Sudan Manandhar brings extensive experience in counseling and organizational leadership to his current role as the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Bighnaharta Nepal. His leadership extends to the Family Planning Association Nepal, where he also serves on the executive board. With over a decade of dedicated service, Mr. Manandhar spent 11 years as a counselor at Saarathi Nepal, followed by positions at Youth Vision Organisation (2 years) and Saksham Nepal Sudhar Kendra (3 years). His executive experience includes serving as Vice President of Basantapur Dozo for two years, and his community outreach background includes three years at RECPHEC. Currently, Mr. Manandhar serves as a counselor at both Sankramit Tatha Durwesani (संक्रमित तथा दुर्वेसनी) and Re Unity Rehabilitation Center. As the founder of Recovering Voice, he continues to guide the organization as its chairperson, leveraging his comprehensive experience in rehabilitation and community service.

With two decades of experience, Singh Bahadur Moktan is a seasoned entrepreneur, mentor, and influencer. His journey has been one of continuous learning, growth, and achievement, marked by resilience, innovation, and the ability to navigate the ever-evolving business landscape. As a mentor, he has had the privilege of guiding individuals, sharing insights, and witnessing their development into accomplished professionals. As an influencer, he has leveraged his voice and platform to spark meaningful change and inspire others. With a wealth of experience, Singh Bahadur Moktan remains committed to leaving a lasting impact—mentoring, influencing, and collaborating to set a standard for success that reflects his passion and dedication.

Simran Rijal is an IT entrepreneur and a youth activist. She has years of volunteering experience campaigning for youth related issues and social justice. As such she has volunteered to work in marginalized communities targeting youth, women and children. She was nominated for Bighnaharta Nepal’s Board as its General Secretary in the organization’s 6th General Annual Meeting. She represents the Youth cluster in the board.

A passionate entrepreneur in the beauty and hospitality industry, Grishma Silwal has been shaping her career since the age of 17. She is the co-founder of Maya Brew Beauty Café, where she seamlessly blends her expertise in both fields. At her café, she emphasizes sustainability, promoting eco-friendly products while ensuring that coffee and bakery items follow a sustainable approach. Beyond her ventures, Grishma is dedicated to motivating young people to explore opportunities within their own country, inspiring them to innovate, create, and build a future at home.

A proud entrepreneur and homemaker, Amina Khatun is the founder of Aamna Creations and specializes in fashion design. As a design sector expert, she brings her expertise in fashion and clothing, helping to promote creativity. Coming from the Muslim community, Amina is deeply committed to empowering women, especially those from her own background. She actively encourages women to pursue entrepreneurship, break barriers, and achieve financial independence. Through her work, she continues to inspire and uplift aspiring women entrepreneurs, fostering a culture of resilience and self-reliance.

Gomesh Singh Upreti is the Co-founder and Director of Programs of Bighnaharta Nepal. His academic qualifications includes degrees in Business Administration and Anthropology. He has been working in the Social Development sector for more than a decade and has expertise in Project management, Project design and implementation, Community sensitization, Fundraising and Monitoring and Evaluation. It is under his leadership that Bighnaharta implements various projects across Nepal.

The Co-founder and Director of Operations of Bighnaharta Nepal, Rajiya Banu has been relentlessly working to establish the vision and mission of the organization from the very beginning. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Political Science. On top of being the Co-Founder and Vice President of Bighnaharta Nepal, she has been working as the Office Secretary at QUEST-Nepal for over three years. Rajiya has also gathered ample experience from working in institutions and organizations including One Love One World, Loo Niva Child Corner Group, Ashra Rehabilitation Centre. With the desire to help the people in need, she has been in part of several organizations including Boudhik Disabled Society and Social Welfare Council’s Elderly’s Home, Pashupatinath. On top of that, she was also one of the helping hands in the Earthquake Relief Campaigns of Bibeksheel Nepali (Rasuwa), Hatemalo Sanchar (Gorkha), and Youth Action Nepal (Kathmandu).

Ankita Shah is the Director of Partnerships, Outreach and PR of Bighnaharta Nepal. In addition, Shah serves as an Advisor of Youth and International Relations to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Government of Nepal. She holds a master degree in Crisis Management from Tribhuvan University and has over six years of experience in the development sector. Her key projects include contributing to the development of the BIPAD system, an integrated Disaster Information Management System owned by the Government of Nepal. Shah is also a certified Master Trainer of Trainers (ToT) for Fire Risk Reduction. She has worked as a Management Information System (MIS) expert for the NWASH system under the Ministry of Water Supply. Her research efforts include conducting a vulnerability and risk assessment in the Langtang region, heavily affected by the 2015 Nepal Earthquake, in collaboration with ICIMOD and the Institute of Crisis Management Studies. Further, she led a research initiative called ProjectWE, funded by Women Deliver, focusing on policy gaps affecting women and the obstacles faced by marginalized women in accessing their rights. Shah is an executive member of the Women in Nature Network, leading its Nepal Chapter, and promotes urban forest restoration projects while mentoring young women conservationists. Shah also ventures into social entrepreneurship as the Managing Director of AGRA Industries, a company that produces eco-friendly products from agro-waste, in collaboration with indigenous communities. Her work spans various sectors, including climate change, disaster management, cultural heritage preservation, youth empowerment, women rights, environmental conservation, and social entrepreneurship.

Santosh Bhusal, our Admin and Finance Officer at Bighnaharta Nepal, brings extensive experience from international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) and holds a degree in Business Administration. With expertise in financial planning, budgeting, and reporting, Santosh ensures efficient management of our financial operations. Dedicated to transparency and integrity, Santosh supports our mission of sustainable development and disaster risk reduction, contributing significantly to the success of our projects.

