Ullens Education Foundation (UEF) welcomed three distinguished professionals to its Board of Trustees (BoTs). With the appointment of three new members and the stepping down of one founding trustee Mr. Hem Prasad Shrestha, the BoTs now comprises seven members who will collectively guide the Foundation’s vision and growth.
The newly appointed members are:
Prof. Dr. Bhola Thapa, an academic leader with more than three decades of experience in higher education, research and institutional development.
Mr. Pradhyumna Kumar Khanal, a banking professional with over 30 years of service at Nepal Rastra Bank, specializing in financial management, supervision and governance.
Dr. Manish Thapa, Honorary Consul of Costa Rica in Nepal and Founding Managing Partner of the Global Equity Fund, is an academic leader and security expert with a PhD in International Relations and post-doctoral training in global security studies, bringing extensive expertise across business, security, and academic sectors.
The Board of Trustees plays a vital role in ensuring UEF’s sustainability and impact. Their responsibilities include:
- Safeguarding UEF’s financial health and regulatory compliance.
- Advising senior management on growth, innovation and infrastructure development.
- Overseeing performance evaluations of executives and programs.
- Acting as custodians of the foundation’s assets.
- Ensuring succession planning and long-term continuity of the foundation.
About the new members:
Prof. Dr. Bhola Thapa has dedicated more than 30 years to Kathmandu University, serving as Vice Chancellor, Registrar and Dean of the School of Engineering. His leadership was instrumental in making KU’s School of Engineering the first QAA-certified engineering institute in Nepal. With a Ph.D. from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, he has contributed extensively to research in hydraulic machinery, supervised numerous Ph.D. and master’s theses and published widely in international journals.
Mr. Pradhyumna Kumar Khanal dedicated three decades to Nepal Rastra Bank, rising to the position of Deputy Director. He led supervisory functions, internal audits and financial management, ensuring transparency and institutional integrity across the banking sector. His expertise in governance, compliance and risk evaluation makes him a respected figure in Nepal’s financial landscape.
Dr. Manish Thapa is the Honorary Consul of Costa Rica in Nepal and the Founding Managing Partner of the Global Equity Fund, Nepal’s first licensed private equity and venture capital fund. He also chairs the Nepal Infrastructure Investment Fund and serves on the boards of several prominent organizations, including the Nepal Private Equity Association (NPEA), the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Nepal, and the Nepal Britain Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
As an academic leader, Dr. Thapa is a Visiting Professor at the University of Warsaw and has previously served as the head of the Peace and Security Studies department at the UN-mandated University for Peace in Costa Rica. He holds a Ph.D. in International Relations from the University of Tokyo and has completed post-doctoral work at the University of Warsaw. Dr. Thapa has held fellowships at leading institutions, including Brown University, Uppsala University, McGill University, and the University of Notre Dame. He has also published extensively, including as the Chief Editor of the Palgrave Encyclopedia of Global Security Studies (2023).
Photo: Current Board of Trustees (from left to right): Dr. Hem Sagar Baral (Trustee), Mrs. Anita Mahat (Trustee), Mr. Som Paneru (Founding President), Dr. Manish Thapa (Trustee), Ms. Sajani Amatya (Founding Trustee), Prof. Dr. Bhola Thapa (Trustee), and Mr. Pradhyumna Kumar Khanal (Trustee).
With their expertise in education, peace and security, and financial management, alongside the contributions of existing members, UEF is poised to reach new heights in advancing quality education in Nepal.
