Neelam Makhijani provides overall leadership to the Resource Alliance and works closely with various stakeholders, including institutional partners and the global volunteer network.

Neelam’s career began in political journalism. After migrating to the US from India, she started out as a freelance journalist covering South Asia politics, before eventually being promoted to be the managing editor of a leading Asian weekly in New York.

In 1998, Neelam moved back to India to take on the role of director of international fundraising at HelpAge India, the largest national charity working for older people. After being promoted to regional director, she was then seconded to the UK to work with the organisation’s sister charity, Help the Aged.

Her career then took her to Oxfam GB, Brakeley and Sight Savers as a consultant before leading her to the Resource Alliance in 2204 where she took on the role of programme director. She was promoted to chief executive in 2010.

(Image credit - Barbara Doux)