Dr. Biswash Gauchan is the Executive Chair and Director, Center for Economic Policy at Institute for Integrated Development Studies (IIDS). He served for over a decade with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), undertaking various responsibilities in Nepal and across Africa. Following that, he worked as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of a commercial bank in South Sudan for two years.
Dr. Gauchan is the founding Chairperson of Shangri-la Development Bank and the co-founder of Quest International College and Omega International School.
He has been deeply engaged in studying and writing on Nepal’s economic policies and geo-strategic issues related to South Asia. A Fellow Chartered Accountant, Dr. Gauchan holds a Ph.D. in Economics and has also contributed as a member of the High-Level Economic Reform Recommendation Commission.
Dr. Joshi worked as a Lead Education Specialist in the Education Global Practice at the World Bank. His experience spans policy reform and program development in a diverse range of countries in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. He has taught education sector policy analysis at George Washington University. He has a master’s degree in international education policy and a doctorate in human development from Harvard University. After 25 years of his service with the World Bank, he took an early retirement and is currently heading the Center for Human Development and Innovation as its Founder-Director since 2017.
Dr. Yamuna Ghale is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Integrated Development Studies (IIDS) and an expert in food security governance with over 30 years of experience. She holds a PhD from Agriculture and Forestry University, Nepal, and an MSc from Wageningen University, The Netherlands. Dr. Ghale has led initiatives in agriculture, food security, natural resource management, and gender inclusion, serving in leadership roles at the Embassy of Switzerland, ICIMOD, ActionAid, and SNV Nepal. She currently consults for organizations like UNDP, FAO, WFP, UN Women, and IFAD, and advises the Government of Nepal through bodies such as the Federal Land Use Council and the National Nutrition and Food Security Coordination Committee. Additionally, she serves on the Board of Trustees of Gandaki University and supports private sector gender empowerment initiatives.
Akhilesh Upadhyay is a foreign affairs analyst specializing in South Asian geopolitics. His recent research focuses on the shifting balance of power in the region, particularly with the rise of India and China, with an emphasis on looking into small states and local communities in the Eastern Himalaya.
Akhilesh writes a regular column, View from the Himalaya, for Hindustan Times in India. He is a Senior Research Fellow at the Strategic Affairs Center at IIDS, a Kathmandu-based think tank. He has authored numerous research papers for think tanks and contributed articles to major publications such as The New York Times, Indian Express, and The Wire (India), among others. Akhilesh served as Editor-in-Chief of The Kathmandu Post, Nepal, from 2008 to 2018, overseeing the paper’s editorial direction during a dynamic period in Nepal’s post-conflict history. He holds a Master's degree from New York University.
Maneet Dhungel is a Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Economic Policy, focusing on digitalization and digital development. With extensive experience managing cross-functional teams and spearheading strategic projects at leading global organizations, he brings a blend of leadership and expertise in policy analysis, organizational transformation, and emerging technologies.
Maneet holds an MS in Public Policy and Cybersecurity from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and is passionate about the societal impact of technology. As a Senior Fellow, he drives innovative solutions and policy initiatives at the intersection of emerging technologies and public policy. He advises policymakers, civil society, industry, and development practitioners on a wide range of topics, including international cyber conflict, digital diplomacy, AI ethics and policy, digital development and transformation, emerging technology policies, and algorithmic justice.
Dr. Uttam Sharma is a development economist and Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Integrated Development Studies (IIDS) with over 15 years of experience conducting research across South Asia and Africa. His expertise lies in applied economics, specifically within the sectors of education, health, labor markets, and agriculture. Throughout his career, he has maintained a dedicated focus on social equity and improving outcomes for disadvantaged populations.
Dr. Sharma has collaborated extensively with the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank to inform evidence-based policy and drive inclusive development. His research portfolio includes serving as a Co-Principal Investigator on three projects funded by the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie), focusing on education and agriculture in Kenya, Nepal, and Uganda. He was also an Impact Scholar at the University of Michigan’s Center for Global Health Equity.
Dr. Sharma holds a PhD in Applied Economics from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, USA, and was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Sydney, Australia. He also earned degrees in Economics from Brandeis University and the University of Maryland, College Park, USA.
Topraj Gurung brings over a decade of experience building high-impact products across leading technology companies and mission-driven initiatives in Silicon Valley. At Google and Facebook, he worked on products ranging from expanding internet access and fundraising tools to large-scale backend infrastructure and socially impactful products. He has also been part of founding teams at startups focused on experimentation platforms and GenAI.
Topraj holds a PhD in Computer Science from the Georgia Institute of Technology, where his research focused on mesh processing and computer graphics. He has taught and mentored university students through formal courses and competitive programming initiatives. He is the founder of Blaze Labs, a nonprofit technology initiative developing education-focused tools for Nepal. He also contributes to programs that train young people for careers in software engineering and product development. His work emphasizes practical, scalable solutions designed for real-world impact and broad user adoption.
