about
At Kula Applied Research Institute, we are grounded by three interconnected principles: belonging, regeneration, and resilience. Through conscious design and multidisciplinary research, we seek to embody these principles as we become a support system for all those in service of Earth.
Kiran Topiwala
Executive Director
Kiran is an artist, a designer of regeneration, and a seeker of the right way to be humans together on Earth. He spends his time meditating, making breakfast tacos, and taking photos.
Rohit Topiwala
Director of Finance
Rohit fully believes that the simplest things in life, like food and sharing it with those he loves, truly matter. He joins us on a journey to build a legacy of harmony with nature for future generations.
Ranjit Nair, Ph.D.
Director of Development
Ranjit is a global business expert, advisor, speaker, and educator. He is here to make sure we will never walk alone on our mission to regenerate communities and landscapes.
our team
Lamia Anwar Shama
Head of Labs
Lamia Anwar is a tree hugger who also loves hugging humans (if you're on her good side, that is). Her focus is on improving livelihoods, income, and gender equity.
Benji Ross
Awakening Lands
Benji is half monk in a cave and half party host in a forest. He is an incredible navigator of uncharted waters all while keeping one eye on the horizon of tomorrow, and the other on the land of today.
Anna Castonguay
Awakening Lands
Anna is a collector and curator of stories that traverse the airwaves at the speed of an unladen swallow. As she weaves these stories of place, our forest of support grows.
Sandeep Chaudhary
CEO, PeopleStrong
In a career spanning over two decades, Sandeep spent 17 years at Aon (formerly, Hewitt Associates) and was the CEO for their India & South Asia region and served on the Global Executive Committee of the company. In his consulting career, he worked extensively with CEOs, CHROs and boards to build and execute on a value creation plan focused on Talent and Organisation transformation.
advisors
Rajan Topiwala
Head of Research
Rajan is a right-arm fast bowler and all-round cool dude. He is also a nerd, try-hard, and our go-to guy for research needs. Say you want to be friends? "It'd be a lot cooler if you did."
Ben Weiler
Spirit Guide
Ben Weiler is a fisherman who aspires to guide others into a future where life exists in harmony with nature. This also happens to be a future with wild salmon around for his grandkids to fish.