Strategic Advisors
Leslie D'Gama
Leslie Francis D’Gama is an accomplished educator, learning consultant, and technology administrator with over four decades of experience transforming learning environments across school, higher education, and corporate sectors. His expertise spans classroom pedagogy, educational technology integration, capacity building, and quality assurance, making him a vital asset in advancing inclusive, quality-driven learning across both urban and rural ecosystems.
Mr. D’Gama spent 21 foundational years at St. Xavier’s Collegiate School, Kolkata, as an Assistant Teacher, Senior Computer Teacher, and Systems Administrator. During this tenure, he spearheaded the introduction of computer science education in 1984, developed curricula for middle and high school levels, and administered school ICT networks. He also established an in-house Information System and built multimedia reference facilities to enhance student learning.
Transitioning into large-scale educational leadership, Mr. D’Gama served in senior executive roles at IL&FS Education & Technology Services Ltd from 1999 to 2012. As Vice President and Head of the Trainer Development Group, Head of Quality Management, and Location Head (East), he oversaw nation-wide training mandates spanning corporate, government, school education, and rural employability skills initiatives.
He established quality assurance criteria across vocational verticals, led recruitment and capacity building for over 750 trainers nationwide, and developed accredited Facilitators’ Development programs. Additionally, he led the development of educational content, e-learning solutions, and digital platforms like LearnLinQ to connect schools across India. Since 2012, Mr. D’Gama has operated as an independent Learning and Development Consultant, advising growing organizations and academic institutions. He has consulted for leading educational bodies including VGSOM (IIT Kharagpur), Bhawanipur College, Loreto schools, St. Xavier’s, La Martiniere, Birla schools, Akshar, and Future Foundation. Concurrently, since 2014, he has managed a software development center and mentored operations for Quantum Inventions, a Singapore-based technology firm.
A prolific communicator, Mr. D’Gama has designed and conducted over 1,000 workshops in teaching techniques across India. He collaborated with the Council for the ISC Examinations to design in-service Educational Technology courses and conducted executive modules for the Kolkata Management Association at IIM Joka. His contributions extend to media, having scripted educational films for the UGC Countrywide Classroom and written extensive technical-educational content for Computers @ Home and PC Quest magazines.
Core Areas of Expertise
1. Pedagogical Design & Curriculum Development: Designing comprehensive training frameworks, experiential activities, and train-the-trainer manuals for educational and vocational institutions.
2. Educational Technology & E-Learning: Implementing digital infrastructure, e-learning solutions, and school ICT networks tailored for diverse learning environments.
3. Quality Management & Standards: Establishing robust quality metrics, nationwide trainer selection processes, and nationally accredited facilitation courses.
4. Capacity Building for Urban & Rural Sector Growth: Developing large-scale skill frameworks to strengthen teaching quality across corporate, government, and vocational skill initiatives.
Anindita Rawat
Strategic Advisor
Her 20+ years of experience in the Social and Non-Governmental sector have been with organisations engaged in shelter, education and furtherance of the condition of disadvantaged Children and Women. Transitioning from the corporate sector, she then mentored into working from ground level up, progressing to Administration and eventually heading Calcutta Social Project, Kolkata as their President. Presently she is engaged as a Fundraiser for the Charaibeti Project (For Children with Special Needs) of Tomorrow’s Foundation, Kolkata.
Her multiple exposures, informal preparatory centres (on the street) for first generation learners was particularly educative and impactful on many levels.
Overall responsibility and interfacing for internationally funded scholarship and welfare programmes, introducing and supervising the GOI’s Mid-Day meal programme across multiple street schools and mentoring working mothers, were various areas where she was effective at underpinning and strengthening.
Enabling and entitling disempowered, vulnerable children and women to access food, shelter, safety and education continues to be a driving force. These are issues for which she would want to expand the existing boundaries of reach.
STATES
Pan-India Research in 14+ States – Transforming education across Rural and Urban Bharat.