Community Conversation
with Farooq Mitha
Niki Shah
Co Chair
Niki Shah is a Master of Science candidate in the Sustainability Management program (SUMA) at Columbia University where he is building his expertise in sustainable investing and ESG and policy. In his professional capacity, Niki has worked with civil society, governments and corporations to bring sustainable solutions to social and environmental challenges, such as: public health, education, environment and financial inclusion.
For example, he served as an AmeriCorps VISTA to solve challenges faced by low-income and refugee communities in the United States and then as a UN Volunteer for the UN Global Compact to build corporate-social enterprise partnerships in India. Prior to that, he worked with Yes Bank on corporate sustainability and has served on the House Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health. He has also co-authored a report on internet rights for a European Union funded program on Freedom of Expression in India.
Niki holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Economics and a Master of Science in Global Affairs from Rutgers University. At Columbia University, he holds leadership positions with the Columbia Sustainable Finance Professional Network, Sustainability Management Consulting Club, and Member of the Transportation Working Group. In his spare time, he loves reading, watching movies, meeting new people, travelling and adventure.
Arun Bantval
Co Chair, Outreach and Chair, Rapid Response
Arun Bantval is Co-Chair for the South Asians for Biden Outreach Team and Chair of the Rapid Response Team. Arun has been a resident of New Jersey for the past 32 years. He is a seasoned Information Technology professional, specializing in Healthcare and Patient Management solutions for the elderly and chronically ill.
Currently, he works as the Co-Founder and President of a healthcare startup that uses innovative technology and human intervention to improve quality of care while reducing the overall cost of care for affected groups. Previously, he has worked with many large multi-national organizations at leadership levels in IT, health sciences, population health management, pharmaceutical, and medical device verticals.
Arun has always been a strong believer in giving back to the community. Outside of his work, he is an active volunteer for causes pertaining to STEM education, environment, senior welfare, and population health. He is proud to volunteer with his daughter as EMTs in his town’s rescue squad.
Intashan Chowdhury, MPA
Team Member
One of the youngest in the State of New Jersey to ever do so, Intashan Chowdhury currently serves as the Borough Administrator and as the right hand advisor to Mayor Mohamed T. Khairullah (the longest serving Arab and Muslim elected official in NJ) of the Borough of Prospect Park, NJ which niched in the heart of Passaic County.
For the past four years, Intashan has worked his way to become instrumental in local government, assisting Mayor Khairullah oversee and manage day-to-day municipal operations, policy development and serve as a conduit between the mayor, borough council and departmental personnel ensuring proper and efficient administration of all Borough affairs for the residents of the Prospect Park community.
Intashan graduated with Summa Cum Laude honors from Rutgers University School of Public Affairs and Administration in 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration and minors in Political Science. He later armed himself with a Master’s degree in Public Administration (MPA) from dual degree program in Rutgers SPAA with his capstone research being on the efficiency of shared services in local government.
As a student, Intashan garnered experience in the various levels of government, interning for U.S. Senator Cory Booker, 33rd District NJ Assemblyman Raj Mukherji, and Passaic County Freeholder John W. Bartlett. Through a scholarship from the Eagleton Institute of Politics, he then went on to become a Public Policy Fellow for the County of Montgomery, Maryland in the Department of Technology Services where he authored a white paper on Wi-Fi on public buses and camera technology on snow plows, drafted materials to update the ultraMontgomeryprogram/website, assisted in creating a broadband economic development speaker series and helped expand enrollment in Comcast’s Internet Essentials program through effective research.
Inspired by his mentor and former high school teacher,Mayor Khairullah’s mantra “Act Locally, Think Globally,” Intashan has developed a passion for education, philanthropy, and socio-economic justice in the public policy arena. Intashan has been featured in various media outlets for his work including ranking in the top 50 of the InsiderNJ’s 2018 and 2019 Insider 100: Millennials, Tapinto, and participating in the New Jersey Leadership Program’s Politics and Spice podcast.
Intashan is also a proud member of Alpha Phi Delta Fraternity, Incorporated, and Pi Alpha Alpha Public Administration Honor Society. Intashan also holds numerous positions in organizations such as New Leaders Council - NJ, Passaic County Young Democrats, and ALI Leadership Institute.
A son of Bangladeshi-American immigrants, Intashan's parents traveled to the United States to pave the way for his future cultivated by family values and education. Intashan grew up in the public schools system, attended Passaic County Technical Institute where he became a certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). A proud product of Paterson, New Jersey, Intashan represents the rise of Bengali influence in government, In his spare time, Intashan likes to volunteer, follow current events, enjoy sports by cheering on his New England Patriots, and spend time with his loved ones.
Bianca Shah
Team Member
Bianca Shah is on the South Asians for Biden Outreach team, conducting collegiate outreach. Bianca was born and raised in Maryland and is currently a junior at the University of Michigan. She is in the Ford School of Public Policy and is minoring in business. Bianca is currently interning in the Center for Public Health Policy at the American Public Health Association.
She has been consistently involved in politics through volunteering on campaigns, serving as Student Member of the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee, and interning in Congressman Jamie Raskin's district office. Bianca was also a legislative intern in the Summer of 2019 for the late Congressman Elijah Cummings. At the University of Michigan, she is on the community outreach and activism committee for the Prison Birth Project and serves as V.P Outreach for Michigan Political Consulting.
Sunil Mahat
Team Member
Sunil is a US veteran and former military Officer (Captain), who served several years active duty in the US Army in various ranks and leadership positions including operations officer, platoon leader, team leader, and cultural analysts. After leaving military service, Sunil worked in private sector for over three years as a manager in a Fortune 500 company. Currently, Sunil is a Board Member in Queens Borough Community Board, New York City. Sunil also serves as Board of Director in Engage Nepal Foundation.
Sunil is also one of the veteran advocates in New York City. In his nearly 10 years of leadership and management experiences, Sunil has humbling experience of successfully leading teams that comprised over 50 personnel, managing projects, properties, and inventories valued over 12 million dollars.\
Sunil has received several military awards and decorations for his leadership and excellence while in service as well as two awards for academic excellence while in college. Sunil has Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) and Bachelors of Science in Multidisciplinary Studies-both from Liberty University, Virginia, USA and Associate of Arts from Seminole State College of Florida, USA. Sunil is also licensed in New York state real estate sales. In his spare time, Sunil loves to travel and visit new places, meet new people, participate in community programs and events, watch movies, and spend time with family.
Hira Shaikh
Team Member
Hira is currently a Senior Associate at Kivvit, a national public affairs firm, where she manages and executes public affairs campaigns. She has experience in paid media advertising, strategic communications, and campaign management. She has worked on public affairs campaigns spanning the issues of transportation, infrastructure, public health, and higher education.
Prior to this, Hira interned at the Office of the Governor of New Jersey, served as the Secretary-General of Rutgers University Model United Nations 2015, and conducted undergraduate research at the Center for American Women and Politics.
Hira is an alumna of Douglass Residential College and the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University. She currently resides in New Jersey.