Board Members
Our Board of Directors provides strategic leadership and guidance to ensure Basava Samiti of Asia Pacific Ltd. continues to serve the community with integrity, inclusivity, and purpose. The Board oversees governance, compliance, and long-term planning while supporting our mission to promote education, equality, and compassionate service. Each member brings diverse experience and a shared commitment to Guru Basava’s principles, strengthening our charity’s vision across Australia and beyond.
Mrs. Girija Karekal
Founder and Executive Director
Girija is a preeminent social entrepreneur, cultural diplomat, and an accomplished architect dedicated to service, learning, and cultural integrity. Originally from Bangalore, India, and now a long-time resident of Brisbane, Australia, Girija has over 20 years of experience institutionalising Indian intellectual and philosophical heritage across the Asia-Pacific region. Her deep commitment to the Guru Basava philosophy and community service is rooted in her family traditions that has instilled the core values shaping her life, work and service.
Girija has been a driving force behind the Basava Samiti in Australia and has led initiatives that empower diverse communities across the region. Her leadership has brought the charity’s mission Engage, Educate, Empower, and Enlighten to life through inclusive programs and strategic outreach.
As an award-winning founder and visionary leader, Girija excels in orchestrating complex initiatives, aligning strategy to secure investment, drive innovation, and deliver measurable impact. She is known for shaping cultures of collaboration and customer-centricity, and for leading large-scale transformations that uplift capability and foster sustainable futures.
Mrs. Weiwei Kong
CAANZ & CFC (AFIML & FP&AM & AAICD) - Director
Wei Wei Kong is an accomplished finance executive, Chartered Accountant, and Chartered Financial Controller with more than 10 years of leadership experience spanning the government, not-for-profit, and private sectors. Holds prestigious professional designations as an Associate Fellow of the Institute of Managers and Leaders Australia and New Zealand (AFIML) and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD).
Brings a distinguished track record in financial stewardship, corporate governance, enterprise risk management, and large-scale organisational transformation. Known for working closely with boards, executives, and key stakeholders to deliver strategic, data-driven insights that elevate performance and ensure sustainable, long-term outcomes.
Mr. Pramod Nagaraj
Director
Pramod Nagaraj is an elite Technical Architect and ICT leader with over 20 years of expertise spearheading digital transformation, cloud architecture, and enterprise Microsoft ecosystems across government and private sectors. Backed by industry certifications like Microsoft Power Platform + Dynamics 365 Developer Associate, Pramod uniquely balances high-level technical vision with strategic leadership.
Pramod single-handedly orchestrated the charity’s entire digital foundation from the ground up during its critical startup phase. Stepping forward when the organisation had zero funding, he implemented, automated, and integrated a resilient, 24/7 cloud infrastructure. This secure operational ecosystem enabled BSAPAC to rapidly scale its public services across multiple Australian state governments and international time zones within just 12 months. Through his visionary architecture, Pramod successfully transformed a startup charity into a high-tech model for global community empowerment. Pramod is also the 2023 Finalist for the Australian Not For Profit Technology Volunteer of the Year Award.
Ms. Alice Shore
Company Secretary
Alice is a powerhouse systems and process transformation executive, commanding over three decades of corporate experience spearheading operational excellence and revenue assurance at Telstra. Leveraging a robust analytical foundation built on advanced certifications in corporate accounting, financial systems (Xero/MYOB), and university-level critical thinking, she engineered a remarkable 32-year trajectory within Australia’s premier telecommunications giant.
Following her distinguished corporate career, Alice pivoted her enterprise-grade expertise into the high-impact non-profit sector. As a vital volunteer executive for Miracle Assistance Dogs Inc., she served concurrently as Board Secretary, Director of Personnel, and Head of Administration and Projects. In these multi-faceted roles, she completely institutionalized the charity’s governance, secured critical government registrations, built robust volunteer lifecycles, and oversaw complex risk management frameworks solidifying her legacy as a versatile leader capable of driving excellence across both corporate and community ecosystems.
Mr. Ramjan Darga
Chief Advisor, Philosophy and Values
A distinguished scholar, author, and thought leader, Mr Darga has dedicated his life to studying, interpreting, and promoting the timeless wisdom of the Sharanas and the Vachana movement.
Originally a journalist by profession, he has authored more than 30 books that thoughtfully connect Sharana philosophy with modern corporate disciplines, leadership, governance, ethics, and contemporary life. His deep study of the Vachanas and lifelong pursuit of knowledge have enabled him to present the teachings of Guru Basava in a manner that is relevant and practical for today’s world.
Mr Darga has travelled to more than 20 countries, delivering lectures and engaging audiences on the universal values of Basava philosophy. His outstanding contributions to literature, philosophy, education, and community service have been recognised through more than 50 prestigious awards and honours.
Through his scholarship, wisdom, and unwavering commitment to values-based living, Mr Darga continues to inspire individuals, organisations, and communities to embrace equality, integrity, compassion, and social responsibility. Please join me in warmly welcoming Mr Ramjan Darga.
Mrs. Amanda Savita Alexander
Chief Risk Officer
Amanda Savita Alexander is Chief Risk Officer, with a focus on governance, organisational risk, and strategic resilience. Based in Canberra, she brings international experience across Australia, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and China.
Her work centres on strengthening risk management frameworks, accountability, and decision making within complex organisations. Amanda holds a Master of Science in Global Crime, Justice, and Security from The University of Edinburgh and has a background in cross-cultural and multilingual engagement, including proficiency in Mandarin and Japanese.
Amanda’s work aligns with the principle of integrity, supporting transparent governance, accountability, and ethical decision-making across the Charity’s operations.