Board Advisors

MaolKeki Foundation recognises that bringing about change requires a concerted effort from all stakeholders involved and the best advisors can make a significant difference in accelerating success. The Foundation is fortunate enough to have a network of advisors who are global experts in their respective fields:

Dr. Satyasai Kovvali

Dr. Satyasai Kovvali is an agricultural economist, a blogger and a writer who retired in November 2023 as a Chief General Manager of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). An apex national financial institution with total assets of USD100 billion, NABARD plays a key part in mobilising finance to develop rural communities in India. Dr.Satyasai, over 30 years of his career with NABARD has handled several assignments in monitoring and evaluation of various development projects and has been trainer in microfinance, monitoring and evaluation of agricultural projects, rural entreprises/entrepreneurship, sustainable livelihoods, etc. The first ever NABARD All India Rural Financial Inclusion Survey (NAFIS) - 2016 has been the most coveted assignment he handled. NAFIS estimates have been widely quoted to date. With over 100 publications to his credit, Dr.Satyasai has research interests in rural credit, microfinance, agricultural growth and development, farmers income, and welfare.

During his tenure as the General Manager for NABARD Manipur, Dr. Kovvali developed a deep knowledge of the agricultural landscape in the state and fell in love with all things Manipuri, especially its rich traditions and culture. He has remained a strong supporter of the agricultural sector in the state and has provided guidance to MaolKeki Foundation on multiple occasions. Having Dr. Satyasai as an advisor to the Foundation would help us accelerate our role in catalysing development in Manipur by leveraging Dr. Satyasai’s decades of experience in the sector, his mentorship, and his practical and jovial manner in overcoming complex tasks.

Ms. Bernadette Peterhans

Bernadette Peterhans is the Head of Professional Postgraduate Training at the Swiss TPH Basel. Bernadette is a trained nurse specialized in emergency care with an MSc in Public Health for Developing Countries and has spent a career in the healthcare sector focusing on community based healthcare in conflict/ post-conflict countries. Since 1995, Bernadette has been a course coordinator, senior project leader, teacher and mentor to many in the healthcare sector taking on the role of Unit Head in 2016. She has also been on expert missions for the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Swiss Red Cross, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, SolidarMed, Fairmed and the University Hospital in Basel mainly in the areas of health systems assessments and project planning / evaluation for community based health care with a special focus on primary health care in fragile States and health in detention in a range of countries like Afghanistan, Eritrea, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan and Tanzania. Bernadette also sits on the Board of Medicus Mundi and R. Geigy Foundation.

Ms. Peggy Grueninger

Peggy grew up in South Africa and trained as a nurse and midwife. Over the decades, Peggy worked in both South Africa and Switzerland and held senior positions in clinical trials and operations before transitioning to her current role as Head of Corporate Donations and Philanthropy at Roche. Peggy has been a regular part of the discussions in the formative years of the MaolKeki Foundation and continues to inspire us to challenge ourselves, do better and make a greater impact.

Dr. Marco Ferroni 

Marco is a highly experienced expert who has a doctorate in agricultural economics and has worked in multiple organizations and regions. He formerly led Syngenta Foundation, a global agriculture-focused philanthropic organization, and currently chairs CGIAR, an international agricultural research consortium. As a mentor and advisor to Dr. Shachi for over a decade, he helped shape the strategic thinking behind the MaolKeki Foundation.