Education
Tejas Aivalli studied Political Science at the University of Toronto Mississauga. As an undergraduate student, Tejas was involved in several campus clubs such as the Political Science Association, and was one of the first Directors of the then-new UTM Students’ Union (UTMSU). He is proud to have been on the council that worked with Mississauga Transit to bring about the UPass to UTM. Tejas’ undergraduate thesis was on the 2007 referendum on the Multi-Member Proportional system.
Tejas Aivalli graduated with a Hons. B.A. in Political Science from the University of Toronto.
Tejas was selected as one of 10 graduates to join the Ontario Legislature Internship Programme (OLIP). The OLIP is a ten-month long non-partisan internship open to graduates from across Canada. During the internship, Tejas worked for MPP Greg Sorbara and MPP Jim Wilson, both of whom were former Ministers.
After OLIP, Tejas was accepted into the Master of Public Administration (MPA) programme at the London School of Economics (LSE). At the end of the first year, Tejas was accepted to the dual-degree track, and completed his second year at the National University of Singapore (NUS), in their Master in Public Policy (MPP) programme. Tejas graduated with a MPP from NUS, in addition to the MPA from LSE.
Over the past decade, Tejas has worked in a variety of sectors and positions.
Government
Tejas worked for the Ontario government as a Research Analyst in the Disaster Relief Unit (since renamed). In this position, Tejas worked on emergency preparedness for the Ontario government and participated in a federal-provincial nuclear emergency exercise. Tejas also worked on the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program.
Tejas sought different opportunities, and was hired as a Research Analyst at the Parliamentary Budget Office in Ottawa. Tejas co-authored two (1,2) publications mapping program service levels to expenditure data across the entire federal government by researching the $250 billion federal government budget, performance reports, and annual reports. The analysis of government performance revealed that nearly $40 billion worth of spending could not be accounted for as being well spent or poorly spent. Tejas also carried out research to develop a financial model for analysing a $1 billion capital acquisition. Tejas then worked as a Policy Analyst at the Department of Foreign Affairs where he led the development of Treasury Board submissions.
Civic engagement
After moving back to Mississauga, Tejas turned to civic engagement.
Tejas launched a website to engage voters in Mississauga, a full year before the 2018 provincial and municipal elections. Tejas worked with a variety of Mississauga based groups to get citizens and voters more engaged in the electoral process.
After the elections, Tejas worked in association management.
Non-profit and association management
Tejas worked at the Ontario Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (OSSGA) as Manager, Policy and Planning. There, Tejas wrote policy submissions on industry implications of changes to the Ontario Municipal Board (Bill 139) and Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, 2017. He published plain language explanations of policy changes and impacts on website for members and wider public, represented OSSGA at municipal meetings, and, advocated for the industry.
In 2019, Tejas joined the Canada India Foundation (CIF), a premier Canada-India public policy organization, as its Executive Director. Tejas worked on Canada-India relations by hosting trade delegations and organizing events attended by the Premier of Ontario and international legislators. Tejas assembled and moderated a panel on digital government in Ontario, for Government of India officials.
Having served as the Executive Director of a premier bilateral public policy nonprofit, Tejas decided to offer his skills and experience to as many organizations as possible and became a freelance consultant.
Consultant to charities and fractional CEO services
With the onset of the pandemic, Tejas saw a need to support small charities and nonprofits that do not have the funds for full-time staff but need such support nonetheless. Tejas actively helps several Mississauga, ON and Peel Region based organizations maintain their paperwork, remain operational, and raise funds, so that they can continue doing what they do best – give back to the community.
Tejas has worked with charities that focus on rare diseases, education, public policy, local governance, and fundraising. Tejas helped a private foundation streamline its operations, setup and launched its website, coordinated the setup of a scholarship, and, apply for federal government grants.
Through his analytical, research, communication, and project management skills, combined with his patience and thoughtfulness, Tejas has rescued several organizations from chaos and even saved a charity from losing its license.
Tejas uses a variety of skills and a broad knowledge base to provide solutions.
In spring 2022, in addition to his freelance consulting, Tejas worked on a Mississauga-focused civic-engagement project funded by the federal government.
The 2022 municipal elections saw Tejas work as a campaign manager for a candidate for councillor in Mississauga. Over a span of two months, Tejas helped fundraise nearly $10,000 and the candidate secured close to 2,500 votes and placed second.
In 2023, Tejas worked with a non-profit to secure over $6 million in federal funding to research food security options.
Since early 2024, Tejas has been serving as the Executive Director of a soon-to-be 50-year-old bilateral trade promotion nonprofit, managing a team of five and overseeing a $1 million project.
Extra-curricular
Outside of work, Tejas completed the Community Leadership Programme run by the Regional Diversity Roundtable of Peel, in 2020. This helps him better understand the barriers faced by various groups and communities, and how one can identify one’s own biases and work on stopping them.
Community and volunteering
Tejas was one of the founders of the Toronto Chapter of the National University of Singapore Alumni. Since 2013, he has served as Vice-Chair and (since 2018,) Chair of the 100-strong association. Tejas helps organize events such as potluck picnics, Chinese New Year dinners, and, networking events.
Tejas also served as the Director of Communications for the Mississauga Residents’ Associations Network (MIRANET), an umbrella of resident/ ratepayer associations in Mississauga.