Mr. Ganesh Kohli

Chair, 2020 Annual IC3 Conference, India
IC3 Conference

Founder, IC3 Movement
Chair, 2020 Annual IC3 Conference
Chair, Board of Trustees, IC3 Institute
Chief Mentor, KIC UnivAssist

Ganesh Kohli is a teacher and counselor who has founded, nurtured and led multiple education-focused organizations over the past 20 years. An engineer by education, Ganesh started his career teaching Mathematics besides helping families find the best-fit education globally. His journey has led him to visit over 450 colleges and universities, present workshops at 300+ high schools, help 4,000+ students with their higher education decisions and present at numerous global conferences. In 2015, Ganesh stepped back from active involvement in his entrepreneurial ventures to drive initiatives that will have social impact. He supports The Aha Movement and Soul Science Foundation to bring meditation and mindfulness in everyday life. He has also simultaneously envisioned the IC3 movement to impact 175,000 high schools over the next 15 years. Serving as the Chair of IC3, Ganesh has helped build a platform that is providing much-needed focus on career and college counselling within high schools. The IC3 movement now attracts leaders from 500+ educational institutions to its annual conference, has 30 regional events across Asia and supports free education for school teachers to become trained career and college counselors.

Mr. Jim McLaughlin

Co-Chair, 2020 Annual IC3 Conference, U.S.
IC3 Conference

Jim McLaughlin is an educator and lifelong learner at heart, and has dedicated his career to college counseling and student success. He traveled to more than 30 countries during his 15+ years in international admissions and student services at Chestnut Hill College and Drexel University, located in his hometown of Philadelphia, the “City of Brotherly Love & Sisterly Affection.” Prior to joining the IC3 team full-time in September 2019, Jim most recently directed the Office of International Students and Scholars Services at Drexel University where he led a team of eight professionals serving 5,000+ students and scholars. He has been involved with the IC3 Movement since 2016 and has attended every Annual IC3 Conference. Jim has held several IC3 leadership positions, including Chair of both the Outreach Committee (2016-17) and University Committee (2017-18). Jim resides in the Philadelphia suburbs with his family and currently serves as Co-Chair of the 2020 Annual IC3 Conference.

Dr. Rajika Bhandari, Ph.D.

President & CEO, U.S.
IC3 Institute

Rajika Bhandari, Ph.D., is the President and CEO of the IC3 Institute, leading the Institute’s work in the U.S., India, and globally. Prior to joining IC3, Dr. Bhandari served for over a decade in senior roles with the Institute of International Education (IIE), where she shaped and led IIE’s global and groundbreaking research and impact studies focused on academic mobility, including the flagship Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange, Project Atlas, and the ongoing ten-year alumni impact study of the Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program. She also led IIE’s Center for Academic Mobility Research and Impact and helped shape IIE’s thought leadership strategy in the U.S. and globally. Her other roles include ones at MPR Associates (now part of the Research Triangle Institute); at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; and serving as an Adjunct Professor at Teachers College, Columbia University.

A global expert in international higher education, Dr. Bhandari is a frequent speaker and writer, has authored six books and numerous book chapters and reports, and has written for the Guardian, Times Higher Ed, the Huff Post, the Chronicle of Higher Education, and University World News, with her work covered by NPR, PRI International, the BBC, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Quartz, Time, Times of India, and the Hindustan Times. In recognition of her contributions to international education, Dr. Bhandari has served on the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO and was one of 100 recipients worldwide to be awarded an IIE Centennial Medal in 2019, marking the Institute's 100th anniversary. A product of global student mobility herself, she holds a B.A. (Honours) in Psychology from the University of Delhi in India and a Ph.D. in Psychology from North Carolina State University.

Dr. Shalini Advani

Committee Chair
Pathways School, Noida, India
Director

Shalini Advani is founding Director of Pathways School Noida, one of India’s most highly ranked IB schools. Previously she has been Principal of the British School, New Delhi and Director Education of Learn Today. She has advised on the setup of new schools and conducted multiple teacher trainings. She has been a presenter at the Salzburg Global Seminar, the IB Asia Pacific Conference, the IC3 Conference on Career Counselling and the EdTech Review. Her publications include "Growing Up in the Nuclear Shadow," "Educating the National Imagination" and the essay "Childhood Sexuality: History, Memory, Mythology."

Dr. Harsha Alles

Gateway Group of Schools, Sri Lanka
Chairman

Dr. Harsha Alles is the Chairman of the Gateway Group of Schools, in Sri Lanka. He is a Medical Doctor by profession and holds a PhD from the University of Colombo. He was a lecturer attached to the Medical Faculty of the University of Colombo prior to joining his father to assist in the Gateway Group. He has won two Young Scientists Scholarship awards and a Presidential Award for Research. In 2000, he was recognized as The Outstanding Young Person of the Year for the contribution he made towards IT education of children. In 2003 he was adjudged the Gold Winner of the CIMA Pinnacle awards to be the Outstanding Businessman of the Year. Dr. Alles is the Past Chairman of The International Schools of Sri Lanka (TISSL), which is an umbrella organization consisting of the leading international schools in Sri Lanka. Under his leadership, the association undertook innovative initiatives such as the Annual International Conference for Heads of Schools and the first International Training Seminar for Heads of Schools held at the University of Nottingham, in Malaysia.

Capt. Rohit Bajaj

Pathways School, Gurgaon, India
Director

Capt. Rohit Sen Bajaj is a seasoned and passionate educator, dynamic communicator, effective administrator and a self-motivated individual, with a career spanning over 25 years. As a natural leader, Capt. Bajaj’s vision is to impart holistic education and create a powerful impact on today’s generation. Having served in the Indian Army for five years, Capt. Bajaj has an impeccable sense of commitment, duty and responsibility. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and Education, Master’s in History and more. In the field of education, he has worked at the Lawrence School Sanawar and Oakridge in Hyderabad.

Mr. Abhimanyu Basu

Dhirubhai Ambani International School Mumbai, India
Academic Project Director

Abhimanyu Basu is the Academic Project Director at Dhirubhai Ambani International School Mumbai. His experience in the IB and CIE world extends over 23 years by being a Teacher, Senior Examiner, IB Workshop Leader for DP Administrators, DP Core and pedagogy related workshops. He is also an IB Consultant, Team Visit Leader for Authorization, Five year review visits for IB and Team Visit Leader & Member for CIS and NEASC. As Academic Project Director he is currently leading the Schools expansion into a second campus doubling the current students, staff and the facilities by almost six times on the principle of flexible learning spaces to promote student-driven personalized learning environments.

Dr. Barry Craig

Huron University, Canada
President

Dr. Barry Craig holds a BA from the University of Kings College, an MA from Dalhousie University and a PhD from the University of Wales. He has extensive experience in curriculum, program and policy development, and has published several books. He was co-chair of the Congress for the Humanities and Social Sciences in 2011 and has received numerous awards for both his teaching and research. Dr. Craig has served on numerous government commissions and task forces and is the recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. Dr. Craig’s new vision for Huron, Leadership with Heart, sets an exciting course for future growth and distinguishes Huron University from other Canadian universities.

