Personal Resumé(Long Version)
Sister Jayanti is the Additional Administrative Head of The Brahma Kumaris, the world’s largest spiritual organisation to be led by women. She is a spiritual teacher, much sought after international public speaker, author and a visionary leader guided by spiritual values and principles.
Sister Jayanti embodies a unique blend of Eastern wisdom and Western education and culture; imparting the deepest spiritual truths with the utmost clarity. Her prominent speaking themes include leadership, environment & climate change, women´s empowerment; health & well-being, racial harmony, interreligious friendship and global peace.
In these critical times in which humanity is facing up to the challenges of change, her message invites each of us to embody a positive vision of a brighter world. Her spiritual knowledge, inner peace and radiant love have inspired millions across the globe to empower themselves to make changes to their lives.
The Brahma Kumaris is an international non-governmental organisation (NGO) of the United Nations, accredited with General Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Sister Jayanti has been the organisation's representative to the UN in Geneva since 1982. She has championed the co-operative role of spiritual organisations in creating a just and peaceful world; and has brought spiritual principles to the discussion tables of politicians, economists, business leaders, scientists and nearly every stakeholder of our times.
She spends a proportion of her year at the International Headquarters of The Brahma Kumaris at Mt Abu, Rajasthan, India. She is otherwise based in London at the International Coordinating Office, Global Co-operation House, UK, where she is the Regional Director for Europe and the Middle East and the CEO for The Brahma Kumaris UK.
Some Key Global Speaking Engagements (2020 onwards)
Leadership
- Towards a loving world, leadership and governance for well-being.Organised by Spirit of Humanity Forum. ONLINE. Speaker with Peggy Dulany (founder and chair, Synergos, USA) and Kelly James Clark (distinguished professor of philosophy, Ibn Haldun University, Istanbul, Turkey).
- Leading from within.ONLINE. Panellist with Emmeline Verzosa (feminist; former director, Philippine Commission on Women, Philippines) and Rosalyn Mesina (country programme manager, WeEmpowerAsia, Philippines).
- Future thinking for a world re-imagined.Alumni relations. Organised by Brahma Kumaris (USA) and Northeastern University of Boston, USA. ONLINE. Speaker with Veronica McHugh (co-ordinator, Brahma Kumaris, Florida, USA).
- Feminine and indigenous leadership for a sustainable world.COP26. Speaker with Lokine Rodriguez Fernandez (co-founder, Grupo Confluencias; senior lecturer, University of East Anglia, UK) and Lisa Plattner (Climate and Energy Policy Adviser, WWF International, Vienna, Austria).
- Feminine leadership in times of climate emergency.COP26. Organised by the Institute of Advanced Sustainability Studies. Scottish Event Campus, Glasgow, UK. Dialogue with Carolin Fraude (Researcher, IASS, Potsdam, Germany) and Lisa Plattner (Climate and Energy Policy Adviser, WWF International, Vienna, Austria).
- Turning the tide.World Values Day. Organised by Brahma Kumaris, UK Values Alliance and World Values Day. ONLINE. Panellist with Andria Zafirakou MBE (art and textiles teacher, Alperton, London; culture leader, World Economic Forum; member, WEF's Global Future Leaders Council) and Sir Anthony Seldon (historian, educationalist, commentator and political author; former head, Brighton College and Wellington College; former vice-chancellor, University of Buckingham; co-founder, Action for Happiness; president, International Positive Education Network).
- Triumph of principle and vision - living the legacy of Mandela and Dadi Janki.Organised by Brahma Kumaris (South Africa). ONLINE. Speaker with Ryland Fisher (editor, author, journalist, senior manager and executive in the media industry, South Africa).
Meditation & Consciousness
- Ancient wisdom, modern solutions.The Nehru Centre, London, UK and ONLINE. With Amish Tripathi (Director, The Nehru Centre) and author, interviewed by Philippa Blackham (interfaith minister, journalist and radio producer, UK).
- Interview: A meeting of meditative minds.Interviewer and article by Sarah Marinos, Australia. With
Mr Bob Carr (former premier, NSW) and Sister Jayanti. - Interview: The soul and the self.On “Soul Search” with Dr Meredith Lake (historian of religion and
broadcaster) Australian Broadcasting Corporation Sydney, Australia. - Discovering yourself.ONLINE. Speaker with Dr Vandana Shiva (author, social worker and environmentalist, India), Sheela Kakade (president, All India Women's Conference, India), Shruti Saxena (head of marketing technology, Citizens Financial Group, USA), Deepika Jindal (managing director, JSL Lifestyle Ltd, India), Priya Kaushal (special envoy, World Humanity Commission, USA) and others.
