Our Team

Svetha is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of New Incentives, an organization she started in 2011 after doing research with faculty at the Center for Effective Global Action to evaluate leading conditional cash transfer programs (CCTs). She built New Incentives, a nonprofit that provides cash incentives to increase uptake of routine immunizations, as a way to introduce the nonprofit sector to CCTs because they are among the most well-studied evidence-based development tools in the world. With her background in impact evaluation and field research, Svetha has brought together policymakers, development researchers, and NGO partners to create a scalable intervention that is now known to be one of the most cost-effective ways to save a life. Svetha has 10+ years of international development experience, was highlighted as a Changemaker by the Clinton Global Initiative, was named a Forbes "30 Under 30" Social Entrepreneur, and participated in Y Combinator's 2016 NFP (nonprofit program) batch. In 2025, she received the Park MahnHoon Award from the International Vaccine Institute and SK bioscience for her work to drive "substantial increases in vaccination coverage among underserved populations through innovative nonprofit initiatives." She has a Bachelor’s degree in Global Studies and Economics from the University of Minnesota. Svetha’s visionary and ethical leadership drives New Incentives’ ability to meet complex challenges and remain transparent, accountable, and data-driven.

Prat is the Co-Founder and COO of New Incentives. Prat leverages a diverse background in business strategy, project management, and team leadership, working closely with staff members, partners, and other stakeholders to streamline processes, optimize resources, and foster a culture of continuous improvement and effectiveness. He’s played a key role in growing New Incentives team from a start-up of 10 people to over 3,000 staff today. Prior to joining New Incentives full-time in 2016, Prat worked at technology startups, helping them to achieve product-market fit, while continuing a lifelong commitment to nonprofit innovation. Born and raised in Nepal, Prat graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with a degree in Economics. While an undergraduate, he led the Student Initiative for International Development and started his first company. He participated in Y Combinator's 2016 NFP (nonprofit program) batch. For more than 10 years, he has been helping businesses and nonprofits innovatively scale. He is relentlessly passionate about driving organizational excellence and has been instrumental in growing New Incentives, which now has thousands of employees and reaches millions of infants each year.

Mubarak is New Incentives’ Operations Director. He manages ongoing operations in several key states and oversees the country's expansion team and the monitoring and evaluation team. Prior to joining New Incentives in 2017, Mubarak accumulated extensive experience in the public health sector, including working on a UNICEF-supported maternal, newborn, and child health project in hard-to-reach communities in Nigeria. He graduated from Usmanu Danfodiyo University with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and has a Master’s degree in IT from the National Open University of Nigeria. He is currently pursuing his second Master’s degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy at Ahmadu Bello University. He has 11+ years of experience in public health programming and is a pioneering alumnus of the Geneva Learning Foundation, which has recognized his contributions to routine immunization initiatives.

Nura is New Incentives’ Stakeholder Relations Director. In this role, he leads the Stakeholder Relations Team, which cultivates relationships at all levels of the government and coordinates with cold chain officers on a daily basis in order to ensure vaccine supplies are sufficient to cover the need generated by the program. In addition to focusing on building positive and productive partnerships with government stakeholders and traditional leaders, Nura identifies and assesses avenues to add value to core stakeholder and government initiatives. He has 15+ years of experience in partnership development and management. Prior to joining New Incentives in 2017, he held various roles at Save the Children, where he worked with prominent programs such as ECHO, USAID, and DFID, eventually rising to the position of Area Manager for Save the Children’s Katsina and Jigawa Field Offices. He has a Master’s degree in Adult and Non-Formal Education from Bayero University.

Dhanasiddharth is New Incentives’ Director of Technology. As the leader of the Engineering Team, he oversees the building and maintenance of all apps and data collection infrastructure, positioning the organization to collect and utilize over 120 Program Monitoring Indicators.He has 12+ years of experience developing software tools. Prior to joining New Incentives in 2018, Dhanasiddharth worked for several years crafting software solutions for a variety of businesses, from small-scale operations to enterprise solutions. He has a Bachelor of Engineering from Anna University. When he first came on board at New Incentives, he supported spreadsheet integrations as a developer, and, over the course of six-plus years, he has grown with the organization, taking on the larger responsibility to match all technology solutions with the evolving program goals.

