Fostering Cross-Regional Collaboration
On June 11, 2025, GRÓ GEST alumni Saahithiyanan Ganeshanathan (Sri Lanka) and Akhil Neelam (India) brought together Colombo’s gender equality advocates, researchers, policymakers, and civil society leaders for a Gender and Policy Mixer — a dynamic event that marked the beginning of a powerful cross-regional collaboration between their respective initiatives.
Saahithiyanan Ganeshanathan introduces the event
Co-hosted by the Social Impact Forum (founded by Saahithiyanan) and Centre for Gender and Politics (co-founded by Akhil), the event created a space for knowledge exchange and networking among gender and policy professionals. Participants engaged in interdisciplinary dialogue, built new connections, and explored pathways for collaborative advocacy.
The mixer featured creative icebreakers and breakout sessions that enabled participants to strengthen networks, share lived experiences, and reflect on their role in shaping more inclusive policy ecosystems. In line with GRÓ GEST’s mission, the event emphasized the importance of inclusive leadership and allyship, particularly the role of men and gender-diverse individuals in advancing gender equality.
Participants engaged in conversation
Key outcomes included enhanced visibility for women’s political leadership initiatives, the seeding of new research collaborations, and the cross-pollination of ideas between academia, civil society, and the policy sector.
This collaboration between two GRÓ GEST 2023 alumni exemplifies the kind of alumni engagement and cross-regional partnership the GRÓ GEST Alumni Strategy 2023-2025 seeks to foster. As outlined in the strategy, the long-term goal is to nurture a sustainable, global alumni network that serves as a platform for shared learning, mutual support, and joint action in advancing gender equality.
We are proud to see alumni take initiative in co-creating spaces like this — spaces that not only reflect the training and solidarity forged in Iceland, but also adapt to local and regional contexts with innovation and purpose.
The GRÓ GEST team looks forward to continued dialogue with Saahithiyanan and Akhil as their partnership evolves, and we are excited to explore how we can support and be part of their journey in building stronger movements for gender justice across South Asia and beyond.