Our Team
Varda Mehrotra Co- founder
Varda is an animal advocate and movement builder, who enjoys exploring intersectional solutions and resolutions. She was the architect of India’s largest plant-based advocacy network, which helped create many more champions of animal welfare such as herself. Under her decade-long leadership, FIAPO was recognized as one of the most effective animal charities in India. She has also spearheaded several large-scale undercover investigations and campaigns for farmed, companion, and domestic animals. Most recently, she founded Samayu to undertake and apply a systemic approach to issues surrounding justice for animals in food systems.
Ambuj Agarwal
Board Chair
Ambuj Agrawal, a lawyer with 17 years of experience, primarily practices at the Supreme Court of India and the Delhi High Court. He has acted and advised in several high-profile cases over the years. Additionally, he serves as external counsel for WWF-India and Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations (FIAPO) and advises extensively on animal rights and welfare issues. A beacon of compassion and integrity, Ambuj is a passionate ethical vegan and aspiring minimalist.
Board Secretary
Anuj, our administrative expert, is the unseen force that keeps the wheels of our organisation turning. Armed with a bachelor’s in education and currently pursuing a law degree, he brings a unique blend of empathy and analytical thinking to his role. With 14 years of experience under his belt, Anuj heads the HR department, nurturing talent and fostering growth within our team. His true passion, however, lies in empowering NGOs to maximize their impact, skillfully guiding them to unlock their full potential and create lasting change in the world.
A zoologist turned ecological entomologist, with a doctorate from the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, has over 11 years of experience in ecological and agricultural entomology across India. His notable research includes studying insect-plant relationships in mangroves and Western Ghats forests, the biosystematics of Megachilidae bees in Jammu and Kashmir, and sustainable termite management in agriculture. He has also contributed to Plant Quarantine under the Ministry of Agriculture. A passionate traveller and music lover, he is deeply fond of canines and felines.
Namrata Das
Namrata is a devoted animal lover who grew up surrounded by nature. Fuelled by her passion for plants and animals, she secured a Master’s in Zoology and dedicated six years to working in wildlife habitat conservation, where she actively contributed to rewilding urban and forest areas with a grassroot-level NGO in West Bengal. Namrata works in the partnerships and collaboration team at Samayu to expand our organizations impact and create a lasting print. Committed to creating a ‘Just World For All’ she volunteers her free time rescuing birds, and exploring and nurturing nature.
Shubham Dhiman
Shubham is our digital wizard at Samayu, transforming raw ideas into social media gold. He has 4+ years of experience in creating, implementing, and optimising social media strategies for brands to achieve their business goals. Beyond the professional realm, Shubham’s heartbeats sync with nature’s rhythm and pour into the stratosphere of creativity as he is a passionate poet. A problem solver who bridges the gap between strategy and artistry, he is an integral part of our media team.