CEO

Bharati is a communications and resource mobilisation expert with 23 years of experience working with more than 300 nonprofits in South Asia and Africa. 

Prior to joining FIAPO, Bharati ran a consulting firm called Barapani that worked with several rights movements, including in tough geographies such as Afghanistan. She is a huge advocate for animal rights, with a keen interest in the intersection of rights movements.  

HEAD - ANIMAL HEALTH & WELFARE

Dinesh is a veterinary professional with over 18 years of experience in animal welfare at national and international organisations. Dinesh currently heads animal health and welfare at FIAPO, and oversees our work with companion animals, working animals, and membership development and capacity building. He also looks at all our work through the lens of animal welfare and veterinary sciences. Dinesh is passionate about promoting evidence-based veterinary practices, capacity building, and research. He has published several papers at various forums, including in a renowned journal. Although he loves all animals, he has a special place in his heart for horses. When he’s not working, Dinesh cools off by listening to music and playing badminton.

HEAD - LEGAL

Varnika is a practising advocate with 15 years of diverse legal experience. She holds LL.M. degrees in Animal Laws from Lewis & Clark Law School, Portland, and National Law University, Bhopal. Her expertise spans animal laws, IPR, human rights, and consumer protection. She has worked with the Delhi Commission for Women, managing the rape crisis cell, and has handled high-profile litigation, including street dog welfare, the banning of Jallikattu, and animals in circuses. Outside of work, Varnika enjoys yoga/ayurvedic retreats, travelling, and reading. She loves animals, with cows, dolphins, elephants, pandas, jaguars, and peacocks among her favourites.

SR. MANAGER - FINANCE

Reena is a one-person power-house who handles all our accounting and finance. Reena has been with FIAPO for close to 10 years and is passionate about our work. Reena works hard to keep herself updated on her subject and is keen on learning new things. FIAPO helped Reena connect with animals. When she’s not working, she plays with her daughter. She loves travelling and exploring new places. 

HEAD - COMMUNICATIONS

Sonia has 15+ years of experience in writing and communications. Her articles have appeared in publications such as The Times of India, Indian Express, Mint Lounge and The Wall Street Journal, among others. Her role at FIAPO spans the length and breadth of communications — social media posts and management, running campaigns, writing newsletters, press releases, and articles, and liaising for media partnerships and special projects. In her free time, she loves binge-watching shows and trying new vegan recipes for her daughter's lunchbox!

CAMPAIGNS COORDINATOR

Jagriti manages FIAPO’s campaign with educational institutions, advocating for animal rights and welfare within educational bodies. With her years of experience in inspiring and bringing together students for the cause of animals, Jagriti is an invaluable part of our vegan advocacy work. In her spare time, she loves spending time with animals, cycling, and just sitting by the beach or lakeside, to relax and recharge.

COORDINATOR - MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

Akarsh is the one on our team who knows every member organisation of FIAPO. He inducts new NGOs into the federation, supports existing members, and puts together workshops and webinars to build capacity. Animals have played a big role in Akarsh’s life since 2017, helping him transition to a cruelty-free life. He frequently rescues dogs, cats, and calves from accidents, cruelty, or confinement. His family has joined his parade too, feeding close to 30 dogs every day. Akarsh loves writing, music, watching documentaries, and listening to podcasts.

LEGAL ASSOCIATE

Khuloos holds an LL.M. in Alternative Dispute Resolution from Jindal Global Law School and a B.Com. LL.B. (H) from Amity Law School, Noida, where she graduated as a Silver Medallist and Best All-Round Student. At FIAPO, she engages in litigation, drafting policy, legal research, and emergency response for animal cruelty cases. She handles RTIs, drafts petitions, and assists with cases like Jallikattu and circuses, collaborating with senior counsel and guiding on various legal solutions. 

Outside of work, she enjoys cooking and baking for friends and family.

ASSISTANT MANAGER - HR & ADMIN

Sanjay has over 25 years of experience in IT and administration, and plays a multi-faceted role in FIAPO, assisting with IT, tech assets, data management, as well as donor and activist retention. In the past he played a key role in FIAPO’s emergency response unit.  When he’s not juggling these roles at work, Sanjay likes the outdoors and loves dogs!

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

A graphic design with experience in creating digital and communication content for brands and non-profits, Mahesh ji, as he's fondly called by colleagues, is as affable as he is talented. 

Anamika started with FIAPO as part of the model district programme in Bathinda, and now also is part of our membership development programme in North-West India. Anamika is driven by a desire to advance the animal rights movement at this intersectional stage in India. Her journey has been one of intense unlearning, learning and relearning the nuances of transforming perceptions, influencing the eco-system and bringing incremental changes in the way non-human citizens are seen and treated in this country.

Mukesh Kishor is an advocate and graduate of Delhi University's Faculty of Law. He has built his legal career around a deep commitment to justice and equity in society. His professional philosophy centres on ensuring that every person, regardless of their background, receives dignified and equitable treatment under the law.

His advocacy work reflects a broad vision of justice that encompasses both human rights and animal welfare. He brings both legal expertise and emotional intelligence to complex cases, approaching each matter with careful attention to its human dimensions. Throughout his practice, he has maintained high ethical standards while working to promote fairness and inclusion across all areas of society. Mukesh loves dogs.

