Who we are

San Francisco – Bangalore Sister City Initiative was established in 2009 to engage Individuals and Institutions in Bangalore and San Francisco in creating sustainable 21st century cities through an exchange of environmental, economic, cultural and research ideas, expertise and resources.

Vision

Our primary mission is citizen diplomacy that seeks to build people to people understanding and relationships between Bangalore and San Francisco.

Focus

The following subcommittees have been established to facilitate achievement of our goals:

Cross Border Entrepreneurship (XBE)
Arts & Culture
Health Care
Infrastructure
Energy
Transportation
Water
Waste Management
Trade & Tourism
Women Entrepreneurship

What We Do

Our primary mission is to inform, connect, facilitate and/or execute programs between San Francisco and Bangalore.

Business People Corporate Communication Office Working Concept

We Connect & Facilitate

San Francisco Bangalore Sister City Initiative is committed to connect and facilitate business, political and diplomatic relationships between San Francisco Bay Area and Bangalore/India.

Business People Sitting Talking in an Office Building

We Execute

Through our extensive network of Board Member relationships, we help execute various initiatives by bringing together key stake holders in San Francisco Bay Area and Bangalore/India.

Close-up of people communicating while sitting in circle and gesturing

We Inform

As the official connector organization between San Francisco/Bay Area and Bangalore/India, we inform the community about key initiatives between the Sister Cities.

Team

San Francisco Board

U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein

U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein

Honorary Chair
London Nicole Breed

London Nicole Breed

Honorary Chair
Frank Jordan

Frank Jordan

Honorary Chair
Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom

Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom

Honorary Chair
Late Mayor Ed Lee

Late Mayor Ed Lee

Honorary Chair
Meena Chidhambaram

Meena Chidhambaram

2020 Committee
Tara Misra

Tara Misra

2020 Committee
Rahul Pathak

Rahul Pathak

2020 Committee
Tory Polich

Tory Polich

2020 Committee
Sarin Suvarna

Sarin Suvarna

2020 Committee
Sada Chidambaram

Sada Chidambaram

2020 Committee Chair
Robert Friese

Robert Friese

Board of Directors
Sergio Garcia

Sergio Garcia

Board of Directors
Judith Wilbur

Judith Wilbur

Board of Directors
Sri. Siddaramaiah

Sri. Siddaramaiah

Chief Minister - Karnataka, Honorary Chair
Sri. R. V. Deshpande

Sri. R. V. Deshpande

Minister - Large & Small Scale Industries, Honorary Chair
Smt. G. Padmavathi

Smt. G. Padmavathi

Mayor, Honorary Chair
Smt. Ratna Prabha

Smt. Ratna Prabha

IAS, Honorary Member
Sri. Gaurav Gupta

Sri. Gaurav Gupta

IAS, Honorary Member
Sri. M. R. Shashidhara

Sri. M. R. Shashidhara

Karnataka Udyog Mitra, Member
Smt. Swaroopa T. K.

Smt. Swaroopa T. K.

