Nepal Communitere Team
Bahar Kumar
Strategic Advisor
With her leadership, Bahar intends to establish Nepal Communitere so that it embodies the space where artists, entrepreneurs, thinkers, and doers may find a place to play, connect, and catalyze viable opportunities for Nepalis to build sustainable livelihoods. Bahar gravitated towards Nepal Communitere because of its guiding approach and dynamic makerspace and quickly joined the team to support the organization towards its success today. Bahar is an experienced strategist who fosters bold ideation to meaningful products and services. She has extensive consulting experience in business development, organizational development and community/consumer engagement in both the social and business sector in Nepal and the United States. In bringing out the best potential in people and their ideas, Bahar has a no nonsense, roll up your sleeves approach in balancing results with a strong inclination towards process to foster holistic business approaches. Bahar holds a Masters in Public Health from Columbia University and a Bachelors in International Development and Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles. Bahar is Indian American with deep roots in Nepal. She enjoys spending time with her little ones, crocheting and building a yoga practice.
Aarati Joshi
Director, Finance & Admin
Currently working as a Finance and Operations Manager at Nepal Communitiere, Aarati is an MBA graduate from Western International University, (India Campus), Phoenix, Arizona. Aarati has broad experience in finance, marketing, human resources and process management. Having worked as an operations and HR consultant for a leading private healthcare company in Kathmandu, and also having worked as a marketing officer for Sunrise Bank Ltd and Finance Manager for a multi-national company in India, Aarati’s expansive experience has been finely honed with a keen eye for numbers and strategic structuring. Her pragmatic approach, knowledge in finance, management skills, big picture perspective while remaining detail oriented and, most importantly, her easy nature makes her a perfect combination to lead the operations and HR of an organization. She’s been described by her colleagues as a fun, social and spirited person, who puts organizational and team’s interests before her own.
Padmakshi Rana
Deputy Director, Programs
Padmakshi has experience in researching and consulting at the intersection of business sustainability and innovation. Her work and research interest spans across business model and value innovation for sustainability, and corporate social responsibility (CSR). Prior to moving back to Kathmandu, she was based in Singapore. While there, she co founded a sustainability-led innovation consultancy. It also included a consultancy stint at CSRWorks International, followed by a short spell in writing with Eco-Business, an online sustainability publication.During her time in England, she was a research associate at the Institute for Manufacturing, University of Cambridge. She holds an MPhil in Environment, Society and Development and PhD in Manufacturing Management (thesis explored CSR in food manufacturing companies) from the University. Her preceding educational qualification includes an MBA, followed by a marketing career in ecotourism at Dharma Adventures, Nepal. Padmakshi joined Nepal Communitere in January 2019 as a sustainability champion. Nepal Communitere’s aspirational leadership, dynamic team and ethos of being a vibrant community-led innovation hub for entrepreneurs and changemakers in Nepal, drew her to the organization. The journey since then has been of true gratification and exhilaration.
Pallab Shrestha
FabLab Innovation Lead
Born in Gorkha and raised in Kathmandu, Pallab is a dreamer, a thinker and a maker. He is a mechanical engineer with very creative and a deep and sincere aptitude for innovation and creativity.
With a work experience of 3 years in HONDA R&D, Tochigi, Japan and 2 years in Nepal, he brings in a professional and technical dimension to his work. He is very delighted to be a part of Nepal Communitere as a project coordinator to bring, install and operate first FABLAB in Nepal with a focus on digital manufacturing and helping entrepreneurs in a best way he can. He is also a co-founder of Nepal Mind Factory Consultants Pvt. Ltd. which has been working in digitalization of Nepal for local governance. He has a M.Sc. in Mechanical Design and Manufacturing from IOE, Thapathali Campus and an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from IOE, Pulchowk campus. During his free time, he is involved in arts, travelling, movies and hanging out with friends. He believes that life is like a mirror, smile at it and it smiles back at you.
