OUR TEAM
Pardesi is run by a core team but we work with external contributors and illustrators to produce our content. We also encourage our community to create content for us and collaborate with us as much as possible!
KANEEKA KAPUR, FOUNDER
Kaneeka Kapur has dedicated herself to creating space to amplify South Asian women. Born and raised in the UK, she has experienced the marginalisation of South Asian women from both inside and outside the community, and is now working hard to change this. She founded Pardesi in 2020 and has since gone on to graduate from university with first class honours, break into a traditionally non-inclusive industry and be recognised for her activist work internationally. Contact her here
Kaneeka also speaks extensively on inclusive feminism, representation, digital community building and her South Asian female experience. She has consulted for media houses and delivered numerous talks, including her TEDx talk which can be viewed below.
SHIKHA GIANCHANDANI, COO
Shikha Gianchandani is the COO of Pardesi. She grew up in Warsaw, Poland around a tight-knit South Asian community. When she went on to pursue her Biomedical Science B.Sc. at the University of Warwick in 2018, she quickly noticed the different nuances of her Polish-Indian identity. The amalgamation of her university experience and upbringing fuels her passion for the platform, which she hopes will help South Asian women feel comfortable and empowered in owning their multifaceted identities. She’s also passionate about advocating for women breaking barriers in STEM.
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ANU KUMAR, HEAD EDITOR
Anu Kumar is a South Asian-American scientist and writer living in Paris, France. Born to South Indian immigrants in the US then relocating to France, she is passionate about exploring and understanding the intersections of culture and identity in the global South Asian diaspora. She joined Pardesi in February 2021 as the Head Editor, helping South Asian women and non-binary individuals tell their stories and develop their writing skills. She has bylines in Huffington Post, Hinduism Today, WONK! Science, and actively writes on Medium.
SUKI BAL, PROGRAMMES COORDINATOR
Sukwinder Bal is an ambitious British-Asian woman devoted to positive work with positive outcomes. Spending her childhood in Austria before relocating to England, she recently discovered her love of her South Asian heritage. After graduating with a Biomedical Science degree, she re-orientated her career and works extensively with non-profit organisations to support marginalised communities and make positive changes worldwide. Her enthusiasm for doing socially-positive work and exploring her heritage led her to join Pardesi as the Programmes Coordinator, leading the Mentorship Programme after its first successful cycle. She is keen to support individuals within their lives - both personally and in their careers - with hopes to help them reach their potential and break barriers. She hopes to explore the intersection between her upbringing and heritage, as well as meet new people from the South Asian diaspora.
ALANA GAGLIO, EDITOR (NEWSLETTER)
Alana Gaglio is an English Literature graduate from London, UK. Coming from a mixed heritage background, she is passionate about ensuring that all facets of South Asian identity are seen and appreciated, as well as keen to always learn more about her cultural roots. She joined Pardesi recently as Editor for the Newsletter, hoping to use her editorial experience and love for sharing stories to help other South Asian women & non-binary individuals make their voices heard and connect with each other from all over the world.
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ALEESA NAZEER, CONTENT COORDINATOR (EXTERNAL)
Aleesa Nazeer is a 22 year old Biomedical Science student. She is originally Pakistani, but has spent her life living in different places around the world, majority being in Hong Kong and Bahrain. Spending so many years not connected with her roots, she is passionate about not only learning more about her cultural history, but how to incorporate her cultural background into being an intersectional feminist. In joining the amazing Pardesi team, the hope is to not only get further in touch with her cultural roots but to form some bonds and build friendships with some amazing South Asian women!