Karnataka Udyog Mitra, Member
James P. Herlihy

James P. Herlihy

Co-Chair and Director
Kumar Malavalli

Kumar Malavalli

Development Chair and Director
Madhav Misra

Madhav Misra

Co-Chair and Director
Uday Bellary

Uday Bellary

Treasurer and Director
Vijay C. Advani

Vijay C. Advani

Board of Directors
B. J. Arun

B. J. Arun

Board of Directors
Vijay Bist

Vijay Bist

Board of Directors
Mark Chandler

Mark Chandler

Director - San Francisco Mayor’s Office
Deepa Harris

Deepa Harris

Board of Directors
Hon. Scott R. Heldfond

Hon. Scott R. Heldfond

Board of Directors
Tamar Hurwitz

Tamar Hurwitz

Board of Directors
Regis Kelly

Regis Kelly

Board of Directors
Vijay Kumar

Vijay Kumar

Board of Directors
William (Bill) Lee

William (Bill) Lee

Board of Directors
Prof. Shivaram Malavalli

Prof. Shivaram Malavalli

Board of Directors & Resident Chairman
Vish Mishra

Vish Mishra

Board of Directors
Meera Prashad

Meera Prashad

Board of Directors
Sean Randolph

Sean Randolph

Board of Directors
Ram Reddy

Ram Reddy

Board of Directors
Raghu Shivaram

Raghu Shivaram

Board of Directors
Nandini Tandon

Nandini Tandon

Board of Directors
Priya Tandon

Priya Tandon

Board of Directors

Bangalore Board

U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein

U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein

Honorary Chair
London Nicole Breed

London Nicole Breed

Honorary Chair
Frank Jordan

Frank Jordan

Honorary Chair
Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom

Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom

Honorary Chair
Late Mayor Ed Lee

Late Mayor Ed Lee

Honorary Chair
Meena Chidhambaram

Meena Chidhambaram

2020 Committee
Tara Misra

Tara Misra

2020 Committee
Rahul Pathak

Rahul Pathak

2020 Committee
Tory Polich

Tory Polich

2020 Committee
Sarin Suvarna

Sarin Suvarna

2020 Committee
Sada Chidambaram

Sada Chidambaram

2020 Committee Chair
Robert Friese

Robert Friese

Board of Directors
Sergio Garcia

Sergio Garcia

Board of Directors
Judith Wilbur

Judith Wilbur

Board of Directors
Sri. Siddaramaiah

Sri. Siddaramaiah

Chief Minister - Karnataka, Honorary Chair
Sri. R. V. Deshpande

Sri. R. V. Deshpande

Minister - Large & Small Scale Industries, Honorary Chair
Smt. G. Padmavathi

Smt. G. Padmavathi

Mayor, Honorary Chair
Smt. Ratna Prabha

Smt. Ratna Prabha

IAS, Honorary Member
Sri. Gaurav Gupta

Sri. Gaurav Gupta

IAS, Honorary Member
Sri. M. R. Shashidhara

Sri. M. R. Shashidhara

Karnataka Udyog Mitra, Member
Smt. Swaroopa T. K.

Smt. Swaroopa T. K.

