An eminent educationist Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai (b. 1949) is Chairman of Nagrik Foundation.

He is former Chairman of University Grants Commission, an apex higher education body in India; Vice- Chancellor, Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi, holding simultaneously the position as Chairman of Distance Education Council, Govt. of India, and Vice-Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam with additional charge of the Cochin University of Science and Technology.

Prof Pillai also held various other high level positions in India and abroad, including that of Principal Secretary, Science & Technology, Govt. of Kerala; Executive Vice-President, Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment; Chairman, Kerala Coastal Zone Management Authority, and the Kerala Biotechnology Commission.

Prof V.N.Rajasekharan Pillai was earlier Executive Director of National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC); Visiting Research Professor, University of Lausanne, Switzerland; Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, University of Tubigen and Mainz, Germany.

He is an elected Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences; Distinguished Fellow of Kerala Academy of Sciences and Fellow of Royal Society of Chemistry, among others.

Prof. Deepak Dwivedi is a seasoned journalist, scholar and social activist. His scholarly contributions for poverty eradication and sustainable development touch the ground reality of poverty and development in Indian context.

During more than his 25 years career in journalism Prof. Dwivedi has worked with many leading newspapers and journals such as Jansatta Express, Indian Express Group, Voice of Lucknow Daily, Amar Ujala, Mid-Day, Rashtriya Sahara, Blitz Weekly etc. He is accredited with Press Information Bureau, Central Government and Indian Parliament with mandatory privileges and facilities ensuring free access to all Ministries, Departments of Central and State Governments, Semi- Government offices in furtherance with his journalistic duties and excellence.

His recent book ‘Empowering the Marginalized,’ which was released by Hon’ble Vice President of India Mr. Hamid Ansari on 26th July 2017 is followed by the launch of international edition at 15th Anniversary Rhodes Forum, which has received global applaud for its comprehensive and practical approach to integrate and address the root-cause of poverty instead treating the indicator.

Accredited with the UN Global Compact, the foundation is working with many national and international organisations on various development issues. Senior journalists, academicians, government officials and experts are associated with the foundation and helping it in achieving its goals under the leadership of our chairman and our Founding President.

Prof. Ronald E. Berenbien
Presently Adjunct Professor New York University Stern School of Business and Sr. Fellow Conference Board, USA

Dr. Markanday Rai
Currently Sr. Advisor, UN Habitat. Formerly Chief of the U.N. Inter-Agency Coordination, Global Parliamentarians and Trade Unions programme of UN-HABITAT based in Nairobi, Kenya

Prof. Wolfgang C. Amann
Professor and Academic Programme Director at HEC Paris, Doha Qatar.

Dr. K Janardhanam
Professor and Director, Canara Bank School of Management Studies, Bangalore University.

Prof. Shiv K.Tripathi
Sr. Professor and Dean, CMR University, Bangalore. Formerly Vice Chancellor, Mahatma Gandhi University Meghalaya.

Mr. Milenko Gudic
Coordinator, PRME –Working Group on Anti Poverty and Founder Director International Management Teachers Academy.

Mr. Praveen Maharaj
CEO Oval Education, Durban South Africa.

Prof. Faustin R Kamuzora
Permanent Secretary, Vice President Office, Govt. of Tanzania

Mr. Krishna Kulshreshta
Director, Integral Global Resources Pte. Ltd, Singapore & Australia

Mr. Kannan Krishnaswamy
Comunication Manager, The George Institute for Global Health.