Raju T Mathews has been working with CPPR since 2008. He has an MBA degree (with specialisation in Financial Management) from Berhampur University in 1988. He has more than two decades of experience working with various business organisations.

J Paul Zachariah is Programme Officer (Chairman’s Office) at CPPR. He works with the Chairman on the strategic development of CPPR and building partnerships. Paul is a blogger and writes for CPPR blog on topics like international relations and security. A graduate in Economics, he has also undergone training in NGO management at the Department of Training, YMCAs of India and International YMCA University of Applied Sciences in Germany. Before joining CPPR, he was the General Secretary and CEO of YMCA Thrissur for over 7 years. His interests are international relations, libertarian thought, reading, travelling and photography.

Diana is a Human Resource Consultant. She graduated with a Master’s degree in Social work (HR) from Madras School of Social Work and has experience working for NGOs like World Vision India.

Anu Maria Francis works as a Senior Associate (Research and Project Management) at the Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR). She received her law degree from the National University of Advanced Legal Studies in Kochi. She has worked as a UPSC exam teacher and mentor for several coaching schools in Kerala.

Her scholarly interests include legal and urban governance, as well as concerns of livelihood. She won the 2022 Think Tank Shark Tank Award by Atlas Network USA.  She spoke on the topic “Economic rights of women in Asia” at the Asia Liberty Forum 2022 in Manila, Philippines, and the Liberty Forum 2022 in New York. She has also interned with the Kerala State Information Commission, ACTIONAID India, Ceat Tyres Ltd, Biocon Pharma Ltd, Khaitan and Co Law Firm, among others.

Public policy professional with more than 6 years of experience working with government officials, regulators, and NGOs in policy design, program implementation, legal analysis, regulatory compliances, and executive support.

Worked as Kerala State coordinator in Kudumbashree National Resource organization for six years. Assisted in the development of context-specific proposals for program guidelines under the Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Program for Kerala and also Coordinated with District and Block Management Units under the Kerala State Rural Livelihood Mission to provide technical assistance in the Rebuild Kerala Initiative – Enterprise development program. Helped improve the existing MSME incubation programs and developed strategies, policies, and guidelines to support them in expanding their Non-farm Livelihood vertical.

Worked as Growth Consultant at State Poverty Eradication Mission in advising State Government in promotion of various business programs in developing strategies, regulatory framework, policies and guidelines.

Completed Masters in Public Policy and Governance from Azim Premji University, and Bachelors in Economics, securing 4th rank in Kerala University. Also selected as Campus Ambassador for Election Commission of India in 2017.

Binumol V B is a Senior Associate, Coordination at the Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR), Kochi, Kerala, India. She completed her MA in History from Maharajas College, Ernakulam, and her B Ed in Social Science from Mahatma Gandhi University College of Teacher Education, Ernakulam. She has seven years of teaching experience at Toc H (Residential) Public School.

Nikhil Ali is a Senior Associate, Research (Urban) at the Centre for Public Policy Research. He Holds an M.Plan from Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science and 3 years of experience as a Civil Engineer. Specializing in projects such as Local Area Plans, Master Plans, Development Plans, and Regional Plans. Expertise includes land use planning, suitability analysis, and growth models. Academic focus on water-sensitive planning practices like Sponge City and WSUD for urban flooding mitigation, utilizing tools like AutoCAD, ArcGIS, and Photoshop. Currently, serving as an Urban Mobility Researcher at CPPR, analyzing policies impacting India’s public bus transport system, with a particular emphasis on private sector integration.

Sreelakshmi holds an MSc in International Development from the University of Birmingham and BA Honors Economics from Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi. She has worked as Academic Coordinator at a Cambridge International School.

“Sometimes the fall kills you. And sometimes, when you fall, you fly.”

Silas began his career in content marketing at a B2B health-tech startup in Chennai, where he worked for 2 years in copywriting, web content writing, blogging, ghostwriting, SEO, and product marketing. Having a background in both Zoology and Politics, he considers himself a student of both Arts and Science. Presently, at CPPR, he essentially plays the role of a full-stack marketer, handling social media, website updations, web & social media analytics, SEO, design & design coordination, photography (events), videography (events & podcast recording), basic audio and video editing, media relations, and strategy creation, looking to master them all.

He holds a Master’s (Hons) degree in Politics from Mumbai University and a Bachelor’s degree in Zoology from the Madras Christian College (MCC).

He likes talking about religion, politics, and sports. And everything else under the sun.

