What We Do
United by a common vision of mainstreaming animal interests, we promote an equitable world with just transitions, employing overarching systems thinking approaches to arrive at positive outcomes for animals, people, and our planet.
Board of Directors
President
Jessika Ava is the CEO and founder of Thrive Philanthropy, a global grantmaker that amplifies plant-based food systems and accelerates alternatives to industrial animal agriculture worldwide. Her notable experience includes NGO management, global grant-making, statistical program evaluations, and Asian street animal welfare. She has been involved in India’s vegan advocacy and street animal welfare movements since 2010. She holds an MS in Biostatistics and an MPA in Non-Profit Management and Program Evaluation and sits as Board President of A Just World, Board Chair of Out to Pasture Animal Sanctuary, and Board member of Animal Alliance Asia. She is an ethical vegan.
Board Secretary
Koushik has been involved in the animal protection movement since 2015 in the US, India, and in the UK in various capacities. He is deeply committed to the idea of farmed animal protection and is a “cautious” effective altruist! He works as a Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Associate at The Mission Motor, an organisation that provides MEL support to farmed/wild animal welfare and vegan advocacy organisations. He likes to learn new things often, which is evident by his educational and professional trajectory. He has a master’s degree in Biochemistry, specialising in Cancer Biology and another master’s degree in Physiology and Nutrition of Sport and Exercise, specialising in understanding immune responses to exercise in early-stage breast cancer survivors. Professionally, he has worked in animal protection organisations as a volunteer, campaigner, researcher, and as a monitoring and evaluations officer. Some say he is confused, but he calls it learning value!
Board Treasurer
Dawn Moncrief is the founder and president of A Well-Fed World, a global food security, hunger relief, and climate advocacy organization advancing the benefits of plant-based foods and farming. She is a graduate of the Woodhull Institute for Ethical Leadership and holds two master’s degrees from The George Washington University: one in International Relations, the other in Women’s Studies – both with a focus on economic development. For more than two decades, her work has highlighted the ways in which the consumption and production of animal-sourced foods increase economic disparities and exacerbate global hunger, especially for women and girls. She also draws attention to the devastating impact of animal agriculture as a major driver of natural resource depletion and climate destruction. Dawn is the Board Chair of ProVeg International and Beyond Carnism, Board Director for Thrive Philanthropy and A Just World, and co-chair of the Food and Climate Alliance. She has presented throughout the U.S., U.K., Europe, and Africa. Her publications include contributions in: Food Justice: A Primer, The Reducetarian Solution, and Circles of Compassion.
Team
Founder and strategist
Varda Mehrotra is an animal advocate and movement builder, exploring intersectional solutions. Most recently, she founded Samayu to undertake intersectional work and apply a systems approach for issues surrounding justice and animals in food systems. Under her decade-long leadership, FIAPO – India’s federation for animal organisations – was recognized as one of the most effective animal charities. She has spearheaded several large-scale undercover investigations, campaigns for farmed animals, companion animals and wild animals and was the architect of India’s largest plant-based advocacy network, which has created many animal advocate leaders in the country. Prior to that, she spent several years organising within the grassroot movement in Scotland.
Operations Manager
Meghana Rajanahally is the Finance and Operations Manager for A Just World. She has previously worked as a marine biologist, animal rights advocate, social justice community organiser, administrator and event manager with diverse international and local grassroots experience. Her extensive travel and experiences working in and with peers from numerous countries and cultures give Meghana a huge advantage in dealing with people around the world and global issues, with a lens of decolonisation, intersectionality and transformative justice. She holds an MSc in Marine Biology, a Graduate Diploma in Marine Biology and a BSc in Biological Sciences focusing on Microbiology.
Manager – Partnerships and Campaigns
Namrata, a passionate advocate for wildlife and environmental conservation, holds a Master’s in Zoology from Calcutta University. With over six years of experience in rewilding urban and forest areas and driving wildlife habitat conservation, she has been a pivotal force in grassroots-level NGOs in West Bengal. At A Just World, Namrata excels in creating strategic partnerships and impactful campaigns, leveraging her expertise in community building, communication, and outreach to inspire change. Beyond her professional role, she is dedicated to a ‘Just World for All,’ spending her free time indulging her love for botany.
Digital Platforms and IT Associate
Pearl specializes in website design, hosting, and domain management, ensuring A Just World’s digital platforms are visually appealing, functional, and user-friendly. She plays a key role in managing Mailchimp, leading effective email campaigns that strengthen brand reach and deliverability.By maintaining consistent brand messaging and optimizing IT infrastructure, Pearl fosters engagement and ensures seamless digital experiences. Her expertise in analytics and data-driven improvements contributes significantly to A Just World’s growth and impact.