Our Leadership Team
Meet the pillars of PFA PPF - leading the charge for animals across India.
Maneka Gandhi
Patron
Maneka Gandhi
Patron
A pioneering leader in animal welfare, Smt. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi is an eight-term Member of Parliament and India’s foremost advocate for animal protection. In 1992, she founded People for Animals (PFA), which has grown into India’s largest animal welfare organization, establishing 35+ shelters nationwide and driving legislative reforms to strengthen animal protection laws.
Beyond rescue and rehabilitation, she has led legal advocacy initiatives, training judicial magistrates and police personnel to improve enforcement of animal welfare laws. Her contributions have earned International recognition, including the Jeanne Marchig Animal Welfare Prize and the Rukmini Devi Arundale Animal Welfare Award.
A prolific writer and thought leader, she continues to champion policy-driven change, ensuring that animal welfare remains at the forefront of India’s legislative and social landscape.
Gauri Maulekhi
Trustee
Gauri Maulekhi
Trustee
A leading animal welfare expert, Gauri Maulekhi has been instrumental in shaping animal protection laws and policies in India for over three decades. As a subject matter expert, she has conducted capacity-building programs for judicial officers, law enforcement agencies, and policymakers across 20+ states, strengthening the enforcement of animal welfare laws.
She has played a key role in policy-driven advocacy and judicial interventions, leading to landmark legal reforms, including the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Dog Breeding & Marketing) Rules, Livestock Market Rules, and Pet Shop Rules. Her legal efforts have also contributed to banning animal sacrifice in Uttarakhand and reforming poultry welfare standards in India.
Recognizing the need to build a new generation of policy-driven animal welfare leaders, she launched the Ahimsa Fellowship – India’s only structured training program for changemakers working on legislative and policy reform for animals. Many Ahimsa Fellows are now embedded in government agencies, driving real change on the ground.
As the founder of PFA Uttarakhand and a trustee of People for Animals, she has spearheaded numerous rescue and rehabilitation initiatives, including India’s first equine rescue sanctuary and an infirmary for working animals along the Kedarnath Yatra route.
A recipient of India’s highest civilian award for women, the Nari Shakti Puraskar, Gauri continues to lead efforts in legislative reforms, sustainable farming advocacy, and institutional policy change, ensuring a compassionate and ethical future for animals in India.
Priyanka Bangari
Trustee
Priyanka Bangari
Trustee
A passionate advocate for animal welfare, Priyanka Bangari has been driving policy reforms and legal advancements in India’s animal welfare landscape since 2013. A qualified lawyer, Company Secretary, and Managing Director of PFA Uttarakhand, Priyanka has worked with leading organizations, including Humane Society International (HSI) India, to shape legal frameworks that protect animals.
Her leadership has led to key victories against factory farming, redefining humane standards for cattle and poultry rearing. Appointed as Amicus Curiae by the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi, Priyanka continues to champion legal reforms, promote ethical food systems, and advocate for sustainable, cage-free farming practices.
In addition to her legal work, Priyanka is deeply involved in education and capacity building, serving as a resource person for institutions such as NALSAR University, NUSRL Ranchi, and the Ahimsa Fellowship, where she mentors future animal welfare leaders.
Priyanka’s impact extends beyond policy, with accountability campaigns focused on ethical sourcing and private sector transparency. Her work continues to drive real change, improving the lives of countless animals and promoting a more humane, sustainable future.
Jayasimha Nuggehalli
Trustee
Jayasimha Nuggehalli
Trustee
Jayasimha Nuggehalli is the Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Global Food Partners, an international consulting firm focused on advancing sustainable, cage-free egg sourcing and higher animal welfare standards globally. A legal expert in animal welfare, he previously served as the Managing Director of Humane Society International (HSI) India and as the Founding Director of the Animal Law Centre at NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad.
Jayasimha has held key positions on the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) and numerous government committees, including monitoring bodies set up by the High Court of Bombay to combat illegal wildlife trade and the CPCSEA overseeing animal experimentation. He has worked extensively with governments across India, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Nepal, contributing to animal welfare legislation, drafting codes for humane treatment in food production, transport, and entertainment, and integrating animal welfare into the Indian leather supply chain.
An accomplished legal advocate, Jayasimha has trained judges, police officers, and prosecutors on animal protection laws and taught animal law at leading Indian law schools. He holds a law degree from Bangalore University, is enrolled with the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa, and is a member of the Supreme Court Bar Association.