Okapi’s practice draws extensively on academic social science research. We utilize this research to gain insights & develop creative approaches to tackle our clients’ challenges which span areas such as regulatory design & public investment prioritization. We also focus on developing and refining strategies to catalyze small enterprise and innovation in governance. Additionally, we help organizations establish practices that promote alignment with social missions.
Okapi has a robust network of advisors and collaborators across various geographies of work and expertise.
Co-Founder
Dr. Ashwin Mahalingam is co-founder of Okapi and a Professor at the Building Technology and Construction Management division of the Civil Engineering Department at IIT, Madras. Dr. Mahalingam’s current research interests include Public-Private partnerships in infrastructure, megaproject governance and management, IT based innovation in architecture, engineering, and construction industry, and ways in which organizations react to the globalization of engineering services. He holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Civil Engineering from Stanford University and a B.Tech from IIT, Madras. Dr. Ashwin is also a Director on the boards of several infrastructure project companies and is involved in setting up the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem at IIT, Madras.
Co-Founder
Dr. Jessica Seddon is co-founder of Okapi. She is currently Senior Fellow at Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs and Senior Fellow, Air Quality at the World Resources Institute (WRI), where she earlier led the Global Air Quality Program. Dr. Seddon’s work on environmental governance focuses on how new sources of data can be leveraged to enable new (and more sustainable) ways of interacting with the environment around us. Dr. Seddon earned her Ph.D. from Stanford University Graduate School of Business and her B.A. from Harvard University.
Executive Director
Dr. Parama Roy is Executive Director at Okapi. Dr. Roy is interested in the multifaceted and complex nature of urbanization process and its social and environmental implications. She has over 10 years of research experience relating to contemporary urban planning processes and associated possibilities and challenges across varied socio-political contexts. Her work is specifically motivated by principles of socio-environmental justice and sustainable development and guided by political-economic and political-ecological theories, and mixed research methodologies. Dr Roy completed her Ph.D. from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and has worked at Georgia State University and State University of New York-Binghamton in the US and University of Copenhagen in Denmark.
Senior Researcher
Akshaya is a Senior Research Associate at Okapi. She has around 8 years of research experience in urban development specifically around water, sanitation, solid waste management and urban resilience. At Okapi, she helps in research and project management. She is interested in understanding the linkages between urbanisation, society and the environment from an equity and justice perspective especially, in the areas of solid waste management, urban water and food systems. She has a master’s degree in Environmental Policy and Management from the University of Bristol.
Research Associate
Ayesha, a Research Associate at Okapi, brings expertise in solid waste management and consumer engagement. Her focus lies in utilizing contemporary communication channels to educate and positively influence consumer behavior and promote awareness about environmental issues, waste management, and accessible sustainable lifestyle changes. Ayesha holds a Master’s degree in Information Systems from Santa Clara University, California.
Senior Researcher
Ramachandran A is a Senior Research Associate at Okapi, leveraging his expertise in urban planning to drive impactful projects. With over 8 years of combined experience in academia and government, he has honed his skills in interdisciplinary research methodologies. Ram’s interest lies in addressing complex urban challenges, focusing on sustainability, resilience, and inclusive governance. His adeptness in geospatial analysis further enriches his contributions, particularly in unraveling the dynamics of land-use changes, urbanization, and peri-urbanization. Ram holds a Master’s degree in Urban Planning from School of Architecture & Planning – Anna University, Chennai.
