Praveena Kulasinghe Joseph de Saram is a scientist, entrepreneur, and changemaker. She is Managing Director of the Shiranee Joseph de Saram Foundation (SJDSF), Sri Lanka’s pioneering organization supporting individuals with Intellectual Disability (ID) gain employment and independence.

Praveena has extensive experience in the non-profit and for-profit sectors. She served as a Trustee of the Princeton-Blairstown Center, an over 115-year-old charity that serves disadvantaged youth in the US for nearly a decade; and on numerous boards at Princeton University, including The Princeton University Store and The Annual Giving National Committee. Prior to returning to Sri Lanka to lead SJDSF, Praveena was the founder of a triple bottom line pet product business; Chief Operating Officer of Optimal Acuity Corporation, a medical device manufacturer, and a Management Consultant with Kearney. She currently serves on the boards of SJdSF and TRACE Technology & Innovation Ecosystem in Sri Lanka.

Praveena is passionate about access to appropriate education and opportunities for marginalized people. She was named Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2024 by the Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce for her contribution to employment for persons with disabilities.

Praveena has an M.Phys. in Physics from the University of Oxford and an M.A. in Molecular Biology and Neuroscience from Princeton University.