Our People

Bharath is a Bengaluru native with a passion for governance, sustainability, and community building. He holds an MA in Public Policy, and a Bachelor’s in Commerce from CHRIST (Deemed to Be University), Bengaluru. A proud three-year NCC Cadet and 2021 Millennium Fellow, Bharath brings hands-on experience from the education sector, where his focus was on enabling student agency.

He firmly believes that experiential learning is the best way to learn, and champions the idea that robust local institutions, and a strong cultural foundation are essential for nation-building.

Bharath enjoys spending time with animals and in nature, trekking, playing badminton, and seeking out activities that provide an adrenaline rush. He is also deeply fascinated by Kannada literature, historic forts, and the stories of war.

Sonali founded Anode Governance Lab and its nonprofit arm, Anode Governance Foundation, to activate and mainstream public institutions as key drivers of governance transformation.

As an Organisation Development (OD) practitioner, she designs and leads change management interventions across corporate, government, and nonprofit sectors. She conceptualised the GPOD framework, a process-driven model that strengthens Gram Panchayats’ capacity to function as responsive self-governments. The framework is now used across multiple states.

Her career spans Asian Paints, Barefoot College Tilonia, Eicher Consulting Services, Arghyam, and Avantika Foundation. She serves as a Director at Trickle Up India, a Governing Council member of India Panchayat Foundation, and a Member of the TIDE General Body. In 2022, she was part of the Expert Group revising the National Capacity Building Framework (NCBF) under the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj.

Sonali holds a degree in Personnel Management and Industrial Relations from XLRI Jamshedpur and a Master’s in Development Studies from SOAS, University of London.

A yoga practitioner and outdoor enthusiast, she dreams of trekking to Everest Base Camp.

Ajith Swaminathan is an Organisation Development (OD) consultant with expertise in organisation design, leadership development, and HR process efficiency. He works across the corporate and development sectors, and focuses on administrative and structural reforms.

With experience across 25 states, 7 Union Territories, and multiple countries, Ajith has worked with governments, public sector undertakings, and private firms across industries like infrastructure, manufacturing, IT, and BFSI.

In the recent years he has worked on initiatives in Public Institutions in Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka and in Jharkhand. 

An alumnus of Delhi School of Economics, he holds a Master’s in Human Resources and Organisation Development and a Bachelor’s in Information Technology from Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi.

A TEDx speaker, trained coach, and visiting faculty, Ajith enjoys travel, reading, music and poetry.

Pragya leads Project and Change Management at Anode, applying interdisciplinary approaches to drive systemic change. A social researcher with 15+ years of experience, she oversees projects in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh, focusing on Panchayat capacity-building and citizen engagement.

Her expertise spans institutional strengthening, governance, gender, and labour rights, with extensive work advocating for domestic workers, construction workers, and women street vendors. She also contributes to developing Anode’s technology platform to help Panchayats assess and improve governance.

Pragya holds a Master’s in Sociology from Jawaharlal Nehru University and a Bachelor’s in History from Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University. In 2023, she was selected as an Acumen India Fellow.

She enjoys swimming in the ocean and exploring old town alleyways.

Lingadevaru E.S. has extensive experience in local governance, education governance, and sustainable agriculture. Previously, he worked with Prajayatna across Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan, providing technical support and project management. He collaborated with PRADAN and Transform Rural India on governance projects in Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh. 

As an advisor to ORDER NGO in Tumkur, he designed projects in watershed management and organic farming. He also managed climate change programs at BUZZ India. Passionate about natural farming, he co-manages Tumkur Organics Farmers Producer Company and volunteers at the Gandhi School of Natural Farming.

Lingadevaru holds an M.Sc. in Environmental Sciences from Bangalore University and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication from Karnataka State Open University. His expertise spans community engagement, governance, and sustainable development. 

He enjoys trekking, traveling, and working with communities.

Ravi D. leads projects in Karnataka, focusing on building institutional capacity in Gram Panchayats. He has been instrumental in engaging with over 70% of GP members and overseeing the MOU process in 13 Gram Panchayats.

With over 12 years of experience in Prajayatna and Akshara Foundation, Ravi has worked across Chitradurga, Shivamogga, and Tumakuru districts, facilitating community-based programs and educational initiatives. He holds a TCH from SSBIT College and a BA, BEd from Revanasiddeswara College, Bengaluru.

Ajay is an experienced finance professional with a background in accounting, auditing, and taxation. With a CA IPCC qualification from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and a strong academic foundation, Ajay is adept at handling financial operations, tax processes, and auditing tasks. 

Ajay is fluent in Telugu and English and enjoys playing cricket in his free time.