Nilanjana is a seasoned communications specialist whose career over the last 24 years has spanned across journalism, advocacy, and development communications. She started her career as a television journalist with New Delhi Television Limited (NDTV) and was part of the founding team that set up CNN-News18. In her ten-year stint in the Indian media industry, Nilanjana was awarded some of the highest journalistic honours in the country, including the Chameli Devi Jain Award for Outstanding Woman Media person, the Ramnath Goenka Award, and the Indian Television Academy Award.

Previously associated with Global Health Strategies as Vice President (2012 -2017) she led several projects including immunization and RMNCH+A in the India office, as well as supported the initial establishment of the Africa offices.

Nilanjana has also worked with the United Nations – with UNFPA where she led advocacy and communications for the India and Bhutan offices and with WHO South-East Asia where she was part of the Communications team that managed WHO’s COVID-19 response across 11 country offices in the region.

Over the last two and half years, she has been leading the Office of Strategic Communications at Ashoka University – where she has been working with the University’s founders and leadership to drive and upsell fundraising.

Nilanjana studied English Literature at St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata and has a master’s in journalism from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai.