Our name takes inspiration from the ancient Greek verb ‘Kubernein’, which means ‘to steer’ and provides the root for governance.
In today’s increasingly fractured world the use of information has become the ultimate power. We are at a pivotal point in history – where far reaching changes in the political, social and economic space indicate that ideas, governance structures and global decisions are no longer limited to the purview of the global north. Centres of thought and strategic analysis are shifting, with critical insight emerging from new geographies. As an India-based globally engaged geopolitical advisory we look at the world as interconnected and consider critical questions with a wider perspective.
We lead with the key insight that most solutions have global ramifications, but when information is disjointed and often times distrustful, it becomes difficult to wade through the noise and make an informed decision. Often the best solutions for a problem are straightforward, rooted in local knowledge combined with a pragmatic understanding of shifting globalisation. We employ our deep understanding of India within a geopolitical framework, supplemented by rigorous research, analysis, and advice from a proven network of experts in relevant fields. We continue to challenge accepted norms, and work to future proof solutions that understand realities of today.
Our people and our ideas are paramount, for which we have adopted a lean, remote working model. This allows us to engage wide ranging talent – including researchers, subject matter experts, and designers- depending on the needs of the project, and individual capabilities of people. Our projects use a mixed methodology of rigorous research combined with consultations and field work as required, innovative dialogue and workshops using a variety of tools and concepts. Gender, non-traditional security risks, emerging ideas and thought processes, are cross-cutting themes in all our work.
Consider critical questions with a perspective that balances traditionally thought with new and emerging ideas
Our vision is to build an organisation that considers critical questions with a perspective that balances traditionally thought with new and emerging ideas in the field of international relations, diplomacy, and foreign and security policy.
As a boutique geopolitical advisory, we work with partners with a shared vision that places human and environmental security at the core of their actions. We also help partners that wish to speak to a wider audience or seek intelligence on divergent issues which may have repercussions on their work. We are in the early stages of our growth story.
Our Story
Kubernein Initiative was founded in 2019 by Ambika and Priyanka to fill the gap in intellectual thinking around the convergence of traditional and non-traditional security issues. As women in a predominantly male dominated field, they also sought to examine how this thinking could be made more inclusive of ideas from more diverse minds, both in India but also globally.
What began as a two member project team, combining strengths in strategic communication and geopolitical analysis, has grown into a family of strengths. Today we have a robust team of individuals, from a diverse range of backgrounds including law, journalism, and project management, that are also skilled at engaging with international relations and policy topics.
Our Team
Ambika is a geopolitical analyst and water security specialist with experience in the field of governance and foreign policy. She has led track two diplomacy efforts and consulted with several governments and international organizations in the MENA region, Europe and India, and helped shape their policies in the field of conflict resolution, water diplomacy and security. The first Indian to be invited as a member of the prestigious Munich Young Leaders Network, she has been invited to consult with and speak at various events and conference across the MENA region, India and Europe, by The Hague Institute, Koerber Foundation, Central University of Jammu, TERI, Mumbai University and others. Ambika has been interviewed and published in newspapers and online media including The Third Pole, China Water Risk, The National, Project Syndicate, 9DashLine, Al Jazeera, Europäische Sicherheit, Stratfor, Atlantic Community, Hurriyet, Turkish Weekly, Daily News Egypt, Jordan Times, and Stockholm International Affairs Quarterly amongst others. She is part of the inaugural cohort of the China-India Visiting Scholars (CIVS) Fellowship, 2020 – 2021, Ashoka University and also a Non-Resident Fellow with the Agora Institute, Germany.
Passionate about: Random new places, good food, coffee and whiskey, preferably all at the same time, solo or with friends and family depending on her mood. She loves to read, though there never seems to be time and enjoys good trashy tv on long flights.
Priyanka comes from a strategy and communications background, with over a decade of experience working with the private, think tank, and non-profit sectors. She began her career as a consultant with the United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service in New York and has worked with Suzlon Energy, Strategic Foresight Group, Institute for Sustainable Communities and Dalberg Advisors in Asia. Priyanka has worked on a wide range of issues which include sustainable development, inclusive growth, future forecasting, water, diplomacy, governance, security, conflict resolution and renewable energy. Priyanka is a Schmidt Futures International Strategy Forum 2023 Fellow, and a AIYD 2023 Delegate.
Passionate about: Learning about cultures through movies – I watch a lot of random stuff.
