2026 UN Forum on Business and Human Rights

Seasoned social impact leader with over 16+ years of executive experience across India and 20+ years of various research. Currently serving as CEO and Executive Director at Change Alliance, with a strong record of driving organizational growth, forging high-impact partnerships, and delivering sustainable outcomes. Recognized for strategic vision, stakeholder influence, and a results-driven approach to social change. Recognized for Business and Human Rihghts, workers’ rights, climate change adaptation and pioneering gender-inclusive programmes across corporate and development sectors.
She has managed Change Alliance as Interim CEO from April 2024- July 2024 with proven ability to lead cross-functional teams, secure high-value partnerships, ensure legal compliance, and drive organizational growth with integrity and vision. Led a diverse team of over 24 staff members and 7+ expert consultants across various departments with clear responsibilities, effective governance and cross-functional collaboration ensuring efficiency and accountability. Managed budget of approx. 15 Crore (1.3 million GBP) in Change Alliance in 2024-2025 which included commercial contracts with reputed clients from India and international (both new and repeat clients).  She was successful to bring in multi year projects and repeat and new international clients which has helped the business vertical run smoothly. She has been leading Development Advisory Services (DAS) and Operations as Interim Director since August 2023, formally holding the position through March 2024 and continuing in this capacity pending a permanent appointment. From 2019 to 2023, she served as Senior Manager – Gender Diversity and Inclusion, driving key initiatives in equity and inclusion. In addition to these roles, she has led several other strategic business verticals within CAPL over the past two years.
She is an anthropologist, has doctorate degree on “Women in Local Governance among the Padhars (a Primitive Tribal Group) of Gujarat”. Completed Executive Mini-MBA course by The University of The West of England and Advanced People Management Training by the Management Centre Learning =mc, London, UK. She has more than 20 years of research and 16 years of experience on spearheading projects on Gender Equality at workplace, diversity, inclusion, safe migration, Prevention of Sexual Harassment at workplace, CSR, qualitative research, community development, better farming practices, livelihoods and climate change, sustainable business and market linkages with multi-stakeholders. Worked extensively on garment sector, mining, tea, coffee, sugar cane, cotton and garment sector (sustainable and responsible business) and affirmative action to address the voice of vulnerable, marginalised and build the agency of women. She has shaped  various programmes of the organisation from gender and social inclusive lens linking poor, marginalised and vulnerable communities with social protection schemes, promoting safe and responsible migration, better working conditions for women migrant workers, Business and Human Rights, climate change and climate resilient communities, organic cotton farmers and business groups, cluster based integrated green livelihoods, decent work in supply chains, intersectional issues in evaluations, and research studies along with generating businesses and leading operations of CAPL. She has managed various civil society partners as partnership manager for both grant and commercial contracts. She is leading sustainable supply chain and access to remedy in garment, sea foods, sugarcane, organic cotton, automative, hard and soft goods etc.
She has led gender equality, access to remedy and responsible migration with the support of leading apparel brands of UK, US and Europe and worked with more than 100 suppliers, more than 80,000 workers and was able to take up the programme addressing issues of vulnerable and distressed migrant workers women’s empowerment, gender inclusive approaches from source to destination by engaging with multi stakeholders. In recognition of women empowerment interventions, Archana was awarded the “Sandvik India Gender Award (SIGA), 2019, under the Social Venture” category by Sandvik Asia Pvt Ltd, Swedish Chamber of Commerce, UN- Global Compact Network.