Karnataka Udyog Mitra, Member
James P. Herlihy

James P. Herlihy

Co-Chair and Director
Kumar Malavalli

Kumar Malavalli

Development Chair and Director
Madhav Misra

Madhav Misra

Co-Chair and Director
Uday Bellary

Uday Bellary

Treasurer and Director
Vijay C. Advani

Vijay C. Advani

Board of Directors
B. J. Arun

B. J. Arun

Board of Directors
Vijay Bist

Vijay Bist

Board of Directors
Mark Chandler

Mark Chandler

Director - San Francisco Mayor’s Office
Deepa Harris

Deepa Harris

Board of Directors
Hon. Scott R. Heldfond

Hon. Scott R. Heldfond

Board of Directors
Tamar Hurwitz

Tamar Hurwitz

Board of Directors
Regis Kelly

Regis Kelly

Board of Directors
Vijay Kumar

Vijay Kumar

Board of Directors
William (Bill) Lee

William (Bill) Lee

Board of Directors
Prof. Shivaram Malavalli

Prof. Shivaram Malavalli

Board of Directors & Resident Chairman
Vish Mishra

Vish Mishra

Board of Directors
Meera Prashad

Meera Prashad

Board of Directors
Sean Randolph

Sean Randolph

Board of Directors
Ram Reddy

Ram Reddy

Board of Directors
Raghu Shivaram

Raghu Shivaram

Board of Directors
Nandini Tandon

Nandini Tandon

Board of Directors
Priya Tandon

Priya Tandon

Board of Directors
U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein

U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein

Honorary Chair
London Nicole Breed

London Nicole Breed

Honorary Chair
Frank Jordan

Frank Jordan

Honorary Chair
Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom

Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom

Honorary Chair
Late Mayor Ed Lee

Late Mayor Ed Lee

Honorary Chair
Meena Chidhambaram

Meena Chidhambaram

2020 Committee
Tara Misra

Tara Misra

2020 Committee
Rahul Pathak

Rahul Pathak

2020 Committee
Tory Polich

Tory Polich

2020 Committee
Sarin Suvarna

Sarin Suvarna

2020 Committee
Sada Chidambaram

Sada Chidambaram

2020 Committee Chair
Robert Friese

Robert Friese

Board of Directors
Sergio Garcia

Sergio Garcia

Board of Directors
Judith Wilbur

Judith Wilbur

Board of Directors
Sri. Siddaramaiah

Sri. Siddaramaiah

Chief Minister - Karnataka, Honorary Chair
Sri. R. V. Deshpande

Sri. R. V. Deshpande

Minister - Large & Small Scale Industries, Honorary Chair
Smt. G. Padmavathi

Smt. G. Padmavathi

Mayor, Honorary Chair
Smt. Ratna Prabha

Smt. Ratna Prabha

IAS, Honorary Member
Sri. Gaurav Gupta

Sri. Gaurav Gupta

IAS, Honorary Member
Sri. M. R. Shashidhara

Sri. M. R. Shashidhara

Karnataka Udyog Mitra, Member
Smt. Swaroopa T. K.

Smt. Swaroopa T. K.

Karnataka Udyog Mitra, Member
James P. Herlihy

James P. Herlihy

Co-Chair and Director
Kumar Malavalli

Kumar Malavalli

Development Chair and Director
Madhav Misra

Madhav Misra

Co-Chair and Director
Uday Bellary

Uday Bellary

Treasurer and Director
Vijay C. Advani

Vijay C. Advani

Board of Directors
B. J. Arun

B. J. Arun

Board of Directors
Vijay Bist

Vijay Bist

Board of Directors
Mark Chandler

Mark Chandler

Director - San Francisco Mayor’s Office
Deepa Harris

Deepa Harris

Board of Directors
Hon. Scott R. Heldfond

Hon. Scott R. Heldfond

Board of Directors
Tamar Hurwitz

Tamar Hurwitz

Board of Directors
Regis Kelly

Regis Kelly

Board of Directors
Vijay Kumar

Vijay Kumar

Board of Directors
William (Bill) Lee

William (Bill) Lee

Board of Directors
Prof. Shivaram Malavalli

Prof. Shivaram Malavalli

Board of Directors & Resident Chairman
Vish Mishra

Vish Mishra

Board of Directors
Meera Prashad

Meera Prashad

Board of Directors
Sean Randolph

Sean Randolph

Board of Directors
Ram Reddy

Ram Reddy

Board of Directors
Raghu Shivaram

Raghu Shivaram

Board of Directors
Nandini Tandon

Nandini Tandon

Board of Directors
Priya Tandon

Priya Tandon

Board of Directors
U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein

U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein

Honorary Chair
London Nicole Breed

London Nicole Breed

Honorary Chair
Frank Jordan

Frank Jordan

Honorary Chair
Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom

Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom

Honorary Chair
Late Mayor Ed Lee

Late Mayor Ed Lee

Honorary Chair
Meena Chidhambaram

Meena Chidhambaram

2020 Committee
Tara Misra

Tara Misra

2020 Committee
Rahul Pathak

Rahul Pathak

2020 Committee
Tory Polich

Tory Polich

2020 Committee
Sarin Suvarna

Sarin Suvarna

2020 Committee
Sada Chidambaram

Sada Chidambaram

2020 Committee Chair
Robert Friese

Robert Friese

Board of Directors
Sergio Garcia

Sergio Garcia

Board of Directors
Judith Wilbur

Judith Wilbur

Board of Directors
Sri. Siddaramaiah

Sri. Siddaramaiah

Chief Minister - Karnataka, Honorary Chair
Sri. R. V. Deshpande

Sri. R. V. Deshpande

Minister - Large & Small Scale Industries, Honorary Chair
Smt. G. Padmavathi

Smt. G. Padmavathi

Mayor, Honorary Chair
Smt. Ratna Prabha

Smt. Ratna Prabha

IAS, Honorary Member
Sri. Gaurav Gupta

Sri. Gaurav Gupta

IAS, Honorary Member
Sri. M. R. Shashidhara

Sri. M. R. Shashidhara

Karnataka Udyog Mitra, Member
Smt. Swaroopa T. K.

