# Pradeep Kakkattil

> Pradeep Kakkattil is an Indian entrepreneur and former international civil servant based in the Geneva area. Founder and CEO of Health Innovation Exchange (HIEx), co-founder of the Women in Innovation Fund and co-founder and director of Geovitas, he connects entrepreneurs, investors and public institutions. He began his career in journalism and filmmaking in India and received a Schwab Foundation Public Social Intrapreneur of the Year award in 2022.

- **Role:** Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Health Innovation Exchange (HIEx)
- **Organizations:** Health Innovation Exchange (HIEx), Women in Innovation Fund (WiNFUND), Geovitas, Geneva Innovation Movement, UNAIDS (former), UK Department for International Development (former)
- **Nationality:** Indian
- **Education:** Master’s degree in Business Administration and Management, University of Madras, Bachelor of Science (BSc), The New College, University of Madras
- **Known for:** Schwab Foundation Public Social Intrapreneur of the Year, 2022., Founder and CEO of HIEx, established in 2019 and independent since 2023., Co-founder of the Women in Innovation Fund (WiNFUND).

## Career timeline

- **Early career** — Worked as a print and television journalist and filmmaker in India.
- **1996-1999** — Worked in the India office of the UK Department for International Development, managing programme partnerships.
- **1999** — Joined UNAIDS in India.
- **2012-2015** — Served as Deputy Director of the UNAIDS Regional Support Team for Asia and the Pacific.
- **2015-2017** — Served as senior adviser to the UNAIDS Executive Director.
- **2019** — Helped establish HIEx within UNAIDS.
- **2022** — Received the Schwab Foundation Public Social Intrapreneur of the Year award; co-founded WiNFUND.
- **2023** — HIEx became an independent association; argued for innovation initiatives having independence at the November Innovation Debate in Geneva.

## Achievements

- Schwab Foundation Public Social Intrapreneur of the Year, 2022.
- Founder and CEO of HIEx, established in 2019 and independent since 2023.
- Co-founder of the Women in Innovation Fund (WiNFUND).
- Founding member and board member of the Geneva Innovation Movement.
- Co-founder and director of Geovitas.

## Latest updates

- **2026-10** — At the research date, HIEx lists him as founder and CEO, and Geovitas lists him as co-founder and director; these are current listings, not dated appointment announcements.
- **2026-09** — HIEx, which he leads, reports convening side sessions during UNGA81 in New York on 23-25 September 2026.

## Links

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pradeepkakkattil/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/pradeep-kakkattil
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-22