AIF Gala 2026 to Honor Nithya Iyer Singh and Navjot Singh for Leadership and Philanthropy
New England event at Boston’s waterfront celebrates two influential changemakers and their enduring impact on community
BOSTON — The American India Foundation (AIF) will honor Nithya Iyer Singh and Navjot Singh at its 2026 Appreciation Gala on May 9 at the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel, recognizing their longstanding leadership, philanthropy, and commitment to advancing opportunity across communities.
Hosted by the AIF New England Chapter, the gala—centered on the theme “Catalyzing Change, Shaping Tomorrow”—marks the organization’s 25th anniversary and will bring together supporters, donors, and community leaders dedicated to strengthening the bridge between the United States and India.
Nithya Iyer Singh and Navjot Singh, former co-chairs of the AIF New England Advisory Board, are being celebrated for their deep engagement with philanthropic initiatives and their commitment to addressing inequality. Having grown up in India, both have witnessed firsthand the barriers to opportunity that continue to shape their mission to give back and expand access for underserved communities.
Navjot Singh is a Senior Partner Emeritus at McKinsey & Company, where he spent more than two decades and served as Managing Partner of the Boston office. Before joining McKinsey, he worked in research and development at General Electric for seven years and is the co-inventor of multiple patents. His civic leadership includes serving as former Chair of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, and he currently holds trustee roles at the Museum of Science and Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Nithya Iyer Singh brings extensive expertise in clinical drug development, specialty healthcare, and investment. Over the course of her career, she has held roles at GSK, Tesaro, and Medco Health, contributing to the launch of several medicines and advancements in patient care. She also serves on advisory boards for Virginia Tech and Newton-Wellesley Hospital.
Together, the couple recently co-founded 2123iX, where they are building new ventures while continuing to invest in causes aligned with their values.
“As co-chairs of the New England Chapter Advisory Board, it is our great pleasure to invite you to the 2026 Appreciation Event on May 9 honoring AIF’s long-standing supporters and donors,” said Meena Subramanyam and Sundar Subramanyam in a joint statement. “We look forward to celebrating our generous donor community that brings together individuals and organizations united by a shared commitment to philanthropy and positive change in India.”
Echoing that sentiment, Gala Chairs Sumitra Sivaram and Nikhil Goray highlighted the significance of this year’s honorees and the organization’s broader mission. “As AIF marks its 25th anniversary, we are honored to celebrate its legacy of driving transformational change across communities in India,” they said. “We hope you will join us as we continue these efforts and serve as catalysts for meaningful change.”
The gala will also spotlight AIF’s mental health initiative, MAANAS, alongside its broader portfolio of programs spanning education, public health, and livelihoods. Since its founding in 2001, AIF has impacted more than 21 million people across India through initiatives designed to create sustainable, long-term change.
As the New England community gathers on May 9, the recognition of Nithya Iyer Singh and Navjot Singh underscores the power of leadership, philanthropy, and cross-border collaboration in shaping a more equitable future.