- The role of consciousness in transformation: women leading the way.The Commission of the Status of Women Forum. ONLINE. Panellist with Karen O'Brien (professor, University of Oslo; co-founder, cCHANGE, Norway), Lisa Reefke (senior political affairs officer, UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, USA) and Sbongile Nkosi (co-executive director, Global Network for People Living with AIDS, South Africa).
- Interview. Nation wants to know.Organised by Republic TV. ONLINE. Interviewed by Arrnab Goswami (editor-in-chief, Republic TV, India).
- Seeing light through the dark: exploring the light of generosity, prosperity and spirit (GPS).Organised by The Brahma Kumaris. ONLINE. Discussion with Kiran Mani (managing director, Google, Singapore).
- Consciousness: spiritual perspective. Concepts of consciousness - neuroscience and Indian philosophical perspective. Organised by Centre for Consciousness Studies (NIMHANS) in collaboration with Indian Council for Philosophical Research. ONLINE. Speaker, chaired by Dr TN Sathyaprapbha (prof and head, Department of Neurophysiology, NIMHANS, India) and Dr Laxmi T Rao (prof, Department of Neurophysiology, NIMHANS, India).
- Essential divinity. National Interfaith Week.Organised by Brahma Kumaris. ONLINE. Speaker with Rogers Govender (dean, Manchester Cathedral), Marcus Braybrooke (joint president, World Congress of Faiths) and Monawar Hussain (imam, Eton College).
- Shaping peace together. UN Peace Day. Organised by Calm in the City (Melbourne, Australia). ONLINE. Panellist with Rabbanit Ellyse Borghi (Shira Hadasha, Melbourne), Rev Albert (Bhakta Dasa) Lange (chairperson, Faith Communities Council of Victoria), Dr Ruth Gawler (GP; meditation teacher), Charlie Hogg (director, Brahma Kumaris, Australia), Bishop Philip Huggins (president, National Council of Churches, Australia), Dr Mohamed Mohideen OAM (president, Islamic Council of Victoria), Asher Packman (president, Meditation Australia), Victor Perton (chief optimism officer, The Centre for Optimism), Dr Tami Roos (founder, Love Your Mind), Rachel Shields (founder, Knowing in Nature), Jasbir Singh Suropada (chairman, Sikh Interfaith Council Victoria), Reverend Ian Smith (executive officer, Victorian Council of Churches), Venerable Chi Kwang Sunim (abbess, The Kinglake Seon Centre), Mojgan Tosif (external affairs representative, Baha'i Community of Victoria).
- The spiritual consciousness to have at this time to work together better and deal with the critical human rights and environmental situation. Human Rights, Ethics and Climate Change. Organised by Geneva Interfaith Forum for Climate Change, Environment and Human Rights. ONLINE. Panellist with Yves Lador (representative, Earthjustice, Switzerland), Tetet Nera-Lauron (adviser, Rosa Luxembourg Stiftung, Philippines), Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim (co-ordinator, Association of Peul Women and Autochthonous Peoples of Chad, Chad) and Yeb Saño (executive director, Greenpeace Southeast Asia, Philippines).
- Meditating for the planet. Shine your light - concert for World Earth Day. Organised by Ricky Kej with support from WWF, WHO, UNCCD, UNESCO-MGEIP and UNICEF. ONLINE. Meditation leader.
Environment & Climate Change
- Q&A.Organised by Deep Adaptation Forum. ONLINE. Interviewed by Dr Jem Bendell (professor, University of Cumbria; founder, Deep Adaptation Forum, UK).
- Climate justice.COP26. Organised by Christian Aid and Make COP Count. Glasgow, UK. Panellist with Alton P. Bell (pastor, Wembley Church, UK) and Lowell Bliss (director, Eden Vigil, USA). Speaker with Prof Dr Mark Lawrence (managing scientific director, Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies, Potsdam, Germany) and Joachim Golo Pilz (energy adviser, Brahma Kumaris, India).
- Healthy minds, healthy planet.COP26. Glasgow, UK. Dr David Hamilton (writer, columnist and kindness scientist, UK) and Joachim Golo Pilz (energy adviser, Brahma Kumaris, India).
- Human rights and ethics in the field of adaptation and resilience: building trust.COP26. Organised by Interfaith Liaison Committee to the UNFCCC. Albany Centre, Glasgow, UK. Speaker with Lindsey Fielder Cook (representative for climate change, Quaker UN Office, Bonn, Germany), Iemaima Jennifer Vaa'i (ecumenical enabler for ecological stewardship and climate justice, Pacific Conference of Churches, Fiji), Athena Peralta (programme executive for economic and ecological justice, World Council of Churches, Philippines/Switzerland), Yeb Sano (executive director, Greenpeace, Philippines) and Natan de Oliviera Schumann (member, Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession, Brazil).
