Experience

Shanthi Maargam

• Sri Lanka
• Civic and Social Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Founding Executive Director

  • Jun 2016 - Present

  Shanthi Maargam will seek to engage with youth in a meaningful manner through the establishment of Youth Centers where services including art, drama and music therapy, meditation and yoga will be offered to help youth enhance their emotional well being. These centers will also be places where youth can gather for peer discussions on topics related to positive transformational change, increasing resilience, empowerment and challenging harmful gender norms, attitudes and behaviours. This will also be a space where key topics of relevance to them and their communities such as managing emotional stress, educational attainment, career guidance and community service work, will be facilitated Show less



Self Employed

• Based in Vienna

• Independent Consultant

  • Feb 2016 - Present

  In the areas of Gender, Preventing Gender Based Violence, Engaging men and boys for gender equality, sexual and reproductive health, adolescent reproductive health, supporting people living with HIV/AIDS. Ongoing consultancies: - Senior Gender Specialist - Supporting the implementation of the Sri Lanka and Maldives Gender and Citizen Engagement Platform and GBV Guidelines for the South Asian Region, World Bank Group Completed consultancies: - Developed Minimum Standards in Child Protection Work for the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) - Gender Advisor - Ministry of Women and Child Affairs (this position is funded by UNFPA)- the role included the restructuring of the Gender Mainstreaming Officers position and development of the Women Headed Household National Action Plan. - Member of the technical hub of experts to promote sexual orientation, gender, HIV and human rights-Family Planning Association of Sri Lanka under Multi Country South Asia (MSA) regional HIV project supported by the Global Fund. Show less



International Rescue Committee

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 700 & Above Employee

• Primary Prevention Specialist

  • Jun 2014 - Dec 2015

  Responsible for: -Informing the strategic direction and oversight to the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE) VAWG prevention framework and strategies. - Providing technical support and capacity development to IRC field programs on the individual behavior change intervention, Engaging Men in Accountable Practice intervention (EMAP) Responsible for: -Informing the strategic direction and oversight to the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE) VAWG prevention framework and strategies. - Providing technical support and capacity development to IRC field programs on the individual behavior change intervention, Engaging Men in Accountable Practice intervention (EMAP)



South Asian Network to Address Masculinities (SANAM)

• Core group member/fellow

  • 2011 - Aug 2013

  The South Asian Network to Address Masculinities (SANAM) is a network of NGOs (national and regional), academics and activists which provides a platform for all people to work together in developing a culture of resistance to gender based violence. http://www.engagingmen.net/networks/sanam The South Asian Network to Address Masculinities (SANAM) is a network of NGOs (national and regional), academics and activists which provides a platform for all people to work together in developing a culture of resistance to gender based violence. http://www.engagingmen.net/networks/sanam



CARE

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 700 & Above Employee

• Project Director - Empowering Men to Engage and Redefine Gender Equality (EMERGE)

  • Oct 2010 - Aug 2013

  Developed strategies and managed the men engagement initiative of Care International Sri Lanka which operated in four districts: Key highlights: - Overseeing the implementation of the largest men’s quantitative study titled “Broadening gender: why masculinities matter” in Sri Lanka on men’s knowledge, attitudes and practices towards Gender Equality and GBV in collaboration with Partners for Prevention an inter-agency initiative of UNDP, UNFPA, UN Women & UNV Regional Joint Program for Asia and the Pacific, Thailand. This was used to develop recommendations in Women’s Mental and Physical Health in GBV, Youth and SGBV, Child abuse and protection, Addressing Men’s health as a means of Primary prevention of GBV and Private sector engagement. WHO, UNAIDS, UNICEF and the Family Planning Association of Sri Lanka collaborated when developing the policy papers. The data fed into the “UN Multi Country Study on Men and Violence”(http://www.partners4prevention.org/about-prevention/research/men-and-violence-study) -Established partnerships with international, regional and national institutions to increase advocacy initiatives and to bring in technical skills relating to men engagement. Eg: Promundo (Men Care) , Partners for Prevention, AAKAR(India) UNDP -Establishing a pool of trainers in men engagement, SRH, GBV, Positive Fatherhood and youth engagement Show less



United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

• United States
• International Affairs
• 700 & Above Employee

• Facilitator- Forum against Gender Based Violence

  • Sep 2009 - Oct 2010

  Coordinated the functions of the secretariat of the Forum against Gender-based Violence which is a national level forum comprising 25 organizations including Governmental, UN, bi-lateral agencies, I/NGOs in implementing initiatives towards reducing Gender-based Violence in Sri Lanka. Coordinated the functions of the secretariat of the Forum against Gender-based Violence which is a national level forum comprising 25 organizations including Governmental, UN, bi-lateral agencies, I/NGOs in implementing initiatives towards reducing Gender-based Violence in Sri Lanka.



MAS Holdings

• Apparel & Fashion
• 700 & Above Employee

• Manager-Women's Empowerment and Go Beyond

  • 2003 - 2009

  Managed the MAS Holdings Women’s Empowerment Program which targeted approximately 35,000 female employee workforce (both in Sri Lanka and India) by:-Continuously developing and implementing programs and initiatives, and collborating with Governmental organizations/NGOs/Corporates in areas relating to Domestic violence, Sexual and Reproductive Health education, HIV & AIDS, Family Planning, Sexual Harassment, Maternal Health, Women’s rights, male participation etc -Developing and implementing gender equity practices and policies-Managing, evaluating and monitoring the implementation of the programme across 22 domestic and international business units of MAS Holdings through 22 project managers and their respective core teams. Show less

• Manager-HR and Administration

  • 2005 - 2006

  Managed all areas relating to Human Resource Management and development relating to 550 employees

• Senior Executive-Human Resources

  • 2003 - 2005



Julius and Creasy

• Colombo

• Lawyer

  • 2000 - 2002

  Engaged in forming and providing opinions on various legal issues pertaining to Corporate Law and litigation while working and liaising with foreign law firms and local corporate clients Engaged in forming and providing opinions on various legal issues pertaining to Corporate Law and litigation while working and liaising with foreign law firms and local corporate clients



Yes FM

• Colombo

• Newscaster

  • 1996 - 1997