Our Presenters
Apeksha Harsh
A believer in the power of arts to initiate dialogue and transform learning, Apeksha Harsh designs and conducts programs that foster creative learning. She has worked with the Warwick Writing Programme in Schools, Writing West Midlands, YMCA, including leading city schools & art galleries of Mumbai. She is a Visiting Faculty at the Somaiya School of Design and has been a workshop leader at the Círculo 2024 Summer Conference (US) & On Writing for Young People: Leaf Conference 2024 (UK). Apeksha is also one of the anchors of Librarians of India, a community for library educators dedicated to building a collaborative environment for sharing ideas and resources & promoting children’s literature.
With an MA in Writing from the University of Warwick, Apeksha’s poetry and prose have appeared in UK publications and were also shortlisted for the Heroines Writing Prize 2024. She holds a certification in Interdisciplinary Teaching with Museum Objects and Social Emotional Learning. As a storyteller, Apeksha has performed at events, including Australian-based Word Travels’ Story Week 2020, Gaatha Mumbai International Storytelling Festival 2024 & celebrations at CSMVS.
Devaki Shahagadkar
Devaki Shahagadkar works as a Teacher Librarian at Mahindra International School and has more than 18 years of teaching experience. She enjoys storytelling, engaging and collaborating with children. As a lifelong learner, she firmly believes that “you learn something new every day.” She collaborates with teachers to design and deliver lessons aimed at integrating information literacy skills into the curriculum and exploring new teaching strategies.
Gizelle Rodrigues
Gizelle Rodrigues is a dedicated Library Educator with 19 years of experience at the American School of Bombay, specializing in supporting secondary school students. She excels in fostering a love for reading, guiding research skills, and integrating technology into learning. Passionate about creating engaging library programs, Gizelle collaborates with educators to inspire curiosity and critical thinking in a dynamic, student-centered environment.
Jaspreet Sethi
Hattennoki, in Japanese, translates to “tree of development.” Driven by brain science and research in education, pedagogy, and andragogy, Hattennoki is the brainchild of and founded by Jaspreet Sethi, who, for two decades, has been offering leaders, corporates, schools, educators, parent families, and children – innovative, engaging, and impactful consultancy and training around the globe through programs and workshops in mathematics, English language, emotional intelligence, problem-solving, communication, creativity, and conflict resolution.
Ketki Bedekar
Ketki Bedekar is a dedicated Teacher Librarian for the Primary Years Programme at Ecole Mondiale World School. With expertise in Information Literacy Skills, Interactive read-aloud, and organizing engaging library activities, Ketki is passionate about fostering a love for reading and learning in her students. Recognized for her outstanding contributions, Ketki received a commendation letter from the Head of School for her exceptional organization of Literacy Week.As an experienced workshop facilitator, Ketki has led sessions at various librarian conferences, sharing her expertise on interactive read-aloud, library promotion, and information and research skills.Ketki takes pride in creating a nurturing and inclusive library environment where children feel connected and inspired to explore the world of books and learning.
Kuntal Bhandare
Kuntal Bhandare is a seasoned school librarian with 22 years of experience, 15 of which are in the IB curriculum. As an Extended Essay coordinator for the past 7 years, she is passionate about teaching and learning research skills. A co-founder of the Liferarian Association, Kuntal is dedicated to sharing her expertise and upskilling librarians. She has conducted numerous workshops on research skills and the EE process for teachers and students. Additionally, she plays a key role in the International Collaboration of Extended Essay, a group of coordinators providing free guidance sessions for students globally
Mercia Rozario
Mercia Rozario is a passionate English educator with extensive experience in secondary and senior secondary education. She has been deeply involved in curriculum development and initiatives like TED-Ed Clubs and Trinity English Speech and Communication workshops.