- Ethics and values in the environment. Faith for Nature: Multi-Faith Action.Organised by the Government of Iceland, UNEP and Religions for Peace. ONLINE. Speaker.
- Planet and profit can co-exist. Sustainable Development Goals.Organised by Global E-Summit (India). ONLINE. Keynote speaker.
- Small island, indigenous, youth and faith perspectives. Establishing climate change as a human rights issue.Organised by Geneva Interfaith Forum for Climate Change, Environment and Human Rights. ONLINE. Panellist with Rev James Bhagwan (general secretary, Pacific Conference of Churches, Fiji), Didier Georges (counselor, Haiti's Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva, Haiti), Hindou Imarou Ibrahim (co-ordinator, Association of Peul Women and Autochthonous Peoples of Chad, Chad), Yves Lador (representative, Earthjustice, Switzerland), Aldonna Purba (youth representative, Lutheran World Federation, Indonesia).
- Making choices that care for ourselves and the planet. Living the change.Organised by Brahma Kumaris in collaboration with Faith for the Climate. ONLINE. In conversation with Canon Giles Goddard (chairperson, Faith for the Climate; vicar, St John's Church, Waterloo, UK) and Prof Dr Mark Lawrence (scientific director, Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies, Potsdam, Germany).
- Interview.ION TV (Sky 782) ONLINE. Interviewed by Manish Tiwari (founder and managing director, Here&Now365, London).
- Flourishing futures - nourishing biodiversity now. World Environment Day. ONLINE. Panellist with Dr Martin Frick (senior director, Policy and Programme Co-ordination, UNFCC, Germany), Jyoti Mathur Filipp (director, UN Convention on Biological Diversity, Canada) and Teresa Oberhauser (focal point, UNEP MGCY, Netherlands).
Women's Empowerment
- Leading from within: a conversation for contemporary women leaders.Organised by The Brahma Kumaris. The Hilton, Sydney, AUSTRALIA. With Rachael Kohn (AO, FRNS, producer and broadcaster).
- Feminine power, powerful change.The Nehru Centre, London, UK and ONLINE. With Amish Tripathi (director, The Nehru Centre) and author and Anita Rani (presenter, BBC Countryfile), interviewed by Philippa Blackham (interfaith minister, journalist and radio producer, UK).
- Role of women in values-based leadership.International Women's Day. ONLINE. Speaker with HE BN Reddy (Indian High Commissioner to Malaysia) and Madam Taslima Sarwar (wife of Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner to Malaysia).
- Visionary leadership and the qualities of the feminine.International Women's Day: empowering women - empowering humanity. Organised by Healing Our Earth. ONLINE. With Margarita Penón (politician; on board of directors, Central American Bank for Economic Integration, Costa Rica) interviewed by Philippa Blackham (interfaith minister, journalist and radio producer, UK).
- Peacebuilding: women making a difference.Parliament of the World's Religions. Organised by Buddhist Tzu Chi Charity Foundation. ONLINE. Panellist with Jude Currivan (co-founder, WholeWorld-View, UK), Shih De Huang (dharma master, Tzu Chi Foundation, Taiwan) and Denise Scotto (chair, International Day of Yoga Committee at the UN; founder, International Federation of Women in Legal Careers, USA).
- Women as peacemakers.Parliament of the World's Religions. Organised by Denise Scotto. ONLINE. Speaker with Denise Scotto (chair, International Day of Yoga Committee at the UN; founder, International Federation of Women in Legal Careers, USA).
- 1325, 20 Years After: Women-Peace-Security.Organised by Palestine-Israel Journal in co-operation with The Canaan Project and the Federal Foreign Office of Germany. ONLINE. Speaker with Prof Naomi Chazan (prof. emerita of political science, Hebrew University of Jerusalem; former deputy speaker, the Knesset, Israel), Huda Abuarquob (regional director, Alliance for Middle East Peace, Palestine), Karin Nordmeyer (president, UN Women National Committee, Germany), Prof Frances Raday (president, Concord Research Center for Integration of International Law; former rapporteur, UN Human Rights Council, Israel) and Nivine Sandouka (executive director, Our Rights - Hoqoqona, Israel).
- Emerging Shakti for current times.ONLINE. Panellist with Margarita Penón (politician; on board of directors, Central American Bank for Economic Integration, Costa Rica) and Zanele Mbeki (social worker; founder, Women's Development Bank, South Africa).
