Our Team
Board of Directors
Founder & CEO Megan Nicholas-Harper
Born and raised in California, Megan has spent the last ten years in the international environment and development sector, focusing mainly on social enterprises, research, and impact investing. After living in Southeast Asia for nearly four years, Megan co-founded a grassroots initiative in Indonesia in 2015, which provides potable water to communities on Rote Island. During graduate school, Megan conducted research throughout Nusa Tengarra Timor Province, analyzing water quality in 50 villages, across four islands. She believes in using scientific evidence to drive business design.
Following graduate school, Megan took a stint working in the financial private sector with Bridgewater Associates, and impact investing with OPIC. Megan holds a Bachelors in Environmental Studies and Economics from Mills College, and two master degrees in Water Management & Science (Geochemistry), as well as an MBA in Finance & Social Entrepreneurship from Duke University. Megan is driven and passionate about water access for those most in need to improve their overall livelihoods.
EMAIL: mnh@appianwater.org
Director & CFO
Windyaswari Pristina Arindrani
Born and raised in Jakarta, Indonesia, Winny has a unique experience of having been involved in banking, consulting, and social entrepreneurship sectors. She is currently serving as a strategy consultant at McKinsey & Company in Jakarta office and has spent a year in their New York office. Prior to that she was fortunate to have been given the opportunity to develop financial skills and be involved in many strategic projects and prominent cross-border M&A transactions during her 7-year stint at DBS Bank, both in Jakarta and Singapore office.
She also has experience in launching a Jakarta-based social entrepreneurship venture to produce and sell Mukena, a ceremonial attire worn by Muslim women, together with her fashion designer Mom. Winny obtained her Bachelor Degree in Accounting from University of Indonesia (graduated in just 3.5 years) and her MBA and MSTEM from Fuqua School of Business – Duke University.
EMAIL: wpa@appianwater.org
Vice President, Director of Legal Affairs
Michael Visconti, Esq.
Michael has over fifteen years of experience in public and private sector contracting and over twelve in corporate and employment law and litigation, legislative and regulatory analysis, government regulations and compliance. His legal experience includes in-house, non-profit, corporate formation, government administration, and Title VII and employment class action litigation. Michael also has over five years of experience in ADA, PPACA and HIPAA compliance.
Michael has a degree in Economics and Political Science from the University of California Los Angeles and a law degree from American University. He has served as a project leader for Amor Ministries and Habitat for Humanity, as pro bono counsel for successful VAWA (Violence Against Woman Act) petitions and served as onsite production counsel for the Princeton in Asia 115-year program documentary highlighting PiA’s sponsorship of over 150 fellowships and internships across 20 countries which have produced several dozen NGOs and non-profits throughout the region.
EMAIL: mwv@appianwater.org
Director of Fundraising and Marketing
Karen Thornton
Karen Thornton is currently a Master’s student at Duke Nicholas School of the Environment focusing in water resources management. She obtained her B.S. in Aquatic Biology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She has always had a love for water, whether it be swimming, playing water polo, scuba diving, or surfing.
Karen is excited to be working with Appian Water because it combines her passion for water, women’s rights, and giving back to the community.
Board of Advisors
Business Advisor Dr. Joseph Miller (PhD/MS)
Joseph Miller has over 20 years of entrepreneurial experience founding technology companies in markets as varied as graphic design, fashion, gaming, SaaS enterprise sales software, machine learning and investment research. In addition, he served as Manager of Technology and Intelligence for Bridgewater Associates. Joseph holds bachelor degrees in Physics and Economics from UC Berkeley, and master and PhD degrees in biomedical engineering from Cornell University. He is currently co-founder and Chief Data Scientist for Vivun and founder and CEO of artificial intelligence firm, BatteryCI.
Water Quality Advisors - Rachel Coyte (PhD)
Rachel Coyte is a geochemist and PhD candidate at Duke University, graduating Spring 2021. She has worked on water quality projects in a variety of settings, most extensively in India and the Southeastern United States. Her work highlights the importance of understanding the multiple factors which contribute to water quality for management and planning decisions. Rachel lived in China for many years and is fluent in Mandarin. In her free-time she loves to travel, learn new languages, rock-climb and explore cooking techniques of various global cuisines.
Public Health Advisor Kallene Ryan (MPH)
Kallene is a development sector professional with 10 years of experience in program design and implementation, Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E), quantitative and qualitative research methods, and strategic consulting for a range of clients in development, public and private sector initiatives across Asia, the Middle East, Africa and the U.S. Kallene spent four years based in Myanmar, serving as Director of an International Non-Governmental Organization focused in sustainable livelihoods, maternal and child health and youth education. In 2019, she founded an independent research consultancy - True North Research Group, which prides itself on delivering insightful and deeply impactful results for clients including UN agencies, I/NGOs, governments, private sector and civil society. Kallene has lived in six countries, including Myanmar, India, Vietnam, Kenya, France and the U.S, and holds a Masters Degree in Public Health from Boston University, concentrating in Global Health and M&E.