Rachana Khatri
Comms & Program Officer
Rachana is currently pursuing her B.A. in Business Administration at West Cliff University. She loves public speaking and enjoys attending personal development courses. She’s worked as a tutor and feels that knowledge leads to never-ending wealth. Through her love of volunteerism for social welfare, she’s worked with the Red Cross Society and Scouts Nepal. She’s attended several workshops on professional development and communications and remains enthusiastic and eager to learn new skills as building blocks for her career. Rachana loves literature and writing articles and poems along with traveling and sketching. Above all, Rachana would best define herself as an avid learner. She feels more than happy to be part of the Communitere team and to be working with this wonderful organization that supports creativity and innovation.
Kusum Bhatta
Finance Assistant
A diligent staff member, Kusum is currently a year into working as an accountant for Nepal Communitere. She received her education at Adarsh Kanya Niketan, Mangal bazaar in her early years then, proceeded to study Bachelors in Nepal Commerce College. She worked as a teacher in Nakkhu School and divulged into the accounting field at Koteshwor for 5 years. Her colleagues describe her as a hard working, detail oriented and a focused person who is affable in nature. During her leisure time, she enjoys watching comedy films, travelling, eating good food and wearing good clothes. She hopes that she can gain more training in the field of accounts so that she can polish and work on her existing skills.
Samanta Thapa
Program Officer
Samanata joined the Nepal Communitere team as “Program Officer” for the two new recently launched business incubation programs- the Tourovation Hub Incubation Program and I-Cube 2020 Business Incubation Program. With her background in business administration, Samanata is also an entrepreneur herself and brings in a lot of passion and enthusiasm to work in the sector of entrepreneurship development and business support services. She has in-depth knowledge and experience working with marginalized women and youth in Nepal as well as abroad. Samanata has more than 8 years of experience working with marginalized women and youths in Nepal and abroad, and 6 years of experience in the entrepreneurial sector of Nepal. She will be helping the team in implementing the incubation program activities, 1-1 business coaching and supporting young enterprises. She has her keen interest in youth leadership, gender equality and participation and am curious how business and environment are linked to these two groups.
Dilip K.C.
Logistical Coordinator
Dilip K.C. is from Dolakha- Northeast of Nepal and has been working on the logistics and day to day supply and maintenance tasks for different INGOs and NGOs for the past 25 years. He also has experience working in electronics, transportation, supply chain and construction. He is a hard worker; even during his free time, he tries to engage himself in some fruitful work. He’s worked for organizations such as Save the Children, Red Cross Nepal and has been working with Nepal Communitere since it was launched in 2015.
Shanti Maharjan
House Manager
Meet the heart and soul of Nepal Communitere, Shanti is responsible for serving the most delicious lunch at our office on a daily basis. Previously, she worked in different schools as a chef and has been on board with Nepal Communitere since it began, about 4 years ago. Well-known for her amiable demeanor, she gets along well with all the staff members and also enjoys her job thoroughly. Her interests range from cooking ( evidently ) to meeting new people and making new friends
Bipin Sharma
Technical Associate – FabLab Nepal
Bipin is an eager maker with a passion for making, building and learning how things work. He recently joined our team in January 2021 when we were preparing our site for bringing in the Fab Lab Nepal equipment. Bipin has his master’s degree in Energy Systems Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay and graduated with mechanical engineering and honors in Automobile Engineering from Vishwakarma Institute of Technology (VIT), Pune. Bipin brings his experience of handling operations and digital filing systems in tech companies with solid attention to detail which is a big benefit for the team as we build systems to launch and operate the FabLab Nepal at Nepal Communitere. As a Technical Associate of Nepal FabLab, Bipin will be assisting FabLab staff and technical advisors from installation to operation of the lab, workshops and training.The most exciting thing about working at Fab Lab Nepal for Bipin is the opportunity to collaborate with the Fab Lab team and its users to design and develop innovative solutions using cutting-edge fabrication equipment resources that we now have in Nepal.