Health & Well-being
- Hope and resilience: the need of the hour.Organised by The Brahma Kumaris. The Hilton, Sydney, AUSTRALIA. With the Hon Michael Kirby (former puisne justice, High Court of Australia).
- Healing a World in Crisis: Leading with authenticity and love.Organised by the Spirit of Humanity Forum, Hveragerdi, Iceland. Lead Speaker with Einat Bronstein (international lead trainer, Internal Family Systems; co-founder & co-director, Israeli Institute of IFS, Israel), Paul Ginter (psychologist; clinical director, IFS Telehealth Collective, USA), Arawana Hayashi (founding member, Presencing Institute, USA), David Less (senior teacher, Sufi Order International; international head, Universal Worship; co-director, Rising Tide International, USA) and Manish Srivastava (senior practitioner, Presencing Institute, India).
- Dealing with difficult emotions.Science & Psychology meet Spirituality Conference, Berlin Germany. Organised by Spirit of Humanity Forum and The Brahma Kumaris. Speaker with Dr Martin Frick (director, World Food Program Office for Germany, Austria and Liechtenstein, Germany) and Prof Tania Singer (head of Social Neuroscience Lab, Max Planck Institute, Germany).
- Build inner resilience, empower your life.Organised by The Brahma Kumaris. Wesley Convention Centre, Sydney, AUSTRALIA. Facilitated by Prof Kim Cunio (head, School of Music, Australian
National University). - The turning point for optimism.Organised by The Centre for Optimism. Parliament House,
Melbourne, AUSTRALIA. Hosted by Victor Perton (founder & CEO, The Centre for Optimism). - Mind-body matters. Super Human Summit. Organised by Being More Human. ONLINE. Speaker with others.
- Meditation for medics.Global Co-operation House, London, UK. Speaker with Prof Prakash Punjabi (consultant cardiothoracic surgeon, Hammersmith Hospital), Sarah Eagger (chair, Janki Foundation for Spirituality in Healthcare), Dr Sangeeta Punjabi (consultant dermatologist, Northwick Park Hospital) and Sister Sudesh (European director, Brahma Kumaris).
- Honouring life - hope, purpose and newness.Organised by Janki Foundation. ONLINE. Speaker with Deacon Jan Sutton (chaplain, Loughborough University, UK) and Dr Sarah Eagger (chair, Janki Foundation for Spirituality in Healthcare, UK).
- Health in mind. Health knows no boundaries - Let's seek what unites us. Organised by World Health Congress. ONLINE. Speaker with Tomas Pfeiffer (founder, Institute for TCIM/CAM, Czech Republic), Prof Dr Suresh Swarrnapuri (executive director, Association Ayurveda Academy-London, UK), Prof Dr Anna Strunecka (educationalist, researcher, publicist and author, Czech Republic) and Stephan Hein (holistic health and well-being practitioner, Hale Clinic, UK).
- Everything is going to be okay.ONLINE. Conversation with Dr Ingrid Honkala (marine scientist, author and light worker, USA).
- Honouring life - facing the effects of the loss of loved ones.ONLINE. Conversation with Deacon Jan Sutton (Methodist minister and Head of Chaplaincy, Loughborough University).
- Spiritual challenges of Corona.Organised by Elijah Interfaith Institute. ONLINE. Interviewed by Rabbi Alon Goshen-Gottstein (founder/director, Elijah Interfaith Institute, Jerusalem, Israel).
- Harnessing your potential in the midst of crisis.Mindful Joy Online Summit. Organised by Mindful Joy Summit. ONLINE. Speaker with others.
- Ask the Masters - solutions to everyday problems.Organised by Mystics of India. ONLINE. In conversation with Yogini Shiloka (Ayurvedic/Yogic nutritionist, diet and lifestyle expert) and Dr Nidhi Kumar (celebrity show host).
- Inner stability - safety - support in difficult times.Organised by Brahma Kumaris. ONLINE. Speaker with Sir Peter Fahy (former chief constable, Greater Manchester Police).
- Spirituality in society.ONLINE. Speaker with Richard Barrett (author; president, Barrett Academy for the Advancement of Human Values; founder, Barrett Values Centre; fellow, World Business Academy; former values co-ordinator, World Bank, USA).
