Sheetal has worked in research and knowledge mobilization for over 15+ years, particularly in practice-based and participatory research focused on social change. She has worked in evaluation for a decade, coming from the programmatic perspective of program design and delivery, and having to measure and report on that which is often difficult to measure. She has experience working on multi-stakeholder projects within complex ecosystems, with both national and international stakeholders. She has expertise in qualitative and ethnographic research and has helped organizations and programs to clarify their purpose, evolve and grow.
Sheetal believes in centering those who are most vulnerable and most impacted by research and that communities, particularly equity-deserving ones, should have agency and ownership over research creation. In short, research must always be governed by the principle “nothing about us without us.”
With a doctorate in Cultural studies and literature, Sheetal is an experienced facilitator, interviewer and communicator. She has also taught and published across sectors and disciplines, and through various media (radio, print, film), with the common thread being a commitment to create a more equitable world.
Born in South Africa, Sheetal has experience working and living in multilingual environments. In her spare time, she is an auntie, peruses dog Tinder (shelter websites), crafts, obsesses about languages and dismantling the kyriarchy, and fantasizes about playing pro Tennis.