Dr.Philip Armstrong Ph.D., is a world-renowned presenter, educator, and leader in the Mental Health community. He is also well known for his work as the Secretary-General of Asia Pacific Confederation of Counsellors. His expertise in Supervision has been recognized throughout the Asia Pacific Rim theatre where many peak bodies have adopted his RISE UP model as their preferred program
In Australia, Dr.Armstrong’s Supervision training program is undertaken by Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Psychotherapists, Counsellors, Social Workers, Welfare Workers, General Practitioners, Physiotherapists, and Occupational Therapists. Dr.Armstrong’s textbook “The Practice of Counselling and Clinical Supervision” is the highest selling Supervision text in the Asia Pacific. Dr.Armstrong has also published a textbook on counselling and a best-selling text on marketing for private practitioners. Dr.Armstrong is also sought after by many professional bodies for consultancy work in developing Mental Health services and establishing counselling services. Dr.Armstrong is also the recipient of the Defence Force Medal, Defence Force Service Medal and Australian Service Medal (SE Asia bar) from his time in the Australian Army.
Dr.Anirudh Rajkumar
MBBS 2005-2011 SRMC, Chennai
DNB general surgery 2013-2016 Billroth Hospitals, Chennai
MRCS April 2014. One of the youngest members of the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh
Have been working with Prof. J.S Rajkumar for nearly 6 years now.
An advanced laparoscopic surgeon with a large volume of Upper Gastrointestinal surgeries, Obesity and metabolic surgeries, general laparoscopic surgeries such as Cholecystectomy, appendectomy, hernia repairs, adhesion release and also abdominal Cancer surgeries. One of the youngest advanced laparoscopic surgeons in the world, having done over 2000 laparoscopic surgeries before the age of 30 years. One of the faculty in an advanced laparoscopic surgery training program called MISTI, having trained over 300 surgeons and gynecologists. Have over 20 publications in scientific research journals in surgery.
Also a part-time playback singer, and a fitness enthusiast.
Dr. Aparna Joshi is an Assistant Professor at the School of Human Ecology, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) Mumbai, since 2010.
She holds a Master’s degree in Applied Psychology from the University of Pune, a Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling from MIMH, Sasoon Hospitals in Pune, and a PhD from TISS. She has also received further training in Couple and family Therapy, Narrative therapy, Supervision in psychotherapy and Leadership in Mental Health.
At TISS, her teaching, research, and outreach work simultaneously engages with individual mental health experiences and the societal and structural factors that shape them. Through her work, she aims to effectively connect academic knowledge with practical, real-life applications.
Many of her projects are commissioned or supported by national and international organisations, including state governments, the Indian Council of Medical Research, Mariwala Health Initiative, UN organisations such as UNFPA, UNICEF, UNDP, and IOM and international organisations such as Meta and Zoomcares Foundation. Additionally, she has served as an advisor and a task force member to non-governmental, state, and international organisations on themes related to technology-assisted mental health initiatives, youth mental health, gender-based violence, couple and family wellbeing, and suicide and self-harm prevention. She is also actively involved in designing curricula and building the capacities of mental health practitioners and helping professionals.
Besides her academic and research work, she leads two field action projects at TISS: iCALL and Sukoon
Dr. Devasena Desai
Associate Director, Kaveri Counselling, Empowerment and Gifted Center,
Pune, India
Dr. Devasena Desai is the Associate Director of the Kaveri Group of Institutes’ Kaveri Counselling, Empowerment and Gifted Center (KCEGC) in Pune, India. A clinical psychologist with nearly three decades of experience, she has worked extensively with high-ability children, adolescents, adults and families, and has trained educators and counsellors across India in understanding giftedness, gifted education and counselling.
Her work focuses on counselling, parenting, and research. She has developed indigenous models for nurturing giftedness within the Indian sociocultural context. She has led and established systems for school counselling for KGI schools, promoting the holistic well-being of all stakeholders, including students, teachers, parents and support staff. Her research interests include gifted identification, education, and counselling practices.She has co-authored several books, including Understanding Psychological Assessments (Sage), The Lovable Enigma: Teen Parenting, For God’s Sake, Try Staying in a Relationship, and Nurturing Buddhimaan Children – A Practitioner’s Guide, as well as Giftedness: An Awareness Booklet published by Mensa India. She has also contributed to assessment development through her coordination of the Indian Child Intelligence Test adaptation for the Indian Council for Child Welfare.
Dr. Desai serves as India’s Coordinator for the European Talent Support Network (ETSN) and sits on the editorial board of Springer’s Advancing Inclusive and Special Education in the Asia Pacific series and the Indian Academy of Professional Supervisors. She was an Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Iowa (2018–2024) and has received distinctions including a Belin-Blank Center fellowship, an ICASSI scholarship, and Utrecht University research support. Her international engagement includes several invited presentations across Europe and Asia.
As a key organiser of two major international conferences on giftedness in India, she continues to shape national dialogue on gifted education and school-based mental health. Her contributions have strengthened counselling systems and gifted-education practices across KGI schools, including the development of socio-emotional modules and school-based frameworks for identifying and nurturing high-potential learners.