Interreligious Friendship
- Meditation and peacebuilding: learnings and opportunities.Organised by Meditation Australia in partnership with the Monash Centre for Consciousness & Contemplative Studies (M3CS). Trinity College, Melbourne, AUSTRALIA and ONLINE. Forum with Prof Craig Hassed (OAM) and Bishop
Philip Huggins; and facilitated by Asher Packham (president, Meditation Australia). - Women's leadership in troubled times: a dialogue across culture and religion.Organised by The Brahma Kumaris, Canberra, AUSTRALIA. With Prof Karima Laachir (director, Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies, Australian National University) and Prof Kim Rubenstein (University of Canberra); facilitated by Rev Dr Stephanie Dowrick (writer, interfaith minister and social activist).
- Interview: The compassion network.Organised by The Compassion network and The Brahma Kumaris. Melbourne, AUSTRALIA. With Anglican Bishop Philip Huggins.
- Faith in action: only one earth.Faith for Earth Dialogue. Organised by UNEP. ONLINE. Panellist with Karen O'Brien (professor, University of Oslo; co-founder, CHANGE, Norway), Lisa Reefke (senior political affairs officer, UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, USA) and Sbongile Nkosi (co-executive director, Global Network for People Living with AIDS, South Africa).
- Is faith being left out of COP26?BBC Sunday. Organised by BBC Radio 4. ONLINE. With Archbishop Julio Murray Thompson (bishop of Panama; primate, Anglican Church in the region of Central America), interviewed by Edward Stourton (writer, broadcaster and presenter, BBC).
- Interview.COP26. Organised by WWF. Nature+Zone, Glasgow, UK. Interviewed with Rev Henrik Grape (senior adviser, World Council of Churches, Sweden) and Gopal D. Patel (co-founder and director, Bhumi Global, USA).
- Non-violence, climate change and world religion.Ahimsa and the environment. Organised by Go Dharmic. ONLINE. Speaker of pre-recorded video.
- Interfaith gathering in Spirit of Talanoa dialogue.COP26. Organised by Interfaith Liaison Committee to the UNFCCC. Garnet Hill Synagogue, Glasgow, UK. Contributor.
- Prayer and meditation for a beneficial COP26.COP26. Organised by Interfaith Liaison Committee to the UNFCCC. George Square, Glasgow, UK. Meditation leader.
- Climate and nature: the role of faith-based organisations in securing an equitable, net zero emissions and nature positive world for all.Committee of Religious NGOs. Scottish Event Campus, Glasgow, UK. Discussion with Karenna Gore (founder and executive director, Center for Earth Ethics, USA), Debra Boudreaux (executive vice-president, Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, USA) and Gopal D. Patel (co-founder and director, Bhumi Global, USA), and moderated by Gavin Edwards (global co-ordinator, WWF New Deal for Nature and People, UK).
- Ethics and values in the environment. Faith for Nature: Multifaith Action.Organised by the Government of Iceland, UNEP and Religions for Peace. ONLINE.
- Hope for the future.Scottish Interfaith Week. Organised by Interfaith Liaison Committee to the UNFCCC. ONLINE. Panellist with Tais Tokusato (environmental education co-ordinator, Soka Institute for Environmental Studies and Research of the Amazon, Brazil), Fr Joshtrum Kureethadam (co-ordinator of the sector of ecology and creation, Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, India) and Khlekani Sizwe Magwaza (youth representative, Lutheran World Federation, South Africa).
- Love in the Abrahamic Tradition.Organised by Fetzer Institute. ONLINE. Panellist with David Addiss (director, Task Force for Global Health, USA), Andrea Bartoli (president, Sant'Egidio Foundation for Peace and Dialogue, USA), Patrice Brodeur (professor, Institute of Religious Studies, University of Montreal, Canada), Nick Campion (director, Harmony Institute, University of Wales Trinity Saint David, UK), Rabbi David Geffen (founder, Loving Classroom, Israel), Naomi Geffen (co-founder/administrator, Loving Classroom, Israel), Scherto Gill (senior research fellow, Guerrand-Hermès Foundation for Peace, UK), Simon Jones (lead consultant, Chime Communications; advisor to Taoist Master Christopher Chuang, UK), Professor Li (co-author of Love in the Chinese Traditions, A Narrative of Love Project), Joseph Milne (fellow, Temenos Academy, UK), Father Silouan (orthodox hermit monk, UK), Bhai Sahib Mohinder Singh (chairman, Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha, UK), Thupten Jinpa Langri (Tibetan Buddhist writer and scholar; translator for the Dalai Lama, Canada), Bill Vendly (senior adviser for religion, Fetzer Institute, USA), Mark Vernon (writer, broadcaster, psychotherapist and former Anglican priest, UK), Bruno Wang (founder, The Pureland Foundation) and Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg (senior rabbi, Masorti Judaism UK; member, Elijah interfaith Institute, UK).