Mr. Santanu Das

Sarala Birla Academy, Bangalore, India
Principal

Mr. Santanu Das has been a friend and facilitator to his students for over three decades. Before joining Sarala Birla Academy as the Principal in 2009, he headed the Assam Rifles Public School, Shillong and the Aditya Birla Public School, Renusagar. He did his schooling from St. Joseph's Academy, Dehradun, has a Master's in Physics and a Diploma in German from the Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan, a Bachelor's in Education from the Annamalai University and a Master's in Business Administration from the Symbiosis University, Pune. He has attended courses at the IIM - Kozhikode, PTC - London, The Haas School of Business, University of California - Berkeley and the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He has the experience of both Boarding and Day schools and has the experience of working with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Council of Indian School Certificate Education (CISCE), International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) and the Cambridge International Examinations (CIE).

Mr. Manit Jain

Heritage Group of Schools, India
Co-Founder

As the co-founder of the Heritage Group of Schools, Manit championed the cause of experiential learning, launching it successfully in the mainstream environment. He is driven by the cause of real and humane education and continues to advocate and address the need for re-imagining schools. He co-chairs FICCI’s school education arm in India. Manit continues to found new ventures like “I am a Teacher,” a Post-graduate diploma in learning and teaching that is changing the paradigm of teaching in India and now runs its second center at the American School of Bombay. He holds a Master’s degree in Education from Harvard University.

Dr. Vinnie Jauhari, Ph.D.

Microsoft, India
Director Education Advocacy

Vinnie Jauhari works as Director, Education Advocacy at Microsoft Corporation India Ltd. She is responsible for evangelizing education initiatives at Microsoft. She leads and manages strategic engagements in higher education and K-12, and also works on policy issues related with education. She works on programs leading to capacity development for teachers through initiatives in pedagogical innovation. She has authored twelve books published from New York, Toronto, and Springer, Germany in the domain of services, innovation and technology management. She has published over 100 research papers in national and international journals.

Mr. Karthik Krishnan

Britannica Group, U.S.
Global Chief Executive Officer

Karthik grew up in a home (both his parents were educators) that was a center of knowledge and transformation. From his parents he developed early on a love for learning, and happiness in enabling and seeing people succeed. He firmly believes in the transformative power of education and the need to transform education globally to meet the needs of the new world. He is currently the Global CEO of Britannica Group of companies (Britannica, Merriam-Webster, Britannica Knowledge Systems, and Melingo) and an adjunct Professor at New York University — Stern Business School. He serves on the board of Urban Upbound, an organization focused on transforming the lives of people in public housing in New York City through job training, financial fitness, and college access programs. He has been involved in a number of transformative initiatives including Doubling India’s agricultural production, Transforming Harlem (New York City) into a vibrant business community and tourist destination, and Establishing New York University (Stern Business School) as the pioneer and top destination for Entertainment, Media and Technology specialization.

Dr. Bhimaraya Metri

Indian Institute of Management, Tiruchirappalli, India
Director

Dr. Bhimaraya Metri, Director, IIM Tiruchirappalli is a distinguished academician, renowned teacher, notable researcher and an astute administrator. An outstanding leader of management education, he has performed key leadership roles at many premier management institutes and corporate in his remarkable career. Under his dynamic leadership, IIM Tiruchirappalli has attained a position among the league of top business schools in India. He has also contributed immensely as Dean at L& T Institute of Project Management Vadodara, IMI New Delhi, MDI Gurgaon and leading research progammes at BITS Pilani. A renowned expert in the area of project management, quality management and supply chain management, he has numerous research articles and books to his credit apart being on the editorial advisory boards of several national and international journals. Currently, Dr. Metri is the Chairman of Resource Management Sectional Committee of Bureau of Indian Standards, Chairman, Board of Studies, All India Management Association, New Delhi; Member of the committee constituted by AICTE for evolving the governance structure in AICTE approved PGDM institutions; Member of the Committee to look into the domain areas for open and distance learning courses in respect to stand alone-institutions; He is also a Member of the Governing Council of Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History(SACON) Coimbatore under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Govt. of India; Member, Academic Council, Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University and many more institutions and universities. Dr. Metri received his Ph.D from IIT Powai, Mumbai. Dr. Metri is the member of Decision Sciences Institute (DSI) USA and Institute of Supply Management (ISM) USA.

Mrs. Rupkatha Sarkar

La Martiniere for Girls, Kolkata, India
Principal

Principal of La Martiniere for Girls, Kolkata, which is an internationally renowned school, she is a post-graduate of Calcutta University with a Management Diploma in Administration. An educationist, teacher trainer and motivational speaker for the last 25 years. 

Ms. Manika Sharma

The Shri Ram Schools, New Delhi, India
Director

Ms. Manika Sharma has completed over thirty years in the field of education. Post her graduation in Political Science in Delhi University, she completed a two-year Montessori and primary teacher training course in 1982 and a two-year diploma in the French language, then went on to complete her Master’s in Education. Ms. Sharma joined The Shri Ram School in 1989. Presently, she is the Director of the Shri Ram Schools and under her able leadership, the school has been consistently ranked #1 in the country. TSRS boasts of high academic results and varied extracurricular achievements. She has spent years on training to empower and equip herself with the new global techniques in education and administration. Mrs. Sharma has also been a teacher trainer for schools across the country.

Mrs. Lata Vaidyanathan

Made Easy Schools, India
Director

Mrs. Lata Vaidyanathan is a veteran educationist who stands dedicated and committed to the promotion of child-centered education. During her illustrious career of more than three and a half decades, she was the Principal of Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan’s school at Chandigarh, the founder Principal of Eicher School at Parwanoo and the Principal of Modern School Barakhamba Road, New Delhi for the last 14 years. Currently she is the director of TERI Prakriti School since October 2014.

Dr. John Wilkerson

Indiana University, U.S.
Director of International Admissions

John Wilkerson is Director International Admissions at Indiana University. He has previously held the same position at the University of Missouri, and served as Director of Admissions for Columbia College in Missouri. Wilkerson holds degrees in counseling psychology and education and is pursuing doctoral studies in global education policy. He serves in various leadership roles with NAFSA: The Association of International Educators, the International Association of College Admissions Counselors, and the Council of International Schools.

Ms. Alisha Koumphol, Chair

Ryerson University, Canada
Admissions/Liaison Officer

With over seven years of professional experience working in higher education, she continuously contributes to the development of the university’s international strategy which focuses on student mobility and recruitment of international students. During her career, she has had extensive travelling experience developing international outreach initiatives. Her global experience includes knowledge in: Canada; United States of America; the United Kingdom; Northern Europe; the Middle East and North Africa and highlighted experience in South Asia. Alisha is passionate about education and dedicated to helping students succeed in finding the best fit for their future educational and career goals.

