faculty new

Sonam Wangchuk has worked primarily in the field of education reform for the last 30 years. His work is directly responsible for bringing the percentage of pass grades in the crucial Ladakhi 10th grade examinations up to 75% from 5%.

An entrepreneur turned educator, Gitanjali is passionate about creating an environment that empowers learners and facilitators to become the best versions of themselves.

Currently working as an Assistant Academics Facilitator (Life Skills) and Human Resources Coordinator at HIAL. She is interested in developing deep human relationships in communities or within the organization she works through Safe Listening Space. She is volunteering with Sarthak Mentoring Foundation and  Institute for Faith-based Diplomacy (IFBD) in order to build a compassionate world.

Prem Das Rai, is an Indian politician from the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) party. Mr. Rai is credited for introducing IT and Sustainable Eco-tourism to Sikkim. He has played a crucial role in strengthening the network of NGOs and creating an environment for proactive Sikkimese civil society. In 2002, he was awarded the prestigious Eisenhower Fellowship (USA) for his contribution to Sikkim’s development. His authentic perspective on the development of the mountain economy is highly insightful for young leaders.

Honourable Governor Shri Satya Pal Malik was appointed as 21st Governor of Meghalaya in August 2020. Shri Malik has been a former Union Minister, Parliamentarian and politician serving in many capacities in his long career both at the state and Central Government. He is one of the most humble, knowledgeable and inspiring speakers. His personal insights and practical know-hows are valuable for youth starting their careers as public leaders.

Yaron Barzilay is a certified specialist of Eastern and Western Philosophy,including History, Symbolism, Moral Philosophy, and Psychology. He has authored several investigative articles related to practical philosophy,exploring timeless and universal concepts as relevant and applicable to daily life in modern times. He is also the Director with IDEX ONLINE INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED, registered with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), Yaron is a great storyteller and a genuine scholar – making him a great faculty for the course like HELM at HIAL.

Raghava is the Co-founder and the Dean of Rashtram School of Public Leadership. After 17 years of corporate career, he moved into Public Policy to engage directly with India’s governance needs. He is a student of Indian civilisation and is currently pursuing his PHD from Chinmaya Vishwa Vidyapeeth. As one of the key collaborators on the HELM course, he and his team’s objective is to enable students with ‘technical’ aspects of Indian politics such as constitution, policy making, political structures, roles of politicians. He takes great pleasure in connecting ancient Indian governance and literature and current political context.

Amitabh Mattoo is one of India’s leading thinkers and writers on Modern and Contemporary History, Political science, International relations. He was awarded Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2009. He is a Professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University and Honorary Professor of International Relations at the University of Melbourne. He serves as Chairman of the Governing Board of Miranda House, University of Delhi.

Subhash Kak is Regents Professor of Computer Science Department at Oklahoma State University in the USA. Kak’s research has spanned the fields of information theory, cryptography, neural networks, and quantum information. Kak is also an archaeoastronomer and Vedic scholar. In HELM course, his contribution in ‘Meaning of technological leadership and its overlap with ancient Indian philosophy was unique for the cohort.

Aryan was the youngest guest speaker in the HELM course. He engaged the cohort in the art of public speaking. A student of Performance studies at NewYork University, Aryan has deep interest in performing arts and liberal arts.

Padmini is a Research Associate for Education at Srishti School of Art. She is a design thinker and an educator. What makes her unique is her ability to finely blend diverse fields from phenomenology to education to Eastern philosophy.

Mr. Jora is an Indian politician and former Minister for Urban Development and Urban Local Bodies, Ladakh, India. He is a charismatic and dynamic political leader, known for his contribution in Ladakh’s political development. He shared practical lessons and constitutional aspects of politics and made session a great success.

Atishi Singh who is also known as Atishi Marlena is an Indian politician, educator, political activist and MLA from Delhi. She is a member of the Political Affairs Committee of Aam Aadmi Party. Before entering politics Aatishi developed her legacy as an educator and an activist engaging communities on social and ecological issues. As a Rhodes scholar, a grassroots activist, an educationist, a policy reformer and most recently a popularly elected people’s representative, Atishi has a 360

Paul is a multifaceted leader who currently holds the CEO position for Randstad India. From a young backpacker, sleeping on a park bench in Japan, to leading one of the biggest corporate giants in the Asia-Pacific region, Paul Dupuis has built a career through game changing leadership crafted through his own real-life experiences as an athlete, volunteer and CEO. His learnings are written in the book called ‘E5 movement: Leadership through the rule of 5.’ His contribution to the HELM cohort was invaluable where he shared leadership principles recognised by himself.