Smt. Swaroopa T. K.

Karnataka Udyog Mitra, Member
James P. Herlihy

James P. Herlihy

Co-Chair and Director
Kumar Malavalli

Kumar Malavalli

Development Chair and Director
Madhav Misra

Madhav Misra

Co-Chair and Director
Uday Bellary

Uday Bellary

Treasurer and Director
Vijay C. Advani

Vijay C. Advani

Board of Directors
B. J. Arun

B. J. Arun

Board of Directors
Vijay Bist

Vijay Bist

Board of Directors
Mark Chandler

Mark Chandler

Director - San Francisco Mayor’s Office
Deepa Harris

Deepa Harris

Board of Directors
Hon. Scott R. Heldfond

Hon. Scott R. Heldfond

Board of Directors
Tamar Hurwitz

Tamar Hurwitz

Board of Directors
Regis Kelly

Regis Kelly

Board of Directors
Vijay Kumar

Vijay Kumar

Board of Directors
William (Bill) Lee

William (Bill) Lee

Board of Directors
Prof. Shivaram Malavalli

Prof. Shivaram Malavalli

Board of Directors & Resident Chairman
Vish Mishra

Vish Mishra

Board of Directors
Meera Prashad

Meera Prashad

Board of Directors
Sean Randolph

Sean Randolph

Board of Directors
Ram Reddy

Ram Reddy

Board of Directors
Raghu Shivaram

Raghu Shivaram

Board of Directors
Nandini Tandon

Nandini Tandon

Board of Directors
Priya Tandon

Priya Tandon

Board of Directors

Honorary Emeritus Board

U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein

U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein

Honorary Chair
London Nicole Breed

London Nicole Breed

Honorary Chair
Frank Jordan

Frank Jordan

Honorary Chair
Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom

Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom

Honorary Chair
Late Mayor Ed Lee

Late Mayor Ed Lee

Honorary Chair
Meena Chidhambaram

Meena Chidhambaram

2020 Committee
Tara Misra

Tara Misra

2020 Committee
Rahul Pathak

Rahul Pathak

2020 Committee
Tory Polich

Tory Polich

2020 Committee
Sarin Suvarna

Sarin Suvarna

2020 Committee
Sada Chidambaram

Sada Chidambaram

2020 Committee Chair
Robert Friese

Robert Friese

Board of Directors
Sergio Garcia

Sergio Garcia

Board of Directors
Judith Wilbur

Judith Wilbur

Board of Directors
Sri. Siddaramaiah

Sri. Siddaramaiah

Chief Minister - Karnataka, Honorary Chair
Sri. R. V. Deshpande

Sri. R. V. Deshpande

Minister - Large & Small Scale Industries, Honorary Chair
Smt. G. Padmavathi

Smt. G. Padmavathi

Mayor, Honorary Chair
Smt. Ratna Prabha

Smt. Ratna Prabha

IAS, Honorary Member
Sri. Gaurav Gupta

Sri. Gaurav Gupta

IAS, Honorary Member
Sri. M. R. Shashidhara

Sri. M. R. Shashidhara

Karnataka Udyog Mitra, Member
Smt. Swaroopa T. K.

Smt. Swaroopa T. K.