After completing a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Azim Premji University in 2024, Darshan is based in Kochi and joined CPPR as part of the CPPR Academy. He is constantly occupied with expanding his interests ranging from philosophy, sports, culture, hip hop, food, gaming, and most importantly film and television. His passion for videography and video editing led him to take up various projects early on. He is always looking for opportunities to shoot visuals on his tiny handy cam. An avid football fan, he is fascinated by and has delved into the intersection of football, economics, and data by writing a paper on ‘Is it Possible for Passion to Outperform Technicality in Producing Results’. His memoir on his journey as a dedicated Dortmund supporter was published in the Athletink Magazine.

When not in office, you’ll find him at the theatres, on a nearby football turf, or just chilling in the comfort of his home. Otherwise, he’s on the lookout for the next attractive tea spot in Kochi.

Archana R Varma works as a Senior Accountant at CPPR. She holds a Master’s degree in Commerce from K E College, Mannanam. She has 12 years of experience working as an accountant.

Dr Dhritishree Bordalai is a Senior Research Associate (International Relations) at the Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR), Kochi, India. She holds a PhD from the Centre for European Studies (CES), School of International Studies (SIS), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. She completed her MPhil in European Studies from SIS, JNU. Dhritishree has completed her Master’s in Politics with Specialisation in International Relations from SIS, JNU. She graduated from St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi with History as her key discipline. She has a Certificate in Public Policy and Management from the Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode (IIM-K). She has interned at the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in New Delhi and was previously working as a Mahatma Gandhi National Fellow under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE, GoI).

Dhritishree has been awarded the UGC-DAAD Short-Term Scholarship during her PhD at the Otto-Suhr-Institut für Politikwissenschaft (OSI), Freie Universität Berlin, Germany. She has attended several national and international conferences on her area of research and presented a paper at the Young Researchers Conference in JNU. Her core areas of research are migration, security and refugee studies.

Banisha Begum Shaikh is a Senior Associate, Research & Projects, at Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR), Kochi, Kerala, India. With over 5 years of experience as a research professional, she specializes in conducting in-depth sectoral evaluation at both national & state levels,  policy research, policy drafting, white paper development, advocacy, implementation, and impact assessment across various sectors of the economy. Her past research work has reached the policymakers’ desks at the central & state levels, with several suggestions being reflected in key policy and regulatory reforms.

She holds a dual Master’s degree-one in Economics from the Mumbai School of Economics and Public Policy, and another in Public Policy from the University of Mumbai.

Chaithra A Navada is an Associate, Research (Urban) at the Centre for Public Policy Research. She holds a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning with a specialization in transportation from the University of California, Los Angeles, and an MA in Development Studies from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IITM).

Her experience spans multimodal transport planning, road safety planning, traffic impact assessments, and policy research aimed at fostering sustainable and equitable urban mobility systems. As a transportation planner, she has contributed to road safety plans for cities and counties in California, Florida, and Texas. She supports projects in the urban and transportation verticals at CPPR, and currently works on a project to improve shared mobility in rural India.

Afiya Biju is a Research Assistant at the Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR), Kochi, Kerala, India. She completed her graduation and post-graduation in Political Science, securing the first rank in B.A. Political Science from Mahatma Gandhi University. She has qualified for the UGC-NET in Political Science. She also interned at the State Human Rights Commission, Kerala.

Her areas of interest include climate and environmental studies, post-Marxist theories, education, and subaltern studies. She is interested in debates, reading, and writing, and likes to explore ideas related to society, politics, and development.

Publications by Afiya

Adithyan Puthen Veettil is a Consultant, Research in the International Relations vertical at Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR), Kochi, Kerala, India. He holds a Bachelor’s in Economics from Azim Premji University, Bengaluru, and a Master’s in Advanced International Studies from the Vienna School of International Studies.

He has previously worked at the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), International Anti-Corruption Academy, and the Austrian Economics Center. He is interested in board games, reading books, and going on hikes.

Publications by Adithyan P V

Devapriya T T is a Project Associate at the Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR), India. She holds an Master’s in Comparative Literature from the University of Hyderabad, and a Bachelor’s in English (Honours) from the University of Delhi.

At CPPR, Devapriya is involved in research across culture, policy, and society. Her core interests lie at the intersection of cultural studies, critical caste studies, death and memory, and cultural anthropology. She draws on her academic training and a growing engagement with the politics of narratives and the history of arts and culture in her work within the arts and culture vertical.

Kushal Suresh is an Associate, Research at Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR), Kochi, Kerala, India. He holds a Master’s degree in Applied Economics from Christ University, Bangalore, and is a CFA Level 2 candidate. Transitioning from a corporate background to research, he specialises in quantitative research approaches such as agent-based modeling. His areas of interest are environmental economics, international economics, finance, and behavioural economics.

His ongoing and finalised independent research projects are: scenario analysis of Carbon Credits Trading Scheme in India, ICT’s impact on macro environmental sustainability, etc.

