BOARD OF TRUSTEES
D. Shylet Moni - Managing Trustee & Founder
Mr. Shylet Moni is a development professional and research scholar with a Masters in Sociology. He has 20+ years of experience in development fields such as women & children empowerment, sustainable rural livelihoods development, and education. He has worked with organizations such as Oxfam Canada, Oxfam G.B., and the ALC School Project. He is currently working toward his Doctoral degree through the Women Studies Department at Bharathidasan University in Tiruchirappalli.
Suresh Kanna - Financial Trustee
Mr. Suresh Kanna is the project director at CREATE TRUST, a non governmental organization having its base in Madurai. He has 28 years of experience in development fields such as sustainable agriculture, natural resource management, local food and health systems, communication and documentation. He has worked with organizations like Kudumbam, LEISA Network and Future Earth in promoting sustainable agriculture alternatives, conservation of traditional seeds and agrobiodiversity among resource poor farmers in Tamil Nadu.
S. Illavarasi - Trustee
Dr. S.Ilavarasi holds a Master’s, M.Phil and Ph.D. in Women’s Studies from Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli. Her doctoral research focused on "Women and Water Governance – Problems and Possibilities of Water Governance: A Micro Study in Tamil Nadu" exploring the intersection of gender, water, caste and governance. She has over ten years of experience in research. She has also been actively involved in teaching and training within the field of Women’s Studies, she also conducts trainings on gender sensitisation, life skills, prevention of sexual harassment of women at the workplace and menstrual hygiene management. Her areas of interest include documenting the lived experiences of women, children, Dalits and Tribal communities with a focus on amplifying marginalized voices and fostering inclusive development.
ADVISORY BOARD
Gregory T. Buie (Chairman) - Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.
Greg Buie is the Executive Director & Co-Founder of Visions Global Empowerment (USA). He has worked as an international development consultant, serving organizations that operate in countries all over the world, including Sri Lanka, India, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Indonesia. He holds a BA in Political Science: International Relations from the University of California, San Diego, and an MA in International Studies & Diplomacy from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.
Dr. Kumaravel Perumalsamy - Lancaster, California, U.S.A.
Dr. Perumalsamy graduated from Thanjavur Medical College, India. He completed his Internal Medicine residency from Coney Island Hospital, Brooklyn, New York; his Gastroenterology fellowship from Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York; and Hematology fellowship from Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York. Dr. Perumalsamy is board certified in Internal Medicine and in Gastroenterology. He currently works at the High Desert Gastroenterology Clinic in Lancaster, California.
Dr. G. Palanithurai - Dean & Rajiv Gandhi Chair for Panchayat Raj Studies, Gandhigram Rural University, Dindigul
Prof. G. Palanithurai is an academic activist who has worked in the Department of Political Science and Development Administration, Gandhigram Rural Institute – Deemed University, fully funded by the Government of India. Now, he is retired from service. He specializes in Grassroots Democracy, Decentralized Governance and Development Management. He has 34 years of experience in teaching, research and outreach programmes. Currently he is the National president of the Indian Social Science Academy.
Dr. M. C. Rajamony - Barrister, Oxford University (U.K.)
Dr. Rajamony received his doctoral award from Oxford Brooks University, U.K. for his research on ‘Sacred Sites and Disputes: Role of International Law – a case study of the Ayodhya Dispute’. He travels across the globe to enlighten people on the underlying factors of religious conflicts and its effects on human development. He provides legal counsel to couples to lead a happy family life and youth to stay focused on their healthy dreams and be of contribution to their respective societies. He is the author of many best-selling inspirational books, and always on a move conducting training programs for policy makers.
Mr. D. Thangapandian - Director, Farm India
A Ceramic Engineer by profession, Mr. Thangapandian works in the field of magnetic material research & development both in India and abroad. He has developed strong working knowledge in Organic and Bio Dynamic Agriculture and imparts the same to students in schools & universities. He travels frequently to the Asia Pacific region as a consultant to various Chinese, Malaysian and Taiwanese industries. In India, he is involved with several Gandhian and academic institutions working for the upliftment of the under-privileged, particularly in career development for marginalized youth. Currently, he is working toward creating a model called "Collective Farming Through A Water Commune" to address the current problems of Indian agrarian communities.
