Team
Meet the IBBN Team
Executive Director
Kshithij Urs is the national convenor and executive director of IBBN and leading Karnataka revitalizing rainfed agriculture network, was the Executive Director, Greenpeace India, Global Head G20 Tax Justice Campaign, ActionAid International, Sydney, Advisor, The Supreme Court of India, Regional Head, ActionAid, Founder Director, Association for Promoting Social Action-APSA, Bangalore & Hyderabad, Principal Trainer, UNICEF. He holds a bachelor’s in Medicine from University of Bangalore, Masters in Science and Development Studies from School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London and a Doctorate in Philosophy from National Law School of India University, Bangalore.
Consultant
Phaneesh is a Young Professional for the Karnataka State RRA Chapter. He is networking with the civil society organizations and rainfed farmers across Karnataka. His role has been to facilitate farmers access to their rightful resources and to be supported with information and opportunities to transition into regenerative agriculture. He is trained as an Electronics and Communication Engineer and worked for two years in a software company. He has since been associated with Gram Seva Sangh, a socio-cultural organization actively working for fair and just taxation in the GST system, handloom movement, sacred economy, etc. In Aug 2018, he joined the Ragi Kana, a Sunday market to connect rural producers and urban consumers, founded by Gram Seva Sangh and Hulkul Muniswamappa Muni Venkatamma charitable trust. Ragi Kana is also a space for discussions on Gandhi, sustainability, the environment, handicraft, Social movements, etc.
Consultant
Vinay Baindur is an independent researcher on urban governance, municipal reforms, air pollution, infrastructure financing etc. He has worked with various networks and movements as well as campaigns such as Help Mother Earth Fight Back on lead pollution and organic farming. He is based in Bengaluru and works with different urban deprived communities — on governance and chemical-free agriculture as well as transport and urban mobility. He has written and co-authored papers on water reforms, JNNURM and entrepreneurial governance etc.
The IBBN Secretariat is hosted by the Revitalizing Rainfed Agriculture Network and Snehakunja trust, and supported by GIZ – The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale.