Rohini Nilekani is one of India’s most respected philanthropists and civic visionaries, known for her commitment to creating systemic, sustainable change across sectors like education, environment, and governance. As the founder of Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies (RNP), she champions a philosophy of “societal platform thinking”- enabling empowered citizens to co-create solutions for public good.

A former journalist and the author of books like Stillborn and Samaaj, Sarkaar, Bazaar, Rohini’s work spans storytelling, institution-building, and funding grassroots innovation. Through RNP and earlier initiatives such as Arghyam (water sustainability) and Pratham Books (children’s literacy), she has catalyzed open knowledge systems, public dialogue, and community-driven problem solving.

She serves on the boards of ATREE, EkStep, and the Ashoka Trust, and is a key voice in India’s philanthropic and development ecosystem, known for advocating trust-based funding, collaborative governance, and the power of the “Samaaj” (civil society).

Married to Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, Rohini Nilekani stands as an independent and influential force, inspiring a new generation of changemakers to think beyond charity-to invest in dignity, inclusion, and shared progress.