CEO & Founding Director

Abarna Raj

Abarna is the Founding Director and Chief Executive Officer of Palmera. She has been pivotal in achieving Palmera’s exponential growth and achievements since its founding, taking the organisation from a small association of young volunteers seeking to make a difference, to one of the few Australian-government accredited NGOs undertaking development programs in Sri Lanka. In her role, Abarna is responsible for establishing and assisting social businesses in Sri Lankan and through other countries in South East Asia, building partnerships with local partners, developing the organisation’s fundraising strategy, and energising a network of committed volunteers. Abarna’s not-for-profit experience is supported by over a decade of experience in corporate sustainability. Abarna was formerly a Strategy Consultant for Social Ventures Australia, working with clients to increase their social impact.  Prior to that, she held the role of head of Sustainability, Diversity and safety at Leighton Holdings, and before that, she advised numerous listed companies and government bodies on sustainability, policy and risk in PwC Australia’s sustainability team.

Abarna works with Palmera on a Full time paid basis as part of our Hub team.

Impact Data Manager

Abhi Phatak

Abhi is an Impact Manager, leading Palmera’s Impact Data Team and supporting the infrastructure that allows us to effectively measure and use data to improve our work and achieve long-lasting results.

Abhi’s actuarial qualifications and industry experience help ensure that Palmera’s impact management – so critical to an impact-led organisation – is of the highest possible standard.

Having volunteered with Palmera for over 10 years, Abhi has joined as a full-time paid staff member of the Hub Team.

Senior Programme Manager

Leonard Johnson

Leonard is one of Palmera’s Senior Programme Managers. Based in Sri Lanka, Leonard works alongside our core programme, supporting technically, capacitating local staff, ensuring quality and enabling the dynamic way in which we work.

With a deep background in Monitoring and Evaluation, and over 16 years working in World Vision Sri Lanka, Leonard has deep experience in the systems and platforms required to effectively capture and validate data.

Senior Programme Manager

Danton Andrado

Danton is one of Palmera’s Senior Programme Managers. Based in Sri Lanka, Danton works alongside our core programme, supporting technically, capacitating local staff, ensuring quality and enabling the dynamic way in which we work.

With experience in large development agencies including World Vision and Handicap International, Danton brings a deep expertise in the participatory community development, working with monitoring systems and the under-privileged.

Impact Data Officer

Saravanan Kaneshalingam

Saravanan is Palmera’s Impact Data Officer. Based in Sri Lanka, Saravanan works in the Impact Data team, ensuring that our team is trained in accurate data collection. Saravanan supports our data models and ensures that data is validated so that it can be trusted in decision making.

With a degree in Business Information Systems and corporate sector experience in data systems, Saravanan brings considerable experience to Palmera’s Impact Data team to make Palmera a successful impact-led organisation.

Donor Management and Finance Support

Shaminie Chandra

Shaminie is Palmera’s Donor Manager and Finance Support. Having begun with Palmera at its conception as a volunteer working in the Events Team, Shaminie’s role has since evolved, and she is now responsible for managing our grassroots donors.

Her creative flare continues through the management of our DIY events and in the business that she continues to run, Little Brown Book, which provides event and decore services.

Shaminie works with Palmera on a part time paid basis as part of our Hub team.

Finance Manager

Rudran Sanmuganathan

Rudran is Palmera’s Finance Manager, ensuring Palmera effectively manages accountability to it’s donors, the government, and other stakeholders.

Rudran is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (United Kingdom) and a fellow of the Association of Certified Accountants (United Kingdom). With global experience working in Laos, Indonesia, Zambia, and Sri Lanka, as well as a DFAT placement in Papua New Guinea, Rudran brings significant experience to this critical role in Palmera.

Rudran works with Palmera on a part time paid basis as part of our Hub team.

Website and Technology Developer

Nishan Jebanasam

With a background in Software Engineering and corporate experience in delivery of technology solutions, Nishan is responsible for all things technology in Palmera, of which there are many. In order to reduce overhead costs and ensure the effective scaling of the organisation, Palmera invests in a range of technology solutions – from crowdfunding to customer management systems. Nishan is responsible for the development and management of these systems in the organisation.

Nishan works with Palmera on a volunteer basis as part of our Hub team.