Ms. Hemalathaa Yuvaraj, Co-Chair

Pathways School, Gurgaon, India
Career Counselor

Hemalathaa Yuvaraj is the career counsellor and IB MYP Personal Projects Head at Pathways School, Gurgaon. She is also MYP Physics and MYP Personal project examiner, IB. She has completed MSc Electronics with specialization in Embedded Systems, VLSI and Nanotechnology from Mount Carmel College (Autonomous) Bengaluru. She has completed the Cambridge International Diploma for Teachers and trainers from ITARI, B.Ed., and M.A. Educational Leadership and Management from Christ University, Bengaluru. Her philosophy as a Career Counselor encompasses developing relationships with students, advocate students' success, and collaborating with parents. She has a strong interest in students' success and believes that all of them can learn and be successful. She also believes in providing students with practical and personalized counselling to support and challenge them to achieve their educational, career and personal goals.

Ms. Sadhana Badrinath

FLAME University, Lavale, Pune, India
Regional Head - Admissions Outreach (South)

Sadhana Badrinath has been associated with FLAME University since 2008. She was the Regional Marketing Consultant until June 2017 and later the Regional Marketing Counselor. She is currently the Regional Head - Admissions Outreach (South). She has a diverse professional background and started her career as a computer programming course instructor. She then moved on to the chemical industry for over 23 years. Her leadership skills made it a successful venture. She also volunteered as a counselor for AWAKE (Association of Women Entrepreneurs of Karnataka) in order to advise other aspiring women entrepreneurs. In 2004, she made a transition in her career after she took a course in life skills and also attained her certification as an NLP Practitioner. This inspired her to co-found Academic Ally, along with two eminent child development paediatricians. Together, they facilitated life skills to parents, educators and over 5,000 children across schools in Bangalore. Sadhana’s passion is to share her knowledge with young people and guide them through their career. In order to pursue this, she started working with FLAME University. She is currently responsible for the university’s student base in South India. She attributes her success to her great human relations, her finely honed business sense and her strong sense of self-belief.

Mr. Sagar Bahadur

Volunteer, Australian Higher Education Expert, IC3 Conference
Principal Advisor – Strategic Initiatives (India)
University of Queensland

Sagar Bahadur has over 11 years of experience in the field of international business development (education domain) and international marketing. He has helped educational institutions of all types address strategic issues such as operating efficiency, international expansion, revenue expansion, growth strategy and organizational effectiveness. He holds a graduate degree in the field of Business Administration and has completed his post-graduation in the field of International Business from Singapore.

Ms. Khushboo Taparia Bedi

The Sanskaar Valley School, India
Coordinator Samcara- The Career Counseling Cell

Khushboo Bedi is the Coordinator of the Career Counseling Cell at The Sanskaar Valley School, Bhopal. She pursued her MBA at San Diego State University, U.S. and worked for two years in the U.S. as a business analyst. Ms. Bedi also worked for seven years with DB Corp. Ltd. as a project coordinator of the “Dainik Bhaskar School of Media Education,” a learning and development wing of Bhaskar. She has vast experience spearheading many projects, corporate trainings and events. In the last year and half, Ms. Bedi has spread her wings into counseling students for different national and international career options, along with all the career events and workshops in The Sanskaar Valley School.

Ms. Devyani Bhatnagar

Sanskar School, India
College Counselor

Devyani Bhatnagar currently works as a student counselor at Sanskar School Jaipur. She guides and helps students, both in the IB program as well and CBSE, in selecting and applying to appropriate universities in the U.S., U.K., Australia and India. She is dedicated to helping students in their overall development, based on their aptitude and interests. Devyani is constantly attending trainings and seminars to upgrade her knowledge and skills in guiding students.

Mr. Vatsal Chandra

University of Essex, England
Regional Officer

Vatsal Chandra is a young educator who has spent more than three years in research, academia and education management. After graduating with a Master’s in International Relations from University College Dublin, he went on to work in their admissions department in India. Having worked briefly as a career counselor with one of the top schools in the country, Vatsal is now working as the Regional Officer at The University of Essex. He aims to bring a policy change in the quality of education in India and works closely on the importance of comparative education.

Ms. Anais Escobar

Colorado State University-Pueblo, U.S.
International Recruitment Specialist

Anais Escobar works as the International Recruitment Specialist at Colorado State University-Pueblo. She has been in the international education field for seven years. As she was an international student herself, she brings an insider’s perspective into her recruitment. She loves working with international students and their families. Anais presented at NAFSA 2018 about artificial intelligence in international recruitment, as well as at the Moscow Forum of Education 2018 about recruitment in India and Latin America.

Ms. Bridget Herrera

American International School of Dhaka, Bangladesh
High School/College Counselor, and Past President of International ACAC

Bridget Herrera is in her second year as College/High School Counselor at the American International School of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Prior to this, she worked for over twenty-five years as a college counselor in Latin America. Bridget's volunteer experience includes: President of InternationalACAC (2010); Chair of NACAC's Inclusion and Access Committee (2007-2009); TOEFL Board Member (2014-2016); member of the Common Application's Advisory Outreach Group (2010-2013); and Counselor Liaison for the CIS Latin America Committee (2000-2009). She currently serves on the International ACAC Governance and Nominating Committee and is working to create a vibrant college counseling network in Dhaka.

Ms. Jamie Kanki

Concourse Global, U.S.
Head of Student Engagement and Partnerships

Jamie Kanki currently serves as Head of Student Engagement and Partnerships at Concourse Global, working with high school counselors and university representatives to find the right educational programs for the next generation of graduating high school students. In addition to Concourse, Jamie is the head of Global Access for Grok Global Services. She splits her time between Brooklyn, NY and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Prior to Concourse and Grok, she led the Graduate Marketing and Recruitment team at New York University's Tandon School of Engineering. She has worked with international students (from high school to graduate school) for more than ten years. Prior to NYU, she was Associate Director of International Admissions for the University of Bridgeport, and Senior Enrollment and Recruitment Manager for the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She currently serves on the International ACAC Inclusion, Access, and Success (IAS) Committee and is a GEM Award Recipient.

Ms. Sheena Mehta

IE University, Spain
Director: U.K., Ireland and Channel Islands

Sheena’s roots originate from India but she was born in Manchester in the U.K. Having been intrigued by the melodious, song-like intonation of the Spanish language, she followed her interest and went on to read her degree in Business and Spanish. It was her Erasmus year that took her to Madrid and it didn’t take long for her to fall in love with all the country has to offer. On completion of her undergraduate studies in Leeds, Sheena moved her life over to Madrid and began working at IE University in 2009. She spent four years based on the Madrid campus at IE University as Associate Director. She is now Director of IE´s international office in London, leading recruitment for undergraduate and postgraduate studies in the region.

Mr. Jim Miller

Former Director of Admissions at University of Wisconsin-Superior and Vice President & Dean of Student Development and Enrollment at Northland College, NACAC Past President (2009-12) and Board of Directors NACAC (2005-08), U.S.

Jim Miller has 40 years of work experience in higher education, serving as the chief enrollment and student development officer at both public and private colleges. His consulting has included interim work with colleges across the country. During his term as president of the National Association for College Admission Counseling, he led the efforts to create the NACAC Commission on International Student Recruitment. Jim is passionate about the ability of college counseling to expand access and enable students across the globe to find their pathway to personal success and public service.

