Leadership & Governance
Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
With over 17 years of experience supporting diverse learning needs in Hong Kong, and with an extensive background in Special Education, Divya advocates for Inclusion and rights-based education. Aside from an interest in documentaries, Divya also enjoys exploring history, art, and culture.
Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Karishma is a registered nurse from Nepal. A Linguistics graduate, with a Masters degree in Early Childhood Education, she has worked in the Early Years and Primary sector in Hong Kong. Karishma enjoys supporting language development through play. An aspiring writer, Karishma hopes to publish one day.
Pushpa Gurung
Director
With over four decades of unwavering commitment to the Nepalese community in Hong Kong, Mrs. Pushpa Gurung is a distinguished community advocate, educator and champion for marginalised families. Her lifelong dedication to community service has earned her a prestigious recognition, the Commendation for Community Service from the HKSAR Government (2004).
As the Director of Kriti Children's Centre for Learning and Development, Mrs. Gurung focuses on empowering families of children with Special Educational Needs (SEN), by providing crucial guidance on navigating Hong Kong’s education and welfare systems. Her compassionate efforts include escorting families to, and liaising with health and social services (pro bono), along with advocating for the rights and well-being of underprivileged children.
Christopher Lavender
Director
Christopher Lavender is a philanthropy consultant who served in the Brigade of Gurkhas until 1997. He was the Commander of the British Gurkhas and the Director of the Gurkha Welfare Scheme, based in Kathmandu, from 1994-97. He established the Kadoorie Charitable Foundation (KCF) in 1997 and served as its Director until 2019, when he stepped down. The KCF funds projects in South East Asia, Nepal, Bangladesh, and China, focusing on poverty alleviation, healthcare, and education.
Christopher now advises families on philanthropic matters and speaks more broadly to international audiences on strategic philanthropy. He oversees projects in Bangladesh and Cambodia and, apart from recently being invited to join the Board of Kriti Children’s Centre, is the Executive Chairman of Studer Trust, which trains teachers and builds schools in Myanmar.
Tanka (Ray) Rana
Director
Mr. Tanka Rana is a respected leader and bridge-builder within Hong Kong’s Nepalese community, combining decades of grassroots engagement with strategic advisory roles to drive social progress. With a proven track record in community mobilization and policy advisory,
Mr. Rana, Director of Kriti Children’s Centre holds pivotal roles across government and nonprofit sectors, including Chief Advisor of the Hong Kong Nepalese Federation and Advisory Board Member of the Multicultural Activity Centre.