Mr Abodh Aras is the Chief Executive Officer of The Welfare Of Stray Dogs (WSD). He has an MBA in Marketing and also has a degree in Hotel Management and Arts. Abodh has worked in the corporate sector with companies like DHL Worldwide Express, managing customer services and sales. His passion for animals led him to quit the corporate sector and join The Welfare of Stray Dogs, an organisation that pioneered the Animal Birth Control programme in Mumbai. He loves Mumbai and knows the street dogs by name. Abodh is a founding Trustee of FIAPO.

Ms Norma Alvares is an advocate of the Bombay High Court and an activist and campaigner on social issues. Over the past two decades, she has argued, pro bono, over a hundred public interest litigation cases, tirelessly taking up issues concerning environment pollution, animal rights, and women's issues. She was instrumental in obtaining judicial orders banning the killing of stray dogs and the cruel sport of bullfighting in Goa. During the mid-nineties, she started the Goa branch of People for Animals. She has served as a member of the Committee for the Purpose of Supervision and Control of Experiments on Animals for three terms. In 2002, Norma was awarded the Padma Shri for her work for the protection of animals and the environment. Norma is a founding Trustee of FIAPO.

Mr Mofatraj Munot is the Founder-Chairperson of the Kalpataru Group of Companies, and former President of the Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry. The first generation entrepreneur is also a committed philanthropist. Mr Munot is the Managing Trustee of Munot Foundation. He has been actively advocating the cause of animal welfare by supporting organisations that help and protect animals in distress.

Yogita Verma has more than 20 years of experience in marketing, communications and fundraising across the corporate and non-profit sectors. She was formerly heading Resource Mobilisation and Communications at Breakthrough, India. Yogita has worked with organisations like CRY, Hindustan Times, and Nestle. She is currently a Director with NetImpact Solutions.

Mini Vasudevan is the Founder and Managing Trustee of Humane Animal Society (HAS), Coimbatore. An engineer by training and an ardent animal lover, Mini was involved in animal welfare activities for several years, both in India and abroad, before co-founding HAS in 2006. She has been awarded the Nari Shakti Puraskar.

Alok Hisarwala Gupta is a lawyer, activist, and researcher working on LGBTi and animal rights. He is the founder of the Centre for Research on Animal Rights. Alok has practised as a civil liberties lawyer in the Bombay High Court for over 10 years. He graduated as a lawyer from the University of Bombay, with a semester at the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa; and has a Masters in Law from Columbia University, New York. Alok has written widely on section 377 of the Indian Penal Code that criminalised homosexuality in India and was part of the legal challenge against it.

Mr Nawshir Mirza has been an independent director on the boards of various companies including in the Tata Group, Mphasis, Exide, and Thermax. In 2024, after a 25-year career of professional independent directorship, he decided to devote all his time to the voluntary sector. Nawshir has been on the board of The Energy Resources Institute (TERI), amongst other NGOs. Nawshir is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. He was with S.R.Batliboi & Co./Ernst & Young, from 1967 till his (early) retirement in April 2003, in its Calcutta and Mumbai offices. He also worked in the London office. Nawshir was the India head of Jardine Matheson Ltd. for over 10 years after retiring from the accountancy profession. He also played the role of Managing Trustee of Childline India Foundation for about 10 years.

CHAIR - EMERITUS

Dr. Chinny Krishna is the Chairman Emeritus of FIAPO. He was a co-founder of the Blue Cross of India and the Vice Chair of the AWBI (Animal Welfare Board of India) for two terms. Noted for his remarkable work for animals, Dr Krishna has received Lifetime Achievement Awards from Asia for Animals, Humane Society International IndiaI, and The Middle East Network for Animal Welfare, among others. He is also the recipient of the Jeev Daya Puraskar and the Prani Mitra Life Time Award from the Government of India. 

The Chairperson of Aspick Engineering, Dr Krishna is referred to as ‘The Grand Old Man of Animal Welfare in India’.

Erika Abrams is co-founder, along with husband Jim and daughter Claire, of Animal Aid Unlimited, a hospital and sanctuary for street animals in Udaipur established in 2002. Their team of all-Indian staff and volunteers from around the world have treated 65,000 dogs, cows and donkeys, pigs, cats and birds. Erika worked as a development writer in health care and education prior to starting Animal Aid, and she feels that animals themselves have been her greatest teachers about their needs, the abominable impact humans continue to have on them, and the profound help humans can be to them by joining hands in animal rights actions. She played a leading role in founding FIAPO in order to facilitate national and international animal rights and welfare campaigns through coalition-building and networking. 

Awarded with Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur `Knight in the order of the legions of Honor' which is the highest award from France, Anjali Gopalan is Indian Human Rights and Animal Rights activist, founder and executive director of The Naz Foundation (India) Trust, an NGO dedicated to the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic in India. This led on to changing the lives of LGBT and women’s and children those who live with HIV positive. Anjali Gopalan has worked on issues of HIV/AIDS and marginalised communities in the United States. 

Sathya serves on the Board of Blue Cross of India which is one of India's oldest and largest animal welfare organisations. An MBA in Marketing from the University of Mumbai he has over 14 years experience in the corporate sector in Advertising, Marketing and Senior Management roles with MNCs like Nissan, Mitsubishi and General Motors.