Mr. John Nesbitt

Duolingo, U.S.
Strategic Engagement Manager, Duolingo English Test

John Nesbitt is the Strategic Engagement Manager for the Duolingo English Test at Duolingo. Prior to joining the ed tech start-up space, he co-chaired International Admissions at Vanderbilt University, helping them grow from 5 percent to 13 percent and triple in applications. During his 12 years at Vanderbilt, he traveled extensively in East Asia, Europe, South Asia, Southeast Asia, China, the Middle East and South America. For the last six years, John also served and volunteered on the Council of International School (CIS), where he led recruitment tours in Northern Europe, Turkey, Eurasia and the Middle East. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from Vanderbilt University.

Ms. Petra Orent

Franklin University, Switzerland
Senior Associate Director of Admissions

Petra was born and raised in Bratislava, Slovakia, but moved with her family to Florida and attended high school in the U.S. She is the Senior Associate Director of Admissions at Franklin University Switzerland. Her role at Franklin University Switzerland involves representing her university across the world and working with students as they make one of their most important decisions. She has completed her majors in International Relations and minors in Economics and History from the Franklin University Switzerland.

Ms. Shivangi Panchal

Ahmedabad International School, India
School Counselor

Shivangi Panchal is the School Counselor at Ahmedabad International School, along with being the Executive Director of Administration as well as the IBDP Coordinator. Shivangi was involved in setting up the school from the inception stage, and as counselor, has placed students in several universities across the world, including most of the Ivy League schools. She also serves as the AP, PSAT and SAT Coordinator at the school. Shivangi has a B.Com, LLB and a Master's in Music.

Ms. Sanjukta Poddar

Calcutta International School, India
Guidance Counsellor

Mrs. Sanjukta Poddar has worked for more than 15 years in the fields of education and career counseling. She has working as a high school counselor, serving as Career Counsellor at Calcutta International School, Kolkata for the past 5 years. She also spent eight years with an education consultancy prior to joining the school. Mrs. Poddar has a passion to work with high school students and young adults to help them find both their best fit in post-secondary education and develop a career direction.

Ms. Lamia Rahman

Delhi Public School Dhaka, Bangladesh
Head of Career Counseling Department

Lamia Rahman is currently working as the Head of the Career Counselling Department at Delhi Public School Dhaka, Bangladesh. Prior to this, she worked in education sectors in several countries such as China, the Netherlands, Bangladesh and the U.K. Her educational credentials include an M.A. in Education from the University of Manchester and an M.Sc. in Botany from the University of Dhaka. She is an alum of the International Visitors Leadership Program, and is a current member of the International Association of College Admission Counseling, American School Counselor Association and Bangladesh College Counsellor Network.

Ms. Jasmine Seah

Yale-NUS College, Singapore
Director of Admissions

Jasmine Seah leads the review and recruitment processes for Yale-NUS College, a diverse and dynamic residential liberal arts and sciences college in Singapore, established in collaboration between Yale University and the National University of Singapore. Jasmine has a background in teaching, counseling and non-profit management. Each year, she looks forward to meeting and working with the diverse students of the Yale-NUS community.

Mr. Ragh Singh

Center for International Education, Northern Arizona University
Program Manager Strategic Global Initiatives

Ragh Singh is the Program Manager Strategic Global Initiatives for South Asia at Northern Arizona University. As someone who started as an International student, Ragh engages with prospective international students and higher education institutions from the South Asia region to build partnerships and share with them the value of U.S. higher education. In his past experiences, he has worked as an Assistant Director of International Recruitment at the University of Missouri and an Academic and Career Adviser with the Department of Parks, Recreation and Sport at the University of Missouri, as well as an Academic Adviser and Adjunct Faculty at State Fair Community College.

Ms. Amrita Singh

Ullens School, Nepal
Head Academic Counselor - International Baccalaureate Diploma Program

Amrita is currently working as an Academic Counselor for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program at Ullens School, Kathmandu, Nepal. She holds MA (English) from Delhi University and also has a Post Graduate Diploma in Counseling Psychology from Tri-Chandra College, Kathmandu, Nepal. She has been serving in the education field as an English/Business Communication Teacher for high school and undergraduate students for 9+ years and as an Academic Counselor for four years.

Dr. Kshitiza Singh

Hopetown Girls’ School, Dehradun, India
Career & College Counselor

Dr. Kshitiza Singh, the Career and College Counselor at Hopetown Girls’ School, Dehradun, holds a Ph.D. in Economics and is certified by UCLA. She has over 20 years of experience as a Social Studies and Economics teacher, principal at a hotel management college, and founder-trainer at a beyond the classroom skills company. As part of her job, Dr. Singh visits faculty at universities and trains teachers at other schools. She is looking to pursue the career counseling movement to help the maximum number of people.

Ms. Shikha Vij

Step By Step School, Noida, India
Career Guidance & Behavioural Counsellor

Shikha has nine years of experience in the field of socio-emotional counseling & college guidance. As a Counselor, she got the opportunity to review plethora of college applications and essays. She got to advise students on all aspects of applications through admissions for UBerkeley, NYU, Boston University, University of British Columbia, University of Chicago, University of Pennsylvania, University of Cambridge, King’s College and Imperial College London, University of Waterloo, NUS and University of Hong Kong. She is a member of International ACAC and has been trained on several aspects of admission counseling by international agencies and has done a course on U.S. admissions by University of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Ankur Vohra

O.P. Jindal Global University, India
Head-Outreach & International Admissions

An experienced Senior International Education & Career Guidance Professional with over 11 years of experience. Ankur Vohra is currently working as Deputy Director- Admissions & Outreach with O.P. Jindal Global University- Delhi-NCR, India. Having worked and travelled to over 35 Countries around the globe. Ankur has got rich and niche experience in how people & networks work across different nationalities and what are the key ingredients that go into the making of a good career choices for young adults. Public Speaker, Writer and a Prolific Reader, he has conducted life & career guidance workshops across 300+ schools in over 35 countries. Ankur, was instrumental in setting up International outreach vertical at Ashoka University, Delhi-NCR, India and opening doors of Higher Education for numerous High achieving but low Income students from Africa & South Asia. He was also the Chair for Scholarships and Co- Chair for Faculty & Curriculum Design for International ACAC South Asia Regional Institute which was held at Neerja Modi School in Jaipur from 19th-21st Oct’2018.

Ms. Vicki Seefeldt West

Ohio University, U.S.
Senior Assistant Director of International Recruitment

Vicki Seefeldt West, Senior Assistant Director for International Recruitment, has been serving at Ohio University for 13 years. A graduate of St. Olaf College with a B.A. in Creative Writing, she credits her passion for international education to her study abroad experiences in Southeast Asia and China. In total, she has worked in international education since 1999, with previous experience in study abroad advising and administration at Rice University.

