DIA-Staff

Our Team

Ramani Sundaram

Executive Director

A dedicated neuroscience professional with 14 years of experience in dementia care and elder care project management, with expertise in neuropsychiatric assessments, care planning, and team leadership. Proven track record in designing and managing dementia care and active aging projects, along with experience in proposal writing, grant management, and fundraising for dementia-related initiatives. Leads strategic development, advocacy efforts, and program execution while ensuring high-quality dementia care services across the country.

Roger Ephraim

Associate Director

With over two decades of experience in healthcare administration, event management, and program direction, Roger is deeply committed to advancing initiatives that enhance the lives of the elderly, especially persons with dementia and their caregivers. During his career, he has played a pivotal role in the development and set up of various care programs, including awareness campaigns, technology initiatives, and the establishment of dementia-friendly communities.

Chippy Sebastian

Program Coordinator

Chippy Sebastian is an accomplished social work professional with over 11 years of experience in dementia and psychiatric care. With a strong background in dementia care, counselling, training, cognitive therapies, and psychosocial rehabilitation, Chippy has contributed to and led psychiatric and dementia care projects. Currently, Chippy serves as the Lead for Demclinic at Dementia India Alliance, working to enhance dementia screening, management and the continuum of care.

Anand Kumar

Lead - Outreach and Marketing

Anand is a dynamic professional with extensive experience in team management, customer relationship management, and training. He is a skilled communicator with a talent for building strong relationships and fostering collaboration across teams. Known for his problem-solving abilities and organizational acumen, Anand consistently motivates and leads teams to meet and exceed organizational goals. His ability to connect with people from diverse backgrounds makes him an asset in high-pressure environments, where he provides steady leadership and dependable support.

Dr Anu KN

Lead - Training

Dr Anu is a psychosocial consultant trained at NIMHANS, specializing in dementia care, family therapy, and mental health interventions. With extensive experience in family therapy and dementia care, she specializes in creating meaningful interventions for families dealing with mental illness. She has extensive research experience in mental health and actively provides training in psychosocial interventions to professionals in academic and clinical settings.

Dr Priya Rose KJ

Trainer

Dr Priya Rose KJ, worked in various hospitals as Patient Counsellor and Patient Relationship Officer and in various schools as Life Skill Educator in Bangalore. She is experienced with conducting medical camps and training programs. She is conducted skills upliftment programs through different activities especially theatre activities.

Vaishnavi Karnik

Mental Health Professional

Vaishnavi Karnik is a Psychologist with an MSC in Counselling Psychology. She has an overall experience of 1.5 working with people from various age groups and backgrounds across mental health concerns.

Renuka Kanta Chitapur

Mental Health Professional

Renuka Kanta is a professionally trained Psychiatric Social Worker from the Central Institute of Psychiatry (CIP), Ranchi. She has extensive experience working in psychiatric hospitals, de-addiction center and medical college as well as contributed to the Tele MANAS project. Renuka has also been actively involved in conducting mental health awareness programs, particularly in rural communities and among adolescents.

Nandita Balamurali

Mental Health Professional

Nandita is a psychologist with a Master’s in Psychology [Clinical]. She has experience in neuro-cognitive rehabilitation and has worked largely with the adult population. She strives to provide a collaborative and culturally sensitive space for her clients.

Reuben Manoah

Communications Lead

Reuben is a talented creative professional with a background in Visual Communications. He works across photography, videography, sound design, and graphic arts, and has over 2 years of experience (including at Zee Tamil) before joining the DIA team.

Paul Edward

Manager - HR and Admin

Paul brings with him over two decades of rich and diverse experience in human resources, administration, and compliance, having served in leadership roles at esteemed organizations such as Nightingales Medical Trust and Christian Outreach for Mission and Evangelism. With a strong foundation in recruitment, policy development, training, and employee engagement, Paul’s compassionate and people-centric approach aligns seamlessly with DIA's values.

Hema Palakodeti

Trainer

Hema is a trained Clinical Social Worker with an M.Phil. in Psychiatric Social Work from NIMHANS. With hands-on experience in diverse mental health settings and a background in both biological sciences and social work, she brings a unique blend of clinical expertise and people management skills. Hema is passionate about psychosocial rehabilitation and capacity building in mental health, and approaches her work with empathy, patience, and professionalism.

Jemimah Tessy

Administrative Executive

Tessy RV is a committed administrative professional with over four years of experience in office management and accounting. With a Master’s in Commerce and a strong foundation in financial systems, communication, and organizational coordination, Tessy ensures smooth day-to-day operations. Her proficiency in office tools and dedication to accuracy and professionalism make her an essential part of team DIA..

Sumith PT

Mental Health Professional

Sumith is a trained medical social worker with a Master’s in Social Work from Mangalore University and over three years of experience in hospital and community-based settings. He has worked extensively in psychosocial counseling, patient support, family education, crisis intervention, and bereavement care. At DIA, he supports frontline outreach, memory screening programs, and dementia caregiver engagement, contributing meaningfully to dementia awareness and support initiatives across India.

Mallika Devasundaram

Manager - Finance

Malliga is a skilled accountant with over decades of experience in finance, administration, and office management. She has worked with various organizations handling day-to-day accounting operations, budgeting, payroll, GST filing, bank reconciliation, vendor coordination, and statutory compliance. At Dementia India Alliance, she plays a vital role in maintaining transparent financial processes and supporting administrative functions that enable the organization’s programs and outreach efforts to run effectively and efficiently.

Rachita Rao

Lead - DemClinic

Rachita is a Psychiatric Social Worker and mental health communicator with a passion for storytelling, research, and community care. Her work explores the intersection of psychosocial well-being, inclusive design, and public health through collaborative projects, educational films, and narrative-driven visuals.