Suparna Gupta

Since 2002, Suparna has been the founder and director of an independent nonprofit, Aangan, that seeks to influence India’s juvenile justice and child policy with emphasis on protecting children in dangerous situations – trafficking, child marriage and hazardous work.

Suparna began her career with a seven-year stint as a copywriter in ad agencies Ogilvy and Lowe before she decided to “take the plunge and do the work she was really meant to do.” She started in Mumbai, with a psychosocial program for child survivors rescued from trafficking or harm, designed to transform then harsh prison-like rescue homes across the city into safe spaces for healing and rehabilitation. And Aangan (which means a safe community space in the Indian home) was born.

Suparna’s work has been recognised nationally and internationally: Selected Ashoka Fellow 2009, Thomson Reuters Community Hero 2010, Asia 21 Young Leader 2011, Edward S. Mason Fellow, Harvard Kennedy School 2012, recognised by Ash Centre for Democratic Governance and Innovation, Harvard, 2013, Finalist, Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneur of the Year, 2015. In 2016 she was on CNBC TV 18 India’s list of 20 women entrepreneurs pushing boundaries, and was also the winner of the L'Oreal NDTV Women of Worth Award, Social Impact Award 2016.