Ms. Nicole Weathers, Committee Coordinator

KIC UnivAssist, U.S.
Marketing and Communications Coordinator

As a Marketing and Communications Coordinator, Nicole Weathers assists in developing content in areas including social media and email marketing. Nicole's previous experience includes content writing and editing, social media strategy and execution, and website development and maintenance. Nicole holds a B.S. in Management and Marketing. Outside of work, she loves to travel and spend time with her Goldendoodle, Costanza.

Ms. Amrita Ghulati, Chair

Ashoka University, India
Assistant Director, Global Education and Strategic Programmes

With a Master’s degree in Psychology, I delight in understanding and reaching out to students. I thoroughly enjoy exploring valuable opportunities and making choices, along with the students, for their future course of study. Having been a teacher and had the experience of setting up a career counselling center at a top school, I find the close interaction and collaboration with all stakeholders involved truly engaging and demanding. Now, the stimulation and challenge are to add to this background. I am working towards engaging with international institutions to facilitate exchange and specialized study programmes that will enrich the educational journeys of students.

Mr. Joshua Craig, Co-Chair

University of Toronto, Canada
Recruitment Officer

After earning a B.A. in History from the University of Toronto Joshua pursued post-graduate studies in journalism leading to a 5-year career with premier Canadian broadcasters CBC and TSN. As a passionate traveler, 2015 saw Joshua return to his alma mater to fulfill a role in International Recruitment. In this capacity, Joshua has worked to assist the U of T achieve its recruitment goals in Southeast Asia, the United States. Persian Gulf, and most recently in India. This experience has provided him with an expansive knowledge of the global university admissions landscape and a great appreciation for the unique academic and cultural character international students bring to any university.

Ms. Anubhooti Arora

American Center, U.S. Embassy, India
Cultural Affairs Specialist for Education

Anubhooti Arora is the Cultural Affairs Specialist for Education at the American Center. Anu works with the Ministry of Education and semi-autonomous regulatory bodies, as well as Indian and U.S. higher education institutions to facilitate the bilateral relationship around higher education. Prior to joining the Embassy in 2018, Anu worked with the U.S.-India Educational Foundation (USIEF), where she promoted U.S. higher education among high schools, colleges and universities in India and represented the organization at various national and international conferences, like NAFSA. Anu is a graduate of SOAS, University of London, where she secured her M.S. in Violence, Conflict and Development. She also has a degree in Social Work from India’s premier institution, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences.

Ms. Rita Balachandran

JBCN International School, India
Academic Guidance Counselor

Rita is currently the Academic Guidance Counselor at JBCN International School, Mumbai and has more than 20 years of experience. Her role entails closely interfacing with students, parents and universities across the globe, building value for each of the stakeholders. She enjoys trying to decipher the challenges of today’s generation and being a partner in their career exploration journey. As a member of the panel on parenting and teaching communities as a mentor and guide for more than 3,000 parents, Rita has the opportunity to be part of their academic and professional journey. A professionally qualified career counselor, mentor and education consultant, she holds a postgraduate diploma in Counseling from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, TISS.

Ms. Lisa Cowan

Bond University, Australia
Director, International Office of Future Students

Lisa Cowan is the Director of the International Office of Future Students at Bond University, Australia’s first private, non-profit university. In this role, she leads the international strategy for Bond’s student recruitment and marketing, global partnerships and student mobility. Prior to her role at Bond, Lisa held several leadership roles at James Cook University, providing direction across domestic and international schools engagement and student recruitment, international student support, compliance, study abroad and exchange and international admissions. Lisa is a member of the Australian Universities International Directors Forum (AUIDF), NAFSA: Association of International Educators, EAIE: European Association for International Education and the Global Leadership League for women in international education.

Ms. Anne Corriveau

Boston University, U.S.
Director of International Admissions

Anne Corriveau is the Director of International Admissions at Boston University. During her 20-year tenure at BU, she has worked with one of the largest international student populations in the United States, with students representing more than 100 countries. Boston University (BU) is a private teaching and research university ranked #39 by U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities. While her primary responsibilities include managing the recruitment and selection of First-Year students at Boston University, her role also encompasses the initial immigration process for First-Year students. Her recruitment travels have taken her around the world, with a special focus on India where she has been traveling annually for more than 20 years.

Ms. Soma Dam

Suncity School Gurugram, India
College Guidance Counselor

Soma Dam is the College Guidance Counsellor at Suncity School Gurugram. Apart from looking after the college counseling cell, she also teaches Sociology to Grades 11 and 12 and handles all academic issues pertaining to grade 12 as grade coordinator. Soma has a M.Phil in Sociology and has qualified her National Eligibility Test for college lecturership. She has also done completed the Global Career Counsellor Certification programme. Currently she is pursuing a three-month online programme called the International Certified Career Coach Programme curated by Mindler in association with Career Development Alliance (USA). She is also a member of the International Association for College Admission Counselling. Her dream is to enable students to live their passion.

Ms. Ritu Dhingra

Pathways School Guragon, India
College Advisor

With 24+ years of experience in the field of counseling, Ms. Ritu Dhingra is a Certified Life Coach and has conducted over 100 workshops with students and parents on career counseling and socio-emotional behavioral concerns. Ms. Dhingra is currently heading the college advisory department at Pathways School Gurgaon.

Mr. Shiladitya Ghosh

NH Goel World School, Raipur, India
Director-Principal

Shiladitya Ghosh is the Director-Principal at NH Goel World School, Raipur, India. In his last assignment, he was the Director of Curriculum and Training at the Shiv Nadar Foundation. Mr. Ghosh specializes in making classrooms more interactive, using a variety of methods useful for every type of learner. Additionally, he has expertise in Social Science and has a knack for making the subject relevant to all. Previously, he was the Vice Principal at the Shri Ram School, Gurgaon. Mr. Ghosh has also worked as a Regional Manager for XSEED Education Pvt. Ltd., to make the teaching and learning process meaningful for every teacher and learner.

Ms. Baveen Gupta

Modern School, New Delhi, India
School Counselor

Mrs. Baveen Gupta works as a school counselor at Modern School, Barakhamba, New Delhi, India, one of the best national curriculum schools in India. For the past 25 years, she has guided Indian high school students through the college planning process and has hosted prestigious foreign and Indian universities at her school. She has been recognized for her excellent work by being awarded the “Yale Educator Award” by Yale University and the “Outstanding Educator Award” by the University of Chicago. In addition, she has been a Master Trainer for the Adolescent Education Program with the Central Board of Secondary Education.

Ms. Lisa Jain

IC3 Conference, India
Volunteer

Previously, Lisa Jain held the role of Market Manager – India at the College Board. In her role, she worked closely with 200+ secondary schools across the country, to support understanding and implementation of the College Board's programs such as SAT, PSAT and Advanced Placement. She has interacted with and presented to thousands of students and parents, helping them better understand the journey of transition from secondary school to college preparedness. Lisa Jain graduated with a First Class Honors in BSc. Industrial Economics from the University of Warwick, United Kingdom, and also holds an M.B.A. from the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad.

