Vivan steers our client-servicing and advocacy. He is additionally on the Boards of Esya Centre and Savikalpa Sciences. He is former CEO of the Observer Research Foundation's Global Governance Initiative. He is also the author of "Wonked!: India in Search of an Economic Ideology", published by Bloomsbury in 2019; and co-author of "The Dazzle of the Digital: Unbundling India Online", published by Routledge in 2022.
Raghav steers our investment advisory and internal administration. Previously, he served as Director at a merchant bank, handling corporate finance mandates and as a strategic advisor to a large infrastructure firm. Raghav started his career in the financial services industry in Switzerland, and has experience of structuring cross-border investments.
Vrinda is a lawyer who looks at regulation of emerging technologies. She has worked at the intersection of technology, law and policy for over a decade. She holds a BA, LLB. (Hons.) from the National Law School of India University, Bangalore and a MBA from Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow.
Dr Gautam leads our economic research. He has extensive research and teaching experience at the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Indian Institute of Management, Institute of Capital Markets, and Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research.
Bharathi leads our external outreach. She was previously with the Times Group, where she was responsible for identifying, building & managing partnerships with government & public sector entities. She also worked with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on issues related to international trade & commerce.
Aniruddha leads Programmes, Sustainability and Knowledge management. He is an expert in social sector risk management, and sustainable development. Previously, he served as Deputy Programme Director (Financial Sector Development) and Senior Advisor, special initiative (One World no Hunger) at GIZ.
Dr Garg leads Koan’s technology and trade vertical. He is a seasoned technocrat who was at the forefront of digitalisation programmes in India. Previously, as a Senior Director in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), he led the International Cooperation Division. He remains a key contributor to various Track II and Track 1.5 initiatives.
Varun is a lawyer who focuses on regulations relating to information technology. He analyses the role of regulation in fostering the growth of converging digital infrastructure and service industries.
Ateesh is a lawyer who has a keen interest in assessing the regulatory challenges posed by emerging technologies. He previously worked with startups on PE/VC transactions. He currently analyses issues relating to digital payments, crypto currencies and internet governance.
Tamanna is a Physics graduate from Miranda House, University of Delhi, and holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Statistics from the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI). Her interests centre on emerging technologies such as Machine Learning, AI, Virtual Digital Assets, as well as new forms of digital media. She is also deeply passionate about entrepreneurship and sustainability.
Dhruv works on a range of policy issues related to information technology hardware, and technology and trade. Prior to joining Koan, he has worked at the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Common Cause, and as a consultant to independent directors of a leading non-bank financial company.
Srishti Joshi is a lawyer who focuses on data and platform governance, and emerging technologies. Prior to joining Koan, she worked at the Centre for Communication Governance, National Law University Delhi as a Project Officer. She has also worked with the Microsoft Cloud Legal Project, Queen Mary University of London as a Research Assistant.
Sukanya is a lawyer with a penchant for international law. Previously, she was a Project Officer at the Centre for Communication Governance at the National Law University Delhi and a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for WTO Studies at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade. Sukanya is currently seconded to the Ministry of Electronics and IT and supports our work on the Global Partnership on AI.
Lalantika is a lawyer and works on areas related to cyber security, data protection and internet governance. She is interested in the regulation of emerging technologies and studies them through an intersectional lens.
Vedika is a lawyer with experience in mergers and acquisitions, private equity, gaming law advisory, corporate governance, securities law and commercial litigation. She holds a B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) degree from the National Law Institute University, Bhopal. She is currently seconded to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
Adhnan supports our research on energy and sustainability. He previously worked on themes like clean energy and mobility at the Ola Mobility Institute, New Delhi. He has a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master's degree in Social Design.
Mannat is a lawyer, with an undergraduate degree in business. Her areas of interest and work include data privacy, cross-border data flows, and platform governance.
Collette supports government relations and stakeholder
management related functions. Previously, she was with the Quality Council of India where was responsible for policy research, and advocacy. She has also worked with Janaagraha to increase civic participation in governance.
Achyutam works on policies related to media and communications, intellectual property, and information technology hardware. He is a lawyer who has worked in several research related roles in the past.
Bhargavi is a lawyer interested in emerging technologies. She is currently focussed on fintech, payments and digital asset regulations.
Kunal works on research linked to deep tech. He also has a keen interest in sustainability, and aspires to contribute towards a more equitable world through his work. Kunal has a Bachelor's degree in Physics from Jamia Millia Islamia University and is currently pursuing a Masters in Economics.
