Aarti Sridhar, Trustee and Programme Head at Dakshin Foundation, has over 24 years of experience in environmental governance and community-led conservation. Aarti’s leadership at Dakshin Foundation, which she co-founded in 2008, has positioned the organization at the forefront of marine conservation and sustainable livelihood development in India. Her expertise spans coastal governance, fisheries management, and socio-legal interventions that prioritize community welfare alongside ecosystem protection. Under her guidance, Dakshin has expanded its operations across multiple coastal regions, including the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, and Odisha, advocating for sustainable ocean and fisheries management.

Aarti holds a Master’s in Social Work from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) and has recently completed her PhD thesis on Fisheries Science at the University of Amsterdam. Her deep academic and research background has shaped Dakshin’s interdisciplinary approach, blending environmental research with grassroots action to drive sustainable outcomes. Aarti has played a key role in developing India’s long-term sea turtle monitoring programs and facilitating multi-stakeholder collaborations that include local communities, policymakers, and scientists. She is also the co- principal investigator of the Southern Collective, which works to democratize marine knowledge and promote sustainable ocean governance in the Northern Indian Ocean.

Aarti’s work has received national and international recognition, positioning her as a thought leader in environmental conservation and climate adaptation. Her efforts have empowered coastal communities, providing them with the tools and knowledge to manage resources sustainably while preserving their cultural and ecological heritage.

As a Motwani Jadeja Impact Fellow, Aarti plans to leverage the fellowship to build strategic partnerships within the global conservation community, with a focus on climate change and marine ecosystems. Her goal is to enhance Dakshin’s impact, particularly in mobilizing resources and scaling its flagship initiative, SeaChange, which aims to secure the livelihoods of coastal communities while protecting marine ecosystems.