Disha was born in India and raised in New Zealand from a young age. She completed a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Engineering Science at the University of Auckland, focusing on mathematical modelling, optimisation, and data science. During her undergraduate years, she was awarded the Top Achiever Scholarship and named a Colin Maiden Scholar through the Dean’s Leadership Programme. She then worked as a management consultant in the data and AI sector before moving to Australia to join the New South Wales Department of Communities and Justice. In this role, she provided analysis and insights to inform policies and programmes across child protection, social housing, homelessness, and disability.

Disha is passionate about improving access to essential services for all children and families, and is confident that her time at Oxford will strengthen her skills to design and implement actionable policies that protect and empower children.