National Geographic Society appoints Indian American Sandesh V. Kadur to Board of Trustees

Indian American photojournalist, author, and documentary filmmaker Sandesh V. Kadur has been appointed to the board of trustees of the National Geographic Society.

Kadur, born in Bangalore, is a recognized National Geographic Explorer with a portfolio of several award-winning wildlife documentary films.

Joining him as new board members are Kate Brandt, chief sustainability officer at Google; John K. Delaney, former Maryland Congressman and founder and executive chairman of Forbright Bank; and Evan G. Greenberg, CEO and chairman of Chubb Ltd. & Chubb Group.

In a media release, the National Geographic Society said the new board members, each with their unique expertise, will strengthen the society’s commitment to advancing the understanding and preservation of our world through science, exploration, education, and storytelling.

READ: Conservation biologist Shivani Bhalla selected as one of National Geographic Society’s Emerging Explorers of 2014 (June 16, 2014)

“We are delighted to welcome these four distinguished individuals to the National Geographic Society Board of Trustees,” said the Society’s Board Chair, Jean Case. “It is essential to have a team of strong leaders with varied expertise and unique viewpoints in order to make real change and highlight global issues, and the addition of this exceptional group will prove invaluable as we continue to work towards our ambitious commitment of exploring and protecting the wonder of our world.”

Kadur will serve as the second-ever “Explorer Trustee,” a position created in 2022 to represent the perspectives of the society’s global community of Explorers, including scientists, conservationists, educators, storytellers, and technologists. The position, lasting two years, is reserved for National Geographic Explorers recognized as exceptional change-makers in their respective fields, receiving funding from the Society for projects aligned with its mission. Paula Kahumbu, a wildlife conservationist born in Nairobi, Kenya, was the inaugural Explore Trustee.

The Society said Kadur’s appointment is a crucial step in leveraging the knowledge and expertise of the Explorer community.

“Kadur brings his talents as an Explorer and storyteller in the hopes that his work will reveal places and species people rarely see and will inspire new passion to protect them,” the release said.

READ: Dr. Kamal Bawa receives Global Lifetime Service Award (December 14, 2022)

Kadur’s films have been featured on prominent networks and platforms such as National Geographic, the BBC, Netflix, Discovery Channel, and Animal Planet. His recent work includes “Our Planet” for Netflix and “The Okavango Experience,” a groundbreaking 360-degree virtual reality series that follows the National Geographic Society’s Okavango Wilderness Project and BBC’s productions “Seven Worlds One Planet” and “Planet Earth II.”

The filmmaker has also created impactful docuseries for National Geographic that offer a captivating glimpse into India’s rich wildlife, including “Wild Cats of India,” a three-part series, and “India’s Wild Leopards,” a two-part series.

In addition to his filmography, Kadur is also a co-author of two notable books: “Sahyadris: India’s Western Ghats—A Vanishing Heritage” (2005) and “Himalaya—Mountains of Life” (2013). His debut documentary, accompanied by his first book, played a pivotal role in drawing attention to one of the world’s most significant biodiversity hotspots, the Western Ghats. This collective effort led to UNESCO’s recognition of the Western Ghats as a World Heritage Site in 2012.

He has won numerous international awards, including a 2017 Emmy nomination and the 2017 BAFTA Award for his contributions to BBC’s “Planet Earth II.”

Kadur, who has a degree in wildlife biology from the University of Texas at Brownsville, spends most of his time in Bangalore.

The National Geographic Society, headquartered in Washington, D.C., ranks among the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational institutions, working in diverse fields such as geography, archaeology, natural science, environmental and historical conservation, as well as the exploration of world culture and history.

Through its partnership with The Walt Disney Company in National Geographic Partners, the Society manages various media operations, including its magazine, television channels, website, and global events. One of its key missions is to support research and exploration by awarding over 15,000 grants that facilitate projects on every continent. Additionally, the Society plays a vital role in education by reaching out to three million students annually through its educational offerings and engaging audiences worldwide with its captivating stories and content.