Session IX: Development - A Himalayan View

Kavitha Kasynathan serves as Head of Development, Australian Embassy in Nepal. A development professional, Kavitha started her career with Oxfam Australia in Sri Lanka. She has managed the Australian Government’s development investments in the Middle East, Africa, Pacific and South Asia in areas including humanitarian, community development and human development (health/education). Kavitha was posted to Afghanistan and has worked in West Africa (Ghana), Sri Lanka and Papua New Guinea.

Phanindra Prasad Adhikary brings 40 years of diverse experience in national (Nepal) and international (Rwanda, Cambodia, Uganda, Zambia) leadership roles, focusing on governance, stakeholder relations, institutional development, and strategic resource management. In the past five years, he’s pioneered collaborative, evidence-based decision-making in local government, promoting democratic processes for societal benefit.

Saroj Kushwaja (Mahato) currently serves in UNESCO as the Cultural and Creative Industry Coordinator and is dedicated to elevating the cultural and creative industry of Nepal to new heights. As co-founder of Bikalpa Art Foundation and an independent curator/art manager, Mahato has devoted numerous years to establishing a forward-thinking platform through a diverse range of programs for emerging artists in Nepal.