Kalyani S K is an Associate, Research in the International Relations vertical at the Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR), Kochi, Kerala, India. She holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from Loyola College, Chennai, and a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from St. Teresa’s College, Ernakulam. Her core areas of interest include maritime security, climate diplomacy, and sustainable development.

Prior to joining CPPR, Kalyani worked as a Research Analyst at The Peninsula Foundation in Chennai and has interned with The Hindu’s International Desk. She is skilled in conceptualizing and coordinating international conferences, roundtables, and webinars. She has actively collaborated with think tanks, government agencies, UNHRC, and academic institutions, contributing to research, policy engagement, and strategic dialogues.

Nandana Satheesh is an Associate, Global Strategy at Centre for Public Policy and Research (CPPR), Kochi, Kerala, India.

With a background in media and communications, Nandana is a media professional and emerging scholar in international affairs. She holds a Master’s in International Studies from Symbiosis International University, Pune, a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, and a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature, Communication, and Journalism from Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala.

Her professional experience includes working as a copy editor at Indian Express Online, where she reported and edited stories on films, trends, and lifestyle. Nandana’s interests lie in cultural diplomacy and migration, driven by a desire to understand the intricacies of human behavior and cross-cultural connections.

Shobha Vasan works as an Associate, Research & Projects at CPPR. She is an economics researcher with a strong academic foundation and hands-on experience in agricultural and development economics. She holds a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Hyderabad and a Bachelor’s degree from St. Thomas College, Thrissur.

Shobha has worked as a Research Assistant at ICRIER under Prof Ashok Gulati, contributing to projects on soil health and biodiversity in agriculture. She also served as a Research Associate at Azim Premji University, where she worked on sustainability frameworks in agriculture, gaining field experience in Chhattisgarh. Her additional experience includes internships at NITI Aayog, the Mann Deshi Foundation, and the Kerala Institute of Local Administration.

Shobha actively contributes to academic and policy discourse through publications and volunteer initiatives. Her areas of interest include agricultural economics, development economics, labour economics, political economy, and public finance.

Lakshmi Viswanathan is a media aspirant rooted in the intersection of journalism and literature. She is a recent postgraduate in Mass Communication from Pondicherry University, and she also holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature. She has hands-on experience in reporting, editing, and multimedia tools through the practical exposure she gained through the Postgraduate diploma in Journalism and Communication from Kerala Media Academy, where she held the third rank. She has also completed internships in media houses, worked with magazines, documentaries, film festival bulletins, photo stories, and field reporting. Equipped with a skillset in writing, Adobe software, photography, and editing, she is actively working to upskill and explore newer domains.

Lakshmi is into community-oriented activities, volunteering, and has experience working with various NGOs in grassroots initiatives. An enthusiast for art, culture, cinema, history, and literature, she is rarely silent in a conversation on philosophy. Developing new interests and channeling her curiosities into something unknown has always fascinated her. You can catch her scribbling poems & short stories, or sketching cartoons in her spare time. A good team player, she’s always up for a discussion.

Aishwarya’s work lies at the intersection of social justice and inclusive policy in the Global South. Her research interests span urban development, governance and mobility, climate resilience, marginalised rights and representation, displacement, and refugee studies. She has previously contributed to projects at the World Resources Institute (WRI) India, Observer Research Foundation (ORF) India, PRADAN, Organisation for Eelam Refugee Rehabilitation (OfERR), and Indus Action through her research and internship engagements.

Aishwarya was also selected as a Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations (HPAIR) Virtual Conference Delegate and is the winner of the HPAIR 2025 Impact Challenge. Beyond work, Aishwarya enjoys exploring cultures, communities, food, music, and films.

Former Executive Director of Kerala State Literacy Mission, Special Private Secretary to Minister for Tourism, Fisheries and Excise, Government of Kerala, Project Chief at Kerala State Women’s Commission and Deputy General Manager of Kerala State Fisheries Federation. Dr Gopinath started his career in All India Radio, where he bagged National Award in Broadcasting followed by an overseas training programme in Advanced Communication by visiting England, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands and Switzerland. He holds MSW and PhD degrees.

Mr Antony retired from the service of the Government of Kerala as the Senior Deputy Transport Commissioner for the MVD of Kerala. He steered the motor vehicles mobility sector with strategic vision and regulatory prowess. His tenure as a top official with the Government of Kerala marked a dedication to effective governance. Post-retirement, he had lent his expertise as a consultant advisor to Kochi Metro Rail Ltd and played a key role in the formulation of the Kerala Metropolitan Transport Authority Act (KMTA). Antony also worked with the GIZ, the German development funder, on their e-auto project for Kochi Municipal Corporation. Presently as the Managing Director of a public limited bus company set up for the augmentation of public transport of private operators, he continues to shape the landscape of sustainable and green transit solutions. His journey encapsulates a lifelong commitment to the advancement of public transport and fostering environmentally conscious practices.

