Niluka Gunawardena is an educator, researcher and disability rights advocate based in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Niluka earned a Master of Arts degree in Disability and Gender (Distinction) from the University of Leeds, and she teaches Disability Studies at the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. She is a consultant and curriculum developer for the University of Colombo. She is a faculty member of the Disability Sexuality and Rights Online Institute (DSROI) hosted by CREA. Niluka has taught Geography and Earth Science to secondary school students for several years and is currently working on introducing Mindfulness to school children and educators in conjunction with the Open University of Sri Lanka. Niluka regularly conducts community training workshops on Disability Rights using the CRPD-SDGs framework for a multitude of NGOs and DPOs. She also influences disability inclusive corporate policy by leading disability rights awareness sessions for corporations. As a researcher, she has worked on evidence based policy for organisations like the Human Environment Research Observatory, Equal Ground and BBC. She is a co-founder of The Spectrum, a peer support group for individuals with psychosocial disabilities and Union of Abilities, a peer group for youth with physical disabilities in Sri Lanka. She is a Board member of Women Enabled International and serves on the Disability Advisory Panel of HYPE Sri Lanka.
Madhavi Joshi is Senior Programme Director of the Centre for Environment Education and manages the Youth Programmes and the Rural Programmes Group at the centre. Madhavi is involved in urban programmes in the areas of waste management, sustainable mobility, and greening. Leading the Rural Programmes, she is involved in capacity building of women elected representatives, sustainable livelihoods and water management programmes. As coordinator for the youth programmes, Madhavi initiated the South Asia Youth Environment Network with UNEP’s support, conducting programmes in the region. She has worked in social and communications research at the Space Applications Centre, ISRO for 5 years, before joining CEE in 1993. Madhavi has over 30 years of experience designing, implementing and leading education and communication projects in the area of sustainable development. She has led major national programmes and campaigns in partnership with UN agencies, National Ministries, and other partners. She has authored a number of papers and contributed to publications in the area of communication and education for sustainable development. Madhavi has a Masters in Social Work.
Farhanah has been working in the intersection of digital rights and security, gender and sexuality, media, and labour issues since she graduated from Communication Science in 2010. Currently, she is a fellow for Digital Defenders Partnership and an editor for the technology section on a workers-owned cultural online media, Jurnalruang.com. She has been involved in a digital literacy initiative for young people—KEMUDI, is a part of the research and education team for SINDIKASI—a media and creative workers union, and a board member of Pamflet, an organisation working on research, archiving, and publication on youth issues and human rights.
Mary Jane N. Real is the Co-Lead of Urgent Action Fund for Women's Human Rights Asia & Pacific (UAF A&P), a newly established organisation that provides rapid response grants and supports women and non-binary human rights defenders at risk in Asia and the Pacific. She is a founding member and former Coordinator of the Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition. A lawyer and a long-time advocate for women's human rights, she has worked with various international, regional and national organisations and initiatives in different capacities including as current Board member of Front Line Defenders and Jass Associates.
Dr Lyana Khairuddin is Political Adviser at the British High Commission, Kuala Lumpur. She founded the social movement #bringbackthekebaya in 2016, promoting the celebration of Malay culture and women empowerment through this traditional blouse. Lyana trained as a virologist, with published international works in Human Papillomavirus (HPV; the virus known to cause cervical cancer) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Her former column, NaturalLy, published by The Star Media Group commented on socio- and identity politics in Malaysia.
As the Advocacy Officer of GALANG Philippines, she facilitates the organization's engagement with local and national bodies to bring into mainstream consciousness the pressing issues and concerns of lesbians, bisexual women, and trans men living in urban poor communities. After completing her Bachelors Degree in Social Sciences (Major in Social Anthropology-Minor in History) from the University of the Philippines Baguio, Gyky joined GALANG as a Community Organizer. This position provided her with critical insights on ground-level realities that fuel her passion to tirelessly advocate for equality, diversity, and LGBT rights.
