RAMA FOUNDATION - Key Persons


Artika Datta

Job Titles:
  • Trustee
  • Treasurer and Trustee Lead in Well Being
Artika is a Specialist Dietitian at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge. She specialises in Motor Neuron Disease and Home Enteral Nutrition. Artika has a particular interest in Palliative care and is actively involved in this field representing her Department as a palliative care champion. She has gained 5 years of experience in Head and Neck cancer. She is the departmental lead for Addenbrookes Abroad (AA), a registered charity for Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust supporting global health activity. As a Trustee of Rama Foundation and working closely with AA, Artika is actively involved in recruitment of Specialists Dietitians from Addenbrooke's hospital and Student Dietitians from the University of Hertfordshire to undertake nutrition related projects in Rishikesh (India). These projects focus on the assessment and improvement of nutrition of children from disadvantaged communities. Artika is now looking into making a valuable contribution to help improve the nutritional status and quality of life of terminally ill cancer patients.

Balbir Datta

Job Titles:
  • Our Founder
Rama Foundation was founded by Balbir Datta in 1996. An incredibly visionary individual, Balbir was hugely motivated to help disadvantaged people to fulfil their potential. Learn more about his amazing life here

Komilla Datta - Chairman

Job Titles:
  • Chairman
  • Trustee
Komilla has been teaching for the past 19 years and has been privileged to work in different roles and gain a variety of experiences. These include Head of Science, Assistant Headteacher and Deputy Headteacher. Currently she is a headteacher at a school in Bristol. She feels that her experiences in different settings and ages has given her a wealth of experience to support learners to improve their outcomes regardless of their backgrounds. She works within a challenging and diverse setting but wouldn't have it any other way! She has led on disadvantaged pupils, Science and Teaching and Learning for the past few years. As part of a team the focus has been wholly on ways to improve performance and strive to provide the same aspirations and experiences for all; equity for all. She is passionate about empowering children and creating a happy and positive place of work for staff and children.

Munish Datta

Job Titles:
  • Trustee
  • Treasurer & Trustee Lead for Property and Investments / University of Cambridge
Munish is passionate about the crucial role every sector of society - government, business, civic, individuals - must play to create a truly equitable, inclusive, sustainable world. He is Director with Specsavers Group, leading the design and delivery of its global sustainable business strategy. As a Fellow of the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership and a visiting Fellow of University of Cambridge Judge Business School, he empowers business leaders to tackle critical global challenges. Munish is Senior Independent Advisor to BNP Paribas Real Estate Investment Management, trustee of sustainable development charity, Bioregional and Governor of the Stephen Perse foundation of schoolsHis previous roles include Director at UK Green Building Council and Head of Sustainability, Marks & Spencer.

Nikin Patel

Job Titles:
  • Trustee
  • General Manager for Poshmark
  • Trustee Lead in Policy and Strategy
A leader in the technology, media and telecommunication sectors for the last 20 years, Nikin is the General Manager for Poshmark in the UK, Poshmark is the number 1 fashion re-sell marketplace in the US. In this capacity he is responsible for driving consumers to maintain the circular economy by selling fashion items to other consumers, thereby realising value for themselves whilst also reducing waste and cost to the environment. Previous to this he held other Director positions at eBay, Sky UK and Virgin Media spanning areas such as Customer Experience, Product development, Pricing and Corporate strategy. Nikin received a Masters in Chemical Engineering at Downing College, Cambridge and was awarded the title of Lifetime Scholar of Downing for his academic achievements there.

Peter Westlake

Job Titles:
  • Trustee
  • Trustee Lead in Information Technology
Peter has worked in the software industry for over 30 years, mostly in Cambridge. His experience ranges from the development of fourth generation languages to work in build systems and test automation. He did IT support for the Shelter Centre, an NGO advising on settlement and reconstruction after disasters, when it was based in Cambridge. He has been a group leader with the Woodcraft Folk (a movement for children and young people, rather like the Scouts) and is currently an active Greenpeace volunteer.

Priyanka Patel

Job Titles:
  • Trustee
  • Trustee Lead in Health
M.A. in Biological Anthropology, Girton College, University of Cambridge 1999 Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBchir), School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge 2002 Diploma of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (DRCOG) 2005 MRCGP (Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners) 2006 Diploma in Child Health (DCH) 2006 Diploma in Practical Dermatology (DPD) 2008 Diploma of the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (DFSRH) 2008 Letters of Competence in Intrauterine & Subdermal Contraceptive Implant Techniques 2008 From February 2006 until October 2012, Priyanka was a General Practitioner at a Medical Practice in Greenwich, London. Priyanka's main interest is now women's health and she is currently undergoing a six year consultant grade training programme in Sexual and Reproductive Health (Community Gynaecology) which she hopes will also allow her to build a skill set to help improve family planning and women's health in developing countries. She has always been actively involved in charity activities from schooling to university. In 1999, she was the placement organiser and Team Leader of a group of university students who worked during the summer in DRI's 500 Villages Development Project at Chitrakoot, India. She has also held the position of Chairperson of an Indian Cultural Show Committee at the University of Cambridge that was responsible for raising significant funds for charitable initiatives in India.