OUR FOUNDER

AAKANKSHA’s background involves extensive grassroots campaigning around the world on issues such as affordable housing, human rights, poverty, urban governance, community education, foreign aid, youth representation in politics, advocating for young people and the youth sector, SUSTAINABILITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE, and FINALLY, street harassment. 

I do it for the love of social justice.

I do it for my firm belief that we all deserve respect and dignity irrespective of our skin color, race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, religion, or ability.

I do it because, despite principles, declarations, and international and national laws, we have yet to achieve equality.

Creating just and equitable societies is not someone else’s responsibility. It starts with us. And if not us, then who?

-Aakanksha Manjunathaswamy

BIO

Aakanksha is an intersectional feminist, who was born and raised in India. She was a first-generation migrant for 10 years. Her personal experiences with gender-based violence, being bullied and other inequalities underpin her resolve to create a more just and equitable world. Her background involves extensive grassroots campaigning around the world on issues such as affordable housing, human rights, poverty, urban governance, community education, foreign aid, youth representation in politics, advocating for young people and the youth sector, sustainable livelihoods, and street harassment. 

She brings this range of perspectives to her work on street harassment as It’s Not A Compliment India’s (INAC India) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Founder. She was previously the CEO, Co-Founder, and Non-Executive Director at INAC Australia. Having recently moved back home to India, she is determined to use her learnings from abroad and home to tackle street harassment with a glocal, awareness-based approach. 

She was an active member of several committees at various organizations in Australia that were tackling gender-based violence in public spaces and mentors young activists with a focus on community organizing and transformational leadership. She has also worked with Uber Australia which led to INAC Australia joining Uber’s Global Driving Change Program, the City of Melbourne, and others on developing initiatives that tackle different aspects of safety in public spaces.

Aakanksha graduated from Leiden University with a Bachelor of Arts, in International Studies. She did her master's at New York University as well as the University of Melbourne.

Aakanksha has been awarded the following fellowships: 

  • Young Leaders Trust Fellowship by Oaktree (2020)

  • Create Change Fellowship by Democracy in Colour (2019)

Aakanksha has been featured in international, national, and local Australian publications such as The Telegraph, Huffington Post, South Asian Today, KOS magazine, and many others. She has also been on local and national radio stations in Australia such as 3CR and RRR. 

Aakanksha was also a finalist for the 7News Young Achiever Awards, specifically for the Saward Dawson Community Service and Social Impact Award. She was also a finalist for the Frankie Good Stuff Awards in the Community category back in 2020. 

She is currently the Managing Trustee at our parent organization, the Centre for Green Building Materials and Technology (CGBMT).