Shambhavi V. Murthy

About Shambhavi V. Murthy

Dr. Shambhavi Vedantam Murthy Global Development | Human Rights | Humanitarian Affairs | Policy Advocacy | Civilian Protection | Child Rights | Peacebuilding | Gender & Inclusion Dr. Shambhavi Vedantam Murthy is a seasoned global development and humanitarian leader with over 27 years of senior-level experience across Asia, Africa, and globally. She has led complex, multi-country programs in conflict, post-conflict, and fragile settings, holding key leadership roles including Country Director, Head of Mission, Executive Director, Director of Operations, and University Professor. Her work spans international NGOs, civil society coalitions, multilateral institutions, and academic platforms. Dr. Murthy holds a PhD in Refugee Studies, Human Rights, and Gender from the University of Delhi, with doctoral and postdoctoral research conducted at the University of Oxford, South Centre (Geneva), and the United Nations University in Germany. She also holds credentials in civil society leadership, strategic management, journalism, and art appreciation. Her core competencies include: Civilian protection and harm mitigation in conflict zones Child rights, education, gender justice, and alternative care Humanitarian response, displacement, and post-conflict recovery Governance, safeguarding, compliance, and risk mitigation High-level advocacy with governments, UN bodies, AU, ECOWAS, SAARC, and ASEAN Resource mobilization, strategic communications, and coalition-building Cross-cultural and multilingual leadership in fragile environments She has managed multi-million-dollar portfolios funded by UNICEF, USAID, ECHO, SIDA, and the EU, and has shaped impactful policies on child protection, civilian protection, and refugee rights in South Asia and West Africa. Career Highlights: Founded MAREN, the first non-Nigerian civil society movement for African refugees Led advocacy that supported the creation of Nigeria’s National Assembly Committee on Refugees & IDPs Drafted key civilian protection frameworks and presented them at the UN General Assembly Represented civil society at the UN, AU, ECOWAS, and regional dialogues Published thought leadership and served as a speaker, columnist, and global academic contributor Outside of work, Dr. Murthy is a creative polymath—writer, painter, musician, and former national-level badminton player in India. Having travelled to 70+ countries, she brings a global, intersectional lens to leadership and advocacy.

Experience

1. Independent Director Governing Board Member

   Bcg

   May 2024 — Present · IN

Education

• Theodor Heuss Akademie/International Akademie for Leadership

  Civil Society Leadership

• Universiity of Delhi

  Phd

• Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta

  Executive General Management Program- Class of 2014

• University of Oxford

  Doctoral Visiting Fellowship

• University of Oxford

  Doctoral Level

• International Academy for Leadership, Gummersbach, Germany

  International Civil Society Leadership

• University of Oxford

  Humanitarian and Human Rights, Refugees, Africa, Gender