“Understand me. I’m not like an ordinary world. I have my madness, I live in another dimension and I do not have time for things that have no soul.”
– Charles Bukowski
Conscious Living Coach • Conservation Biologist • Spiritual Ecologist
FOUNDING & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Protecterra Ecological Foundation (PEF), Pune, India
- Dedicated to creating a global society that respects nature, practices sustainability and comes together in solidarity to protect Terra.
The Farm, Pune, India
- A physical space for leadership, compassion, conscious living and sustainability with the core vision of love, awareness and learning.
FOUNDING PARTNER & PROPRIETOR (December 2012 – May 2015)
…Journeys: Explore the Road Less Taken, Pune, India
VISITING FACULTY PROFESSOR, MENTOR, PANELIST & COACH
- 2019 – 2020: FLAME – Introduction to Environmental Studies (Undergraduate)
- 2020: School for Change Makers UK Panelist (IoFC UK and IoFC India Partnership)
- 2019 – 2020: MUWCI – Lead Facilitator for Youth in Environment and Sustainability
- 2014 – 2020: Symbiosis College of Commerce – Dissolve your Boundaries, Cutting Edge Communication & Value Education (Undergraduate)
- 2018 – PVP College of Architecture: Dissolving Boundaries One Earth (PGLA)
- 2016 – 2018: SCMC – Global Environmental Challenges (Undergraduate)
- 2017 – 2018: Asia Pacific Youth Conference Panelist
- 2016 – 2018: Global Citizen Year – Student Mentor and Panelist
- 2010 – 2017: MIT-ISBJ – Environmental Journalism (Undergraduate & PG Diploma)
- 2016 – 2017: Seed InfoTech – Life Skills
- 2016 – 2017: KRIXI Solutions and Ideas – Life Skills and Untraining
- 2013: Alliance for Global Education – Environmental Perspectives in India
- 2011– 2014: Vidyanchal High School – Environmental Sciences (Grades 5 to 9)
- 2012: Banyan Tree International School – Environmental Sciences (Grades 1 to 6)
- 2011: University of Pune – Environmental Sciences (MSc)
March 2011 – April 2011: Student Placement by invitation (sponsored)
Shamwari Game Reserve, Eastern Cape, South Africa
March 2008 – July 2009: CONSERVATION OFFICER
Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI), Delhi, India.
September 2004 – August 2005: JUNIOR RESEARCHER
Sanctuary-Asia Wildlife Magazine India and Maharashtra State Forest Department at the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Mumbai.
June 2003 – July 2003: ASSISTANT TEACHER
Langdon High School on University of East London Higher Education Programme, London, UK
VOLUNTARY WORK
Pune Snake Park (Animal orphanage & rescue centre run by Indian Herpetological Society)
Elephant Family, Trunks meet Trunks Event, London, UK
QUALIFICATIONS and CERTIFICATIONS
- MSc Conservation, University College London, UK (2006 – 2008)
- BSc (Honours) Animal Biology and Conservation with Sandwich Placement, University of East London, UK (2002 – 2006)
- Award of Appreciation: One Step Foundation Pune (2018)
- Certification: National Federations Neuro Linguistic Programming (2015 – 2016)
- Award Nominee: British Alumni Awards: Social Impact (2015)
- Certification: Telepathic Animal Communication (2015)
- Certification: Executive Leadership for Young Adults (2014)
- Certification: South Africa Travel Expert ‘Fundie’ (2014)
- Certification: Level II Reiki (2011 – 2012)
- Certification: Level 1 Basketball Coach, England Basketball (2004)
INDEPENDENT WORK, STUDY AND RESEARCH
- 2019 – 2020 Committee Member Rugby India (IRFU)
- 2015 – 2020 Resource Person for State Forest Department
- 2011 – 2020 Visiting Member and Associate Scholar for several organisations and colleges across India
- 2008 – 2020 Vice President of the PCMC Shuttlers’ Badminton Association
- 2008 – 2009 Assistant to UK PhD student on a socio-economic study of Kela Devi National Park, Rajasthan, India
- 2001 – 2003 Independently designed and executed study on behaviour of selected tigers and gathered ecological/behavioural data in relation to tigers at the Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh, India
- 1998 – 2008 Coached basketball in the UK and India
PERSONAL INTERESTS
- Meditation, Spirituality, Meta Physics & Esoterics
- Sustainable, Holistic & Conscious Living Concepts
- Offbeat Travelling
- Represented Maharashtra Rugby, Basketball, Skating & Athletics, District Badminton
Pooja is undoubtedly one of the most wild and free souls you will meet, she is real and walks her talk. Hear her story at The Farm Speaks.
