.) S. S. Mantha

Technical Education & Regulation

Former Chairman, AICTE. Former Vice-Chancellor and distinguished professor of engineering and education policy.

Advisor

Prof. Gauri Dutt Sharma

University Leadership & Social Science

Vice Chancellor, University of Science & Technology Meghalaya. President, Indian Social Science Academy (ISSA). Former President, Association of Indian Universities, New Delhi.

Advisor

Dr. Avinash Rai Khanna

Public Life & Social Service

Former Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha); Vice Chairman, IAPPD; Former Vice Chairman, Indian Red Cross Society.

Advisor

Shri Subhash Chandra, IFS (Retd.)

Forests, Environment & Public Institutions

IFS 1988; Special Rapporteur, NHRC; Professor of Practice, IIT Indore; Former CEO, National CAMPA.

Advisor

Shri Ajay Misra, IAS (Retd.)

Energy, Renewable Power & Public Service

Director General, Renewable Energy Society of India; National President (India), UNACCC; Former Special Chief Secretary (Energy), Telangana.

Advisor

Dr. Ashok Tripathi

Public Sector Governance & Audit

Former Independent Director and Chairman, Audit Committee, Hindustan Photo Films Limited.

Advisor

Prof. (Dr.) Viney Kapoor Mehra

Law & Higher Education Governance

Emeritus Professor, Adamas University; Founder Vice-Chancellor, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Law University, Sonepat.

Advisor

Prof. (Dr.) Parimal H. Vyas

University Leadership

Provost / Vice Chancellor, AURO University, Surat; Former Vice Chancellor (two terms), MSU Baroda.

Advisor

Prof. Raj Nath Yadava

University Leadership

Former Vice Chancellor, Purnea University; Former Vice Chancellor, B.N. Mandal University.

Advisor

Prof. Sir Manuel Freire-Garabal y Núñez

Global Policy & Higher Education

Global advisor bridging business, public policy and education. Founder, Al-Khalifa Business School.

Advisor

Dr. Murali Rao, MD, DLFAPA

Psychiatry & Medical Education

Board-certified psychiatrist; Medical Director, DuPage Psychiatric Care; Affiliate Professor, Loyola University Chicago.

Advisor

Prof. Martin C.J. Mongiello

Presidential Service & Culinary Heritage

President, U.S. Presidential Service Center; Former White House Military Office chef and GM, Camp David.

Advisor

Dr. Ajay Singh

Social Marketing & Institutional Training

Associate Director, Indian School of Business, Hyderabad.

Advisor

Shri Anil Khaitan

Industry, Healthcare & Chamber Leadership

Chairman & Managing Director, Sunil Healthcare Limited; Former President, PHDCCI.

Advisor

Prof. (Dr) Diwakar Sukul

Clinical Psychology & Integrated Healthcare

Chartered Clinical Psychologist; Founder of Kamkus Clinic, Harley Street, London.

Advisor

Prof. Dr. Ghanashyam Lal Das

University Leadership & Higher Education

Former Vice Chancellor, Purbanchal University, Biratnagar, Nepal.

Advisor

Dr. Kishor Mehta

Managing Director & CEO, PCC Global Inc.

Debt and Equity financing. Chicago, USA.

Advisor

Shri Sukanta Sahu

Odia Diaspora & Jagannath Seva, United Kingdom

General Secretary, Odisha Society of the United Kingdom (OSUK; term to August 2027). Founding Trustee, Shree Jagannatha Society of UK (SJSUK). Trustee, Shree Jagannatha Chitana and Chetana Worldwide (SJCCWW). PR Head, Sardar Patel Memorial Services UK. Communication Officer, National Council of Hindu Temples in UK (NCHT).