We are a team of passionate educators with a vision that one day every child will have access to quality education.

Our Team

Mr. A N Ramachandra

Chief Academic Advisor

Mr. Ramachandra has over 40+ years of experience in the education space. He previously held leadership positions at Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (JNV), Indian Institute of Technology-Ropar, IIIT Bangalore, Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine (InStem) Bangalore. He was instrumental in bringing novel approaches to improving student learning outcomes, school connections with institutes of higher learning, and student career progression, in addition to contributing to educational policies.

Mr. A V GOVINDA RAO

CTO

Venkat Govind has a Master’s degree in Computer Applications and a Certification in Object-Oriented Analysis and Design (OOAD) from IIIT Hyderabad. He also has 25 years of experience in developing applications in Open Source, JAVA & Microsoft Technologies and has expertise in Education, Health care, Energy services, and e-commerce domains. He aimed for instant impact by helping design, develop, and build necessary tools for the team to improve productivity and operational efficiency.

Dr. Vamsidhar Yerramsetty

Consultant

                                                                                                                                                            

Ms. Padma Kollipara

Contest Coordinator

Padma Kollipara hails from Kakinada but was brought up in Hyderabad. She is a science graduate with a certification in MS Office. She has good experience in administration and management, with a total of 12 years of exposure to the profession. She started her job as Secretary in a company called ‘Bay Liners Ltd’ and after that, she joined North South Foundation as an Office Associate and is presently continuing as Contest Coordinator.

Ms. Sushmita Anand

Project Associate

Teaching comes quite naturally to Sushmita Anand. From the small town of Madhubani to the city of Bangalore, Sushmita Anand had some profound experiences that have helped her evolve as a professional as she is now. She is an alumnus of Azim Premji University (M.A in Education) and has four years of experience in the education sector. Working for and helping children from vulnerable backgrounds has been her passion. Sushmita previously worked as a program manager for an NGO called "Diksha," which focuses on holistic education and operates two learning centres for children from marginalised groups, among other educational and awareness projects. Before Diksha, she worked as a program officer in an organisation called "SATHI", which runs railway childline in 16 locations. She is now working as a Project-Associate at North South Foundation, putting her experience and knowledge to good use.

Our Advisory Council

Mr. Rao Chalasani

Rao Chalasani, a 25-year Wall Street veteran, left in 2000 from his position of Chief Investment Strategist of First Union Securities to pursue non-profit service. Rao headed the Foundation for Democratic Reforms in India (FDRI) for six years and later joined the Board of North South Foundation (NSF) and became Chairman in 2009. He stepped down in 2021 and currently serves the organisation as Chairman Emeritus.

Rao initiated North South Foundation Creative Learning & Leadership Initiatives (NCL) in 2015 and formalised it as an autonomous vertical of NSF India in 2020.

Dr. Gullapalli N Rao

Chairman, NSF

After a successful career in the US as an academic ophthalmologist, in 1987 Dr. Gullapalli N Rao established the L V Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad, India, 33 years ago and is the Founder & Chair of that Institute. The L.V. Prasad Eye Institute is a complex of modern eye hospital with advanced training programs for ophthalmologists and paramedical personnel, an eye research centre, rehabilitation program, product development, and high quality eye care models for underserved areas.

Dr. Rao received his basic medical education in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, and completed his postgraduate residency training at the Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. In the US, he trained at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, and later at the School of Medicine, University of Rochester, where he continued on the faculty until 1986.

Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan

Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan is a physician by training who went into the Indian Administrative Service in the aftermath of the Emergency and the failure of the Janata Experiment. He was a topper in the IAS exam. During the 16 years of distinguished public service in various capacities, he acquired a formidable reputation in the erstwhile State of Andhra Pradesh.

He served as Secretary to both the Governor and the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.

He worked on strengthening the credit cooperatives and making them independent of government control.

Dr. Mallikharjuna Rao Chalasani

Rao had worked for General Motors for 33 years and retired in 2015. Most of his GM career was at the GM Tech Center in the US and with GM India since 2008.

Prior to joining GM, Rao worked for AT&T Bell Laboratories in the USA. As Director of Advanced Technology at GM India, Rao’s focus has been on Future Car Programs for India, as well as innovation that is relevant to meet India’s transportation needs.

Rao was a Gold Medalist at the University of Madras and received his B.E. (Hons.) degree in Mechanical Engineering, followed by an MS from Wayne State University, and a Ph.D. degree from the University of Michigan in 1981.

Rao is currently retired and resides in Hyderabad.

Rao has been associated with the Nort South Foundation since 2015.

Ms. Sandhya Rani

Ms. Sandhya Rani, NCL Advisory Council Chair, was a career civil servant and belonged to the 1987 batch of Indian Postal Services. She holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard University, USA.

As Commissioner, School Education, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh during 2015–19, Ms. Sandhya Rani spearheaded several academic reforms and technological initiatives leading to improved student assessments and learning levels, enhanced teacher professional development, establishing a School Information Management System, consolidation of Government schools, improved governance through transparent and accountable administrative systems, introduction of the Happiness Curriculum, Digital Class Rooms and Personalized Adaptive Learning initiatives.

Mr. JSR Prasad

Sivaram Prasad Jetty has had a distinguished career in both finance and industry. He is on the board of several companies. He was the Executive Director of Kakatiya Cement Sugar and Industries Ltd.

He was also the General Secretary of the All-India Mini Cement Plant’s Association from 1996 to 1998. He is the Chairman and Managing Director of Greensol Power Systems, which is an exclusive joint-venture with Hangzhou Steam Turbine Co. Ltd. In addition, Sivaram is a Trustee and the Treasurer at Basavatarakam Indo-American Cancer Hospital and Research Institute (NBTR).

He is involved in several philanthropic activities and non-profit organizations. He views education as paramount and enjoys continuing to support and improve the North South Foundation.