Who We Are

KUNDA DIXIT

Chairperson

Mr. Kunda Dixit is the editor and publisher of the Nepali Times. He is a journalism graduate of Columbia University and started his career with BBC Radio in New York. He has been writing on global development and environmental issues for Inter Press Service, where he served as Regional Editor, Asia-Pacific. He was also Regional Director for Panos South Asia. He teaches journalism at Kathmandu University and is visiting faculty at New York University Abu Dhabi, and is the author of the books: ‘Dateline Earth: Journalism As If the Planet Mattered’ and the trilogy on the Nepal conflict, ‘A People War’.

ARUNA UPRETY

Vice Chairperson - Board Healthcare Lead

Dr. Aruna Uprety is a globally recognized leader on women’s issues within Nepal. She had advocated / lobbied for abortion rights in Nepal, has testified before the United States Congress of issues of women’s trafficking in Nepal, and currently leads the efforts against chhaupadi practices in the Far West region of Nepal. She also had worked as public Health specialist in Iran, Afghanistan, India, Sudan, and Laos from 2002 to 2010. Dr. Uprety is the author of Health Guidelines for Women with Disabilities, Junk Food and Wrong Advertisement and Its Impacts on Health, and Adolescent Reproductive Health, as well as numerous articles on women’s health and rights. She writes regularly about health and social issues.

SP KALAUNEE

General Secretory - Board Strategic Lead

SP is the former Executive Director of Nyaya Health Nepal. He has been at the core in developing the organization’s partnership model with the government of Nepal, Ministry of Health and Population. Prior to NHN, SP served as the acting executive director of a Nepali nonprofit, and led the organization’s functions in health, education, and community development sectors. SP also worked as the principal of a secondary school, and as a teacher tutoring students from primary level to the university level in different schools in Nepal, Vietnam, Finland, and USA. He received his M.A. (Sociology), M.A (English Literature), B. Ed., and LL.B. His doctoral study was in Organizational Leadership from Eastern University, USA where he was an adjunct faculty member at the School of Leadership and Development.

BHASKAR RAJ PANT

Treasurer - Board Healthcare Expansion Lead

Dr. Bhaskar Raj Pant, MD is practicing Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon with a primary specialty interest in Joint Replacement, Reconstruction and Trauma. He is the Chief Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon at HAMS Hospital, Nepal. Prior to this, Dr. Bhaskar was the Assistant Director of Joint Replacement and Sports Medicine at Grande International Hospital, Nepal. He did his Fellowship in Joint Replacement and Sports from USA, an advanced course in Joint Replacement from, Switzerland and Knee Fellowship from Japan. He has also pursued Advanced AO Trauma from Thailand and Global Health Delivery course from Harvard University, USA. Dr. Bhas oversees Rural Trauma Care across our service areas in Achham and Dolakha.

DILEEP AGRAWAL

Secretary

Dileep Agrawal founded and established Nepal’s largest Internet service provider (ISP) in 1995 while attending Bates College in the US. Over the years, WorldLink has registered tremendous sustained growth and provides services ranging from Internet and data connectivity to cloud computing and managed enterprise services. WorldLink has grown to be not only the largest ISP in Nepal, but one of the largest IT services companies employing over 2,900 people throughout the country. Mr. Agrawal is in-charge of overall corporate management, strategy and business development. A recognized pioneer in Nepal’s IT industry, he regularly appears in national and international media. He has co-founded several companies and non-profit organizations and serves on their boards.

SABITA BHANDARI

Member

Ms. Sabita Bhandari is Senior Advocate at Nepal Law Firm, Putalisadak. She has been practicing legal advocacy and supervising more than 6 advocates. Prior to this, she served as the Commissioner at the National Information Commission, Nepal. She has run women's literacy training classes and mentored young students on sustainable work and living. She has master’s degree in law from Kathmandu University. She is a member of Nepal Bar Association since 1984 and has served as Executive Member of Supreme Court Bar association, and Treasurer of Nepal bar Association.  She has published various articles on legal literacy, youth engagement on legal field and women empowerment.

KALPANA GAIRE

Joint Secretary

Ms. Kalpana Gaire, is a woman entrepreneur. She is the chairperson of Dharmarudra Sewa Hospital, and proprietor of Sewa Agro Production & Prasodhan. She has master’s in business studies degree from Tribhuvan University. She is involved in empowerment of women in Far western province of Nepal. She has organized women empowerment programs, provided training to local farmers related to various products, and organized training programs on health and safety. She was the Health Coordinator of 6th National Game, Member of 2020 Tourism Year Board, and has also served as the executive Member of Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

SURAJ VAIDYA

Immediate Past Chair

Mr. Suraj Vaidya is the President of Vaidya’s Organization of Industries & Trading Houses (VOITH), which deals in tea exports, automobile imports, agro-industries, construction, and education. One of the most dynamic business houses in Nepal, VOITH employs more than 7,000 people and is committed to raising the living standard of Nepal’s poorest people, the bulk of whom are farmers, by prioritizing investment in particular industries and through corporate social responsibility. Mr. Vaidya is the Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Philippines for Nepal and Promoter of Lumbini General Insurance Co. Ltd. Mr. Vaidya also served as President of the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry, President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce & Industry, and Vice – Chair of Lumbini Development Trust. Mr. Vaidya earned his MBA in International Affairs from George Mason University in the United States.

UPASANA KHADKA

Member

Upasana Khadka is a labor migration specialist. She consults for the World Bank on regional migration issues in Asia, and previously served as a Policy Advisor/Migration Expert at the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security (MOLESS), Nepal.  As a Columnist for the Nepali Times ("Labour Mobility"), she analyzes trends affecting Nepal’s workers abroad.  She holds an MPA/ID from the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, and an interdisciplinary degree in Economics and Mathematics from Reed College. Her paternal family is from Achham. 

VIROCHAN KHANAL

Member

Mr. Khanal is a qualified chartered Accountant from Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) in the year 2013 & a member of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nepal (ICAN). He is also commerce graduate from Indira Ghandhi National Open University (IGNOU), India and has certification degree of Diploma in International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) from Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), UK. He is currently working as Managing Partner in M/s U.V. Associates, Chartered Accountants, a CA firm based in Kathmandu & Butwal. He has experience of serving numerous business houses, public sector entities, development sector organizations, industries in various capacities such as Financial Consultant, Auditor, Board Member, Mentor, Trainer, Strategic Partner and M&E Expert.