Advisory Team

Founder – Shri Pranav Desai

Brief About Pranav Desai

Shri Pranav Desai is an Engineer, MBA and Global IT business
leader with 20 years of experience of working for large MNCs
Hon. Adviser to Dept. of Empowerment of PwD, Ministry of SJE,
Govt. of India
Specially Abled Person with Polio since age of 4
Driving “Vision to Reality”, working with leaders and
volunteers to sensitize and contribute to transform lives of 1
BN+ Specially Abled People

Dr Bhushan Punani

Dr Punani is serving as Executive Secretary of Blind People’s
Association, India’s largest NGO in the Disability Sector.
He graduated from IIM, Ahmdebad and dedicated to the cause.
He has been on several committees of Planning Commission of
India, Human Resource & development Ministry, Govt of
India.
Dr Punani has published 218 papers, 83 articles and 8 books on
the subject of integrated education, community based
rehabilitation etc.
Brief introduction
here

Moaz Hamid

Moaz Hamid is the founder and managing partner of mvmt ventures, an empathy foundry committed to nurturing and advancing the venture and entrepreneurship ecosystem focused on accessible technologies for people with disabilities. After spending over 20 years in big tech, founding a successful company like HTC mobile devices, contributing to renowned brands (Google and others) and technologies, Moaz transitioned to dedicate his life to philanthropy, entrepreneurship, and supporting early-stage founders. His efforts have been recognized by figures like Mayor Garcetti, who praised him for his contributions during a 2020 address.
Moaz serves on the board of directors for the Consumer Technology Association Foundation (CTA), which produces CES, as well as the dream council and board of directors of the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Health Foundation (MLKCHF). He is also a founding advisor and mentor to several startups, including Simplifyber and EnlitenAI, and participates in numerous entrepreneurship programs such as Plug & Play Tech Center and First Round Capital’s Fast Track.
His prior roles include significant positions at Google, Microsoft, and various global brands, where he was instrumental in the growth and strategy of emerging technologies. Moaz holds expertise in systems analysis, design, and venture capital, enhancing his impact in the tech and entrepreneurial communities.
Moaz Hamid is a significant advocate for assistive technologies, which is reflected in his role as the founder and managing partner of MVMT Ventures. This venture firm is dedicated to developing accessible first technologies aimed at improving the lives of people with disabilities (MLKCH). MVMT Ventures not only supports innovative startups in this sector but also focuses on inclusive design processes to address accessibility challenges faced by billions of people worldwide. Furthermore, they have Empathy Fund which is used towards Innovation in AT Sector.

Dr. (H.C.) Deepa Malik Padma Shri Khel Ratna

Paralympian, Motivational speaker, disability activist and President of Paralympic Committee of India
First Indian woman to win a medal at the Paralympics. She won a silver medal in the shot put at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro. (23 international medals and 68 national & state level medals in swimming, javelin, shotput & discus)
Recipient of Five Prestigious President of India Awards & honours – Padma Shri ; Arjuna Award, President’s National Role Model Award ; Women Transforming India Award and ‘First Ladies Award’, Received several International awards including the New Zealand Prime Minister’s Sir Edmund Hillary Fellowship.
A motor rally driver, sports bike racer, and swimmer. She has even completed an 8-day, 1,700-kilometer bike ride to 18,000 feet in sub-zero temperatures.
Founder of Wheeling Happiness Foundation.

Mrs Meenakshi Lekhi (2016 – July 2021)

Minister of State, External affairs and MoS, Culture Govt. of
India
A lifelong ardent supporter of rights of the under-privileged,
Mrs Meenakshi Lekhi is a lawyer by profession and has
practiced at the Supreme Court of India. She is Member of
Parliament of current Lok Sabha from New Delhi.
She is Vice Chairperson of JPM, Blind School in New Delhi and
Joint Secretary of the Blind Relief Association, Delhi. She
has served as the special committee member of the NCW
(National Commission for Women).
Mrs Meenakshi Lekhi is leading the cause of Voice of SAP in
Indian parliament along with other MPs, sharing VOSAP vision
to accelerate Social Transformation by giving voice, promoting
perspective in parliament for inclusive bills, addressing
needs of Specially Abled People.

