I joined WWF-India in 2014 as Associate Director of the Species & Landscapes Programme. I am presently the Director of the Wildlife and Habitats Programme. As the head of the programme, I play a key role in designing strategies that enable the implementation of effective conservation action across all nine landscapes that the programme works in across India. My role includes programme development, project design and management, fund raising and human resource management for the programme.    

I have a keen interest in understanding how wildlife in our priority landscapes is impacted by landuse change, changes in legislation and policies, local community attitudes and perceptions of wildlife and other developments and in finding ways in which these might be influenced and harnessed to further the cause of wildlife conservation. I am a great advocate of inclusive conservation and strongly believe that local communities have and can play an even bigger role in protecting India’s wildlife and natural spaces.      

Prior to working with WWF India, I was associated for over a decade with the Foundation for Ecological Security (FES) where I played various roles, including liaison and networking with central ministries, state governments and donor agencies. I have also led a field team of FES working in southern Rajasthan to design and implement projects and programmes focused on forest and biodiversity conservation, community based forest and natural resource management and activities aimed at improving incomes and livelihoods of the predominantly tribal communities of the region.  

I have also briefly worked in the North Eastern state of Meghalaya where I was leading a team implementing projects aimed at securing the habitat of Asian Elephants in the Garo Hills Elephant Reserve. My association with the region continued with FES and I was closely involved in supporting their North East Regional Team and the work to secure community conserved areas in Nagaland.    

A short stint early in my career with Sanctuary Asia magazine triggered off an interest in exploring ways for effective protected area (PA) management including options for co-management of PAs, co-existence of wildlife and humans, and wildlife conservation beyond PA boundaries. I continue to learn and explore ways in which these aims may be successfully achieved in an increasingly challenging environment.