Neerja, a graduate from LSR, Delhi and a post graduate in Economics and English is a born educator. She has been in the field of Education for over 35 years and has taught English and Social Sciences in schools across the country for 16 years. In the past, she has done ESL training for Foreign students in Pune University, has been associated with NIE- Newspapers in Education and has conducted workshops for students in over 90 schools.

For the past 10 years she has been a corporate trainer and also does volunteer work for two NGOs.

Neerja is a founder member of Soroptimist International Pune Metro East(SIPME) and has been on the Executive Board of the NGO for ten years in various capacities, as President, as Program Action Chairperson and as Communication Officer. SIPME is affiliated to Soroptimist International which is an international NGO for women and girls and holds consultative status with ECOSOC at the UN. Neerja spearheaded SIPME’s Project on Gender Equality wherein they partnered with Aks Foundation and conducted gender sensitization workshops in various schools. 

Neerja was honoured with the Achievers Award in the year 2014, conferred by Sunderji Group of Institutions, Pune, for her contribution in the field of rights of women and girls and was presented with a scroll of honour.

She has been an integral part of Aks Foundation since inception and led the Community Education and Communications Programs for Aks, before taking up the role of Director Operations.