Dr. Nisha Dhawan is the President and CEO of EMpower - The Emerging Markets Foundation, where she leads the organisation’s global vision and work across 15 countries, with a focus on advancing opportunities for girls and young people. Previously EMpower’s Vice President of Impact & Influence, she has spent over a decade with the organisation, serving in leadership roles including Country Director for India, Director of Adolescent Girls and Gender Initiatives, and Senior Programme Officer for India and Regional Advisor for Asia. Her work has centred on strengthening community-led solutions and advancing the voice, choice and leadership of girls and young people.

Nisha began her career in London with Deutsche Bank and Barclays, working with financial regulators and exchanges, before moving into the development sector. She has been instrumental in initiatives including the Adolescent Girls Learning Community and Girls Advisory Council and is also a TEDx speaker. Nisha holds a PhD in Sociology from IIT Delhi, an MSc in Gender, Development and Globalisation from the London School of Economics and a BA (Hons.) in International Politics and Women’s Studies from McGill University.

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