Her teaching philosophy emphasizes fostering confidence, critical thinking, and a lifelong love for learning, often integrating technology to create engaging and interactive classroom experiences. Guided by a love for nurturing curiosity, creativity, and compassion, she strives to create inclusive learning environments that empower students to grow academically and personally.
Mitali Thatte
Mitali Thatte has a master’s in mathematics from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Pune and is currently the Joint Director for Research at QUEST. She initially joined QUEST as a consultant for impact assessment, where her main job was devising models for measuring outcomes and supervising their implementation. She later became interested in the core business and is currently responsible for conducting and documenting research, content development, training, the development of various tools, and impact assessment.
Mythily Iyengar
Mythily Iyengar is a dynamic educator and a core team member of the Liferarian Association with a passion for technology integration in learning and teaching. With a love for technology and AI tools, Mythily actively incorporates them into her daily educational endeavors. As the school-wide Teacher Librarian, she brings a wealth of experience from her administrative librarian and school librarian background, offering dedicated support to students and teachers in their research pursuits. Her commitment to exploring new technologies and sharing knowledge makes her a valuable asset to her school community.
Ninad Uchale
Ninad Uchale is a theatre enthusiast who completed his bachelor’s degree in computer science in Kankavli, Sindhudurg district. He moved to Pune to pursue a career in theatre and became part of the well-known organization Theatre Academy, Pune. There, he worked as an administrator at Sakal Lalit Kalaghar, a performing arts venue, under Madhuri Purandare’s and Prasad Purandare’s guidance. It was here that he cultivated his love for children’s theatre. In June 2023, he took the next step in his journey by joining QUEST as a Coordinator for the Goshtarang Program. This year, he is also a Goshtarang Fellow, gaining field experience in performing for children while leading the program.
Nirupama Kaushik
Nirupama Kaushik is a Library Educator with over 11 years of experience in classroom teaching and leadership. She believes in the transformative power of books and stories to foster cognitive, social, and emotional growth in children. Currently, her work focuses on creating a strong culture of reading and writing within schools, driving deeper engagement with libraries to inspire and empower the next generation of learners.
Rozmeen Saifee
Rozmeen Saifee has been a Teacher Librarian cum Resource Curator for PYP Years at JBCN International School, Parel, Mumbai, for over a decade. She has earlier taught the primary, secondary, and senior secondary and for 3 years & currently extensively manages the PYP years. Currently, she acts as an information provider, reading & resource consultant, curriculum activist, storyteller, and, most importantly, a teacher. Through her reading & stories, she teaches & supports critical & creative thinking skills in children. She also works collaboratively with the department heads & teachers to plan and prepare to develop and implement curriculum and to try new teaching strategies.
Sanjukta Sikder
Sanjukta Sikder is an experienced IBDP Secondary Teacher Librarian and Literacy Researcher at JBCN International School, Oshiwara, Mumbai. With over 15 years of experience in international and national board schools, she is passionate about fostering a vibrant learning community. Sanjukta specializes in curating diverse resources, collaborating with educators to enhance teaching and learning, and providing personalized support to empower students in their academic pursuits.
As a JBCN Master Trainer, Sanjukta facilitates professional development sessions for teachers and librarians, sharing her expertise and innovative approaches. An AI enthusiast, she is deeply interested in exploring the integration of emerging technologies in education.
Dedicated to continuous growth, Sanjukta regularly engages in professional development opportunities and draws insights from her extensive network of librarians to remain at the forefront of her field.
Sunita Malekar
Sunita Malekar is a professional librarian with over 25 years of experience, including 18 years as a Secondary Librarian in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. Since 2006, she has been working at Mahindra International School, serving students aged 12 to 18, fostering her skills as a researcher, evaluator, thinker, and lifelong learner. She finds immense satisfaction in working in education and value continuous learning.
Additionally, she is actively involved with the International Association of School Librarians (IASL), coordinating the Digital Bookmark Exchange Project, which connects schools and professionals worldwide. She is happy to share that she is also a member of the Liferarian group.
