Neela Matin had been a research fellow at SEI York since 1996. Her research focussed on poverty elimination, natural resource management and sustainable development with a strong emphasis on gender mainstreaming and stakeholder participation. Neela was a truly multi-disciplinary researcher, whose talents extended from social science and political theory through to policy development and formulation. Neela was hugely experienced, prior to joining SEI York Neela had worked extensively with a wide range of organizations, governments, donor agencies, research institutions and NGOs.
Neela had been battling cancer for some years but showed incredible resilience and an enduring passion and dedication to her research which she pursued with energy and enthusiasm through challenging times. Neela was a lovely, warm hearted, kind, generous and inspirational woman that touched many of the lives of her colleagues both within SEI York but also across the global SEI institute. She was vastly experienced and her dedication to her work brought about real change in the sustainable development research agenda on gender and social equity issues; her passing will leave a large gap in SEI’s research.
Neela is survived by her husband Anjan Datta and her daughter Ankita. Our thoughts are with her family at this incredibly difficult time and we wish them all the very best for the future.
There will be a remembrance celebration on Saturday 25 November at Bar Convent, 17 Blossom St, York, UK from 2pm.
