Janki Andharia, Professor and Head, Department of Urban and Rural Community Development, Tata Institute of Social Sciences
Dr. Janki Andharia has 21 years of rich experience in the field of community and social development, socio-economic planning, gender issues, advocacy, social policy and participatory strategies. She is actively involved with a number of field projects, civil society organizations, and serves on the Managing Committee of several organizations. She has been teaching at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) for over 19 years.
Prof. Andharia's diverse assignments include policy-oriented research focused on participatory development, unorganized labor, gender, disaster mitigation measures, resettlement and rehabilitation issues, and environmental concerns. She has conducted a number of training programs in collaboration with both government and non-governmental organizations. More recently, her focus has been on disaster mitigation, and she was instrumental in planning, organizing and executing a Rapid Assessment Exercise commissioned by the Government of Gujarat soon after the Gujarat Earthquake, 2001. She has been on the forefront of disaster mangement mitigation work and has lead teams to disaster areas, including the Andaman and Nicobar Islands after the tsunami.
Her varied experience and active involvement in a number of field action projects and her serving on the Managing Committee of several organizations has enabled her to introduce innovations in the teaching of the social work curriculum. This has broadened and enhanced the interface between courses and the field.
Andharia has a Ph.D from the School of Environment Sciences, University of East Anglia, U.K. Her international assignments include a multidisciplinary Social Fabric study for the Mauritius Research Council and conducting a series of lectures for bureaucrats from Ethiopia on community development.
Areas of interest: Human security and social aspects of development; poverty, local democracy and community organization; gender sensitivity; disaster management; environmental politics; institutional processes; social planning and policy (governance).
Steve Leventhal, Director of External Relations, Fritz Institute
Steve Leventhal brings a rich background serving as an executive and strategic consultant in the US and Asia with start-ups, Fortune 500 firms, and global nonprofit organizations. Most recently at Population Services International (PSI), Leventhal brought together leading global private and public health partners to launch an innovative web-based medical training program for healthcare workers in developing countries in Africa and Asia. Much of Leventhal's previous work has resulted in the building of expansive new services and opportunities in the areas of public health services and training, online commercial marketplaces, web-based learning communities, and K-12 education. Leventhal previously served as vice president of marketing and business development at ENX Inc. Prior to that he held senior management positions at Philips Electronics and Point Asia. He has a BA in Asian Studies from Washington University and is fluent in Mandarin Chinese.
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