‍

Jobel is New Incentives’ Director of Finance. He oversees the organization’s Accounting and Finance Team, which is responsible for all accounting, reporting, and budgeting, including overseeing more than 2,500 expense accounts for field staff. Jobel also provides strategic advice on liquidity, treasury management, long-term financial planning, reduction of program unit costs, and cost models for fundraising. He has 12+ years of experience in finance and accounting. Prior to joining New Incentives in 2019, Jobel worked for a consulting firm, shared service entities, and a business processing outsourcing company. He has a BS in Accountancy from Southern Luzon State University and is a certified public accountant. His love for the field of accounting began when he was 14; he enjoys solving problems and telling the stories behind the numbers.

Vanessa is a Program Director for New Incentives. As the leader of the Console Team, she oversees continual monitoring and verification to ensure accuracy and efficiency throughout the organization, developing metrics to assess program and staff effectiveness, collecting and analyzing data, and generating reports to demonstrate impact and inform future initiatives. She also contributes to the strategic planning process, identifying opportunities for program expansion and improvement. Prior to joining New Incentives in 2020, Vanessa predominantly worked in payroll, financial accounting, and auditing in various business sectors. She has a BS in Accountancy from the University of the East and is a certified public accountant. Her 20+ years of finance experience, coupled with her ability to think both critically and creatively, allow her to navigate complex challenges with ease.

Benjamin is New Incentives’ Security Director. He leads the Security Team, working to ensure the safety of all staff and continually keeping a pulse on the security situation in all areas of operation. Benjamin designs security plans, protocols, and training modules and monitors protocol adherence to reduce risk, prevent threats to staff and assets, and support program delivery. He has 15+ years of experience in public and humanitarian security. Prior to joining New Incentives in 2019, Benjamin spent most of his career supporting international nongovernmental organizations’ program delivery in emergency situations and developmental capacities in northeast and northwest Nigeria. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Ahmadu Bello University and a Master’s degree in International Studies and Diplomacy from Bayero University. He is a member of the American Society of Industrial Security (ASIS), the International NGO Safety and Security Association (INSSA), and the Association of Industrial Security and Safety Operators in Nigeria (AISSON). Benjamin was selected as a Finalist for the 2024 Outstanding Achiever Award at the INSSA-CSD (International NGO Safety and Security Association and the Center for Safety and Development) Excellence Awards.

Khaly is the Human Resources Director of New Incentives. He oversees all HR functions, including recruitment, onboarding, training, retention, and exit management. He provides leadership oversight and decision-making per strategic organizational goals and is also responsible for maintaining compliance with labor laws in Nigeria. Khaly has 12+ years of experience in general human resources management in corporate settings and NGOs. Prior to joining New Incentives in 2021, he supported the workforce in many local and international organizations, particularly in compensation and benefits, employee engagement and well-being, performance and talent management, recognition and rewards, and policy development. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from Adamawa State University and a Master's in Business Administration from Ahmadu Bello University. Khaly is continually inspired to create a professional environment where staff and managers can excel at their daily work.

Gladys is New Incentives’ Compliance Coordinator. She leads the Audits and Investigations Unit, ensuring that program activities are well-documented and unbiased and follow organizational protocols. She oversees team performance, leads training efforts, and coordinates investigations and disciplinary actions in close collaboration with Operations to strengthen fraud prevention and accountability. Gladys brings over 10 years of experience across the technology, finance, consulting, and nonprofit sectors. Before joining New Incentives in 2018, she led digital transformation projects, managed national audit initiatives, and supported cross-functional teams in both local and international settings. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology from Mount Kenya University. She has also completed professional development training in leadership principles and project management.

