FAT is governed by a diverse Board of Directors comprising leaders from gender justice, technology, education, philanthropy, organizational development, and community leadership. The Board provides strategic guidance, strengthens organizational accountability, and supports the long-term vision of building a young-women-led collective. Together, they ensure that FAT remains rooted in its feminist values while continuing to innovate and grow.
Member
Almas is a Senior Communications Specialist at ICCT in India, where she supports the team in maximizing the reach and impact of ICCT’s India work through digital outreach and engagement. Previously, she worked as a Communication Associate with the Energy Program at World Resources Institute India. In her 4.5 years of work experience as a Development Communication Specialist, Almas has worked with organizations such as Breakthrough India, Feminist Approach to Technology, CEEW, and Oxfam India.
She holds a master’s degree in Development Communication from AJK Mass Communication Research Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia and holds a PG Diploma in Women and Gender Studies. During her leisure time, she enjoys reading books, working on women’s rights advocacy and savoring Cinnamon Tea.
Member
Chandrika Sahai is Coordinator, Philanthropy for Social Justice and Peace (PSJP). She works in the field of philanthropy and social justice, with extensive experience supporting community-led initiatives and systems change. Her work focuses on strengthening people-led philanthropy, network building, and transformative social change.
Member
An electronics engineer by training and a feminist by conviction, Gayatri Buragohain entered the women’s rights movement through the back door in 2006—working as a tech support person at a women’s rights organization. Witnessing firsthand the vast divide between the women’s movement and the world of technology, and recognizing how few were naming this gap, she stepped out in 2007 to build a solution.
She founded Feminist Approach to Technology (FAT)—India’s first organization dedicated solely to advancing women’s participation across all levels of science and technology, while critiquing the societal impacts of the gender gap. Starting from a humble workshop in her living room, Gayatri grew FAT over nearly two decades into a multi-state organization powered by a 20+ person team and supported by a portfolio of international funders. She navigated this growth while balancing single motherhood, personal trauma, economic precarity, and severe burnout.
When FAT faced an existential crisis in 2018, the young women who had grown up through its programs stepped up, fought for the organization, and claimed it as their own. Gayatri then transitioned into the role of a coach, mentoring these young leaders as they reshaped FAT in their own image. In March 2026, as FAT celebrated its 18th anniversary, she formally stepped down as Executive Director to become a full-time Coach.
Secretary
Jyoti Arya serves as the Secretary of FAT's Board. She supports the organization's governance processes, institutional development, and long-term strategic direction, ensuring that FAT's mission remains anchored in accountability, participation, and community leadership.
President
Nayantara Ranganathan is a researcher and advocate working at the intersection of technology, digital rights and gender justice. She is a Fellow at the Internet Democracy Project and Point of View. Through her work on internet governance, surveillance and digital policy, she brings deep expertise on the social and political dimensions of technology, helping guide FAT's vision of feminist technology and collective leadership.
Member
Pradeep Esteves, based at present from out of Bengaluru, has been involved in the development sector for a little over four and a half decades. The first two were at the grassroots, which obviously were the best part of his involvement. Continues to be a development activist and holds multiple hats in this process.
At present he supports and facilitates change processes, organisational development and takes up research on various developmental issues. He is also involved in exploring and promoting social ventures for social & environmental impact maximisation.
Specialties: Facilitating change processes in organisations and research on developmental issues.
Due to the nature of his work he associates with many NGO's across the country as a facilitator/consultant, apart from being associated as a board member in a few organisations.
Member
Sushmita is a feminist practitioner and researcher with four years of experience in the development sector, with a focus on gender equity, intersectionality, and social justice. She has been working with Nirantar Trust for the past two years as a Project Associate, engaging with questions of gender intersectionality, adolescent empowerment, and women's rights. She herself has been a member of FAT's Young Women's Leadership Program. Therefore, she understands the need for such programs and is deeply involved and dedicated to the adolescent leadership program. She holds an MA in Development from Azim Premji University, Bengaluru. She is interested in feminist pedagogy, policy analysis, reads Ambedkarite and political literature.
