Diaspora Team Set 4
Ashaya Basnyat
Ashaya Basnyat is a seasoned retail operator and strategy professional with over 15 years of experience in apparel strategy, supply chain management, and business development. Currently serving as Chief of Staff to the CEO at Gap Inc., she has been a strategic advisor to the C-suite and a leader of critical initiatives driving transformation and innovation. Her previous roles at Old Navy and Gap Inc. include Director of International & Outlet Strategy and Operations and Senior Manager of Supply Chain Strategy, where she led global growth planning, network capacity expansion, and omnichannel logistics optimization. Ashaya also co-founded Tamasha-Knit, a vertically integrated women’s Cashmere label with an international footprint. Prior to her retail leadership roles, she worked as a Consultant at the Boston Consulting Group as well as roles at the World Bank, 3M, and ICF International, focusing on global energy policy, sustainability strategy, and greenhouse gas mitigation. With a robust skill set that includes leadership, carbon accounting, economics, policy analysis, and more, Ashaya brings a unique combination of analytical rigor and creative vision to her work. An MBA graduate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Chemical Engineering and Fine Arts from the University of Pennsylvania. Ashaya brings a unique combination of analytical rigor and creative vision to her work. Ashaya continues to influence the retail and sustainability sectors while maintaining strong ties to global development initiatives and a commitment to global development and sustainable innovation.
Arun Banskota
Arun Banskota is a globally recognised executive in the energy and infrastructure sectors. With over three decades of experience driving innovation and growth in renewable energy, electric mobility, and global infrastructure, Banskota has held leadership roles at some of the world’s most prominent organisations. He currently serves as a board member of Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure and has served as the President and CEO of Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp., a Canadian renewable energy and regulated utility company where he led the company’s strategic growth in clean energy and infrastructure development. Prior to that, he was Vice President of Global Services and Energy at Amazon Web Services (AWS), where he played a key role in scaling AWS’s data center infrastructure globally with a focus on clean energy integration. He has also held CEO roles at EVgo (electric vehicle services) and Petra Nova, a large-scale carbon capture project. His energy expertise spans across renewables, electric vehicles, gas, and thermal power, shaped during executive tenures at NRG Energy, First Solar, and El Paso Corporation. Under his leadership, Algonquin announced a $9.4 billion five-year capital expenditure plan aimed at achieving 8-10% annual growth. He holds an MBA in Finance and International Business from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a Master’s in International Studies from the University of Denver. He serves on multiple industry boards including the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), American Gas Association (AGA), and the National Association of Water Companies (NAWC), reflecting his deep engagement in the transformation of the global energy landscape.
Dr. James Joshi
Dr. James Joshi is a professor of the School of Computing and Information at the University of Pittsburgh, and the director/co-founder of the Laboratory of Education and Research on Security-Assured Information Systems (LERSAIS). From Sept 2019 to Aug 31, 2023, he served as a Program Director in the Computer and Network System (CNS) division and its Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace (SaTC) program at the U.S. National Science Foundation. He also served as the Co-Chair of the Privacy Interagency Working Group of the Networking and Information Technology R&D (NITRD), as well as the NITRD Fast Track Action Committees for (1) Advancing Privacy-Preserving Data Sharing and Analytics (PPDSA) that produced the National Strategy to Advance PPDSA in 2023; and (2) Digital Assets R&D Agenda (till Aug 2023). He also served in the NITRD CSIA Cybersecurity R&D National Strategy Task Force. He received his MS in CS and Ph.D. in ECE degrees from Purdue University in 1998 and 2003, respectively
He is an IEEE Fellow, an ACM Distinguished Member, a Fellow of the Asia-Pacific Artificial Intelligence Association, and an IEEE CS Golden Core member. His research is focused broadly on cybersecurity and privacy areas including advanced access control models, security and privacy of distributed systems and AI/ML, and trust management. He is a recipient of the NSF CAREER award in 2006. He had earlier established and managed the NSF CyberCorp Scholarship for Service program at Pitt. He had established LERSAIS/Pitt as an NSA-designated Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (both CAE Education and CAE Research). He has served as a program co-chair and/or general co-chair of several international conferences/workshops. At Pitt, he had earlier served as the Chair of the School of Information Science (SIS) Council, the main governing body of the school.
He currently serves as the founding Steering Committee chair of the following co-located International IEEE conferences: Collaboration and Internet Computing (CIC); Trust, Privacy and Security of Intelligent Systems, and Applications (TPS); and Cognitive Machine Intelligence (CogMI). He served as the Editor-In-Chief of IEEE Transactions on Services Computing from 2017-2021. He has published over 150 articles as book chapters and papers in journals, conferences, and workshops, and has served as a special issue editor of several journals including IEEE TSC, Elsevier Computer & Security, ACM TOPS, Springer MONET, IJCIS, and Information Systems Frontiers
Shabnam Koirala-Azad, PhD
Shabnam Koirala-Azad, PhD, earned the title of “Most Influential Women in the San Francisco Bay Area” in 2018, a year after she was appointed as the first female Dean of the University of San Francisco’s School of Education and the first Dean of Nepali origin in the United States. Her story has been highlighted by media in both the United States and Nepal, reflecting nearly a decade of exemplary leadership in education.
