Our Team

Varsha Shirdhar

Board Member

Varsha Shridhar is a molecular biologist, entrepreneur and innovator.  She holds a B.Tech degree in Industrial Biotechnology from Anna University, Chennai, a PhD in Molecular Virology and Microbiology from University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and a postdoctoral fellowship in Maternal and Child Health from the Magee Women’s Research Institute, Pittsburgh. 

She is the director and co-founder of Molecular Solutions Care Health (MSCH), an advanced diagnostic company with a motto of “Access to All“. The focus of her work has been on developing scalable and accessible diagnostic technologies. MSCH has developed several in-house tests for advanced molecular diagnostics. MSCH is NABL accredited for HIV viral load testing and ICMR approved for COVID19 RTPCR testing.

OUR Team

Our Board Members

Asha Kilaru

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Co-Founder, President

Nora Kropp

Nora has been part of the working team on strategic planning, statutory compliance,  research and expansion of programmes from 2007 - 2020. In 2021 Nora shifted to an active board member and maternal health consultant role. Nora is Certified Professional Midwife (USA) and Master of Public Health with 25 years experience in the fields of reproductive health and international development with 10 years living and working in India. Nora works with a homebirth practice in Chicago, IL, as a Doula Consultant for a community doula program, a

Co-Founder, Board Member

Dr. Madhavi Latha

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Secretary

Anahita Bhatia

Anahita Bhatia is a certified postpartum doula and holistic sleep coach. She has been involved with the BBN since 2010.

Board Member

Varsha Shirdhar

Varsha Shridhar is a molecular biologist, entrepreneur and innovator.  She holds a B.Tech degree in Industrial Biotechnology from Anna University, Chennai, a PhD in Molecular Virology and Microbiology from University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and a postdoctoral fellowship in Maternal and Child Health from the Magee Women’s Research Institute, Pittsburgh. 

 

She is the director and co-founder of Molecular Solutions Care Health (MSCH), an advanced diagnostic company with a motto of “Access to All“. The focus of her work has been on developing scalable and accessible diagnostic technologies. MSCH has developed several in-house tests for advanced molecular diagnostics. MSCH is NABL accredited for HIV viral load testing and ICMR approved for COVID19 RTPCR testing.

 

Varsha is especially interested in women’s health and access to healthcare across all sectors of society.

Co-Founder, Board Member

Shuaiba Rahaman

 

Shuaiba is an experienced Strategic Planning and Communications Professional with over 20 years of experience in developing strategy and strengthening communications for small and mid-size firms. With an MBA in International Business from Australia, she is also a business entrepreneur. With a keen interest in the development sector and anything with a social impact, Shuaiba has worked with Akshara Foundation for over 12 years and comes with a strong background in building strategy, partnerships, and donor relationship management for the social sector.

Board Member

Our Board Members

Asha Kilaru- Director,President

Asha Kilaru is a BBN Co-Founder and President who has been a researcher and advocate of women’s and children’s health in India for over 20 years. Her experience ranges from community-based research to policy analysis and advocacy and she has published maternal and child health research in peer reviewed journals. Asha has been associated with non-profit organizations, networks, and grass-roots movements in their efforts for greater social justice and health. Her interests range from maternal and new-born health, adolescent health, quality of care, nutrition, to universal access to health care. She is committed to work that reduces inequalities – between communities, and between health care services and the people they treat. She has served on advisory committees to the Government of Karnataka , was the state co-convenor of the People’s Health Movement Karnataka Chapter, and also co-founded Citizens Voluntary Initiative for the City (CIVIC), Bangalore. 

Co-Founder, President

Nora Kropp - Co-Founder, Board Member

Nora is a BBN Co-Founder and has been part of the working team on strategic planning, statutory compliance,  research and programme development  from 2007 - 2020. In 2021 Nora shifted to an active board member and maternal health consultant role. Nora is Certified Professional Midwife (USA) and Master of Public Health with 25 years experience in the fields of reproductive health and international development with 10 years living and working in India. Nora works with a homebirth practice in Chicago, IL, as a Doula Consultant for a community doula program, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Illinois Council of Certified Professional Midwives.

Co-Founder, Board Member

Dr. Madhavi Latha - Secretary

Dr. Madhavi Latha is BBN Secretary, Assistant Director and supports development of clinical programmes at BBN. Madhavi has been working with women and new parents from past 18 years through lamaze classes, prenatal yoga classes and as a lactation consultant. Madhavi holds a Bachelors in Physiotherapy from Manipal, is a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator and is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). Madhavi has worked with thousands of expecting couples and new parents and is passionate about empowering and educating women to make informed decisions during their child bearing years.

Secretary

Anahita Bhatia - board memeber

Anahita Bhatia is a certified postpartum doula and holistic sleep coach. She has been involved with the BBN since 2010.

Board Member

Varsha Shirdhar

Varsha Shridhar has been a BBN board member since 2015. She is interested in women’s health and access to healthcare across all sectors of society. Varsha is a molecular biologist, entrepreneur and innovator.  She holds a B.Tech degree in Industrial Biotechnology from Anna University, Chennai, a PhD in Molecular Virology and Microbiology from University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and a postdoctoral fellowship in Maternal and Child Health from the Magee Women’s Research Institute, Pittsburgh. She is the director and co-founder of Molecular Solutions Care Health (MSCH). The focus of her work has been on developing scalable and accessible diagnostic technologies. MSCH is NABL accredited for HIV viral load testing and ICMR approved for COVID19 RTPCR testing. health and access to healthcare across all sectors of society.

