Sense International appoints new chief executive Kavita Prasad

9 April 2025

Kavita Prasad has been appointed as chief executive of Sense International.

The news comes with a reorganisation of the leadership structure of the charity which previously shared a Chief Executive with their parent organisation, Sense. The restructure follows the departure of Richard Kramer at beginning of the year, and subsequent appointment of James Watson-O’Neill Sense chief executive in February; acknowledging that, as the charities have grown and developed, the distinct differences in the work of Sense International and Sense now merit distinct leadership, while remaining part of the Sense group and sharing the same values and vision.

Kavita, who has served as Director of Sense International since 2022, will enter the role with immediate effect. This appointment recognises the leadership that Kavita already gives the organisation, as well as her experience and expertise within the international disability and development sector.

Sense International supports people with deafblindness globally, working to improve access to inclusive education, healthcare, and livelihood opportunities, with programmes currently operating across eight countries. In 2024 the organisation celebrated its 30th anniversary, recognising an impact reaching almost one million people during that time. 2025 has already been an exciting year for the charity, with the recent launch of the Global Deafblindness Resource Hub, a first-of-its-kind digital platform providing support and accessible resources to people with deafblindness across multiple languages. Under Kavita’s leadership, the charity’s ongoing strategy for 2022-2027 aims to further its impact and strengthen its global advocacy work, taking a greater emphasis on a localised approach to its work which will ensure the voices of the people and communities Sense International serves are put front and centre.

Kavita has extensive experience in the charity sector in various executive, technical, policy and programme roles within international organisations dedicated to supporting people with disabilities, having previously served as CEO of DeafKidz International and SoundSeekers, as well as Disability Advisor to the UN Palestine Refugee Agency. Kavita also sits on the board of the International Disability and Development Consortium.

Kavita Prasad said: “I am honoured to become Chief Executive of Sense International, and I am grateful to Sense International and Sense for this appointment. I am excited to lead the charity into this next phase, building on our 30 years of reach and impact, while continuing to work closely with our parent charity Sense to achieve our shared vision of a world where people with deafblindness have equal opportunities and are fully included in all aspects of life.

Now is a particularly challenging time for international development, with extensive cuts to global funding threatening to turn back the clock on progress in development and push people with deafblindness further into poverty and exclusion. Despite these pressures, Sense International and our partner organisations are committed to ensuring children and adults with deafblindness in the countries we work are not left behind, have their voices heard, and are meaningfully included. I look forward to continuing my work with our global teams, our partners, and the people we support; leaning into these challenges, and driving forward our mission of removing barriers so that people with deafblindness everywhere can realise their rights.”

Rex Shah, Chair of the Board of Trustees of Sense International, said: “I am delighted by the appointment of Kavita as the new Chief Executive of Sense International. In her time as Director, Kavita has dealt skilfully with a number of challenges in the external environment, and we can see that the organisation is delivering enormous impact under her leadership. Her commitment to disability equality is exemplary and I look forward to seeing her continue her excellent work.”

James Watson-O’Neill, Chief Executive of Sense, said: “We at Sense are thrilled to support the appointment of Kavita as the new Chief Executive of Sense International. Kavita is an expert in the field of disability in international development and I believe she is well placed to drive the mission to reach and support people with deafblindness and disabled people with complex needs globally. Our organisations will continue to work closely to support one another and share expertise, as we have done over the past 30 years. I am excited to see Sense International go from strength to strength under Kavita’s leadership.”