About Us

Peter is a Co-founder and Executive Director of NELIS (Next Leaders' Initiative for Sustainability), and currently a Professor of Sustainability and Innovation at Shizenkan University, Tokyo. He was born in Denmark and has been a resident of Japan for 30+ years. Peter is dedicated to empowering the next generation of sustainability leaders, both in corporations and in the global NELIS community.

Basanta Shrestha, an esteemed professional with 32 years of dedicated service at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), held the distinguished position of Director of Strategic Cooperation. With a solid foundation in engineering and an extensive background in digital technologies, strategic partnership development, resource mobilization, and leadership, Mr. Shrestha has left an indelible mark on sustainable mountain development initiatives in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region and across the globe.

Mr. Shrestha co-founded the Mountain Environment and Resources Information System (MENRIS) program, pioneering the utilization of earth observation and geospatial technologies for sustainable mountain development. His stewardship has resulted in groundbreaking collaborations with NASA and USAID, notably through the SERVIR-Himalaya program, which bridges technology and innovation for reducing climate change impacts and addressing mountain development challenges.

Passionate about environmental conservation, Mr. Shrestha actively engages in promoting green technology for sustainable living. His dedication to fostering collaboration and innovation continues to inspire a new generation of leaders in Nepal and beyond. Inspired by nature, he is currently living in a Hamro Matoghar (mud house) at Godavari, Kathmandu, practicing an eco-conscious living to inspire youth towards future sustainability.

After a career in banking spanning 31 years, during which he served as the Chief Executive Officer of two banks for 17 years, Anil Shah established Lead Nepal Inc., an organisation with the vision of 'Crafting Leaders'. In addition to his stellar banking career, Mr. Shah is also a youth icon, mentoring youth across Nepal by sharing his experiences and propagating value-based leadership. He was the first Nepali CEO of Nepal’s first joint venture bank, Nabil Bank, and successfully led the bank to become the no. 1 financial institution in Nepal, successfully realising its vision to be the nation’s ‘Bank of 1st Choice’. He then established and headed Mega Bank with the vision of establishing a bank for all strata of Nepali society with the vision of ‘Being the Bank for Every Nepali for Ploughing to Power’. Today the bank is one of the biggest financial institutions in the nation. Now Mr. Shah provides learning experiences to companies, political parties, bureaucrats, armed forces and students to enable them to be better leaders. He is an prominent figure in Nepal who is looked up to by people of all ages and across all strata of society for his vision, clarity of communication and value-based leadership.

Shravan is a Co-founder of Climake, a growth platform for early-stage climate tech startups in India to access markets and innovative financing options. He has over 13 years of experience working in sustainable development with organisations across Asia and Europe, and in developing national policies in India and Sri Lanka.

He is also a Co-founder of AtWorks, an impact entrepreneurship ecosystem builder that has worked with over 400 startups. AtWorks was recognised as a circular economy solution for India by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Shravan has also been recognized with a National Award on Smart City Solutions by the government of India.

Rashmi Kiran Shrestha is the Executive Director of NELIS Nepal (Next Emerging Leaders Initiative for Sustainability). She is trained in Water Resource Management from UNESCO-IHE Delft Institute for Water Education in the Netherlands and holds an academic background in Anthropology from Nepal. With over a decade of experience in the water–food–energy nexus, she has contributed to bring community voices to national and international platforms.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, Rashmi made a purposeful transition from research to leadership and entrepreneurship development. In 2022, NELIS Japan launched the One Million Leaders Asia Fellowship (OMLAS) in her leadership, and has since been leading its growth to nurture ethical, accountable, and action-driven sustainability leaders across Asia.

In February 2023, she co-founded NELIS Nepal with a clear mission: to empower social entrepreneurs, cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset among young people, and connect promising early-stage ventures with investment and growth opportunities in Nepal. Through leadership development, mentorship, and ecosystem building, she is committed to shaping a generation that creates solutions not excuses.

She believes that when young people are trusted, equipped, and inspired, they do not just prepare for the future they shape it.

Ade Damayanti is an OMLAS Alumni 2024 and currently serves as Program Coordinator, supporting the planning and implementation of the OMLAS Fellowship program. She is also Co-Founder of Make Space and Empowerment Leader where she has spent the past nine years promoting sustainability in rural Indonesia, focusing on education, clean energy, climate action, and partnerships.

She has mentored over 400 young people and regularly speaks about youth empowerment and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In 2023 and 2024, she deepened her understanding of sustainability and connected with global leaders at Hurricane Island in the USA under United People Global (UPG).

Oshan Thapa Magar is the Project Coordinator and Overall Coordinator of the Leaders Entrepreneurship Accelerator Program for Sustainability (LEAPS) Phase-I and an Agriculture graduate from Tribhuvan University. A sustainability-focused youth leader from Nepal, he specializes in soil science and climate-resilient farming, working at the intersection of research, agribusiness innovation, and rural development.

Biplop Swarnakar, from Banke District, Nepal, belongs to the Dalit community. He currently serves as the Communication Officer at NELIS Nepal, where he leads communication efforts, engages with fellows, and manages the OML digital portal.

Beyond his professional role, Biplop is the Project Lead of PANNA Eco Paper - a startup that transforms agricultural by-products into eco-friendly paper. The idea took shape during his OMLAS Fellowship journey in 2024, where mentorship and collaboration helped him refine the concept. Through PANNA, he aims to reduce agricultural waste and promote sustainable alternatives to traditional wood-based paper.

Forhad Raza holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and is deeply committed to environmental justice and sustainable development.

He currently serves as a Mentor & Support and is also an OMLAS Alumni 2025. His journey with One Million Leaders Asia (OMLAS) has been transformational. He was selected as an OMLAS Fellows 2025. Through this journey, he developed leadership skills, and a deeper understanding of social impact. Now he is mentoring Fellows and Champions in the OMLAS Fellowship program.

He is a co-founder of the Bangladesh Environmental Rights and Protection Association (BERPA). Through BERPA, he works on environmental awareness campaigns, tree plantation programs, clean-up drives, policy discussions, and youth engagement initiatives. Forhad wants to connect law and environmental action by using legal knowledge to address climate change, protect natural resources, and support vulnerable communities.