Heera has over 22 years of experience in non-profit and for-profit organisations, focusing on various thematic areas including Gender, Education, Human Rights, Governance, Urbanization, Impact investing and Livelihoods. In her last assignment at RTI International, she served as Director of Grants and Finance for the “South Asia Regional Partnership Fund (SAREP),” a USAID-funded project to improve access to sustainable and clean energy in six South Asian countries.
Before RTI, Heera worked for the Ford Foundation for over 12 years, managing grants for India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. At Ford, she had the opportunity to engage with a wide range of women’s rights and youth and adolescent groups focusing on gender justice, sexual rights, health, child/early marriage, non-traditional livelihood for women, and violence against women. She has extensive experience advising and assisting partners in their strategic planning for long-term sustainability and risk mitigation.
In the initial phase of her professional career, she has worked in various capacities with the European Commission, American Institute for Research on Reach India, a USAID-supported primary education initiative in India, GE Capital and Oswal Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited.
She has been a regular guest speaker at the India School of Development Management, India. She is passionate about her work and believes in a world of equality, justice and dignity for all.
She holds a master’s degree in Business Administration, specialising in finance.
When she’s not at work, Heera enjoys listening to good music and travelling.
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