The Centre for Social Impact and Philanthropy at Ashoka University is delighted to announce the appointment of  its next Director Pankaj Ballabh.  Pankaj will join the centre by November 2022. He will be succeeding Ingrid Srinath, who, over the past six years, has played a crucial role in leading and developing CSIP.

Pankaj has more than three decades of experience in the fields of rural development, sustainability, and corporate social responsibility. His expertise encompasses both working for huge corporations and grassroots development. Large energy firms like Shell, BG India, and BP India are among the ones he has worked with. In Rajasthan, where he spent more than ten years working with grassroots NGOs, he had previously worked with tribal tribes on issues related to education, ecology, and livelihoods.

Pankaj now serves as the Bajaj Group’s Vice President of CSR. His main responsibilities include creating a group CSR strategy, setting up a reliable partner identification and approval process, balancing partnerships and self-implemented projects, developing systems and capabilities, making sure CSR regulations are followed, impact measurement, and creating top-notch teams, among other things.

Pankaj studied electrical engineering for his undergraduate degree at MS University in Vadodara and rural management for his postgraduate degree at the Institute of Rural Management in Anand. His daughter studies Fine Arts in Canada. He is married to development expert Anuradha Viswanath.

Pankaj will be succeeding Ingrid Srinath, who over the past six years has played a crucial role in leading and developing CSIP.

In his capacity as Director of CSIP, Pankaj would work closely with Ashoka’s management and provide reports to the Advisory Committee of CSIP.