Priya Venkatesh is founder director of The Naturalist School, a pioneering initiative in India that has so far upskilled over a 1000 local youth across 15 States to become Nature Guides, mainly through Govt recognised certified courses and earn a livelihood – aimed also at Conservation through formal Education and responsible Ecotourism. Priya herself, a leadership consultant with Ozone, has designed experiential Programmes for corporate leaders. Priya is a volunteer with WWF(India), she has a passion for wildlife and the outdoors and has led open groups, school children, families and corporate leaders, through various wilderness camps and nature walks.

Priya is a Master Trainer and Assessor with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. She is one of the few women from Bangalore to have crossed the Arctic and Antarctic Circles on a mission on Climate Change and Sustainability.