Neena Rao’s global and national experience spans academia, research, and diverse community engagement. Her publications include Forest Ecology of India: Colonial Maharashtra (2011) and Minscapes: A Canvas of Emotions in a Special World (2022). Driven by her son’s Asperger’s diagnosis, she founded Margika, an NGO dedicated to mental health awareness and inclusive education for special-needs children in India. Recognized as a ‘Top 100 Healthcare Leader by IFAH and featured in the Telangana edition of 50 Inspiring Women (2023), she is dedicated to imparting advanced global knowledge to empower children and youth impacted by mental and developmental disorders.