Board Members

Dr. Sailakshmi Balijepally

Founder

Late Dr. Sailakshmi Balijepally, a visionary pediatrician, dedicated her life to diminishing child mortality among the most impoverished by improving their access to quality healthcare.

Her work wasn’t just a profession; it was a crusade to uplift the most vulnerable. Dr. Balijepally pioneered a holistic approach, intertwining communities, schools, universities, and public health providers to foster health awareness, promote proactive health-seeking behaviours, and ensure care that was inclusive, accountable, and effective. Her focus on neonatal and paediatric care wasn’t just a medical endeavour, it was a heartfelt mission to give every child a fighting chance at life.

Her strategy was one of partnership and collaboration. Dr. Balijepally earned the trust of the government medical system by not only identifying but also solving some of its most daunting challenges. She worked within the system, leveraging existing government budgets and schemes, to address critical governance and management needs. This approach wasn’t about circumventing the system but strengthening it from within.

As the Founder and Managing Trustee of her organization, Dr. Balijepally’s leadership and dedication were unwavering. Her efforts were recognized nationally when she was honored with the prestigious “Nari Shakti Puraskar” by the President of India in 2015. This accolade was a testament to her relentless pursuit of a better world for children.

Dr. Sailakshmi Balijepally’s legacy is a testament to the power of compassionate healthcare and the impact of a life dedicated to serving the most vulnerable. Her vision continues to inspire and guide efforts towards a world where every child has the opportunity to thrive.

Mrs. Hemalatha Rajan

Chairman & Trustee

A Finance professional with over 20 years of experience in Finance, Audit and Executive Search, she is the Managing Director of MaFoi Educational Services.

She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce from the Nagpur University and earned an FCA degree prior to working as an Auditor.

Hemalatha Rajan is the co-founder of Ma Foi Management Consultants Limited and has played a pivotal role in building Ma Foi into an organization which works with passion, integrity, transparency and commitment. She is one of the founding members of Ekam.

Mr. Afzal

Trustee

He is an inspiring man with 35 years of experience in the Transport Industry. His vivid knowledge leads us to the Asia’s first e-ticketing services.

His foresight of the market trends and incredible business ethics has contributed many awards and laurels to the company.He has joined as a Trustee of Ekam Foundation in June 2018.

Dr. Prahalathan KK

Managing Trustree, Ekam Foundation

Dr. Prahalathan is a Social Innovator, Impact Leader, and Doctor – Opthalmologist in Chennai,
India. He has 15 years of experience of volunteer management and fundraising.

He has co-founded Bhumi, an NGO enabling people across India to volunteer for education and civic issues.He created a sustainable model that engages over 30,000 volunteers across 30 cities in India. Heis an Acumen Fellow. He has been awarded ‘Charity Leadership Excellence Award 2021’, ‘RennyAbraham Tanker Foundation Love for Service Award’ in Jan 2020. He has also been awarded ‘LNMishra New India Change Maker Award’ in Jan 2019 from honorable former president of India ShriPranab Mukherjee.

Staff

Sridhar Emmadi

President

Areas of focus / interest: Strong operations leader with 22 years’ experience. Built & optimize processes, manage & lead teams in large scale organizations

Demonstrated track record of establishing large scale operations from scratch and quickly scaling them effectively to create sustainable business. Assertive and enthusiastic, with extensive knowledge of process optimization and an unsurpassed work ethics

No. of years of experience: 22 Years

Past brands worked for: IQVIA, Piramal, Indus Towers, Ericsson, Tata Tele Services and VSNL

Any special skills or areas of specialization, hobby: Data Science and AI, loves to travel and read detective novels

Subhashree R

Vice Preseident – Partnerships

Areas of focus / interest: Love Designing innovative Programmes & Fundraising to Strengthen Maternal and Child health

Passionate Healthcare Leader with a demonstrated history of working in the hospital & health care industry and has a proven success leading product marketing and internal communication .Skilled in Medical Devices, Technical Demonstrations, Healthcare Management, Public Health Program Designing.

No. of years of experience: 12

Past brands worked for: Larsen & Toubro Limited ( Medical Devices ) , TriMedx, Phoenix Medical Systems

Any special skills or areas of specialization, hobby: Gardening , Pencil Sketch

Ch.Kamakshi Kumari

Vice President – Rest of India

Areas of Focus / Interest: Program Management, Partnerships, Advocacy and Liasioning
No. of years of experience: 24 years

Past brands worked for: APMAS,CHAI, Dr.Reddys Foundation, Magic Bus, HLFPPT

Any special skills or areas of specialization, hobby: HR , Marketing, Procurement and Nutrition

Mrs. Mythili Nandakumar,

BPT, MIAP, MD (Acu), MBA (HM), M.Sc. (VT), DYG
Vice President – Academy and TN Operations

Areas of focus / interest: Holistic healing, working with grassroot level teams and organizations, interested in working with children, interested in upgrading self to the technological and academic advancements relevant to the field of work.

No. of years of experience: 19 years

Past brands worked for: Rapid Care, Cybrus Technologies, SPi Technologies, Spryance, Payir Trust, Pain and Stroke, Pink

Any special skills or areas of specialization, hobby: Exploring alternative healing techniques, reading, drawing, listening to music and enjoying nature.