Dr. Mallika Nadda

Dr. Mallika Nadda is currently the Vice Chairperson of Special
Olympics in India and the Secretary of “Chetna Sanstha” in HP,
India.
She has dedicated her life in activities related to Specially
Abled and Women empowerment that have brought her accolades
and awards from all over India for her exceptional service
excellence in all fields from Special Olympics to enrichment
of lives through education.
She is the founder member of Viklang Sewa Bharti, a volunteer
organization in Jabalpur.
She is associated with the Red Cross and Indian Council for
Child Welfare and advises many organizations in the field.

Shri Rohit Shah

Shri Rohit Shah is an industrialist, served as the Chairman of
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Committee at GCCI.
Shri Rohit Shah is a successful business owner and an active
executive member of Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industries
for more than 25 years.
He has contributed immensely in the Lion’s club and Jaycee
Club towards volunteering and leadership development in the
young generation.

Shashi Shekhar

CEO, Prasar Bharati and Social Media Strategist

Shashi is a Digital Strategist and Innovator with nearly 20
years of experience in the Information Technology Industry.
Shashi is also a well-known Blogger and Commentator on
Politics and Public Policy in India.
More populary known as Offstumped, Shashi’s blog was one of
the first efforts to to advance a Center Right Nationalist
Political View on the Internet.
During the 2014 Campaign Shashi was spearheading the India272+
Digital Volunteering Platform for Shri Narendra Modi’s
Campaign.

DR INDUMATHI RAO

Founder & Regional Adviser of CBR NETWORK (CBR NETWORK has
special consultative status to UN ECOSOC and Associate member
of Rehabilitation International)
Former member-National commission for persons with
disabilities, Govt. of India.
Social worker for over 38 years.
Chairperson, Global partnership for Disability and development
(GPDD, initiated by World Bank Trust Fund)

Martin Sweeney

As a parent, activist and Assistive Technology consultant,
Martin Sweeney has over 25 years of experience in the field of
Assistive Technology. Sweeney served as managing director of
the California AT Network and was a founding director of the
Assistive Technology Project for the Frank D. Lanterman
Regional Center in Los Angeles.
Currently, Sweeney is working as a development partner for the
India America Assistive Technology Exchange (IAATE), a project
to establish a professional development exchange among Indian
and American educators, assistive technology specialists,
healthcare professionals, AT vendors, designers, engineers,
AT-users, families and disability rights advocates.

VOSAP Ambassadors

Karen Darke, VOSAP Brand Ambassador

Karen Darke MBE (Member of British…..) is a British paralympian, paratriathlete, Adventurer and Explorer, Mindset Coach and Author, Guinness Book record holder.
September 2023, in collaboration with VOSAP, she hiked Mt. Kilimanjaro,Kenya and hosted VOSAP flag at 5895 Meters high spreading the message of Inclusion.
A keen runner and mountaineer, Karen was paralysed in a traumatic rock-climbing accident at the age of twenty-one.
Karen has become the first paraplegic woman to handcycle across the Himalayas, sea kayak from Canada to Alaska (1500km, 2003), ski across the Greenland icecap (a trip of over 600 kilometres, 2006), and to climb the kilometre high overhanging rock-face of El Capitan. She has also hand-cycled in various corners of the world including the Silk Route, the length of Japan and across Tibet.
Karen’s purpose is about helping individuals and organisations ‘Find Inner Gold’: turning a challenge into an opportunity, turning ‘mud’ into ‘gold’.She is the author of 3 books that talk about her life journey: Quest 79, If you Fall and Boundless.

Sparsh Shah, VOSAP Youth Ambassador

Sparsh Shah is a 20-year-old prodigy, singer, songwriter, rapper, inspirational speaker, philanthropist and Guinness World Records holder.
He has Osteogenesis Imperfecta, a rare genetic disorder, but he hasn’t let it deter him from pursuing his dreams.He has had more than 150 fractures throughout his life so far. A documentary film Brittle Bone Rapper was made on his journey.
Sparsh has hosted several shows as an Emcee/keynote speaker and has delivered inspirational speeches and has also been Emcee at VOSAP Annual Events. He also represented VOSAP at the UN as Ambassador.
Sparsh has performed pro bono and helped raise over 2.0 million dollars for various non-profits supporting children and adults in need. He has performed in front of a billion people (twice) through television and the internet
Sparsh has been the recipient of various prestigious awards such as “In the Limelight” Rebranding Disability Through Achievement, Danny Music Award,Champion of Inclusion,Inspiration Award of Excellence and many more