She began her career at USF in 2005 as a faculty member in the Department of International and Multicultural Education, where she expanded the school’s global and comparative studies dimensions. She later served as Department Chair, Associate Dean, and was appointed Dean in 2017—becoming both the first female Dean of the School of Education and the first Dean of Nepali origin in the US. Koirala-Azad co-founded USF's master's program and doctoral concentration in Human Rights Education - the first ever in the country. Her scholarship and institutional leadership have been deeply rooted in community engagement and social justice, exemplified by her receipt of the UC Berkeley Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Community-University Partnership.
She holds a Ph.D. in Social and Cultural Studies in Education from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Education from Mount Holyoke College. Her contributions to the field have been recognized through several prestigious awards, including the Mount Holyoke College Leadership Award. A dedicated scholar and advocate, she is an active member of several academic communities, including the Comparative International Education Society, the American Educational Research Association, and the Council on Anthropology and Education. Beyond academia, she serves on numerous boards and supports a range of local organizations and initiatives, including active involvement with the local Baháʼí Faith community. She continues to inspire as a visionary educator committed to building inclusive and transformative learning environments locally and globally.
Roshan Thapliya, PhD
Roshan Thapliya, PhD, is a globally recognized technology leader and digital transformation strategist, currently serving as Corporate Officer, Chief Digital Transformation Officer (CDXO), and General Manager of the Management Systems HQ (Global IT/Digital HQ) at TDK Corporation, a global leader in electronic components and smart technologies. In this role, he drives the company’s global IT and digital transformation strategy, with a sharp focus on integrating Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, IoT, and next-generation digital solutions into industrial ecosystems worldwide.
With over two decades of leadership experience in Japan’s innovation ecosystem, Dr. Thapliya brings outstanding expertise in strategy development, R&D leadership, and cross-industry technology integration. At Bridgestone, he previously served as Chief Digital Director and Principal of the Digital Solutions Division, where he led global strategies for mobility-focused business transformation and innovation, contributing to tire-centric smart solutions and customer-focused value creation. Dr. Thapliya spent nearly 19 years at FUJIFILM Business Innovation (formerly Fuji Xerox), where he led transformative R&D initiatives in robotics, AI, user experience design, and data analytics.
An internationally recognized expert in Human-Robot Interaction (HRI), he has published extensively in high-impact academic journals and conferences including IEEE, ACM, and OSA. He is the holder of over 35 international patents—including 24 as the primary inventor—granted across the US, Japan, and Europe. Dr. Thapliya holds a PhD in Photonics from The University of Tokyo, where he also completed his M.Eng. (Master of Engineering) and B.Eng. (Bachelor of Engineering) degrees. Dr. Thapliya's cross-sector leadership and pioneering innovations make him one of the most impactful figures in the global tech landscape—and a proud representative of the Nepali diaspora making waves at the highest levels of international industry and research.
Sarahana Shrestha
Sarahana Shrestha is a New York State Assembly member representing District 103 in the Mid-Hudson Valley. She made history as the first Nepali-American state legislator elected in New York. A strong advocate for social and environmental justice, Shrestha believes that basic needs such as healthcare, energy, affordable housing, and education should be public goods centered on well-being over profit.
Her political work is closely aligned with climate action and renewable energy, and she is affiliated with Public Power NY, a coalition promoting clean energy. Shrestha is also a co-chair of the Democratic Socialists of America’s Ulster County chapter and previously worked as a graphic designer. Shrestha studied Computer Science at the New York Institute of Technology.
Bhim Saru
Bhim Saru began his journey from Nepal and joined the British Army in 1993. He served with distinction for 29 years, beginning his career with the Queen’s Gurkha Engineers and eventually retiring as a Captain in the Royal Engineers. Throughout his military service, Captain (Retd) Saru exemplified the courage, discipline, and loyalty that define the Gurkhas’ global reputation. In 2023, he was elected President of the British Gurkha Veterans Association (BGVA) for the 2023–2025 term. In this role, he has led numerous initiatives, including yoga and English language classes and the annual Gurkha Monument ceremony a key event commemorating over 210 years of Gurkha service to the British Crown.
He continues to promote the active involvement of veterans in civic and national commemorations, ensuring their sacrifices are honoured and remembered. In addition to his community work, Bhim Saru is also a successful entrepreneur. He founded Saru Embroidery Ltd in 2017, which has grown to serve customers across the UK and parts of Europe. His business reflects his values of hard work, creativity, and commitment to quality service, while also contributing to the local economy He was elected to represent St Mary’s Ward (formerly Abbey Ward) on the Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, England.