Aadhya is a Senior Program Manager and works on a wide range of geopolitical, climate, and sustainability initiatives, including Feminist Foreign Policy, and the Sustainable India Report with key partner organisations. She has previously worked with Harvard University as a Project Coordinator in their Professional Education space, at their Law School’s Dean’s office and at MIT in their Student Life areas, in various capacities. She has also held roles in India and worked with Linde India in the area of key account management. While her background is in project management, and organisational management, Aadhya has a keen interest in foreign policy issues. She undertook a course ‘Philosophical Foundations of Economic Justice’ under the Harvard Extension School, which further ignited a long-standing personal interest in the field of international relations, philosophy and its integration with economics and the society at large. Aadhya holds a master’s degree in Economics from the University of Warwick with a focus on International Trade, Development Economics, Law and Economics, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Gujarat University.
Passionate about: Being curious about the world, its people and cultures, which all translates into making friends quickly, trekking, traveling and reading. Someday this passion might also turn into a degree in Anthropology. Stay tuned.
Tirtha is a Research Assistant at Kubernein Initiative. She is a second-year Masters of Public Administration at the London School of Economics and Political Science and holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from St. Xavier’s College, University of Mumbai, India. She is passionate about gender and inclusivity, politics, climate and governance and the impact that effective policy making has on the citizens. She is a women’s’ rights advocate inside and out of LSE. Tirtha is also a published poet, singer and a blogger. Tirtha was a PrathamTi Fellow and worked at the office of Ms Priyanka Chaturvedi, a Rajya Sabha Member in the Parliament of India. She has also worked as a research intern at the Observer Research Foundation and a change leader at change.org and ran a petition catering to women’s political participation. She has interned with the Times of India and the Times, UK and has volunteering experiences at several Non-profits like the NETRI foundation, the Kaash foundation and SPAARC. Her goal is to bridge gaps in representation, challenge systemic barriers, and empower individuals to become agents of change. Through collaborative initiatives, policy recommendations, and awareness campaigns, she aims to create lasting impact through her work. Both in the short and longer runs, Tirtha envisions a future where equality and inclusivity are not just ideals, but lived realities.
Passionate about: Poetry, Music (especially if it’s 90’s Bollywood), Moon, Marathi and अदरक वाली चाय.
Namrata Kabra is a Program Associate, leading the projects on Water & Climate Security with an intersectional gender lens. Namrata holds an LL.M. in Environmental Laws & Climate Change; PG Diplomas in Tourism & Environmental Law; and Environmental Law & Policy. Namrata has over 7 years of experience, as a legal researcher with national, regional, and international organizations on environment, biodiversity and climate laws. She coordinates and facilitates the South Asia Bioregionalism Working Group, a network for reimagining eco/bioregional governance in South Asia. Her areas of work include legal and evidence-based research, policymaking, building advocacy around climate change adaptation with a focus on gender justice, human rights, human mobility, and rights of nature. Her overarching interests lie in legal education, urban governance, transboundary cooperation, and access to information and justice.
Passionate about: Gardening, Travelling and Learning.
Hritik is a Research Analyst currently working on Kubernein Initiative’s Indo-Pacific & Feminist Foreign Policy projects. Hritik holds an MA in Diplomacy, Law, Business (MA.DLB) from O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) and a BBA (International Business) from MIT-WPU. He has interned previously with organisations like the Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI) of the Ministry of Home Affairs, and a GRC based risk consulting firm WoRisGo. His areas of interest and research are international economics, trade, and foreign policy. Hritik also runs a blog called "India and the World" that seeks to highlight the relationship and position of India in the world but also the effect of the rest of the world on India.
Passionate about: Music (background scores, classic rock, many more genres) and a sports enthusiast (from football, cricket, f1 etc) and trivia in general about the world.
Sanskriti is a Program Associate, and researcher working at the intersection of foreign and domestic policy, focusing on climate change and its impact on marginalized communities. She holds a master's degree in international security and has previously worked on projects with state governments and research organizations to make existing policies more inclusive and beneficiary-friendly. Her body of work has been informed by a keen focus on gender issues and her experience ranges across a wide variety of topics such as heritage conservation, advocacy, and social media management among others. Her research interests include security studies, conflict resolution, and South Asian culture and identity.
Passionate about: Reading, Road trips, and Pop Culture Analysis
Treesa is a Programme Associate at Kubernein Initiative with an interest in the intersection of gender and conflict. She previously worked with the Council for Strategic and Defence Research as a Programme Associate, where she managed projects on Non Traditional Security and South Asia. She was a Women of Colour Advancing Peace, Security, and Conflict Transformation (WCAPS) fellow in 2023. Her research interests include exploring the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda and Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV) policymaking in South Asia. Treesa holds a Master’s degree in Geopolitics and International Relations from the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) and a Bachelor’s degree in Media Studies, Economics, and Political Science from Christ (Deemed to be) University.
Passionate about: Cats, Cooking and Semiotics.