Governance and Legal Lead

Sagar Sritharan

Sagar is Palmera’s Governance and Legal Lead, ensuring Palmera continues to meet it’s governance and regulatory requirements under Australian and Sri Lankan laws.

Sagar has worked for leading law firms in Australia and the United States, and continues to volunteer at Palmera to ensure the organisation maintains it’s high standards.

Chairperson / Non-executive Director

Tamara Pararajasingham

Tamara is the National Manager of Service Design and Development at Mission Australia. Before that, she worked and consulted for a range of Australian civil society organisations and NGOs prominent in the field of community and international development, including AusAid, Care Australia, Youth Off the Streets, and Opportunity International. Tamara has undertaken fieldwork in Sri Lanka, India and Cambodia. She has a wealth of insight and experience in designing programs to enhance impact, which has been critical to Palmera achieving greater effectiveness in its programs. Tamara shares a profound connection with the values, vision and mission of Palmera, having been one of its original co-founders. Tamara currently serves as the Chair of the Palmera Board.

Non-Executive Director

Ram Kangatharan

Ram is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Auto & General Group Asia Pacific. Prior to joining Auto & General, Ram served as the Chief Financial Officer and then Chief Operating Officer of the Bank of Queensland Ltd. Before that, he headed EDS Corporation’s Global Corporate Strategy Team. . Ram’s extensive corporate leadership experience adds rigour and excellence to Palmera’s performance and growth.

Non-Executive Director

Rick Millen

Rick is a Chartered Accountant and was a partner of PwC Australia for 18 years. During that time, Rick held notable leadership roles in the firm, including heading the firm’s Corporate Finance and Advisory Practices, leading the firm’s Corporate Responsibility agenda in Australia and then globally, and serving as the CEO of the PwC Foundation. Since 2014, Rick has been a non-executive member of the Board of Cabcharge Australia. Rick has long been an active contributor to the not-for-profit sector, currently serving on the board of UNHCR Australia and previously on the board of Youth of the Streets. He has also served on Advisory Committees for Mission Australia, the Centre for Social Impact and the Australian Charities Fund. Rick’s substantial experience in corporate responsibility and governance, both in the corporate and not-for-profit sectors, provides invaluable expertise to ensure Palmera’s good governance and responsibility in its undertakings.

Non-Executive Director

Shane Nichols

Shane is the Managing Director and CEO of Good Return. Shane has two decades of experience as a leader and manager of inclusive finance, enterprise development and social impact initiatives. He previously served as Project Director for the Moris Rasic Capacity Building and Technical Assistance Project for the UNCDF and UNDP (overseeing support to Timor Leste’s largest microfinance institution), and prior to that, as team leader for the Catalyzing Microfinance for the Poor Project for the Asian Development Bank and Bank of Lao. Shane has also served as program manager for programs run by World Education Australia and AusAid in Beijing. Shane is an Executive Director at Good Return and a Non-Executive Director at the Australian Council for International Development. He lectures in inclusive finance at Macquarie University. Shane’s wealth of experience across the Asia-Pacific in developing and delivering economic development initiatives brings essential expertise to Palmera in developing its sustainable development programs.

Non-Executive Director

Praveena Karunakaran

Praveena is a Chartered Financial Analyst and the Head of Compliance and Group Company Secretary at Snowy Hydro Limited. She previously served as Director of Risk Consulting at PwC Australia. Praveena is currently on the board of the Country Universities Centre, and has previously served on the Board Risk Committee of Habitat for Humanity Australia. Praveena’s expertise in risk management and compliance both in the corporate and not-for-profit sectors is a critical asset for Palmera in ensuring accountability for its programs and fundraising.

Non-Executive Director

Dinesh Sanmuganathan

Dinesh is a Specialist Orthodontist, and CEO of My Dental Team. Dinesh has grown his business to over 5 locations and brings experience in optimising and scaling businesses while maintaining quality services.

In addition to his business experience, he has been a long term supporter of Palmera, with a love of philanthropy and deep engagement with philanthropic networks.

His insights into fundraising, deep ties into the diaspora community, and passion for lifting the vulnerable in Sri Lanka from poverty to choice is instrumental in the next stage of Palmera’s strategy.