Liz is the Communications and Program Manager at New Incentives, which she joined in 2022. She has more than a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector, where she has led organizational rebranding, strategic planning efforts, and donor engagement and communication strategies, and supported the development of digital M&E tools. At New Incentives, Liz leads the Communications team to strengthen the organization’s visibility by producing high-quality communication materials and ensuring timely and effective engagement with donors. She also plays a key role in exploring new programs and research, working closely with internal teams and external research firms. Liz holds a Bachelor’s degree in Corporate Communications from Bryan College and a Master’s degree in Nonprofit Management from Our Lady of the Lake University. She is a collaborative leader who values learning, problem-solving, and building cross-functional systems that help teams work more effectively.

Alhaji Aminu Danmalam

Advisor

Alhaji Aminu Danmalam (DanMalam din Dutse) retired from his position as the Director of Primary Healthcare of Jigawa State with over 21 years of experience in public health. He also served as a District Head of Aujara (Dutse Emirate Council). During his four years as a member of the Jigawa State Health Sector Reform Forum, he actively participated as a catalyst in the reform and transformation of the state health sector into a decentralized and integrated district health system. He was trained in health system development in Galilee, Israel, and as an International Health Consultant at the University of Liverpool.

Dr. Ahmad Abdulwahab

Advisor

Dr. Ahmad Abdulwahab is a medical doctor and public health/health systems expert with over 20 years experience in the health sector. He is currently the Senior Health Advisor with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum Secretariat. Previously, he was a Director of Public Health in the Yobe State Ministry of Health, a State Team Manager, Deputy National Programme Manager, and, subsequently, the National Programme Manager of the Partnership for Reviving Routine Immunization in Northern Nigeria/Maternal Newborn and Child Health (PRRINN/MNCH). He also worked as the Deputy Country Director/Programme Director Essential Medicines with the Clinton Health Initiatives (CHAI).

Praveen Seshadri

Advisor

Praveen is a technology entrepreneur with a PhD in Computer Science. He was the founder and CEO of AppSheet, a startup that created a leading no-code application platform. After AppSheet's acquisition by Google, he has held the role of Distinguished Software Engineer at Google. Earlier in his career, he was a professor at Cornell University and an executive at Microsoft. Praveen is engaged with nonprofit efforts that address education in India, immunization in Africa, and prison reform in the USA.

Anna Heard

Strategic Consultant

Anna Heard is an independent consultant providing guidance on monitoring and evaluation. Anna served as a Senior Evaluation Specialist at International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie), where she first provided quality assurance on IDinsight’s impact evaluation of New Incentives. Anna has been working on topics related to global public health since 2004, with a focus on monitoring and evaluation and impact evaluation. Anna holds a doctorate (and masters) in Global Health and Population from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and a BA in biology from Williams College.

Karen Levy

Strategic Consultant

Karen Levy is a founding partner of Fit for Purpose, an Africa-focused strategic and technical advisory practice that helps leaders in global development scale the impact of their work. She is an international development professional with over 20 years of experience living in Kenya and working in Africa and Asia. A serial social entrepreneur, Karen has an extensive track record of bringing evidence-based programs and organizations from concept stage to scale. Karen has served as an advisor and mentor to New Incentives since 2017.

Michael O’Neill

Strategic Consultant

Michael O’Neill is a recognized leader in international safety and security risk management, having begun his professional career in 1995. He is a highly respected global thought leader and strategist in the development and professionalization of international NGO safety and security risk management. Michael is the Chair of the International NGO Safety and Security Association (INSSA). He served as the Director of Global Safety and Security and as a Senior Advisor at Save the Children from 2002 - 2017.

Salina Yeung

Salina is a finance professional with extensive experience in financial management and reporting, investments oversight, and financial planning and analysis. Salina is a strategic thinker and gained her diverse perspectives from working in public accounting, private industry, and investment firms and from providing volunteer services to various nonprofits. She is passionate about making the world a better place and hopes that her contributions result in a positive impact. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a Certified Financial Planner (CFP).

