Dechen became a part of ICLEI South Asia in November 2023. Holding a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Delhi Technological University, she brings valuable expertise to her role. Before joining ICLEI South Asia, she gained practical experience through an internship with the Public Works Department under the Government of Delhi. Furthermore, Dechen has contributed to the field by publishing a research paper titled “Study of Traffic Flow for Estimation of Level of Service.” Passionate about environmental issues, Dechen’s interests span across ESG, smart cities, energy efficiency, and sustainability.

Rick Sarkar joined ICLEI South Asia in October 2024. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Calcutta University, as well as a Master’s degree in the same field with a specialization in Science and Technology Communication from Jadavpur University.

Before joining ICLEI South Asia, Rick worked with Limitless Stree and V-Force, an initiative by United Nations Volunteers India, where he gained valuable experience in community engagement, campaigning and communication. His diverse experience and expertise in science communication align with ICLEI’s mission to promote sustainable urban development and environmental awareness across South Asia.

Kathmandu, Nepal

Manasa Garikaparthi is an urban design and social development professional, dedicated to fostering people-centric urban planning that promotes environmentally sustainable and socially equitable development. With a passion for addressing the complexities of social, cultural, and ecological systems in cities, she is committed to creating innovative solutions that shape resilient urban environments.

Manasa holds a degree in Urban Design from SPA Delhi (2018) and an MSc in City Design and Social Sciences from the London School of Economics (2024), funded by a Commonwealth Scholarship. Over the years, she has contributed to strategic urban planning initiatives, including smart city projects, city decongestion strategies, comprehensive mobility plans, streetscape designs, transit-oriented development and water-sensitive urbanism.

Her professional experience includes working with renowned organizations such as Prior + Partners (London), Aecom (Gurgaon) and Oasis Design Inc. (Delhi). Manasa has also represented India in prestigious forums, including the International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP) Young Planning Professional workshops in Qatar and Spain, and the EU +CityxChange Sustainable Energy in Cities initiative in Norway.

Dipak joined ICLEI South Asia in August 2021. Prior to this, he interned at the Narayanganj City Corporation where his key responsibilities were to monitor air quality and develop planning strategies for reducing carbon emissions. He has also worked as a Monitoring & Evaluation Officer in Practical Action where he assisted in the project “Improved Cok Stoves (ICS) in Bagerhat district”. He has also worked in an action research project on urban agriculture, mitigating the urban heat island effect and improving the quality of life of urban poor supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Urban & Regional Planning from Chittagong University of Engineering & Technology (CUET) and a post-graduate diploma in International Relations from the University of Dhaka.

Satarupa Roy joined ICLEI South Asia in January 2025. She holds a Master’s in Urban Planning from the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi, and a Bachelor’s in Architecture from PIADS, Nagpur. She brings over six years of multidisciplinary experience in planning and architecture, specializing in sustainable urban environments. Her expertise spans climate resilience, urban governance, assessment frameworks, urban service delivery, digital initiatives, urban innovation, water-sensitive urban design, heritage conservation, and community participation.

Before joining ICLEI South Asia, she contributed to transformative projects with organizations such as the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), where she served as an India Smart Cities Fellow (ISCF), the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) under the Water and Climate Vertical and various urban local bodies. She has several publications to her name, including a book chapter with the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI). She has also received numerous accolades during her academic and professional journey, including the Geospatial Data Stories Challenge Award.

As a Senior Project Officer with ICLEI South Asia, she plays a key role in advancing sustainable urban development by leveraging her expertise in climate resilience, data-driven decision-making, digitalization, water-sensitive cities, nature-based solutions, disaster risk resilience, community-driven initiatives, and capacity building.

Shinjini joined ICLEI South Asia in February 2025. She is an architect and urban designer with over five years of experience in the development sector. Her work has focused on employing a multi-disciplinary approach, spanning policy, planning, and design, to address cross-sectoral challenges, particularly those related to climate change and associated urban transitions. Prior to this, she worked as Project Officer (Transport) for the UrbanShift PMU at NIUA, where she contributed to the adoption of low-emission, climate-resilient, and nature-positive solutions. Additionally, she has collaborated with multiple central and state government agencies on diverse urban projects, policies and research, both domestically and internationally.

Shinjini has provided technical support in formulating the U20 White Paper for Reinventing Frameworks for Urban Planning and Governance as part of the core research team under India’s G20 presidency. She was part of the US/ICOMOS International Exchange Programme where she conducted research under the guidance of the SDG Working Group and University of Virginia, Monticello. She was engaged as an external juror for mid-semester and end-semester evaluations at The Design Village and was Session Co-chair for Climate Resilient Urban Planning as part of the 60th ISOCARP World Planning Congress.