Atishi Singh who is also known as Atishi Marlena is an Indian politician, educator, political activist and MLA from Delhi. She is a member of the Political Affairs Committee of Aam Aadmi Party. Before entering politics Aatishi developed her legacy as an educator and an activist engaging communities on social and ecological issues. As a Rhodes scholar, a grassroots activist, an educationist, a policy reformer and most recently a popularly elected people’s representative, Atishi has a 360

Paul is a multifaceted leader who currently holds the CEO position for Randstad India. From a young backpacker, sleeping on a park bench in Japan, to leading one of the biggest corporate giants in the Asia-Pacific region, Paul Dupuis has built a career through game changing leadership crafted through his own real-life experiences as an athlete, volunteer and CEO. His learnings are written in the book called ‘E5 movement: Leadership through the rule of 5.’ His contribution to the HELM cohort was invaluable where he shared leadership principles recognised by himself.

Also known as Stanzin Dorjai Gya. Ka Stanzin is a renowned global film maker. He is one of the biggest contributor in putting cultural and natural landscape of Ladakh on the global map. As someone who cares deeply about heritage preservation, Stanzin Gya was one of the unique mentors HELM course had. Sherylin his mentee was working on Yak rearing practices in Ladakh and its revival. As an outcome she produced a research based film documentation that was meant to increase awareness and importance of yak rearing in Ladakh.

Mr G.V Krishnagopal is the CEO and Founder of ALC India. ALC India was founded in quest to find effective ways to solve persistent problems faced in the livelihoods of economically marginalised communities.

Belonging to a village in Ladakh called Tiri, he started his venture called the Nomadic Woollen Mills. NWA is a small manufacturer of fine pashmina products based in Ladakh, dedicated to promoting, preserving and developing the traditional craft in its natural environment.

Janhavi brings a perspective on business law. She did her LLB and MA in Public Policy from University of Mumbai and completed a post graduate program in Development Management from Indian School of Development and Management.

She is a linguist who has recently published a dictionary of Ladakhi Colloquial language called the “rangSkat”. She has been living in Ladakh for more than 26 years, and had been an integral part of development of SECMOL – the alternative educational institute in Ladakh. She is also a Gardener with a passion for wild herbs and plants.

Wendy Driver was deputy travel editor of The Mail on Sunday for 30 years (The Mail on Sunday being the largest UK Sunday with a circulation of 2 million. Wendy brings a rich experienced based perspective on travel journalism.

He founded Journeys With Meaning in 2007 as a way to bring inspiring stories of hope, resilience, innovation, and change to urban Indians who are often disconnected from nature and the life lessons it can teach.

Where There Be Dragon is a US based company, where Sarah is an on-site director for India at Where there be Dragon, for India, Himalayas and Africa. They run Summer Programs for different Universities in the US and take students in different parts of the world. She has led multiple Dragons programs in India, Nepal, and Peru, as well as summer courses.

She is the founder and director of Local Future. She has written the book The Ancient Futures: Learnings from Ladakh, also produced documentary films like The economics of Happiness and The Ancient Futures.

He is trained as a filmmaker / anthropologist and has been involved with teaching / education projects for the past 15 years. He runs an organisation called the Achi association.

Stephan founded Himlayan Ecotoursim – a sustainable tourism based organisation – in 2011 which won the Outlook responsible tourism award in 2019. Stephan has also worked for rural development with the Munda community in the state of Jharkhand for 

7 years prior to getting into eco-tourism venture.

Born in the remote Himalayan kingdom of Zanskar in Northern India, Tanzin Norbu left home aged seven in pursuit of an education.  He became the first ever Zanskari to graduate from a Western university, gaining two Masters degrees in Tourism. He remains passionate about his homeland and the mountain cultures of the Himalayas in general. 

Pankaj is a co-owner and head chef at restaurant Syah – a boutique restaurant started in Ladakh and now running in Udaipur. In addition to being a restra-preneur, he is exploring his passion in teaching. Pankaj strives to take learning by doing to an all new level.

She is a linguist who has recently published a dictionary of Ladakhi Colloquial language called the “rangSkat”. She has been living in Ladakh for more than 26 years, and had been an integral part of development of SECMOL – the alternative educational institute in Ladakh. She is also a Gardener with a passion for wild herbs and plants.

Wendy Driver was deputy travel editor of The Mail on Sunday for 30 years (The Mail on Sunday being the largest UK Sunday with a circulation of 2 million. Wendy brings a rich experienced based perspective on travel journalism.