Yashaswini works on intellectual property with a focus on copyright, as well as on content regulation and platform governance. She has a bachelor's degree in geography and in law.
Anil drives our operations including programmatic outreach. He was previously a consultant at the National Gallery of Modern Art and the North Central Zone Cultural Centre (Ministry of Culture). He has also worked in British Council and the Asian Heritage Foundation. He has a Master's in Finance and Marketing.
With over 15 years' experience in financial journalism, Divya Guha is known for her ability to craft compelling narratives. She drives strategic communication initiatives bringing a wealth of experience to her role. Passionate about shaping public discourse and advocating for policies that promote innovation and sustainability, she is dedicated to driving impactful change in India's increasingly digital business landscape.
Vijay is an indispensable part of our team, and renders administrative support to various projects and programmes.
Berges Malu steers our special initiatives in the policy advocacy space after a decade in public policy. He was previously Senior Director of Public Policy and Communications at social media unicorn ShareChat, where he played a critical role in shaping the company's public affairs strategy. Prior to ShareChat he was with APCO Worldwide.
Meghna is the Director of the Esya Centre, New Delhi. She is a lawyer with deep experience in media and emerging technology. Previously, she worked on legal and policy strategy at the Walt Disney Company. Before Disney, she set up and led the India office for Consensys, the world’s largest blockchain technology company.
For the last twenty years, Narendra has used a unique combination of communication ability, coding skills and strategic thinking to deliver. In his last role as Chief Digital Officer at Xynteo, Narendra led digital transformation for some of the world’s largest companies. He now runs his own data-driven firm which collaborates closely with Koan.
Mr. Gulati, a mechanical engineer from IIT Delhi, served in the IAS for 34 years and superannuated as Additional Chief Secretary to the Govt. of Gujarat. He has worked in Steel, Coal, Finance and Textiles, Industry, Energy & Petrochemicals, Labour, Geology & Mining, Information Technology, Transport and Finance. While in the Govt. of Gujarat, he played a key role in establishment of Vibrant Gujarat Summit, off-shore wind power and electric vehicles/infrastructure initiatives etc.
Dr. Saran is President at the Observer Research Foundation and a frequent commentator on issues in Cyber Security and Governance. He chairs ‘CyFy’, India’s dedicated conference on cyber security and internet governance and is Commissioner, Global Commission on the Stability of Cyberspace.
Mr. Tiwari retired as Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of Gujarat. A consummate social sector expert, he has worked in areas such as women's empowerment, rural and tribal development, education, livelihood, CSR etc. He was also the Managing Director of Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizer Company, Gujarat Alkalies & Chemicals Ltd., and Gujarat State Fertilizers & Chemicals Ltd. He is presently on several boards and is also a visiting faculty at Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA).
Dr. Rai was a member of the IAS for more than 21 years. He also worked as the National Project Director - UNDP/WIPO; Member Secretary, Foreign Investment Promotion Council; National Negotiator at WTO/WIPO; and Secretary General, Quality Council of India. Subsequently, Dr. Rai worked at the WIPO for 16 years.
Mr Karthak is a former Executive Director at the Reserve Bank of India. His expertise and skills lie in Bank Regulation, Investigation of Banking Fraud, Foreign Exchange Management, Information Technology, Currency Management, Resource Management and Leadership. Besides, serving at the RBI, he was also deputed to the Govt of India, New Delhi and Central Bureau of Investigation HQ, New Delhi. Prior to joining RBI, he worked in the Unit Trust of India, Mumbai and Air India.
Mr. Kher superannuated as Commerce Secretary in 2015 after a career of 35 years in the IAS. He then worked as a Member in the Competition Appellate Tribunal for two years. He is now a Distinguished Fellow at the Research and Information System for Developing Countries.
With over two decades of corporate experience, Ms. Gupta has deep expertise in public policy, regulatory strategy, and dispute resolution. She led Apple's Public Policy and Strategy vertical for five years in India. A former Partner at Link Legal, she has also chaired several technical committees and championed transformative policy changes in the electronics sector.
Santosh is a distinguished lawyer serving clients in ASEAN and India since 2010. He is a member of Confederation of Indian Industry's Core Group on China, and Member of the Governing Council at the Institute of Chinese Studies, New Delhi. He occasionally teaches at the Indian Institute of Management, Shillong.
Mr Kaul has over four decades of experience in industrial quality control, standards development and product certification. Previously, he headed the National Institute of Training for Standardization, Certification Policy and Overseas Certification divisions of the Bureau of Indian Standards. He continues to participate in various standard-setting efforts, and is recognised as a leading expert on conformity assessment and technical regulations in India.