Michael F. Thomas

Michael is a professional with more than 16 years of leadership experience in the vaccine industry and NGO sector and as a consultant and advisor. He is currently Principal at Global BioStrat, LLC, a vaccine advisory firm serving public and private organizations throughout the world. Until 2019, Michael was Director of Supply and Demand at Gavi, with responsibility for vaccine implementation and market-shaping activities. While at Gavi, he was engaged in immunization program planning and vaccine-related procurement in support of eligible low- and middle-income countries in coordination with Gavi’s alliance partners. Previously, he was Senior Managing Director at Red Team Associates, where he directed client projects in support of vaccine commercial expansion. Michael has served as Head of US Vaccines at GlaxoSmithKline and Senior VP/General Manager at Merck Vaccines, where he launched several new vaccines and managed the commercial operations in the US and globally. Michael has an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Patrick Stadler

Patrick is a Director at the NGO incubation program Charity Entrepreneurship and mentor to evidence-based startups. Previously, he was a political advisor for Switzerland’s economic development agency, where he participated in the negotiations on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. He also worked on strategic communications in the context of peacebuilding and mediation at the United Nations Department of Political Affairs in New York. Patrick was a co-founder and is currently chair of the board of New Incentives.

Jeffrey Paul Leniger

Jeff brings many years of nonprofit leadership and public finance expertise to New Incentives. In his prior journeys, he worked as an executive and director in youth welfare charities/NGOs such as Urban Peak, Tennyson Center for Children, and Second Wind Fund, and is a longtime individual donor at GiveWell. His personal and professional passion is building an impactful career at the most impactful organizations—his favorite phrase might be "cost-effective"! Jeff is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and contributes to audit and tax evaluation on New Incentives’ Audit Committee. He is also a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and contributes to reviewing and monitoring the organization’s anti-fraud controls. He is thrilled to provide strategic value to the New Incentives team.

Svetha Janumpalli

Svetha is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of New Incentives, an organization she started in 2011 after doing research with faculty at the Center for Effective Global Action to evaluate leading conditional cash transfer programs (CCTs). She built New Incentives, a nonprofit that provides cash incentives to increase uptake of routine immunizations, as a way to introduce the nonprofit sector to CCTs because they are among the most well-studied evidence-based development tools in the world. With her background in impact evaluation and field research, Svetha has brought together policymakers, development researchers, and NGO partners to create a scalable intervention that is now known to be one of the most cost-effective ways to save a life. Svetha has 10+ years of international development experience, was highlighted as a Changemaker by the Clinton Global Initiative, was named a Forbes "30 Under 30" Social Entrepreneur, and participated in Y Combinator's 2016 NFP (nonprofit program) batch. In 2025, she received the Park MahnHoon Award from the International Vaccine Institute and SK bioscience for her work to drive "substantial increases in vaccination coverage among underserved populations through innovative nonprofit initiatives." She has a Bachelor’s degree in Global Studies and Economics from the University of Minnesota. Svetha’s visionary and ethical leadership drives New Incentives’ ability to meet complex challenges and remain transparent, accountable, and data-driven.

Pratyush Agarwal

Prat is the Co-Founder and COO of New Incentives. Prat leverages a diverse background in business strategy, project management, and team leadership, working closely with staff members, partners, and other stakeholders to streamline processes, optimize resources, and foster a culture of continuous improvement and effectiveness. He’s played a key role in growing New Incentives team from a start-up of 10 people to over 3,000 staff today. Prior to joining New Incentives full-time in 2016, Prat worked at technology startups, helping them to achieve product-market fit, while continuing a lifelong commitment to nonprofit innovation. Born and raised in Nepal, Prat graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with a degree in Economics. While an undergraduate, he led the Student Initiative for International Development and started his first company. He participated in Y Combinator's 2016 NFP (nonprofit program) batch. For more than 10 years, he has been helping businesses and nonprofits innovatively scale. He is relentlessly passionate about driving organizational excellence and has been instrumental in growing New Incentives, which now has thousands of employees and reaches millions of infants each year.

Salina Yeung

Board of Directors

Salina is a finance professional with extensive experience in financial management and reporting, investments oversight, and financial planning and analysis. Salina is a strategic thinker and gained her diverse perspectives from working in public accounting, private industry, and investment firms and from providing volunteer services to various nonprofits. She is passionate about making the world a better place and hopes that her contributions result in a positive impact. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a Certified Financial Planner (CFP).