Karnataka Udyog Mitra, Member
James P. Herlihy

James P. Herlihy

Co-Chair and Director
Kumar Malavalli

Kumar Malavalli

Development Chair and Director
Madhav Misra

Madhav Misra

Co-Chair and Director
Uday Bellary

Uday Bellary

Treasurer and Director
Vijay C. Advani

Vijay C. Advani

Board of Directors
B. J. Arun

B. J. Arun

Board of Directors
Vijay Bist

Vijay Bist

Board of Directors
Mark Chandler

Mark Chandler

Director - San Francisco Mayor’s Office
Deepa Harris

Deepa Harris

Board of Directors
Hon. Scott R. Heldfond

Hon. Scott R. Heldfond

Board of Directors
Tamar Hurwitz

Tamar Hurwitz

Board of Directors
Regis Kelly

Regis Kelly

Board of Directors
Vijay Kumar

Vijay Kumar

Board of Directors
William (Bill) Lee

William (Bill) Lee

Board of Directors
Prof. Shivaram Malavalli

Prof. Shivaram Malavalli

Board of Directors & Resident Chairman
Vish Mishra

Vish Mishra

Board of Directors
Meera Prashad

Meera Prashad

Board of Directors
Sean Randolph

Sean Randolph

Board of Directors
Ram Reddy

Ram Reddy

Board of Directors
Raghu Shivaram

Raghu Shivaram

Board of Directors
Nandini Tandon

Nandini Tandon

Board of Directors
Priya Tandon

Priya Tandon

Board of Directors

Emeritus Board

U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein

U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein

Honorary Chair
London Nicole Breed

London Nicole Breed

Honorary Chair
Frank Jordan

Frank Jordan

Honorary Chair
Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom

Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom

Honorary Chair
Late Mayor Ed Lee

Late Mayor Ed Lee

Honorary Chair
Meena Chidhambaram

Meena Chidhambaram

2020 Committee
Tara Misra

Tara Misra

2020 Committee
Rahul Pathak

Rahul Pathak

2020 Committee
Tory Polich

Tory Polich

2020 Committee
Sarin Suvarna

Sarin Suvarna

2020 Committee
Sada Chidambaram

Sada Chidambaram

2020 Committee Chair
Robert Friese

Robert Friese

Board of Directors
Sergio Garcia

Sergio Garcia

Board of Directors
Judith Wilbur

Judith Wilbur

Board of Directors
Sri. Siddaramaiah

Sri. Siddaramaiah

Chief Minister - Karnataka, Honorary Chair
Sri. R. V. Deshpande

Sri. R. V. Deshpande

Minister - Large & Small Scale Industries, Honorary Chair
Smt. G. Padmavathi

Smt. G. Padmavathi

Mayor, Honorary Chair
Smt. Ratna Prabha

Smt. Ratna Prabha

IAS, Honorary Member
Sri. Gaurav Gupta

Sri. Gaurav Gupta

IAS, Honorary Member
Sri. M. R. Shashidhara

Sri. M. R. Shashidhara

Karnataka Udyog Mitra, Member
Smt. Swaroopa T. K.

Smt. Swaroopa T. K.

Karnataka Udyog Mitra, Member
James P. Herlihy

James P. Herlihy

Co-Chair and Director
Kumar Malavalli

Kumar Malavalli

Development Chair and Director
Madhav Misra

Madhav Misra

Co-Chair and Director
Uday Bellary

Uday Bellary

Treasurer and Director
Vijay C. Advani

Vijay C. Advani

Board of Directors
B. J. Arun

B. J. Arun

Board of Directors
Vijay Bist

Vijay Bist

Board of Directors
Mark Chandler

Mark Chandler

Director - San Francisco Mayor’s Office
Deepa Harris

Deepa Harris

Board of Directors
Hon. Scott R. Heldfond

Hon. Scott R. Heldfond

Board of Directors
Tamar Hurwitz

Tamar Hurwitz

Board of Directors
Regis Kelly

Regis Kelly

Board of Directors
Vijay Kumar

Vijay Kumar

Board of Directors
William (Bill) Lee

William (Bill) Lee

Board of Directors
Prof. Shivaram Malavalli

Prof. Shivaram Malavalli

Board of Directors & Resident Chairman
Vish Mishra

Vish Mishra

Board of Directors
Meera Prashad

Meera Prashad

Board of Directors
Sean Randolph

Sean Randolph

Board of Directors
Ram Reddy

Ram Reddy

Board of Directors
Raghu Shivaram

Raghu Shivaram

Board of Directors
Nandini Tandon

Nandini Tandon

Board of Directors
Priya Tandon

Priya Tandon

Board of Directors