2025-26 Maitri Fellows

Nancy Gupta is a Research Associate at the Centre for Social and Economic Progress in Delhi and former Research Fellow at the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy in Delhi. Her research examines Australia-India cooperation in green iron and steel.

Nikita Singla is a Consultant on Trade Facilitation and Regional Integration to the World Bank and Non-Resident Scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Her research will look into the development of an Australia–India Future-Ready Ports Framework.

Afaq Hussain is Director, Bureau of Research on Industry and Economic Fundamentals and Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council. His research will assess value chain and trade facilitation towards an efficient India-Australia Critical Minerals Partnership.

Kim Heriot-Darragh is a Research Fellow at the Australia-India Institute and Non-Resident Fellow at the Council for Strategic and Defence Research. His research will explore Australia and India’s leadership on rules and norms in the Indian Ocean.