Mr. G.V.S. Prasad, Chairman
Mr. G V S Prasad has been the Executive Director of CfBT Education Services since 2002. He is a Chartered Accountant with thirteen years of experience in financial projects, financial consulting, promotion of co-operative banks, audits, taxation and training. In his role as Chairman of the Board at RDF, he provides strategic inputs and direction to RDF’s sustainability efforts as well as guiding RDF’s education strategy and heading the RDF Education Committee.
Mr. Arjun Rao, Vice Chairman
Mr. Arjun Rao has been a pillar of strength to RDF since inception in 1996, bringing in his expertise as the CEO of Value Labs. What inspires him about RDF is the commitment to serve children in rural areas, giving them the highest quality of education, and the strong base of values and character within the RDF family. He contributes strategic inputs at the board level and is instrumental in providing funding support.
Mrs. Vandita Rao, Chief Executive Officer
Mrs. Vandita Rao has been closely associated with the board since 1996 and has been the CEO of RDF since 2008. She is inspired by rural children’s innocent and happy faces even though they have challenges every day! She contributes to RDF her time, energy and financial assistance.
Mr. Kiran Addala, Director
Mr. Kiran Addala has been involved with RDF since 2009 and is a member of both the Finance and Capex committees. Outside of RDF, he is Director, Software Development at Infor. What inspires him about RDF is that it is transforming lives in the villages and working hard to educate children in these areas. Within RDF, he hopes to set up sustainable processes and systems and a long-term donor base. Over the years, he has been instrumental in leveraging MNCs like Infor, Invensys and Cognizant towards infrastructure development in Rollakal and Redlawada schools.
Mr. Sridhar Chari, Treasurer
Mr. Chari is a BITS – Pilani and IIM-A alumnus, who has headed leading organisations like Nagarjuna Finance and Shaw Wallace. He has also been the Director, ICFAI – International Division. Currently Mr. Chari is an Organisation and Strategy consultant for 3 SMEs and an investment bank in Hyderabad, he is also a visiting faculty member teaching Engineering and Business Strategy at leading B-schools in Ahmedabad and Hyderabad. Mr. Chari is involved in RDF’s financial management strategy, giving direction to budget and accounting processes and actively involved in fundraising efforts.
Mrs. Deepika Rao, Director
Mrs. Deepika Rao, has in her long-term association with RDF, helped build new relationships, especially through her network in USA. Her efforts have led to successful fundraising drives in the US, which has helped RDF manage its education programs over the years.
Mr. Francis Joseph, Director
Mr. Francis Joseph has more than 20 years of Management experience in School Education; in areas that include School Set-up & Operations, Human Resource, Technology, Organizational Development and Strategy Planning. He has extensively worked in establishing and managing more than 40 schools for one of India’s largest singly owned/managed & non-franchised educational group as its COO in India & Middle East (till year 2011), from where he started as a Teacher in year 1993. He was also instrumental in developing many technological initiatives and revolutionary practices in schools, both in India and abroad. He is also a recipient of the “Limca Book of Record” (Edition 2013) for managing the fastest school admission process (10 days) in the country. He was also selected as an emerging edupreneur in India (year 2013) for an incubator programme conducted by the Pearson Affordable Learning Fund (U.K.) for his efforts in affordable and low-cost education in smaller towns and villages.
Dr. Savita Date Menon, Chief Operations Officer
Dr. Savita Date Menon is a renowned Psychologist and Wellness Specialist with a PhD in Psychology who helps clients with mental health management, psychotherapy and EAPs. She is a Director and COO at RDF. She has helped bring passionate volunteers to RDF who are helping our students and teachers immensely.
She pioneered and set up Life Studios in Apollo Hospitals group with a ‘Rehab – Chronic Disease Management’ vision. She teaches Lifestyle Medicine in hospitals with a goal towards preventive health, disease management and rehab. She conducts workshops on mental health, gender sensitization and leadership for MNCs, Insurance companies, Schools & Universities in India and overseas. She has set up the Department of Psychiatry and Detox Centers at Tata Hospital, Jamshedpur. She has been associated with the Speical Olympics as a Global Clinical Advisor, India. She has authored books on Health Psychology and Health Counselling and writes columns for Times of India, Deccan Chronicle, B+ve and Khaleej Times.
She is a member of the Undergraduate & Postgraduate Board of Studies, Psychology at Osmania University and St. Francis College, Hyderabad. She is a part of the Management team at Arabian Wellness, UAE and Ahyush Health & Wellness, USA. She is NDTV India and NDTV Good Times’ Expert on Mental Health and filmed 39 episodes with them. She has been a Jury Member for the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) Corporate Health Awards and Co-Convenor, Healthcare Panel, CII Andhra Pradesh. She’s also a Founder Health Convenor, CII Indian Women’s Network.
