MALLIKA KAVIRATNE, CHAIR
A public health researcher specialising in infectious diseases, Dr Kaviratne completed her PhD at the University of London and has worked at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, USA. She also holds a Master’s in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and hopes that through her experience she can add value to St Jude India ChildCare Centres (UK).
BRIAN HARGREAVES
Dr Hargreaves has held senior roles in Private Equity for 3i plc and earlier in his career, international roles with large pharmaceutical corporates including AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline. He currently advises several investment houses and is an NED Oxford BioNetworks (OBN). Originally trained as pharmacist, he also holds a PhD and was a Lecturer in Pharmacy at Manchester University. He is a member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and the Royal Society of Medicine.
CHARLOTTE STEPHENS-HODGE, SECRETARY
Mrs Stephens-Hodge has been travelling in India since 1997 and it is a place that truly holds a special place in her heart. She has previously spent time in Northern Goa working on a street child rescue programme and now feels very honoured to have become a Trustee for St Jude India ChildCare Centres (UK). She is passionate about raising funds and spreading the word to help St Judes continue with their amazing work. She assists in a number of areas including social media and technology, and also by personally raising funds via sporting challenges, most recently a half marathon.
POONAM MITTAL
Dr Mittal has spent more than 20 years working with local and multinational companies to understand customer needs and brand values & strategic issues. She has an academic background in food and nutrition, and an abiding interest in giving back to society, especially individuals who have limited opportunities. To this end, she and her husband have set up their own charitable foundation aimed at improving the education and healthcare among India's less fortunate. Dr Mittal will be involved in helping develop brand and communication strategies for St Jude India ChildCare Centres (UK).
MANISA JAIN, TREASURER
Ms Jain’s previous experience is within financial services and banking. Following that, she pursued a course in Philanthropy & Social Investment at Cass Business School to be greater aligned with her next role. She has grown up inspired by her family members who are active in many charitable causes. As a trustee, Ms Jain aspires to bring St Judes, a very noteworthy cause, in front of many others. It is a blessing to be supporting children from deprived rural areas to get a chance at cancer treatment in a dignified way.
RITA SHANKARDASS
Rita Shankardass LLB Hons is a qualified English lawyer spending 20 years in the international banking sector (inc Magic Circle law firm Allen & Overy and currently a Director at HSBC Bank plc). Rita advises Governments on trade & and asset finance and infrastructural projects plus implementation of legal and regulatory changes, operational risk management. and regularly engages with UK Regulatory bodies. Having spent years in the private sector, Mrs Shankardass is passionate about putting her legal and organisational skills to use for the benefit of those less privileged in India (where she was born) and supporting St Jude India ChildCare Centres (UK) expansion, with the aim of increasing the number of suffering children that can receive long term medical assistance. She is an alumnus of The University of London, UCL.
PREETHI SURESH
Ms. Suresh has worked in a variety of roles across the finance sector over a decade in New York, Singapore, and London. Trained as an economist, with an MS in Development Economics and International Development from SOAS, University of London, she has also written for Investor's Chronicle, a Financial Times publication. She embarked on further study and a freelance career in international contemporary art in 2023 championing emerging artists to global audiences while working on arts & culture exhibitions and projects for global organisations, institutions, and foundations.