I am a first-generation New Zealander of Indian ethnicity, raised in Whakatiki, Upper Hutt. I acknowledge Māori as Tangata Whenua of Aotearoa.

I studied economics at Victoria University and then undertook an OE rite of passage—travelling to England, Europe, and India. Afterwards, I returned to settle with my partner in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Wellington. Throughout my professional career, I have accumulated more than 40 years of experience and knowledge—combining economics and data—through roles spanning academia, consulting, and public service.

Like many Kiwis, I grew up in a sports-mad household, with cricket and rugby being my primary passions. My love of cricket remains strong, alongside my love of numbers. In more recent years, I have taken up cycling and running. While I started running for health reasons, I now admit to enjoying it—it’s my escape and "me-time"—as I work towards clocking up more half and full marathons to add to my spreadsheet and collection of running data analytics.

The broadening vision and kaupapa of embracing health and wider wellbeing attracted me to a trustee role at Nuku Ora. I am passionate about ensuring an equity and access lens is applied so that leisure, recreation, and physical activities are designed to be welcoming and inclusive of those in our communities who have previously been excluded.