Ms. Ravinder Kaur

Mahatma Gandhi International School, India
IB Diploma Programme Coordinator

Ravinder Kaur is an IB trained teacher with 14 years of experience in teaching students aged 12-17 years at Mahatma Gandhi International School (MGIS), India. Her expertise involves charting out interdisciplinary projects that addresses the skill based active pedagogy. Recently Knowledge Resource Development and Welfare Group have awarded her for “Innovation in Pedagogy.” She is actively involved with Educational and Cultural Exchange programmes with schools in Australia and France. Ravinder initiated and designed many community projects successfully. Over the years, she has been actively involved in developing the curriculum, planning, implementing, integrating, moderating and training the team for the successful furthering of the IB Program. She is a master trainer for “GRL” pedagogy and has trained over 5000 teachers across country. Ravinder is also an IB examiner.

Ms. Poonam Maheshwari

Singapore International School, Mumbai, India
Career and University Guidance Counselor

Poonam Maheshwari is an ingenious college guidance counselor who loves interacting with students and promoting career opportunities. A go-getter and believer in chasing dreams with a wide experience of more than a decade, it gives her a feeling of immense satisfaction seeing students grow and excel in life. The wanderlust inside her has made Poonam flexible and adaptable, with diverse cultures and a food bon vivant.

Mr. Daniel Marschner

Loyola Marymount University, U.S.
Director of International Admission

Daniel Marschner has worked at LMU since 2016 and received his Ph.D. from the University of Cincinnati with a focus on the cultural acclimation process for international students to the U.S. As a student, he participated in classes in Australia, Italy, and Nicaragua, and lived in Chile for two and a half years where he worked as a Jesuit Volunteer after completing a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Xavier University. He also holds a Master’s Degree in International Political Economy and Development from Fordham University. He enjoys meeting with students from around the world who want to learn more about LMU.

Ms. Nomita Mehra

The Shri Ram School, Moulsari, India
Career Counsellor

Nomita Mehra is a Career Counsellor at The Shri Ram School (TSRS), Moulsari in Gurugram, India. Nomita has been an educator across various platforms and age groups, ranging from early childhood to university students. She is a certified career counsellor assisting students and parents of grades 9-12 in discovering options in courses, subjects and colleges since 2015. Prior to this, she taught Mathematics to students of grades 4 and 5 at TSRS. She has also worked with an NGO to teach Mathematics in a government school. In addition, Nomita has a Master’s degree in Business Administration.

Ms. Ramya Modukur

Manthan International School, India
College & Career Counselor

Ramya's mission at Manthan International School is to help high school students make well-informed decisions about colleges and careers based on their own passion and skills, rather than on preconceived notions or external perceptions. She has laid the framework for setting up a robust four-year high school curriculum for career counseling and college advising, which includes classroom sessions as well as seminars, talks, panels, workshops and various other avenues for helping students discover what they want to do and how to get there. The skills she has gained from her extensive experience working in finance and technology globally and across functions has helped her immensely in setting up a well-functioning career and college counseling cell at Manthan in a relatively short period of time.

Ms. Vandana Murjani

The Emerald Heights International School, Indore, India
Head of Career Counseling Department

Mrs. Vandana Murjani heads the career counseling department at The Emerald Heights International School, Indore. She counsels students from grades VIII through XII and helps students discover their latent potentials in the most scientific manner. Mrs. Vandana shoulders multiple responsibilities at the school, including AP coordinator, SAT supervisor, PSAT supervisor, in-charge of student activity empowerment, researcher and social networker. She holds a B.Com., B.Ed., M.A. in English Literature, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Guidance & Counseling, an IC3 Certification in Career Counseling, and a Certificate for CBSE Masters Training in Careers. She has been the recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award by Career Launcher and has been nominated for the Best Emerging Counselor’s Award for two consecutive years at the IC3 Conference.

Ms. Hansa Sachdeva

Ahmedabad University, India
Director, Office of Admissions and Financial Aid

Ms. Hansa Sachdeva (Director, Office of Admissions and Financial Aid, Ahmedabad University, India) As Director - Office of Admissions & Financial Aid, Ahmedabad University, Hansa is a business leader focused on innovation in education. Earlier, she has spearheaded Business Development, customer experience & MarCom in the internet media, consulting and education domains – at HT Media’s Bridge School of Management, with HeadHonchos.com, the job search portal of ABC Consultants, and as an entrepreneur. Hansa’s early career was at the Times of India group and at Public Relations consultancy, Good Relations India. Hansa holds a BA (Economics) Honours degree from St. Stephen's College, Delhi University and is an MBA, Faculty of Management Studies, Delhi University.

Ms. Sudarshana Shukla

The Cathedral and John Connon School, India
Career Guidance Counselor and Head of Learning Resource Centre

Sudarshana has been a faculty member of the Cathedral and John Connon School, Mumbai since 2002. As a full time Career Guidance Counselor since 2004, she has guided students with their overseas applications to the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Australia and Hong Kong, along with Universities within India. Her school offers the Advanced Placement program, of which she is the coordinator. They also offer the Indian School Certificate Examinations (National Board) along with the IBDP. Their first batch of IBDP students will graduate in 2017. As Head of Learning Resource Centre of her school and SSD coordinator, Sudarshana supports students with different abilities to achieve their potential.

Mr. Carl Tang

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
Manager International Affairs Office

Carl Tang has nine years of concrete experience in the higher education sector. Having worked at three universities in various capacities, including student recruitment and admissions, admission system development and university grants administration. Carl is a specialist in recruiting students from South Asian countries and the Philippines. Carl earned his M.Eng. in Aeronautical Engineering from Imperial College London.

Ms. Nicole Weathers, Committee Coordinator

KIC UnivAssist, U.S.
Marketing and Communications Coordinator

As a Marketing and Communications Coordinator, Nicole Weathers assists in developing content in areas including social media and email marketing. Nicole's previous experience includes content writing and editing, social media strategy and execution, and website development and maintenance. Nicole holds a B.S. in Management and Marketing. Outside of work, she loves to travel and spend time with her Goldendoodle, Costanza.

Mr. Sameer Arora

Committee Chair
Legacy School Bangalore, India
Vice Principal

Sameer is a natural leader, a collaborator and an educator with 15 years of school experience and five years of entrepreneurial experience, ranging from teaching across all levels of school, integrating pedagogical innovations in curricula, creating favorable environments for the students and faculty members, fostering partnerships with educational organizations and communities, administration, supervising staff and resource management. He has travelled to over 10 countries and firmly believes that travel is the best form of education. He has designed experiential education programs for children around the world with prestigious organizations like Johnson Space Center, Kennedy Space Center, CERN, McAfee and Intel, to name a few. He has also worked with National Geographic Channel as a project lead in India for the school program, UNLOCK HOUR.