Mr. Y.R. Mohana Rao, Director
Mr Ram Mohan Rao Yarrapothu brings with him a wealth of experience and expertise in Human Resources, Industrial Relations, Admin, Legal, Human Rights, leading CSR projects in Banking & Agri-Business MNCs and in Palliative Care services. He is an active Rotarian and as CEO of Sparsh, one of the most sought after, state of the art hospice facility in Hyderabad, he has transformed the meaning of palliative care in India.
As a Human Rights Lead for Monsanto India, he has been the recipient of various global awards for innovative field safety and child labour rehabilitation initiatives. Mr. Rao has been associated with Rural Development Foundation since 2015 as a Director and was also Chief Operations Officer for 1 year.
Mr. Hemant Agarwal, Director
Mr. Hemant Agarwal is a noted advertising professional, heading Associated Advertising. With offices pan India, he has played a crucial role in several brands achieving national prominence. He has made innovative forays into allied activities such as design and publication of a detailed tourist guide for Andhra Pradesh – Rail Yatri – India’s largest circulated English publication, the contribution of distinguished writers. He is Founder Member of the Advertising Club, Hyderabad – a federation of agencies & clients; Member, Executive Committee, AAAI – the apex body of advertising agencies in the country.
Prof. Adrian Kennedy, Director
Prof. Adrian Kennedy has over 45 years of experience and accomplishments in Health & Management Lifestyle strategy, Wellness Insurance, Organizational Growth,managing Profit Centres/SBU Operations and Corporate Strategy & Development. He is the President of Health & Wellness Association of India, Director at Apollo Hospitals Educational & Research Foundation and Founder Member of Lifestyle Medicine (Harvard). He is also visiting faculty at Harvard Medical School, US. He is a published author and has produced several articles on health, lifestyle and wellness in leading print media. He has also been awarded by the Indian Government for his leadership in sports and wellness.
Neha Dharia, Director – Digital Media Advisor
Ms. Dharia is RDF’s Communications and Digital Media Advisor. In 2010, she started as a volunteer to design and write RDF’s Annual Report and writing the weekly blogs. Now, as a Director, she oversees RDF’s Communications programmes; all this while working full time and remotely, from Bangalore! She is a Senior Consultant and speaker in the telecom and technology industry, with over 10 years of experience. She is frequently featured and quoted in international press and contributes often to broadcast media. Her research has been instrumental in driving change and creating thought leadership in the communications industry. She has an MSc from the University of London and a BA in Economics from St. Xavier’s, Mumbai.
Ms. Vydika Rao, Joint Secretary
Ms. Vydika Rao, the Director and Founder of Oon Studio, is actively involved in supporting RDF by contributing to website development, annual report designing, and other areas. In 2023, Ms. Vydika Rao took on additional responsibilities as a Joint Secretary and Member of the RDF Board. Her involvement extends to assisting students and staff interested in design, and she has initiated the redesign of the RDF website. We look forward to her continued journey with RDF to support underprivileged children.
Ms. Rachana Rao , Member
Ms. Rachana Rao is a Co-founder of Homegrown Produce India, having graduated from Bournemouth University, UK. She brings a diverse range of experiences to the table, with expertise in land restoration, agricultural projects, rural employment and development, food processing units, and hospitality F&B projects. We are honoured to have her on the RDF Board and her commitment to contributing to the organization’s governance.
Ms. Amrapalee Dutta , Member
Ms. Amrapalee Dutta is a Life Skill, Behavioral, and Communication Training Specialist with a Bachelor’s in Mass Communication and Video Production. She holds a Life Coach certification and has completed a course in Forensic Psychology. With extensive leadership experience, she specializes in staff development, coaching, and content design. In her role as a Leadership Development Specialist, she designs and evaluates leadership programs for organizations. As a committed volunteer, she has helped improve teachers’ English communication skills. Her membership since 2023 reflects her dedication to RDF’s goals. Ms. Amrapalee is a well-rounded professional, passionate about personal and professional development.
Mr. Krishna Babu Cherukuri , Member
Mr. Krishna Babu Cherukuri is a seasoned Chartered Accountant with a 45-year career, currently practicing as a partner at M/s C K S Associates. Beyond his professional role, he actively engages in social and charitable causes, serving as a Trustee for Spandana “We Respond” and advising The Alladi Memorial Foundation. Mr. Cherukuri extends his expertise to support RDF in FCRA matters, showcasing his commitment to the organization’s regulatory and financial needs. Joining RDF in 2023, he demonstrates a dedicated involvement in the organization’s activities.
