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.

Naomy Diana is an experienced Human Resources professional specializing in organizational development, talent management, and people-centric workplace strategies. She currently serves as a Human Resource Specialist at the Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR) in Kochi, where she supports organizational effectiveness and human resource initiatives.

Holding a Master’s degree in Social Work (Human Resources) from the Madras School of Social Work, Naomy has built a career focused on strengthening organizations through effective HR practices, employee engagement, and team development. Prior to joining CPPR, she gained valuable experience working with nonprofit organizations, including World Vision India, developing expertise in people management within mission-driven organizations.

Her focus is on enabling professional growth, and aligning human resource strategies with organizational goals. Her experience spans talent development, organizational effectiveness, and building high-performing teams in the nonprofit and public policy sectors.

Anu Maria Francis works as an Assistant Manager (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.

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.

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.

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.

Kalyani S K is a Senior Associate in Communications and Media 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. In her current role, Kalyani leads communications strategy and media relations across CPPR’s research verticals, overseeing digital content, social media campaigns, and policy communications. She has coordinated multi-stakeholder events, including international conferences, roundtables, and webinars.

Her research interests span coastal studies, maritime security, climate diplomacy, and sustainable development. Prior to her current role, Kalyani worked as a Research Analyst at The Peninsula Foundation in Chennai and interned with The Hindu’s International Desk. She has actively collaborated with think tanks, government agencies, UNHRC, and academic institutions in driving 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.

Reshma is a development professional who holds a Master’s in Development from Azim Premji University and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Delhi. She has experience in programme management, impact communication, donor engagement, and stakeholder relationship management within the social impact sector. Her work spans programme implementation, fundraising support, strategic communications, and policy research, with a strong focus on fostering meaningful partnerships and driving evidence-based development. Her areas of interest include gender, coastal livelihoods, public policy, and other interconnected development issues

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.

Devayani Meena Aravindan is a policy professional with experience in sustainability, governance, and political research. She holds a Master’s in International and Development Studies from The Graduate Institute, Geneva (IHEID), and a BA (Hons.) in Global Affairs from O.P. Jindal Global University. She has worked in multidisciplinary research, contributing to the drafting of the SDG Kerala Vision Document 2030, a UN-Habitat-collaborative project on urban waste management and biodiversity, constituency research, and community-based qualitative studies. Her work combines data analysis, policy evaluation, and field-based research to support evidence-based decision-making in governance and development.

Mukund T is an Associate, Research – International Relations at the Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR), Kochi. He holds a postgraduate degree in International Relations from CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru, and a bachelor’s degree in English, Political Science, and History from the same institution. His research interests include geopolitics, strategic affairs, defence and security, foreign policy, public policy, and regional cooperation, with a particular focus on South Asia and the Indo-Pacific. He previously interned at the SAARC Secretariat in Kathmandu, where he contributed to research on regional educational cooperation and integration. He has also worked as a Research Intern at The Times of India and has published research and policy articles on international relations, semiconductors, global trade, and strategic affairs through think tanks such as Cescube and NIICE.
At CPPR, Mukund contributes to research and policy analysis on international relations and related public policy issues.

Alan is a Project Associate at the Centre for Public Policy Research. He holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy from O.P. Jindal Global University. He brings 2+ years of experience spanning the private sector, policy research, and political consulting. Alan has worked with a major national political party on strategy consulting, and prior to that, completed a stint with the Government of Tamil Nadu, coordinating a large-scale, multi-district programme. He was also selected as a Youth Leadership Fellow by CPPR, funded by the Atlas Network, USA. Outside of work, Alan enjoys running, singing, and is an avid follower of political affairs.

Nafeel holds a Master of Arts in Development from Azim Premji University, Bengaluru, and a Bachelor of Science in Physical Science from Ramjas College, University of Delhi. His professional experience spans political consulting, constituency-level research, campaign strategy, and stakeholder engagement. He has worked with organizations such as Inclusive Minds, Oathman Political Consultancy, and The Poll Minds, contributing to electoral strategy development, voter behavior analysis, grassroots political research, and data-driven campaign planning across multiple states in India.  With experience in market research and survey design, Nafeel is passionate about using research to understand complex challenges. His research interests include urban governance, transportation and mobility, political behavior, public policy, and community development. He is particularly interested in understanding how evidence-based policy interventions can improve governance outcomes and enhance citizen engagement.

Keerthana P Girijan is a Program Associate at the Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR). She holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy from Hertie School, Germany, and an M.Sc. in Digital Society from the International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (IIIT-B). She completed her undergraduate degree in Computer Science from Christ College, Irinjalakuda. Keerthana has worked across public policy, corporate social responsibility (CSR), research, and strategic communications in the social impact and international affairs sectors. Most recently, she served as a Communications Trainee at the Berlin Global Dialogue in Germany, where she supported research, strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, and the coordination of the annual global policy summit. Her interests lie at the intersection of technology and public policy, with a particular focus on technology for social good, and the future of gig work.

Adrine Denny is a Program Assistant at the Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR), Kochi, Kerala, India. She holds a Master’s degree in International and Development Studies, with a specialization in Human Rights and Humanitarianism, from The Graduate Institute, Geneva, and a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, International Relations and Peace Studies, and Public Policy from St. Joseph’s University, Bengaluru. Her professional experience includes working as a Consultant and Researcher at UPR Info, where she conducted quantitative research on parliamentary engagement during the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) cycle, and as a Communication and Research Intern at the Geneva Center for Human Rights Advancement and Global Dialogue. She has also volunteered with Interpeace and Geneva Policy Outlook, supporting event coordination and programme activities. Her academic and research interests include international relations, human rights, governance, religion, institutional conflict, and peacebuilding.

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.

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.