Driving Sustainable Change through
Partnerships & Collective Involvement

A social activist and development professional, Reni K Jacob is a consultant with many national and international agencies. He was associated with International NGOs like World Vision India as its Director-Advocacy and International Justice Mission as its Director-Govt. Relations and Partnerships. He is deeply concerned and actively pursues the goals of justice and peace, and Economic empowerment of the marginalised sections.

He is a trainer at ‘Do no Harm’ and ‘Making sense of turbulent context”. He is professionally trained in diverse areas including Law, Social Work, and Business Administration from leading Universities both India and abroad. There are a few articles and five books to his credit. Reni, a Trustee member of EmpowerEd Foundation is passionate about its causes and provides counsel and guidance to the team.

Praveena K is the Deputy Dean – Rankings, Accreditation and Compliances at SCMS School of Tech & Management, Cochin. Having four years of experience in IT, banking, and administration, Praveena is certified in Data Science and excels in statistical methods, business analytics, and outcome-based teaching.

As a resource person, she contributes to AICTE-sponsored programs, showcasing expertise in quantitative analysis. Her impactful research includes studying migrant labourer children’s education and government employee attitudes in hospitals. Praveena’s publications in Scopus-indexed journals cover diverse topics like social media usage among older people and the impact of demonetisation on digital literacy.

Praveena is a dynamic academician passionate about knowledge dissemination and societal impact. She is passionate about the cause of EmpowerEd Foundation and provides counsel and guidance to the team.

June Cyriac is an Assistant Professor in the Chemistry Department of Sacred Heart College, Cochin, since 2012. With a PhD in Chemistry from Sacred Heart College, her research focuses on gas-phase rearrangements.

She’s an expert in Computer-Aided Drug Design, overseeing the Certificate Course in Molecular Docking and Drug Design. June has made significant contributions through articles and conference presentations, delving into mechanisms and properties in various chemical reactions. Her expertise extends to areas like Nazarov Cyclization and aromatic nucleophilic substitution reactions.

In addition to her academic pursuits, June actively contributes to scientific journals and conferences, showcasing her commitment to advancing knowledge in Chemistry.

June serves as the NSS Programme officer at Sacred Heart College and supports EmpowerEd Foundation’s mission through student volunteering support.

Lakshmi Sreenath, a dietitian and founder of F.H.U.N, excels in evidence-based nutrition and specialises in lifestyle diseases. In 2017, she established Herbal Sutras LLP. Holding an M.Sc. in Dietetics & Food Service Management, Lakshmi’s expertise spans entrepreneurship, nutritional care plans, and sports nutrition.

Her impactful contributions include articles in Vanitha magazine (Jan 2023), presentations at the 54th Annual Conference of the Nutrition Society of India (Dec 2022), and engaging nutrition education on social media. Lakshmi’s active involvement extends to conducting sessions on child abuse awareness, diet for children, and soap making. 

Beyond her professional achievements, Lakshmi has been featured in esteemed publications like ‘The Hindu,’ ‘The Indian Express,’ and ‘Mathrubhumi.’ She has authored “The Sparkle-Eyed Photon, The Missile Man, and The Mystic-Me.

She is an active member of the EmpowerEd Foundation’s Cochin Chapter and is always available for guidance and support.

Anis Sunil Jacob holds an M.A. in Clinical Psychology and an M.Ed. She embarked on her career as a Psychology lecturer at Jyothi Nivas College, Bangalore. She taught at Mar Thoma Residential School, Tiruvalla, where she served from 1986 until her retirement in 2020.

Throughout her tenure, Anis imparted knowledge across diverse subjects, including English, Social Studies, General Knowledge, and Geography, spanning various grade levels up to STD X. Her expertise also extended to teaching Psychology to STD XI and XII students. 

From 2015 to 2020, Anis assumed the role of Headmistress at MTRS, overseeing LKG to STD IV. She additionally served as the chief coordinator of examiners for Geography for the ICSE Board.

Beyond her institutional roles, she contributed as a counsellor for students at Kumbanad Fellowship Nursing College during her free time. With extensive experience as an educator and school leader, Anis offers invaluable support to the mission of the EmpowerEd Foundation.

Irbaaz Sheikh is an accomplished professional in Fundraising and Partnerships, specialising in Resource Mobilization, Strategic Partnerships, Proposal Writing, and Content Development. Holding a Master’s in International Business from the IESEG School of Management and a Bachelor’s in Engineering (Electronics and Communication Engineering) from Government Engineering College, Surat, Irbaaz, boasts a rich academic background.

As Senior Manager of Strategic Partnerships at Piramal Swasthya, Irbaaz leverages expertise in Nonprofit Organizations, NGOs, Relationship Building, Corporate Relations, and Grant Administration. Previously, as Lead CSR at TATA Power, he led impactful CSR initiatives, notably the Pay Autention project, focusing on Autism awareness. 

With a robust academic foundation and extensive professional experience, Irbaaz excels in navigating the complexities of CSR, strategic partnerships, and project management. 

Irbaaz provides vital consultancy support to the EmpowerEd Foundation’s fundraising efforts.

Leejoe Vergis Mathew, a Business Coach with 21 years of diverse industry experience in retail, electronics, energy, and information technology, excels in marketing, negotiation, customer service, sales, and business development, driving operational excellence. His expertise spans people management, training, and stakeholder relationship building, fostering a positive work environment.

Adept at turning around businesses through process improvements, Leejoe showcases strong business acumen and innovation for market development. Currently, Leejoe is providing consultancy support to drive the resource mobilisation efforts of EmpowerEd Foundation.

Benson Varghese, a former mechanical engineer, has embraced entrepreneurship with a unique fusion of technical expertise and creative flair. Renowned as a Brand Equity and Brand Identity Expert, he transitioned from a key role at AVS Plastics to a thriving career in the creative realm. Venturing into the Malayalam Film Industry, he refined his content creation and storytelling skills. Later, he took on the role of Marketing Officer at Providence College of Engineering, where his entrepreneurial spirit took root.

In a bold move away from convention, Benson founded HEYDAY, a cutting-edge branding and marketing consultancy. His visionary leadership has propelled HEYDAY to the forefront, playing a pivotal role in elevating the visibility of numerous companies across diverse industries. With international certifications, his journey bridges technical expertise and creative innovation.

Benson is deeply committed to the mission of EmpowerEd Foundation, offering valuable consultancy support to the communications department.

With over 20 years in IT, HR Operations, Training, Consulting, and Operations, Renji Reghunadh brings extensive expertise to the teams and clients she supports. As a certified ISO auditor, HABC (Train the Trainer), and IOSH, she provides impactful, high-quality training across varied audiences, empowering them toward personal and professional growth.

As Founder and Co-CEO of UTOPIA Educational Technologies Research & Development, Renji leads a team dedicated to innovative solutions tailored to business and educational needs UTOPIA’s mission is to drive growth, enhance efficiency, and promote continuous learning.

Renji has partnered with diverse clients throughout her career, combining technology integration, leadership, and strategic planning. Her industry insight and knowledge of trends keep clients competitive in today’s dynamic landscape.

Passionate about the intersection of technology and education, Renji is inspired by EmpowerEd Foundation’s mission and is eager to contribute her skills to support the foundation’s impactful work in every way possible.