Dinesh (Dutch/Indian, 1979) is the India Ambassador of THNK, the Amsterdam School of Creative Leadership and Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Saaf India Foundation.

Previously, he was THNK’s Partnerships Director, business development and organizing societal innovation challenges together with THNK’s Co-Founders, Faculty and Partners. He co-designed and launched THNK’s Creative Leadership Program, led THNK’s mission to India with the Amsterdam Economic Board in 2012, and has hosted THNK workshops at the Dutch Design Workspace and India Design Forum in Mumbai, and at Idiom’s DREAM:IN Center in Bangalore.

Together with Shammy Jacob and a team of THNK participants he started the Saaf India Foundation in 2012, a non-profit / social enterprise designing creative solutions for the waste challenge in India’s public spaces, inspiring and educating citizens to respect the natural environment, and starting with the iconic Indian Railways as a platform for inspiration and innovation.

Dinesh started his career in 2005 at Heineken, responsible for various advertising, design and innovation projects in The Netherlands and Central Africa. He is the founder of Banyan Tree, a boutique agency at the intersection of creativity, commerce and culture. In 2013 he joined global design and innovation firm frog as Director in Amsterdam and Mumbai.

He holds a Master’s Degree in Economics from the University of Groningen. He studied Strategic Management at IMD Business School in Lausanne and completed courses in innovation leadership and arts at INSEAD, IESE Business School, Central Saint Martins, Sotheby’s Institute of Art and London College of Communication.

Dinesh enjoys tennis, contemporary art and the books of PG Wodehouse. He lives in Amsterdam with his wife Alexa.