Dinesh Shrestha
Dinesh Shrestha is the Co-founder and Director of Field Operations of Room to Read, an organization that believes World Change Starts with Educated Children.® Room to Read envisions a world in which all children can pursue a quality education that enables them to reach their full potential and contribute to their communities and the world.
Dinesh is a key figure in Room to Read’s founding history in Nepal and continues to be pivotal to the organization’s leadership and growth. In his current role, Dinesh is responsible for the development, training and oversight of country office procurement policies and practices to ensure Room to Read maintains the highest quality standards of compliance. Dinesh supports and provides guidance on all aspects of field office administrative functions including the development and strengthening of systems and standard operating procedures.
Prior to joining Room to Read, Dinesh served as chief of operations for both the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the German Technical Corporation’s Rural Development Program, and also worked with the World Health Organization. In 2002, Dinesh became Room to Read’s first official full-time country director in Nepal, a role he held for eight years during which he established Room to Read as an influential non-governmental organization dedicated to improving education for Nepalese children. Dinesh has contributed to the operations and programs of Room to Read across Asia in various roles including Acting Country Director for Laos, Sri Lanka, India and Nepal as well as regional human resources and administration director.
Dinesh has been recognized for his social contributions in Nepal with the Silver Jubilee of HM King Birendra’s Accession to the Throne Award and in 2013, received the highest national award in Cambodia bestowed by His Majesty the King of Cambodia. Dinesh is an active member of the Lions Club International; an honorary member of the Lions Club of Mesa/Parachute, Colorado; a life member of the Nepal Red Cross; a founding member of the Nepal Lions Foundation; and a member of the Project Management Association of Nepal. He holds a master’s in business administration with a specialization in human resource management from Kathmandu University.