Dr. Monisha Behal is the Co-Founder & Chairperson of North East Network. She is based in Assam. Travelling widely in rural areas of India, Monisha conducted research, delivered empowering talks and produced several papers to highlight issues of women of North East India. She initiated several projects on women's development within the region, one of which has grown into a significant community based initiative in Chizami, Nagaland. She initiated the setting up of a film and video documentation centre on wildlife conservation called the Green Hub in Tezpur. Dr. Behal is also the Chairperson of Nenterprise, a Trust that engages with women weavers to promote their livelihood in several districts of Assam and Nagaland. She is the convenor of NEN Finance Committee.
Neiteo Koza is the Vice Chairperson of North East Network. She is an Advocate & Human Rights Lawyer based out of Kohima. She is committed towards empowering women from socially and economically disadvantaged communities. Over the years, she assisted survivors of sexual violence and also obtained compensations and reliefs for women affected by different crimes by filing PILs in the court. Reproductive health rights, access to quality healthcare, quality education, equal job opportunities for the youth,mental health, child rights, disability issues, food security among others, are her subjects of interest.
Gita Rani Bhattacharya is the Treasurer of North East Network. She is based in Guwahati. She has been working in the field of gender and development for more than two decades. Shewas the Executive Director of Assam Mahila Samata Society. She has also successfully completed research projects during her service tenure. Presently, she is holding the position of honorary member in many nongovernment organizations working in the development sector and is the head of Alliance of Feminist Collective in Assam. She is a member of NEN Finance Committee.
Joshomayee Devi was an Associate Professor at the Indian Institute of Bank Management, Guwahati. She has been involved in research and training, particularly in the areas of Tribal & Hill Areas Development, Planning, and Micro-finance. She has a book,research projects and published / unpublished research articles to her credit. She was also a member of the first State Women's Commission in Assam. She is a founder Governing Board member of NEN and is currently a member of NEN Finance Committee.
Mr. Kevin Phillips is based out of Shillong. He began his career as a teacher in the mid 70s. In 1988, he was appointed as the Principal of the Army Public School, Shillong. In 1995, he was associated with Assam Valley School in Tezpur. From 2010 onwards and post retirement, Mr. Phillips has taken up challenges in reviving schools that had gone into decline, like the Donyi Polo Public School in Itanagar, All Saints Diocesan School in Tezpur, and more. Currently he is on the Education Committee of All Saints Pastorate as Advisor.
Meenal Tula is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow working on a research project on food sovereignty in the Eastern Himalayas. She has been based at North Eastern Social Research Centre (NESRC), Guwahati, since 2016, as a Senior Research Associate. She is primarily a social researcher working on issues of gender, women and land, work, migration, customary laws and communities in Northeast India.
Supriya Khound is an independent sustainable development consultant and systems change facilitator working on nurturing individuals and organisations towards systemic change at policy level. She focuses on environment and gender and its intersectionality. In the past, she worked with the UNDP, North East Network, Bloom Microventures, UNESCO and governments to accelerate achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. She is currently working in a community-led space in Dibrugarh.
Anurita is a feminist, a women's rights activist based in Guwahati, Assam. Being associated with North East Network since 1998, she has substantially contributed to the growth of the organisation from its nascent stage. Combining advocacy and academia, she is associated with educational institutions, government agencies and women's groups. She has been an instrumental figure in shaping rural women’s feminist leadership in Assam. She conceptualised the establishment of feminist safe spaces led by community women leaders at the village level by setting up Gramin Mahila Kendras of NEN. In 2020, she was felicitated with the ‘Global Award 2020’ by Global Edu – Leaders Forum for her unique contribution to the cause of women. She is also recognised as one of the Vital Voices in the Global Mentoring Walk- Assam Chapter.
With over 30 years of diverse experience from policy formulation to project development, Amba Jamir is professionally trained as an environmental lawyer and development communicator. He is an acclaimed grassroots convenor, trainer, and facilitator with experience in the Asia Pacific and South Asian region in areas of environment education, development communication, rural development, community-based resource management, traditional food systems, evidence-based policy formulation and envisioning. Amba works directly with policy makers, development organizations, research think tanks, communities, farmers and the youth in mountain regions. He is a founding member of the Sustainable Development Forum Nagaland (SDFN) and the Integrated Mountain Initiative (IMI).