Dr. Miriam Samuel
Dr. Miriam Samuel is Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Social Work, Madras Christian College, Tambaram, Chennai. She joined the department in 1989 and took office as Head from 1993. Her specialization is in the field of Medical and Psychiatric Social Work and Gender. She worked as an Intake Counsellor at TTK Hospital – Addiction Treatment Centre in Chennai from 1987 to 1989 before joining MCC in 1989. She completed her Ph.D from the University of Madras in 2017, her Masters in Social Work in 1987, and her Bachelors (B.A.) in Sociology from Stella Maris College in 1985.
Sonja Astfalck (Development Chair) - London, U.K.
Sonja’s professional experience is in the public and financial sectors, including diplomacy, policy-making and risk management, and with a focus on strategic approaches to promoting sustainability and building resilience within economic and social development. Sonja currently works as Strategy Lead at the International Finance Corporation (IFC). She holds an MA in Public Administration in International Development from the School of Public Policy & Management at Tsinghua University and a BA in International Relations from the University of Geneva. Passionate about people, purpose and meaningful change, she has engaged in numerous pro bono roles, including several representative capacities at the United Nations. Sonja speaks German (Native), English (Fluent), Chinese (Proficient), French (Business Level), and Arabic (Beginner).
Dr. C. J. Paul - Consultant, Chennai
Dr. C.J. Paul is a Certified Management Consultant with postgraduate, M.Phil., and doctoral degrees in Social Work from Loyola College, Chennai. With over two decades of experience, he has made significant contributions to the fields of community development, corporate social responsibility (CSR), gender equity, research, and evaluation, and has trained hundreds of development professionals across government, NGOs, and corporate sectors. Guided by a deep commitment to inclusive growth and participatory governance, Dr. Paul’s professional ethos centers on building sustainable and accountable community systems. His expertise in strategic planning, evidence-based policymaking, and capacity building continues to shape impactful development programs that foster equity, empowerment, and lasting social transformation.
STAFF
Shylet Moni - Executive Director (Trichy)
Mr. Shylet Moni is a development professional and research scholar with a Masters in Sociology. He has 20+ years of experience in development fields such as women & children empowerment, sustainable rural livelihoods development, and education. He has worked with organizations such as Oxfam Canada, Oxfam G.B., and the ALC School Project. He is currently working toward his Doctoral degree through the Women Studies Department at Bharathidasan University in Tiruchirappalli.
A.S. Beena - Deputy Director (Trichy)
Beena is a post graduate in English with specialization in education. She has 23 years of teaching experience. Besides coaching, she loves gardening and cooking. She too loves development work. She has managed innovative projects of UNDP, and All India Disaster Mitigation Institute. She loves to help rural children excel in education and leadership. She also enjoys organizing events and counseling Visions Youth.
Ambily Mohan - Senior Programs Manager (Tiruvannamalai)
Mrs. Ambily Alex is an experienced social worker and program coordinator with a strong commitment to serving the needs of disadvantaged women & children. With a Bachelors in Economics and a Masters in Social Work, Ambily most recently served as a Zonal Officer for the ALC School Project in helping to empower women & children, especially those from Dalit communities.
K. Anbarasi - Senior Accountant & Documentation Officer (Trichy)
S. Muthumani - Programs Manager (Kalvarayan Hills)
A qualified teacher with a postgraduate degree and B.Ed. in Tamil, Muthumani joined Visions Global Empowerment India in February 2023 as a Community Educator. Through her sheer commitment, passion, and strong community engagement, she quickly rose to become the Program Manager for the Kalvarayan Hills region. Being a tribal woman herself, Muthumani deeply understands the realities, challenges, and strengths of the tribal communities she serves. Her leadership and networking ability have been instrumental in empowering rural women, strengthening local education initiatives, and driving the vision of inclusive development in the hills.