In May 2025, Bhim Saru made history by becoming the first Nepal-born Gurkha Mayor of Nuneaton and Bedworth, and the first to hold such a position in British politics—an achievement that reflects the strong Nepali and Gurkha presence in the area. Mayor Bhim Saru’s remarkable journey — from a small village in Nepal to a prominent civic leader in the UK — is a powerful testament to dedication, resilience, and public service. His life’s work stands on three strong pillars: military honor, community empowerment, and political leadership. Through his efforts, he has promoted inclusivity, cultural harmony, and civic responsibility in Nuneaton and Bedworth. His legacy will be remembered not only for the barriers he has broken but also for the bridges he has built across diverse communities.
Nami Baral
Nami Baral is the Founder & CEO of Niural, an AI-powered platform transforming the future of work by enabling businesses to manage payroll, HR, benefits, payments, and compliance globally across 150+ countries. She has led Niural’s development of advanced tools like its proprietary LLM, Niural Net, to streamline workforce operations from one unified system. Prior to Niural, she was the Founder and CEO of Harvest, a fintech startup that built the first AI SuperAgent to help American consumers, leading to a successful acquisition by Acorns in 2021. Nami served as Head of Product Partnerships at Twitter, following the acquisition of MoPub, where she was an early employee and helped scale MoPub’s revenue from $0 to $100M. Earlier in her career, she worked in Investment Banking at Centerview Partners, focusing on M&A and strategic advisory for major tech and CPG clients. She also co-founded the International Spark Program, a social entrepreneurship platform supporting student-led initiatives in developing countries. Nami holds a BA with Honors in Economics and Mathematics from Harvard University and completed the Business Leadership Program at Harvard Business School. She is also an active angel investor and mentor to fintech, AI, and data-focused startups.
Samrat Upadhyay
Samrat Upadhyay is an award-winning author and the first Nepali-born fiction writer to be published in the United States. Originally a Commerce student in Nepal, he came to the U.S. in the 1980s to complete his education at the College of Wooster in Ohio. Though he initially pursued journalism, he reconnected with his passion for fiction during his master’s studies—leading to the publication of his debut short story collection, Arresting God in Kathmandu (Houghton Mifflin, 2001). The book received the Whiting Writers’ Award and was selected for the Barnes & Noble Discover Great Writers Program. It has been translated into French and Greek, and his stories have appeared in Best American Short Stories 1999, Scribner’s Best of the Writing Workshops, and on National Public Radio.
His first novel, The Guru of Love (2003), was a New York Times Notable Book, a San Francisco Chronicle Best Book of the Year, and a finalist for the Kiriyama Prize. The Royal Ghosts (2006) won the Asian American Literary Award and the Society of Midland Authors Book Award and was a finalist for the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award. His second novel, Buddha’s Orphans (2010), was longlisted for the DSC Prize and translated into German and Czech. The City Son (2014) was shortlisted for the PEN Open Book Award.
Samrat also co-edited Secret Places: New Writing from Nepal, published by University of Hawai’i Press. He currently holds the Martha C. Kraft Professorship of Humanities at Indiana University, where he teaches creative writing. Currently, Samrat is the Martha C. Kraft Professor of Humanities at Indiana University, where he teaches creative writing, literature, and South Asian fiction.
Shailee Basnet
Shailee Basnet is a mountaineer, speaker, leadership coach, and stand-up comedian best known for leading the Seven Summits Women Team—the world’s first all-female team to scale the highest mountain on each continent. Her journey into mountaineering began in 2007 with the First Inclusive Women Sagarmatha Expedition (FIWSE), a historic initiative to promote Nepali women’s participation in high-altitude climbing. On May 24, 2008, Shailee successfully summited Mt. Everest along with nine teammates, making FIWSE the largest and most successful women’s team to reach the summit.
After their Everest ascent, Shailee led the Seven Summits mission, where she and her team alternated between climbing and support roles, ultimately completing all seven peaks together. Their story, captured in global media like the BBC, ESPN, and New York Daily News, has become a symbol of perseverance, leadership, and unity in diversity. In 2019, the French documentary Les belles envolées chronicled the team’s efforts to shatter gender norms in adventure sports.
Shailee leads executive leadership treks in the Himalayas and delivers keynotes to organizations such as the United Nations, the World Bank, and top universities including NYU. Her work emphasizes teamwork, conflict resolution, and the role of diversity in building successful teams. She holds a bachelor's degree in business information systems and management from Kathmandu College of Management. She is also a guest lecturer in business and leadership programs around the world. Beyond mountaineering and public speaking, Shailee runs initiatives to train female survivors of trafficking as trekking guides, fostering empowerment through outdoor skills. After the 2015 Nepal earthquake, she and her team began working to rebuild schools in remote areas of the country.
Shailee brings her unique blend of experience and humor to stages across Nepal, India, and the U.S. as a stand-up comedian, performing in three languages. Her dynamic presence and storytelling make her an unforgettable voice in conversations about courage, leadership, and gender equity.