Jithin is a renowned lawyer whose expertise is in Banking laws, Civil laws and Constitutional matters with over 10 years of experience. He holds a BA LLB (Hons.) degree from the National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Kochi, Kerala and an LLM from M G University, Kottayam, Kerala.

Manoj Mathew is the Secretary of the Association for Public Policy Education (APPE) and Affiliate Advisor and Strategist at the Acton Institute, a think based in US. He has served in various senior roles at Indian and international non-profit organisations. He also volunteers for several local and global initiatives for institution building and communication strategy.

He is the former Chief Operating Officer of Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR) and former Director of Centre for Civil Society (CCS); two of India’s prominent think tanks. He was instrumental in scaling the programs for filmmakers, journalist and students on livelihood freedom. He championed the policy reforms in the Bamboo sector in India during his engagement as the Festival Director of Jeevika: Asia Livelihood Documentary Festival.

Manoj was involved in various international consultations and facilitated workshops/trainings in Africa, Asia, Europe & Middle East. Manoj is the former Secretary General of the International Young Catholic Students (IYCS) movement. He is well travelled, worked, and lived in Manila and Paris, engaged in global advocacy for addressing student poverty and peace building.

He studied Commerce, Journalism & Communication, and Public Policy in India. He holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the Jindal School of Government & Public Policy at the OP Jindal Global University. Manoj was born in Kerala, grew up in West Bengal and currently lives in New Delhi with his wife and two children.

Nanditta Chibber is a Strategic Media & Communications Consultant at Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR), Kochi, Kerala, India. She brings over 20 years of diverse experience across journalism, FM radio, television production, corporate communications, publishing and international development organizations.

Nanditta has led large teams and worked closely with CEOs and CXOs to strategize and implement impactful media and communication initiatives across metro and non-metro markets. A creative storyteller, she has developed content and campaigns for multiple platforms, including radio, TV, digital, and print, and has served in senior management roles contributing to brand strategy, team building, and performance planning.

An awardee of the Junior Fellowship by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, Nanditta is also the co-author of Can’t Stop Cody (Tulika Books) and is working on a non-fiction book commissioned by Rupa Publications. Her writings have featured in several leading English publications, focusing on media, social issues, travel, and heritage. She is a sought-after speaker and guest faculty at premier media institutions, and was recognized with the ‘E4m PR & Corp Comm 40 Under 40’ award by Exchange4Media in 2019.

Salahuddin Ayyub is a Research Consultant at CPPR and has more than 10 years of research and teaching experience. He holds both graduate and postgraduate degrees in Economics and MPhil and PhD degrees in International Trade. He specialises in International Trade Policy research, International Relations and Islamic Studies. He has worked with Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Centre for WTO Studies (Ministry of Commerce, Government of India), National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA) and Evalueserve – a multinational research firm. Salahuddin has published several research papers in renowned journals and books and regularly writes for magazines and newspapers on economic and social issues. He has an extensive list of presentations in esteemed national and international conferences. He has a good command of Urdu, Arabic, Hindi and English languages. He has worked for PwC, DFID (UK), Spices Board of India, APEDA, NITI Aayog, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Textiles, Ministry of MSME, World Bank, UNICEF and TNT.

Sherylene Rafeeque has been associated with CPPR as Consultant Editor since 2016. She has also managed media relations and programmes for the organisation briefly. A trained editor and author of several children’s books, she resides in Kochi. Sherylene earned her postgraduate degree in Visual Communication from Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham headquartered in Coimbatore, India.

Dr Swapna Jambhekar is a Research Consultant at CPPR and is closely involved in the research studies undertaken by CPPR. She graduated as Bachelor of Homoeopathic Medicine and Surgery (BHMS) from Mumbai University. After completing Post Graduate Diploma in Hospital Administration (PGDHA) from All India Institute of Local Self Government, she pursued Master of Hospital Administration (MHA) from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai (TISS). Swapna is also a Fellow of Insurance Institute of India (FIII) and has worked with well-known bilateral and multilateral agencies in the areas of microinsurance and public health. Her work experience encompasses working at the grassroots level community mobilisation and training, implementation, administration, research, documentation and consulting.

Vivek has a master’s degree in Marketing from Dayalbagh Educational Institute(Deemed University) and a PG certification in Data Analytics from MICA, Ahmedabad. Prior to joining the CPPR, he worked with a Political Consultancy. He has a total of five years’ experience in the areas of capacity-building, nutrition, sustainable development and Business Development. His desire to contribute meaningfully to Public Policy prompted him to join CPPR.