Mr. Abhinav Gogoi

Committee Co-Chair
The Assam Valley School, Assam, India
Head of Careers

Inter-disciplinarity, internationalism and “Education without Prejudice” are values I adhere to strictly. I am an IB graduate from Mahindra United World College of India, and completed my higher studies in Jacobs University Bremen and University Bremen (Germany) in Marine Geosciences and Climate Research. After traveling extensively around the world, I was keen to give back to the communities that have structured my holistic growth – hence, my interest in teaching Geography and Environmental Sciences at my alma mater, AVS. I am also working as a Guidance Counselor and am an ardent enthusiast of Theater and Dramatics, which I lead in school.

Ms. Sudha Acharya

ITL Public School, New Delhi, India
Principal

Ms. Sudha Acharya is presently working as the Principal of the ITL Public School. She has more than 25 years of progressive experience in the field of education. She is associated with CBSE as a Master Trainer for inclusive education, gender sensitization, mentoring new staff, motivating experienced staff, the induction program for principals and CCE – scholastic and co-scholastic areas. She is also involved in curriculum design for CBSE. She has conducted workshops for more than 3,000 teachers, training them on different topics. She is a proud recipient of the CBSE Teacher award, State Teachers Award, International Excellence Award for Service to Disabilities, Dr. B R Ambedkar National Award for contribution in the field of education, Global Human Rights Protection Award given by the Indian Institute of Human Rights and the National Human Resource Optimisation Award given during the 33rd World Management Congress. She has voiced her valuable opinion on different national television channels on emerging issues like anti-bullying, cyber bullying, teacher-student relationships, stress management during exams and more.

Ms. Asma Ansari

Daly College, Indore, India
Dean CIE and Placements

Asma Ansari, Dean CIE and Placements at Daly College Indore and recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award 2018 for Career Counseling and Guidance by the Institute of Career Studies, has over 25 years of experience in the educational field, in both national and international (CAIE) curricula. She has placed students in universities across the country and around the world. As a school counsellor, she has visited many universities and colleges, so that she can better guide her students to find the right fit. She advises students about subject choices, as well as organizes activities like seminars and fairs. She has a long experience of teaching Economics to senior students, and planned and implemented the setting up of the Cambridge Centre when the CAIE section was established. She is a Certified Global Career Counselor, with a Green Belt Certificate from UCLA Extension.

Mr. Anthony Culver

Fraser International College, Canada
Marketing Manager

Anthony Culver, Marketing Manager at Fraser International College relies upon his personal and professional experiences to support students from south Asia, the Middle East, and Turkey in their pursuit of higher education. Having studied in Makerere University, Uganda while completing a Bachelors in Political Science from Simon Fraser University, he is familiar with the rewards and difficulties of studying abroad. Anthony has held multiple positions coordinating youth leadership programs, consulting for NGOs, and advising new students in British Columbia, Canada. Anthony is passionate about enabling others to shine by providing them the platform, the information, and the encouragement to achieve their goals.

Mr. Jimmi Hemmenbach

University of Guelph, Canada
Regional Operations Manager, Middle East and South Asia

Mr. Ben Iverson

Augustana University, U.S.
Director of International Programs

Ben Iverson completed his Bachelor’s degree in Spanish and International Studies at Augustana University and a Master’s degree in International Education from the SIT Graduate Institute. He lived and worked for one year at Nord University in Bodø, Norway before returning to Augustana as an administrator in 2005, where he then spent 10 years recruiting both domestic and international students. Previously, Ben served as Director of Admissions at the University of Minnesota, Morris and as Director of University Partnerships for ELS Educational Services, Inc. With more than 15 years in international education, he currently serves as Director of International Programs at his alma mater, where he oversees a team devoted to study abroad, international student advising, international recruitment, customized programs and partnership development.

Mr. Harish Luharuka

Universal School, India
Director Academics – Schools

Mr. Harish Luharuka is a versatile and dynamic educationist, actively and successfully engaged in the field of education since 1980. He has mentored 20+ institutions in India and abroad, impacting 20,000+ learners. Additionally, Mr. Luharuka has managed diverse curricula including state boards, national (ICSE, CBSE) and international (CAIE, U.K., IB). Throughout his career he has equipped learners with 21st century life skills. From 1988-2015 he serves as the founding chairman and managing director of Oxford Coaching Institute, Mumbai, as well as director of Parle Software Limited from 2007-2016. He holds a postgraduate from Mumbai University, was awarded the Maharashtra State Government Open Merit Scholarship for three consecutive years and won the prestigious Narsee Monjee Award at graduation.

Ms. Meenakshi Mattoo

Sreenidhi International School, Hyderabad, India
Career & College Counselor

Meenakshi was born in the valley of Kashmir, popularly known as "heaven on the earth." She hails from a family where education isn't an option, but is the only way to fulfil your aspirations and to chase your dreams. She pursued her passion serving as a flight attendant soon after completing her undergraduate degree. She's a Hotel Management graduate from IHM, Hyderabad PUSA University. She has flown all across the globe over the years and has had the pleasure of working with 80 nationalities while flying with air carriers like Jet Airways, Gulf Air and Lufthansa German Airlines before making a conscious switch to career counseling. Since 2017 she has enjoyed being a high school guidance counselor at Sreenidhi international school and is thoroughly committed to this profession.

Ms. Parneet Shergill

Ashoka University, India
Assistant Director of Outreach

Parneet Shergill is the Assistant Director of the Outreach team at Ashoka University, a leading liberal arts university in India. Parneet has taught and worked in the higher education sector for many years before joining Ashoka University. A visionary with rich and varied experience of two decades, Parneet has been on the Outreach team for over three years and is proficient in student counselling and networking.

Mr. Vikram Patel

Krea University, India
Senior Manager - Communications and Outreach

With expertise in brand communications, strategic planning and creative direction, Vikram has over six years of experience in education outreach and communications. Being a member of the founding team at the Indian School of Design & Innovation Mumbai, he held a pivotal role in increasing brand recall and outreach to attract applications from across the country. Prior to joining the education industry, Vikram has experience in working with advertising agencies handling experiential marketing projects, event management and operations, and client servicing. Vikram is a rank holder and graduate in Computer Applications from Mangalore University and has a Master’s degree in Business Management with a major in Brand Communications from ITM Business School, Navi Mumbai.

Ms. Edna Selvanayagam

United States Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission, Sri Lanka
EducationUSA Adviser

Edna Selvanayagam is the EducationUSA Adviser at United States Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission in Sri Lanka. Edna graduated with a B.A. in Psychology from California State Polytechnic University, California, U.S. where she worked as a Learning Specialist before joining the House of Ruth Domestic Violence Agency as an Associate Case Manager. Prior to joining the Commission, Edna worked as a Project Officer for the Canadian Red Cross Sri Lanka delegation. She also holds a diploma in Project Management.

Ms. Mari Prauer

Colgate University, U.S.
Senior Assistant Dean of Admission

Mari has been the Senior Assistant Dean of Admission at Colgate University since August 2018. In her primary role, she serves as the coordinator of recruitment and alumni programming as well as on the international team, specializing in the Indian subcontinent. After graduating from college in 2013 with a B.A. in International Business, Mari received a fellowship working in college counseling at Anatolia College, a private Greek-American high school in Thessaloniki, Greece for a year before working at her alma mater, Eckerd College, in St. Petersburg, FL. Trading in the beach year-round for mountains and snow has certainly been an adjustment but the stunning nature of Hamilton, NY has been worth every sub-zero day!

