Dr Ruth DeFries is a professor of ecology and sustainable development at Columbia University in New York and co-founding dean of the Columbia Climate School. Her research aims to contribute to realistic pathways for people and nature to thrive. She has been connected to the Central Indian landscape for more than fifteen years. She has received many honors for her scientific research and is also an author committed to communicating the nuances and complexities of sustainable development to popular audiences. She founded and continues to direct the Network for Conserving Central India.  Read more about Prof DeFries here. 

Dr. Amrita Neelakantan is a conservation scientist with over 19 years of experience focused on human-nature interactions and connectivity conservation. Her doctoral research around Kanha National Park emphasized the importance of stable incomes in achieving food security and sustainable forest use for both resettled and non-resettled communities. A founding member of the Network for Conserving Central India, she plays a key role in advancing efforts in connectivity and biocultural conservation. Her past work spans global biodiversity hotspots, including extensive fieldwork in Ecuador, Kenya, and Madagascar, and she has led multi-country initiatives to integrate development and conservation goals.

With nearly a decade of experience and an MSc in Environment and International Development, Mansi leads NCCI’s Agrodiversity & Livelihoods vertical. Over the past 3.5 years, she has worked with NCCI in various roles, most recently as Network Coordinator. Her work now sits at the intersection of traditional knowledge, agrodiversity, and sustainable livelihoods in Central India, grounded in the region’s ecological realities.

Her role combines strategy, coordination, research, and relationship-building, rooted in a belief in bottom-up approaches to development and conservation. She also helps shape the Agrodiversity & Livelihoods vertical in alignment with NCCI’s broader vision of ‘Jugalbandi’ between people and nature. 

​Prajakta Hushangabadkar is a wildlife biologist with 14 years of experience working across India’s most biodiverse landscapes, from the Central Indian highlands to the Terai Arc. She began her work as a volunteer for animal rescues in Amravati and has since collaborated with forest departments and conservation organisations, including WWF-India, Wildlife Trust of India, and the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve Conservation Foundation. Her work spans wildlife monitoring, camera trapping, and capacity building of frontline staff. As a DeFries-Bajpai Foundation Fellow, she is researching human perceptions of wildlife in the Tadoba–Nagzira corridor to strengthen community engagement and landscape connectivity. In her current role as Program Coordinator at NCCI, Prajakta works closely with members and partners, bringing the strength of her decade-long experience and deep understanding of the Central Indian highlands to advance conservation across the landscape. Guided by mentors and rooted in field experience, she remains deeply committed to fostering coexistence between people and wildlife in Central India.

Prachi Goradia is a communications designer and visual storyteller with over seven years of experience spanning the social impact sector and creative industries. She has worked with leading agencies and, most recently, with Dasra’s Urban Sanitation team and the NFSSM Alliance, where she shaped strategic communications, knowledge products, and sector-wide narratives to advance inclusive sanitation in India. Her expertise lies in translating complex issues into accessible, engaging content that resonates with diverse stakeholders. Prachi holds a BA and MA in English and is pursuing further studies in Women and Gender Studies, grounding her work in a strong academic foundation and a commitment to social change.

​Vijay Ramteke is the Co-founder of Paigam Organization, based in Baihar near Kanha National Park. A Green Hub Fellow, he has worked in a research project regarding displacement in Satpura tiger reserve and Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary. With a strong interest in field research and documentary filmmaking, Vijay is now working on conserving diminishing bio cultural elements through his Johar field school(only field school in Central India), exploring people–nature connections, Alongside his professional pursuits, he is an avid birdwatcher, musician, and visual artist, with hobbies ranging from playing the guitar and flute to sketching and singing.