Communications Fellowship
The Club of Rome has established a Communications Fellowship, an annual mentoring programme that aims to increase the diversity of voices covering sustainability issues and support early-career communications professionals from underrepresented communities and regions. The fellowship aims to establish a network of communication specialists passionate about The Club of Rome across the globe, who can share information and best practice.
2024
Pavithra Ashok Kumar
Pavithra Ashok Kumar is a communications and marketing professional with diverse experiences in this sphere. Her experiences span science communication and outreach at the National Centre for Biological Sciences (Bangalore Life Science Cluster), brand marketing and PR in the media and entertainment industry with the Technicolor Group, and academia. Pavithra puts her BA in English, Psychology and Journalism to good use along with her MSc in Cognitive Science while understanding her audience and crafting impactful communications across different platforms. She is passionate about storytelling in all its forms and seeks to grow her skills with every new story she tells.
Kabir Naik
Kabir Naik is a Development Communications Specialist focused on visual communication, highlighting climate inequality through innovative media strategies. With a background in Political Science from the University of Delhi, Kabir brings a nuanced understanding of socio-political dynamics to his work. An accomplished documentary filmmaker, he specialises in documenting the intersections of climate impact and social justice to catalyse meaningful change. He is the founder of Sunny Side South, a platform dedicated to developing inclusive climate communication solutions that aim to help communities in lower-income countries understand, adapt to, and combat the impacts of climate change. Recognised by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India as one of the “75 Creative Minds of Tomorrow,” his vision is to leverage media and communication as powerful tools for social justice, fostering global solidarity and collective action.
2023
Nonhlanhla Ngwenya
Nonhlanhla Ngwenya is a Zimbabwean journalist and communications consultant, with experience in both media and communications fields in Zimbabwe, including community media to regional correspondence. Nonhlanhla has held various roles at the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), the Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe and the Graca-Machel Trust’s Women in Media Network Zimbabwe. She is vice-chairperson of the WAN-IFRA Women in News Alums Zimbabwe Chapter and was recently appointed as the Zimbabwean Ambassador for the African Youth Policy Experts (AFRINYPE) Member of the Climate Action Directorate of Media and Publicity (2022-2025). Nonhlanhla has spoken on panel discussions related to the Zimbabwean media landscape, freedom of expression, media sustainability, sexual harassment in the newsroom and gender parity in the media. Nonhlanhla holds a BA in Media Studies and is passionate about innovative and creative communications and media in Zimbabwe.
Stories
Nonhlanhla Ngwenya
“My experience as a Club of Rome Communications Fellow has been nothing short of transformative. From day one, I was exposed to conversations on sustainability, systems change and real-world challenges and was guided on how to communicate the urgent need for transformative action. I have developed expertise in crafting compelling narratives to engage diverse audiences and foster collective action.
Through opportunities to work closely with global thought leaders, I have gained first-hand insights into the complexities of driving sustainable change on a global scale. These interactions not only reinforced the importance of effective communication but also provided me with a network of influential contacts spanning diverse spheres.
The relationships and knowledge I gained during my fellowship have undoubtedly shaped my career trajectory, instilling in me a deep commitment to advocate for sustainability and empowering me to amplify and disseminate crucial information to influence positive change.”
