Advisors and Team of Experts
Haruka Nobukuni, Japan
Born in Tokyo, Japan, Haruka Nobukuni has over 10 years of experience in the telecommunications field. She pursued graduate studies in counseling and has worked as an advocate, case manager, and mental health professional in the U.S. and Japan. Haruka has supported domestic violence survivors, individuals with intellectual disabilities, serious mental health, and chronically homelessness. After nearly 30 years in the U.S., she returned to Japan, where she now assists children and adults in difficult situations. She is a committee member for social education and an officer for UN Women Japan Tama, focusing on social justice, human rights, and mental health.
Nancy Xiong, USA
Nancy Xiong, named after former First Lady Nancy Reagan, is a dedicated advocate for democracy and diversity. A dreamer at heart, she navigated her Hmong American identity through her college and graduate studies. Nancy holds an M.A. in Sociology and a Certificate in Women and Gender Studies from George Mason University, and an M.A. in Social Justice in Intercultural Relations from SIT Graduate Institute. She is also a Reiki Master and founder of Hono Bono Healing LLC in St. Paul, Minnesota, blending Hmong Shamanic practices with energy and sound healing. Nancy supports clients in improving well-being, reducing stress, and finding life purpose.
Dr. Purna Bahadur Nepali, Nepal
Dr. Purna Bahadur Nepali, Associate Professor and Head of Department at Kathmandu University School of Management (KU SOM), leads the Master of Public Policy and Management (MPPM) program. He spearheads the KU Policy Lab, a collaborative endeavor with Nepal's Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration. As a non-resident Research Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School and the Hutchins Center, Harvard University, he focuses on the Political Economy of Inclusive Agrarian Transformation. Dr. Nepali completed a Fulbright Visiting Research Fellowship at Brandeis University, USA, emphasizing Political Economy in marginalized communities. Formerly, he coordinated the EU-funded Regional Food Security Governance Project in South and East Asia. Advocating evidence-based policy, he teaches at Tribhuvan University and Agriculture and Forestry University, Nepal, advancing land and food rights reforms in South Asia.
Govinda Neupane, Nepal
Govinda Neupane has over 26 years of experience in development management and humanitarian response, working with international and national organizations, donors, and the corporate sector. He excels in strategy design, implementation, program quality assurance, research and evaluations, organizational development, capacity building, strategic advocacy, partnership management, and fundraising. He has held senior management roles, including Country Director/Manager for various INGOs and donors, and served four years as a board member in the Association of INGOs in Nepal (AIN). Govinda is a passionate leader dedicated to advancing development initiatives from grassroots to senior levels.
Bimal Pokharel, Nepal
Bimal Pokharel is a development professional and social science researcher with over 22 years of experience and a decade of academic teaching. He is a PhD scholar at the Delhi School of Economics, with a Master's in Geography and Economics from Tribhuvan University, and an MSc in Natural Resources Management from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. He has held key positions such as Executive Director at the Provincial Center for Good Governance, Bagmati Province, and National Association of Rural Municipalities in Nepal. His expertise includes local governance, development planning, leadership training, and public finance management.
Bikash Sharma, Nepal
Bikash Sharma is an education specialist with over 15 years of experience and a background in international education consultancy. He has worked extensively in Nepal's education sector, focusing on program design, implementation, and evaluation. His expertise includes developing strategies for education quality improvement, particularly in early grade and basic education for marginalized groups. Bikash has held key roles in projects funded by major international organizations like World Bank, Asian Development Bank, DANIDA, NORAD, JICA, and UNICEF. He has also been a Program Manager at Finn Church Aid, coordinating education activities and liaising with government and donor agencies. He is currently a freelance consultant based in Nepal.
Sabitra Ghimire BK, Nepal
Ms. Sabitra Ghimire BK is a seasoned professional and dedicated human and women's rights activist with over 30 years of active involvement in Nepal's civil society movements, particularly focusing on women's rights and Dalit rights. She currently serves as the Chairperson of the Dalit Women Rights Forum in Sudurpaschim Pradesh, Dhangadhi. This leading organization addresses caste and gender-based violence and promotes women’s political participation and inclusive governance in the Sudurpaschim Province. Sabitra is an exemplary figure and a source of inspiration for women aspiring to become social leaders and make meaningful contributions to their communities.
Dr. Shiva Pathak, USA
Dr. Shiva Pathak is a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University School of Medicine, specializing in immunology and transplantation. With a Ph.D. from Yeungnam University, South Korea, he focuses on developing innovative treatments for type 1 diabetes, aiming to overcome transplant rejection through drug delivery and cell therapy. His work has led to significant advancements in immunosuppression protocols and tolerance-inducing strategies. Dr. Pathak's research interests also include drug delivery systems for inflammatory diseases and cancers. He has published extensively in high-impact journals and holds several prestigious positions and honors in the field.
Dr. Shobha Regmi, USA
Dr. Shobha Regmi is a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Radiology at Stanford University. She completed her PhD in Pharmacy at Yeungnam University, South Korea, where she focused on the application of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in treating inflammatory diseases. Her pioneering work includes 2D and 3D cultures of MSCs for acute liver failure, inflammatory bowel diseases, and diabetes. Dr. Regmi has published extensively in high-impact journals and has received the Young Scientist Investigator Award from The Transplantation Society and Cell Transplant and Regenerative Medicine Society. Her current research explores MSC-based therapies for Alzheimer's disease.