Board Member

Shuaiba Rahaman

Shuaiba is an experienced Strategic Planning and Communications Professional with over 15 years of experience in developing strategy, building partnerships and strengthening communications for organizations with a specific focus on the social development sector. With a keen interest in anything with a social impact, Shuaiba is the founder of The Giving Tree which is a platform connecting skills with social organizations. She is proof that international boundaries are not a barrier to giving and is the Strategy Advisor for ASCOA, an NGO in Cameroon. She has an MBA from Australia and is an enthusiastic business entrepreneur.

Board Member

Pavithra Padpu

"Pavithra is a Chartered Accountant with post qualification experience of over 10 years in Audit, Compliance & Finance across manufacturing & service industry with her expertise being in US GAAP and IFRS.  She is currently working in Dentsu International, while she was looking for an opportunity to get associated with an NGO, BBN happened. Being an avid adventure seeker, she loves trekking and exploring new places and reading & gardening is her hobby. Her motto in life is to live for the moment and spread happiness across. "

Treasurer

Our Management Team

Asha Kilaru - Director, President

Asha Kilaru is a BBN Co-Founder and President who has been a researcher and advocate of women’s and children’s health in India for over 20 years. Her experience ranges from community-based research to policy analysis and advocacy and she has published maternal and child health research in peer reviewed journals. Asha has been associated with non-profit organizations, networks, and grass-roots movements in their efforts for greater social justice and health. Her interests range from maternal and new-born health, adolescent health, quality of care, nutrition, to universal access to health care. She is committed to work that reduces inequalities – between communities, and between health care services and the people they treat. She has served on advisory committees to the Government of Karnataka , was the state co-convenor of the People’s Health Movement Karnataka Chapter, and also co-founded Citizens Voluntary Initiative for the City (CIVIC), Bangalore

Director

Dr. Madhavi Latha - Assistant Director

Dr. Madhavi Latha is BBN Secretary, Assistant Director and supports development of clinical programmes at BBN. Madhavi has been working with women and new parents from past 18 years through lamaze classes, prenatal yoga classes and as a lactation consultant. Madhavi holds a Bachelors in Physiotherapy from Manipal, is a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator and is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). Madhavi has worked with thousands of expecting couples and new parents and is passionate about empowering and educating women to make informed decisions during their child bearing years.

Assistant Director

Mary Shiley Suma -Accounts Consultant

Mary Suma has been involved with BBN for the last 3 years. She is an accountant and has served Accenture for 10 years in the past in various capacities as Treasury associate manager, US tax accountant, [project finance lead and SAP platform change lead. She is a home-maker and a freelance accountant and passionate baker now.

Accounts Consultant

Aswani Presannakumar - Project Coordinator

A Bangalore-based, Freelance Counselor and psycho-educator with 3+ years of experience in the education and health sector. Aswani holds a B.Sc. Nursing from Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences Bangalore, Karnataka under Rajiv Gandhi University of Health sciences and is a Registered mental health nurse with a Post Graduate in Psychiatric Nursing from JSS College of Nursing, Mysore, Karnataka under Rajiv Gandhi University of Health sciences, Karnataka. Aswani’s aim is to reach women and families everywhere to promote emotional and mental health development.

Project Coordinator

Kanthi Rekha- Communication & Outreach

Rekha has been with BBN since December 2018 first as a volunteer and Founder of Baby Gold. Rekha is currently BBN staff running our social media outreach, Birth Options Counseling and Manager of the BBN Sling Library.  Rekha worked as a HR professional before becoming a full time mom to twins. She breastfed her twins exclusively, turned an ardent breastfeeding supporter and consequently a passionate birth advocate.

Communication and Outreach

Vijaya Nene -Leadership Coach and Mentor

Youtube: Vijaya Nene Academy for Leadership Excellence.

http://www.vnale.in 

vijayanene@vnale.in

Leadership Coach and Mentor

Sapna Krishnan - Business Development

Sapna Krishnan is a Certified Lactation Educator Counselor from the University of California. Her passion towards breastfeeding began during her 3 year breastfeeding journey with her daughter. She realised that the lack of support and awareness towards breastfeeding is what leads to an abrupt end to a beautiful journey. Sapna is currently working at 3 hospitals and clinics in Bangalore. She has been associated with BBN since Jan 2019 and has been working on several projects since then.

Business Development

Society Members

Divya Shori

Divya heads the Goldratt School in India, the training and development wing of Goldratt Group. She has an overall corporate experience of 15 years spanning across IT and Consulting Industries. Her passion to promote home grown and local artisans brought her to work along with her dear friends and craft out TheiaScape, a home grown brand that promotes handloom Sarees and handcrafted Jewellery. Divya likes to devote her free time to engagements that add value to people's lives. BBN has been one such avenue for her where she worked to lay the building blocks for "Baby Gold", a BBN initiative to promote first hour practices during birthing. In her free time she likes to read spiritual books.

Amena Bal

Natural Birth Advocate, Perinatal Yoga Facilitator, Women Wellness Weaver, Green Lifestyle Educator, Facilitator for Diverse Community Circles, Co-convenor of ‘The Green Unconference’, Co-creator of Ecovillages, Sustainability Consultant,
Spiritual Empowerment and Energy Healer

Society Members
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Volunteers on Helpline
& Baby Gold