Dr. Bhavanishankar Subramanian

Lalaji Memorial Omega International School, Chennai, India
Senior Principal

Head of school since 2008, S. Bhavanishankar teaches courses in Biology, Biotechnology, Psychology and Theory of Knowledge for senior school students, and also offers career related academic counseling.

Ms. Sandeepa Varma

Oakridge International School, Bachupally, India
Career Counselor

Sandeepa Varma, a college and career advisor at Oakridge International School, Bachupally campus, strongly believes in the saying “choose a job you love and you will never have to work another day in your life” – Confucius. An Electronics and Computer Engineer by profession, a philanthropist by nature, Sandeepa realized she is passionate about working with young energetic minds. After working for 12 years in the IT sector, she made a conscious decision to switch her career to counselling and mentoring students. She used her experience as head of the SAP training division (Telangana) to set up the career counselling department on campus. She counsels and mentors students across grade 6 to 12 as she believes in equipping each child with relevant information so they make well informed decisions about their college and career based on their own skills and passion. Her strength lies in building strong relations with students, parents, corporates and universities in India and abroad. She is blessed with a daughter and resides in Hyderabad.

Mrs. Aashka Vadalia, Committee Coordinator

IC3 Conference, India
Assistant Manager - Projects

As the Assistant Manager - Projects at IC3, Aashka plays a key role in managing committee relations and registrations, as well as coordinating with the sponsors and partners, managing data and providing customer service support for the IC3 Conference. Previously, Aashka worked at a high school as a career counselor for almost seven years. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies, and a Master's diploma in Guidance and Counseling from Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. She loves to travel, indulge in gastronomic adventures and aspires to someday work in the field of animal welfare.

Ms. Nitina Dua

Committee Chair
Shiv Nadar School, Noida, India
Program Leader, Career Guidance Centre

Believing in the learner-centered approach, Nitina assigns herself the role of curator and craftsman engaged in helping build and nurture an environment conducive to empowering each learner and welcoming students to a non-threatening space to explore their own interests and aptitudes, as well as understanding their strengths and weaknesses. With a Master’s in Business Management, a Bachelor of Arts and continuously enhancing her expertise through pursuing the Post Graduate Diploma in Guidance and Counselling and designing the curriculum for Electoral Literacy with the Election Commission of India, along with her passion of reading and travelling, keeps her close her passion. During the past seven years in education with an abiding interest and belief in cross- cultural settings of learning, she forged interschool relationships nationally and internationally with schools in Singapore, the U.S. and universities across the globe such as the Hwa-Chong Institute School exchange and Student Leadership Programmes, Singapore. She believes in continuous learning engagement through short- and long-term courses attended (over the past decade) to deepen understanding, clarify concepts and sharpen skills in the area of college and career counselling and has attended programs for guiding and counselling needs for students and teachers by the Institute of Counsellors’ Training and Research Centre, headed by Dr. V.S. Ravindran.

Ms. Vanee Gopalan

Delhi Public School Bangalore - South, India
Teacher & International Project Coordinator

Vanee Gopalan has worked with Delhi Public School, Bangalore South for the last 13 years as the Head of International Projects and the Centre Exam Manager for the DPS Bangalore Cambridge Assessments exams. Additionally, she has been working as part of the career counseling team and has experience interacting with several admissions officers and university representatives. Vanee holds a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts and a diploma in Graphic and Web Design.

Ms. Rama Devi Potnuru

Delhi Public School, Anandapuram, Visakhapatnam, India
Admissions and Career Counselor

In my career, I believe education can open doors to opportunity as I have seen it change lives and transform realities. So, I started to work as career counsellor to counsel students regarding educational issues such as course, program and university selection. These days students are confused with the plethora of career opportunities available, so it’s our prime responsibility to direct students to make confident and apt decisions in choosing the course according to their interest and abilities. My career counselling profession has helped me explore options to guide better by handling various roles like admissions counsellor, high school counsellor who provides support in an end to end process by advising on how to build strong profiles based on their curriculum. I served as Test Centre Supervisor for SAT, PSAT and AP programs.

Ms. Lakshmi Prabha Senthil

CS Academy, Coimbatore, India
Career Counselor

Prabha has been the lead Career Counsellor at CS Academy since 2015. She has a background in corporate human resources and systems in the U.K. and holds an MBA from MOP Vaishnav College, Chennai. She has lived for over a decade in the U.K., Hong Kong and China. Combined with her international exposure, networking and public relations, she has been instrumental in setting up a successful career counselling cell at the school. Prabha brings her wide personal experience in helping students identify their goals and pursue them. Along with bringing the best industry and education experts to interact with students, conducting career fairs and orientations for parents and students, Prabha works endlessly to ensure that the best opportunities are brought to the students to identify their interests and plan their pathway to new and developing careers.

Ms. Garima Dawer, Committee Coordinator

IC3 Conference, India
Communications & Marketing Manager

Garima manages content, PR, committee coordination, and various marketing and communications projects for IC3. Garima has been working in the field of communications and content for close to eight years, four of which have been associated with the education sector. Being associated with a cause larger than just profit-making is very important to her so throughout her professional journey, she has tried to work with organizations that serve humanity in some way. She has worked in the fields of education, mental health, urban poverty, and briefly with refugees and insurance. She is quite the nerd and loves to learn, which has led her to study diverse fields like Literature, Journalism, Human Rights and Conflict & Peace Studies, and she’s on the lookout for the next one!

Mr. David Hawkins

The University Guy, U.K.
Director

David Hawkins is an experienced college and university guidance counselor with expertise in a wide range of international university admissions systems, and now works as a private counselor for students. A graduate of the University of Oxford and a former GCSE, iGCSE, A Level and IB History teacher, David has served as a college counselor in the U.K. and internationally supporting students in university applications to the U.S., U.K., Canada and Europe, totally 27 different systems. Now, as 'The University Guy', he works with schools, students and families to help them find their best fit university, anywhere in the world.

Ms. Namita Mehta

The Red Pen, India
President

Namita led the University Guidance Counselling Department at B.D. Somani International School in Mumbai for over three years. As an in-house counsellor, she advised students on effective profile development, managed the international university application process, and developed relationships with university admissions offices. At The Red Pen, Namita continues her work to help families identify the best fit colleges for them. Namita currently resides in Mumbai, but past homes include Hong Kong, U.K. and Germany.

Ms. Namrata Pandey

University of Hong Kong, India
International Admissions Advisor

The first professional career counsellor employed by The Doon School, Dehradun, Namrata Pandey pioneered setting up the Careers, Information, Education and Guidance Department at The Doon School. Namrata also worked with an education overseas company. She has travelled extensively to universities in India and abroad. She holds a post-graduate diploma in Guidance and Counselling from NCERT, a Master's in Psychology from Delhi University, and a graduate certificate in Career Development Practice from CEAV, Australia.