Lok Bahadur Praja, Field Coordinator at Raksirang Rural Municipality, joined Bighnaharta Nepal with a deep commitment to empowering and supporting his community. Through effective communication and collaboration, he works to address social challenges and inspire sustainable development initiatives.

Aadarsh Karn is currently pursuing a BSCS in Data Science. As a dedicated Social Media and Communication Associate, he brings a fresh perspective and innovative ideas to our team and enhances our online presence.

Anjala is an environmental science graduate currently working as a project associate at Bighnaharta Nepal. With a passion for sustainability and climate action, she works on projects that help communities adapt to environmental challenges while promoting eco-friendly practices. Anjala enjoys blending academic insights with practical solutions to make a real impact on the ground.

As an enthusiastic Bachelor of Business graduate student, Prakriti is currently working as a project coordinator at Bighnaharta Nepal. Her responsibilities include organising sustainability initiatives, involving stakeholders, and ensuring the successful implementation addresses social and environmental issues. With business experience, She uses her strategic planning and managerial skills to advance the cause of environmental advocacy and action.

Urusha Lamsal is a forestry graduate with an interest on the intersection of forestry, climate change, society and sustainable development. She has experience in research and development in the natural resource management sector, having worked with different government and non-government organizations. Urusha serves as the Research Lead for the project, "Bioengineering Social Enterprise for Disaster Risk Reduction and Livelihood Upliftment." In this role, she has been instrumental in designing research methodology to develop a theoretical framework and research implications for project implementation. Her work focuses on identifying and assessing bio-engineering methods to address socio-economic challenges and land restoration in landslide-prone areas of the project sites. Her research capabilities and experience working with diverse communities make her a valuable asset in our team.

Aarati Khatri is a forestry professional with extensive experience in research, policy analysis, and community-based forest management. With a B.Sc. in Forestry from Tribhuvan University, she has worked at the intersection of environmental sustainability, gender equity, and economic empowerment in Nepal’s forestry sector. She has contributed to Oxford Policy Management Nepal, where she worked as a Consultative Qualitative Researcher, analyzing key issues related to gender-based violence, economic empowerment, and policy frameworks across Nepal. Previously, as a Research Officer at ForestAction Nepal, Aarati played a pivotal role in the IDRC-funded project on women’s economic empowerment through forest-based solutions, facilitating the growth of over 240 women-led forest enterprises and leading restoration initiatives with over 32,000 plantations. Her internship at the Division Forest Office, Kathmandu, involved hands-on experience in community forest restoration, operational plan review, and biodiversity conservation, contributing to key environmental initiatives. She has also worked with local and international research institutions, including the University of Copenhagen, where she conducted field studies on the impacts of conservation projects on rural livelihoods in Nepal. Aarati’s passion lies in promoting sustainable forest-based enterprises, advocating for inclusive environmental policies, and strengthening market linkages for community forestry products. She has co-authored scientific publications, contributed to national policy discussions, and represented Nepal in international forums.Through her work, she continues to champion nature- based solutions, participatory forest governance, and the integration of marginalized communities in natural resource management.

As a proud member of the Chepang Community, I have the privilege of being both a beneficiary and a contributor to Bighnaharta Nepal's transformative projects. I work as a Social Mobilizer, connecting with my community members and ensuring they receive the necessary support and resources. My journey with Bighnaharta Nepal is a rewarding experience of growth, learning, and making a meaningful difference in my community.

Identifying myself as a social worker I aim to work for society and be part of its positive change. I enjoy working in the field, understanding ground reality, and working on immediate important issues. For me, Bighnaharta Nepal is a bridge between me and society as it has provided me an opportunity to work as a Field Coordinator in its different projects. Being a youth-led organization that aims to empower communities, I believe that the organization’s vision and mission align with my beliefs and provide me with the perfect opportunity to excel in the future and work on my and the organization's dream at once.

Working with Bighnaharta Nepal has provided me with the opportunity to experience what it is to work in a team. Being surrounded by people who work relentlessly for the betterment of the needy has certainly widened my perception of the society.

While working for Bighnaharta Nepal as a communication officer, I was adept at translating complex ideas into clear and compelling messages. With a strong background in communication strategy and a passion for storytelling, I excelled in crafting narratives that resonate with diverse audiences.

As a skilled legal researcher I was able to navigate intricate legal frameworks and offer in-depth analysis and insights. Competent in gathering information for legal papers, evaluating case law, and writing them in order to aid in making well-informed decisions.

As an administrative and financial officer at Bighnaharta Nepal, I had the opportunity to actively participate in meaningful projects aimed at uplifting communities. My personal and professional development has been enhanced by this role, which has given me significant insights into organizational operations and financial management. I have been appreciative of the chance to use my position to further long-term, sustainable change in Nepal.

With the launch of “Operation Two Meals,” I began my journey in Bighnaharta Nepal. Working from my hometown, Kailali, I was able to coordinate meet the awesome team too. I am currently leading the project named “Operation Sanjeevani” in Bighnaharta Nepal and am thankful for all the work they do not just for the social cause but also for the needy and underprivileged.

Shreeti KC blends media and development well, as a South Asian Scholar and a Development Studies student. She tries to see society through different social lenses. She is an academician who researches the ground issues of a community to understand their evolution and adaptation. She is passionate about solving grassroots issues which aligns with the missions of Bighnaharta Nepal. As a program coordinator in the organization, she strives to bring innovative ideas and perspectives to the program implementation at the grassroots level. She is responsible for producing evaluation and monitoring reports and documentation.