Meenakshi Menon is a media, marketing, and advertising professional with over 30 years of experience under her belt and a track record for building successful businesses in new niches. Before she launched Spatial Access in 2003, Meenakshi has been at the helm of marketing initiatives with companies like Lintas India Ltd. (now Lowe), Zee TV and Carat India.

Her passion for social entrepreneurship, activism and economic empowerment led her to co-found Social Access - a communications practice that focuses on helping NGOs and Non-Profits build impactful strategies. She is also the founder and trustee at Vanashakti, an environmental conservation NGO established to instil a sense of responsibility amongst citizens.

Meenakshi is the recipient of many marketing and advertising awards such as Business Today’s ‘India’s 25 Most Powerful Women in Business’ in 2003 and has been named among the ‘Most Influential People in Media

Namita started her career at the JWT, India, in the seventies. She worked her way up, starting as a copy trainee and going on to become the JWT India’s youngest Creative Director. A breaker of creative boundaries, Namita spearheaded many groundbreaking campaigns. Thirteen years later, in 1987, she left the comforts and sureties of the JWT bosom to start White Light, her own film production company in Mumbai, in 1987. White Light has ranked consistently amongst the top five in the Indian advertising filmmaking industry for the last twenty years and has produced some of India’s most outstanding, memorable, and effective commercials since its inception.

As a way of paying back some of the debt and for the privilege of working in a profession, which allows you to have so much fun for free, Namita has held training workshops for agencies, clients, film schools and institutes.

She also directs and produces films pro bono for anyone with a worthy public service cause, many times giving her time and talent for free. She has made films on subjects as varied as domestic violence, child literacy and welfare, child labour, population control, eve teasing, sexual harassment, domestic violence, saving the tiger, oral rehydration and forest and water conservation.

Namita has also been a long time jury member for the Film/Television Category at the ABBY, India’s premier advertising awards. At present, she is also on the Board of Governors of Art Borderline Foundation, an initiative to promote cross-cultural, cross-border arts and crafts in India and abroad.

Peter spent 40 extremely interesting years transiting through a variety of organisations and human endeavours (catering, hospitality, tourism, software development, transportation) and developed an open and analytical approach to the problems of work in different theatres of human effort.

For him, the first imperative of conservation was the recognition of the irreplaceable nature of the environment and the fact that it cannot be repaired – and that human life has to be one of great respect and reverence for all living beings and natural processes.

Stalin D. has a postgraduate degree in Business Management and a B.Sc. (Chemistry) from Mumbai University. A passionate environmentalist, he spends endless hours on the ground to protect the last remaining fragments of Biodiversity left in our country. He heads the activities of conservation undertaken by Vanashakti.

Uma Shanker Singh, an esteemed member of the Indian Forest Service, boasts over three decades of dedicated service across a multitude of roles and responsibilities. His expertise spans Sustainable Forest Management, Forest Economics, Public Administration, and Climate Change Mitigation, among others.

With a stellar academic background including M.Sc. in Botany and Forestry, coupled with certifications in Environmental Impact Assessment and extensive research culminating in a Ph.D. and D.Sc., Dr. Singh has solidified his reputation as a leading authority in his field. Throughout his illustrious career, Dr. Singh has held key positions such as Director at the Planning Commission (now NITI Aayog), where he played a pivotal role in formulating the 9th Five Year Plan. He has also made significant contributions to various initiatives including the National River Action Plan and Island Development Authority, under the direct supervision of the Prime Minister of India. His exceptional leadership and expertise have been recognized with prestigious awards and honors, including Mathur's Gold Medal and the Governor's Medal. Notably, Dr. Singh's dedication extends beyond his professional duties, as evidenced by his extensive research contributions, mentoring of Ph.D. students. Dr. Uma Shanker Singh's multifaceted contributions to the Indian Forest Service and his unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship stand as a testament to his exemplary leadership and dedication to the betterment of society and the preservation of our natural resources. 

Pawan Patil, an accomplished professional with a Bachelor's degree in Zoology and a Master's degree in Environmental Science, is a dedicated contributor to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. With a profound commitment to environmental conservation, he actively leads and oversees the implementation of CSR programs within the organization. Pawan is specifically focused on forest, mangrove, and coastal conservation efforts, ensuring their seamless and effective execution. His expertise lies in harmonizing organizational objectives with sustainable practices, making a valuable impact on both corporate initiatives and environmental stewardship.

Firdos Khan holds a postgraduate degree in Environmental Sciences and specializes as an expert in the identification of butterflies. With a focus on Education, Outreach, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, Firdos is dedicated to ensuring the successful implementation of these activities.

With five years of dedicated experience in the field of Environmental Science, this professional possesses a robust background in educating graduate and post-graduate students, complemented by extensive research initiatives focused on diverse aspects of environmental science and biodiversity. Academic qualifications include a bachelor’s degree in Zoology and a postgraduate degree in Environmental Science, with successful completion of the NET and SLET exams in the environmental science domain, showcasing a high level of proficiency and dedication to the subject.

In addition to academic achievements, active involvement with NGOs, schools, and colleges highlights a commitment to practical application of environmental principles and the promotion of sustainability initiatives. This individual's diverse background reflects a profound passion for environmental education, research, and conservation, which is consistently applied to every professional endeavor. Furthermore, expertise in implementing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects and seamlessly integrating sustainability components underscores a valuable contribution to environmental stewardship.

Ms. Chitra Subhash Mhaske, a dedicated professional with a passion for biodiversity, wildlife conservation, and education. Armed with a postgraduate degree in MSC Biodiversity, Wildlife Conservation, and Management, she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role as Project Officer - Education at Vanashakti. With a focus on fostering environmental awareness, she actively engages with schools and colleges, imparting crucial lessons on conservation and sustainability. As a botanist, her deep understanding of plant life enriches her efforts in environmental education, making her a valued advocate for our natural world

Zaman Ali, a law graduate (B.A.LLB) from Jindal Global Law School, NCR Delhi. Having completed various courses on business, media and arbitration laws in India, USA and Germany, a keen interest in environmental laws allows him to give a holistic approach to environmental issues in all sectors.

a Law Graduate (B. Com LLB) from Thakur Ramnarayan College of Law (TRCL), Mumbai, Maharashtra. Along with having an independent practice of his own, his profound love and affection towards the environment has imbibed within him a sense of responsibility towards the mother nature and hence through his legal acumen he endeavors to make significant contribution towards the environmental causes.