Kanishka Ratnayake is the program lead for MEND's MediaInc. program, an incubator/accelerator program for media startups. This program aims to “positively disrupt” the media space, breaking mainstream media’s monopoly on content.

As the lead, he runs the operations and execution of the program objectives, ensuring the development and improvement of the activities and processes. In his role, he supports other core processes of the incubator/accelerator ensuring the success of all participating companies.

Prior to joining IREX, Kanishka worked at Philanthropy University (an Education Technology Startup) based in Silicon Valley. He is also a founding team member who helped to set up the company. Similarly, as the program development and support coordinator at OXFAM, he supported the “Impact @ Scale Accelerator” designed to scale up innovative and promising poverty-reducing initiatives across 14 countries in Asia.

Kanishka holds a master's in media development from SOAS, the University of London. He is a recipient of the UK Government's Chevening Scholarship.