Buddhiman Blon
Security Guard
Buddhiman Blon has recently joined the Nepal Communitere family as our full-time security guard starting January 2021. He will be looking after the Nepal Communitere hub and provide security of the FabLab equipment installed in the space. Buddhiman recently returned back from Malaysia with the spirit to work in his own country. He has been working here in Kathmandu since a year and supports his agricultural family in Sindhuli district. Buddhiman is really dedicated and active in ensuring that our space is well maintained. More than just a guard, he has also been supporting us with the gardening, logistics and installation of FabLab at Nepal Communitere. Everyday, Buddhiman opens the door with a warm welcome and a big smile on his face!
Nepal Communitere Board
Shikhar Pandit
Board of Director
Shikhar is a highly competitive legal practitioner with a well-grounded business acumen. Shikhar Pandit is currently a Managing Associate at Gandhi & Associates. In addition to his engagement in various high profile transactions of the firm, Shikhar undertakes the overall management and expansion of the firm. Shikhar pioneered the establishment of the Pokhara and Butwal branch of Gandhi and Associates, a first for a law firm in Nepal. Shikhar is a founding board member of the Nepal Chamber Youth Committee, a youth committee wing of the Nepal Chamber of Commerce. He studied law at Cardiff University, and has been recognized by Chamber and Partners as a noted practitioner in Nepal.
Kreeti Shakya
Board of Director
Kreeti Shakya is the co-founder of Kazi Studios, which is a creative agency with offices in Kathmandu, Nepal and Minneapolis, MN that uses a multidisciplinary approach in delivering smart solutions to clients. Prior to her own venture, she worked with different companies. She was also an Interactive Art Director at Olson. She has also worked as a Freelance Art Director at Wells Fargo. She has completed her MBA, Marketing from Augsburg University in 2006. Kreeti is a bold creative designer and has developed new products in Nepal and has experience with production and entry to the market.
Trishagni Sakya
Board of Director
Trishagni Sakya is the Executive Director of KGH Group, the leading home grown chain of hotels and resorts in Nepal. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Smith College and a Master’s degree in International and Development Economics from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. She worked for Overseas Private Investment Corporation in Impact Investment where she provided debt financing of $1-5 Mill to social enterprises all over the world. She is currently heading the social entrepreneurship initiative of KGH Foundation, the CSR arm of KGH Group.
Stuti Basnyet
Board of Director
A creative and results-oriented consultant, Stuti Basnyet specializes in forging partnerships, spearheading effective strategic communications initiatives and advocacy campaigns, and incorporating innovative management solutions for international development organizations. Stuti has an MBA from Kathmandu University and over 12 years of managerial and technical experience with various organizations in Nepal, Bangladesh, and Cambodia including with USAID/Nepal and UN Women Bangladesh. She is currently driving shared-value public and private partnerships and managing teams and activities aimed at countering trafficking in persons and building skills for employment in Nepal through two USAID and DFID-funded programs respectively.
Salonika Singh
Board of Director
Salonika Singh is the Assistant General Manager (Chief Business Officer) at Nepal Bangladesh Bank. With over two decades in the banking sector, she brings with her a vast amount of knowledge and expertise of the financial sector in Nepal. She did her Masters in Business Management and Marketing from the Asian Institute of Management, Philippines in 2001, and started her career as a banker in 1994 A.D. With 25+ years in banking, she now envisions to use her experience in banking to offer support to not-for-profit organisations. “At Nepal Communitere, I observed innovative ways of working with grants, entrepreneurs and the broader business network. This is where I felt, I can genuinely add value.” Salonika is the mother of two grown up boys and loves being involved in the home front equally! She is more than happy to be on board with Nepal Communitere and is looking forward to a productive engagement as a board member to explore more opportunities to set up a Nepali female investment fund.