Rashmi Thakkar

Vice President – Grants

Areas of focus / interest: A strong developmental professional with 22 years’ experience in program management, monitoring and evaluation, communications and applied research.

A process-focused, meticulous and an assertive content creator who is extremely passionate about maternal-child health and nutrition. Extensive knowledge and experience in developing low-cost innovative models that are sustainable, scalable and strongly rooted in a rights-based approach and strengthens the health systems.

No. of years of experience: 22 Years

Past brands worked for: Committed Communities Development Trust, Centre For Enquiry into Health and Allied Themes (CEHAT), Tata Institute of Social Sciences

Any special skills or areas of specialization, hobby: Loves to read and listen to music An enthusiast

R. Mohan

Vice President – Finance

Areas of focus / interest: Budget Management, Risk management, Problem solving, Decision-making, Forecasting and Strategic planning.

No. of years of experience: 30 Years

Past brands worked for: George Oakes Ltd (Simpson & Co), RKKR Steels Ltd and Nahar Foundation (P) Ltd

Any special skills or areas of specialization, hobby: Interested for Photography, Music and Sports (Cricket)

R Rajesh

General Manager – Projects

Areas of focus / interest: I am strong in Project Management. I have 14 years of experience in various departments in the organization.

Now I am Strengthening the field team members based on organization & personal goals, to create a healthy environment and make them work happily and sustainably.

No. of years of experience: 14 Years

Past brands worked for: The Mafoi Foundation, Virudhunagar

Any special skills or areas of specialization, hobby: Motivator, Ultra Runner, Rock claimer, Mountaineer & read tamil historical and Management books

K.Shanmugam

General Manager – Projects

Areas of focus / interest: Experienced Team lead with Implementation of social out reach projects, Strong in building and networking with govt,

corporate stake holders, Strong professional skill in CSR. Expertise in the Health, Education and Livelihood Sector Programme

No. of years of experience: 14 Years

Past brands worked for: TANSACS, SAATHII & CSR- Equitas Banking

Any special skills or areas of specialization, hobby: Organising Mass Events, Travel is my therapy, Nature lover

Prabakaran. C

Zonal Officer, TN East Zone

Areas of focus / interest: Community ownership and lead of the field team last 5 years.

No. of years of experience: 8 Year’s

Past brands worked for: TANSACS (Tamil nadu State AIDS Control Society) – Thanjavur Any special skills or areas of specialization, hobby: Reporting writing, Singing Songs.

Mahamuni P

Consultant, Trichy District

Areas of focus / interest: I am Strong in Field Work , I have 11 Years of experience in the Organization.

No. of years of experience: 11 Years

Past brands worked for: Hand in Hand India , Kanchipuram.

Any special skills or areas of specialization, hobby: Handle the Training , Commitment , Creative and Smart work.

Karthik S

Zonal Officer, TN North Zone

Areas of focus / interest: Community changes and ownership and lead of the field team last 5 years.

No. of years of experience: 10 Year’s

Past brands worked for: Payir Trust

Any special skills or areas of specialization, hobby: Report maker and love the bike and car ride and trekking the hills

Anbarasan K

Zonal Officer, TN South Zone

Areas of focus / interest: SWBI Project, lead and support for livelihood, EYA, Equipment project areas in TN

No. of years of experience: 9 Years & 8 Months

Past brands worked for: Ngos sectors – (MIS Officer in Population foundation of India- HIV/AIDS Project, Virudhunagar District – 3 Years), (Staff in Aspire Foundation – Education Project, Dindigul District – 1 Year)

Any special skills or areas of specialization, hobby: Organised community meetings and activities, rapport with stakeholders, hearing songs, interest in finance management and cooking

Shobana. K

Asst. Manager – Partnerships

Areas of focus / interest: Skilled on Patient Welfare Management and Donor communication, Fundraising to support children with different ailments and for deserving students to continue their education,

Social Media Management, Flexibility and willingness to learn, Ability to do multitasking, to work with people from different departments, Event Scheduling & Organizing.

No. of years of experience: 09 Years 05 Months

Past brands worked for: Nil

Any special skills or areas of specialization, hobby: Digital marketing materials designing

S. Prabakaran

Asst Manager – Accounts

Areas of focus / interest: Record Keeping, Policy Implementation, negotiation skills, Vendor Management, Office Management, Supplier relationship management.

No. of years of experience: 9 years

Past brands worked for: CADD Centre India Pvt Ltd

Any special skills or areas of specialization, hobby: Playing Volleyball

Priyadharshini. V

Patient Welfare Officer

Areas of focus / interest: Referral follow up and patient welfare tracker maintaining. Communicating with doctors to enquire about referrals and to get medical opinion for childrens treatment.

Coordinating with the drug Vendors to enquire about drugs and equipment/ consumables. Preparation of Appeals and Success story of our beneficiaries. Hospital visits & Funding follow up with other Charitable Organizations.

No. of years of experience: 4 Years

Past brands worked for: Aditya Trading Solutions (ATS).

Any special skills or areas of specialization, hobby: Listening music, travelling, shopping and designing a material.

M Radhakrishna

Projects & HR

Areas of focus / interest: Strong Human resources information and payroll, statutory compliance, Program Management in varius project and Strengthening community-based health volunteers.

No. of years of experience: 14 Years

Past brands worked for: The Mafoi Foundation, Virudhunagar.

Any special skills or areas of specialization, hobby: Drawing, Music and Traveling

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