OUR TEAM

Padam Shrestha, Founder and Executive Director 

Padam has been engaged in the development sector for over 30 years with a track record of managing projects to successful completion. He is highly experienced on gender issues, community mental health, sustainable livelihoods, and civil society strengthening, grant management and organizational learning. In the past, he has worked with national, bilateral and multilateral development agencies such as DFID, GTZ, and UNFPA. He holds a master degree in rural development from the Philippines, MPH from UK, and Ph.D. from India. Padam is responsible for leading and managing the organization, overseeing operations,  finances, programs and staff , including driving strategic planning, fundraising, donor reporting and stakeholder relationships to achieve the organization's mission and goals.  

Mona Bhandari, Administration and Finance Manager

 Mona has been working with LEADS since 2011. She has many years’ experience and ability to administer accounting operations to meet legal requirements, is familiar with audits, invoices and budget preparations. She has demonstrated history in managing accounting activities, including bank reconciliation, accounts payable and accounts receivable. Before joining us, she had 5 years’ work experience with United Mission to Nepal (UMN) in the Finance Department. She holds a Bachelor degree in Business Administration. 

Sadhana Dhakal, Gender and Women Entrepreneurship Officer

 Sadhana is responsible for main-streaming gender approaches in LEADS strategy and project plans. She will also serve as LEAD technical lead in the areas of women’s entrepreneurship in order to shape potential investments, unlock funding for priority programs. She will work at farmer level, systems level, district and provincial levels to put in place communications, advocacy, programs and policies that develop more gender inclusive systems. She has previous work experience working with TPO Nepal, a mental health organization. She holds a Bachelor degree in Public Health. She will also coordinate the protection activities to PWMI and carers. She will plan, supervise, run and evaluate the mental health and reproductive health activities, FCHV training. She will schedule and execute staff orientation for camps, and prepare a camp report on the details of each camp session.

Nisha GC Mahat, Programme Coordinator 

Nisha comes from a Carer background working with SHG, playing a vital role in formation of Carers Associations and Carers Cooperatives in the districts. She was initially appointed with LEADS as District Coordinator for Myagdi, and now her responsibilities changed as Programme Coordinator based in Myagdi but she will provide technical input to the new district team and Baglung. She will facilitate the process of Carer Associations (CA) and Carers Cooperatives (CC) in all districts becoming self-governing, be in a position to advocate on behalf of carers in the project area and take part in district level networks and policy discussions, will further embed the carer voice and establish access to their rights. Nisha holds an Intermediate level degree, and is a trained Community Medicine Auxiliary

Bibek KC, Livelihoods Programme Coordinator

 Bibek will work alongside project staff and community based social mobilisers to create and strengthen existing agriculture and livelihood programming, plan for crop and livestock productivity and stability through sustainable farming practices developing clear work plans. Oversee, train, support and report on the group of PWMI and carers farm workers, maintain livelihoods records, collaborate with Carers Cooperatives in their agriculture and productivity plans, off er training support to PWMI and carers individuals and groups, also to local farmers when necessary, navigate key stakeholder relationships including local community leaders, rural municipality, and district-level officers in sustainable agriculture and livestock. He holds a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration and Agriculture Farming Training from Government of Nepal. 

Binod Sinjali Magar, District Field Coordinator, Nawalpur

 Binod represents LEADS in Nawalpur district with his three Social Mobiliser colleagues. He is responsible for coordinating with rural municipalities, all ward chairpersons, hospitals, and related departments of government agencies at local level in establishing and implementing of LEADS new project. He comes from a local ethnic community background, knowledgeable with local realities and language. He was a teacher in school before joining our team and holds a Bachelor degree in Education in computer science.

Bindu Devi Sharma, District Field Coordinator, Baglung 

Bindu has been working with us for three years. She is responsible for providing overall leadership to the district programmes.  e major duty includes facilitating and empowering Carers Cluster Committees, district carer association and district carers cooperative for effective leadership, management, and networking. Her role also includes monitoring and reporting, close coordination with local municipality bodies and government agencies. Bindu has several years’ experience working with women’s groups and has knowledge and experience with cooperative systems and management. She obtained an Intermediate level qualiĕ cation in management studies

Hom Bahadur Thapa, Cooperative Systems Coordinator

 Hom is highly experienced and expert in cooperative management, cooperative training and perfect in accounting software. After several years work experience with a cooperative in Baglung, he has recently joined our LEADS team. He is based in Baglung office, but responsible to train Myagdi and Nawalpur cooperative staff . He will assist Nawalpur team in the process of registration of new carers cooperative in Nawalpur and fully support for further development. He will also support the Myagdi cooperative. Hom has obtained Intermediate degree in management and is from local ethnic Magar community in Baglung

Shiva Khatri, Cooperative Support Assistant, Myagdi

 Shiva is a local resident of Myagdi, son of a Carer, and holds an intermediate degree in management. He has one year experience with World Link in the customer services department. He will be trained in cooperative systems and accounting software. Shiva will maintain cooperative accounting system, ĕ eld visits for cluster meetings, collect daily deposits, communicate all carers shareholders and liaise with district government cooperative office. Shiva will be also responsible to maintain ledger books, cash books and ensure bank deposits.  

Isha Saru Magar, Social Mobiliser, Nawalpur 

Isha comes from a local Magar ethnic community, and speaks the local language. She has Intermediate level of qualification in education, newly trained as social mobiliser. Her role involves orientation and raising awareness to the local community in mental health and reproductive health issues, identifying local community groups, forming and facilitating Carers groups and working closely with Female Community Health Volunteers and municipality ward level. 

Sumitra Shrestha, Social Mobiliser, Nawalpur

 Sumitra is a single mother with her 3 years old son. She has Intermediate level qualiĕ cation in Management, and is from the local community. She is newly trained as a social mobiliser. Her role involves orientation and raising awareness to the local community in mental health and reproductive health issues, identifying local community groups, forming and facilitating Carers groups and working closely with Female Community Health Volunteers and municipality ward level.

Sunita Pandey, Social Mobiliser, Nawalpur

 Sunita is a newly trained social mobiliser. She has obtained Intermediate level qualiĕ cation in education. Her role involves orientation and raising awareness to the local community in mental health and reproductive health issues, identifying local community groups, forming and facilitating Carers groups and working closely with Female Community Health Volunteers and municipality ward level.

     Lila Bahadur Sewa, Driver

Saraswati Sewa, Office Helper