Michael F. Thomas

Board of Directors

Michael is a professional with more than 16 years of leadership experience in the vaccine industry and NGO sector and as a consultant and advisor. He is currently Principal at Global BioStrat, LLC, a vaccine advisory firm serving public and private organizations throughout the world. Until 2019, Michael was Director of Supply and Demand at Gavi, with responsibility for vaccine implementation and market-shaping activities. While at Gavi, he was engaged in immunization program planning and vaccine-related procurement in support of eligible low- and middle-income countries in coordination with Gavi’s alliance partners. Previously, he was Senior Managing Director at Red Team Associates, where he directed client projects in support of vaccine commercial expansion. Michael has served as Head of US Vaccines at GlaxoSmithKline and Senior VP/General Manager at Merck Vaccines, where he launched several new vaccines and managed the commercial operations in the US and globally. Michael has an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Patrick Stadler

Board of Directors

Patrick is a Director at the NGO incubation program Charity Entrepreneurship and mentor to evidence-based startups. Previously, he was a political advisor for Switzerland’s economic development agency, where he participated in the negotiations on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. He also worked on strategic communications in the context of peacebuilding and mediation at the United Nations Department of Political Affairs in New York. Patrick was a co-founder and is currently chair of the board of New Incentives.

Jeffrey Paul Leniger

Board of Directors

Jeff brings many years of nonprofit leadership and public finance expertise to New Incentives. In his prior journeys, he worked as an executive and director in youth welfare charities/NGOs such as Urban Peak, Tennyson Center for Children, and Second Wind Fund, and is a longtime individual donor at GiveWell. His personal and professional passion is building an impactful career at the most impactful organizations—his favorite phrase might be "cost-effective"! Jeff is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and contributes to audit and tax evaluation on New Incentives’ Audit Committee. He is also a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and contributes to reviewing and monitoring the organization’s anti-fraud controls. He is thrilled to provide strategic value to the New Incentives team.

Svetha Janumpalli

Board of Directors

Svetha is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of New Incentives, an organization she started in 2011 after doing research with faculty at the Center for Effective Global Action to evaluate leading conditional cash transfer programs (CCTs). She built New Incentives, a nonprofit that provides cash incentives to increase uptake of routine immunizations, as a way to introduce the nonprofit sector to CCTs because they are among the most well-studied evidence-based development tools in the world. With her background in impact evaluation and field research, Svetha has brought together policymakers, development researchers, and NGO partners to create a scalable intervention that is now known to be one of the most cost-effective ways to save a life. Svetha has 10+ years of international development experience, was highlighted as a Changemaker by the Clinton Global Initiative, was named a Forbes "30 Under 30" Social Entrepreneur, and participated in Y Combinator's 2016 NFP (nonprofit program) batch. In 2025, she received the Park MahnHoon Award from the International Vaccine Institute and SK bioscience for her work to drive "substantial increases in vaccination coverage among underserved populations through innovative nonprofit initiatives." She has a Bachelor’s degree in Global Studies and Economics from the University of Minnesota. Svetha’s visionary and ethical leadership drives New Incentives’ ability to meet complex challenges and remain transparent, accountable, and data-driven.

Pratyush Agarwal

Board of Directors

Prat is the Co-Founder and COO of New Incentives. Prat leverages a diverse background in business strategy, project management, and team leadership, working closely with staff members, partners, and other stakeholders to streamline processes, optimize resources, and foster a culture of continuous improvement and effectiveness. He’s played a key role in growing New Incentives team from a start-up of 10 people to over 3,000 staff today. Prior to joining New Incentives full-time in 2016, Prat worked at technology startups, helping them to achieve product-market fit, while continuing a lifelong commitment to nonprofit innovation. Born and raised in Nepal, Prat graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with a degree in Economics. While an undergraduate, he led the Student Initiative for International Development and started his first company. He participated in Y Combinator's 2016 NFP (nonprofit program) batch. For more than 10 years, he has been helping businesses and nonprofits innovatively scale. He is relentlessly passionate about driving organizational excellence and has been instrumental in growing New Incentives, which now has thousands of employees and reaches millions of infants each year.