Volunteer of the Year Awards 2023

Dr. Thesara Jayawardane is the Head of the Department of Industrial Management at the Faculty of Business of the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka.

She obtained her BSc (Engineering) degree in Materials and Process Engineering from the University of Waikato, New Zealand. She obtained the PhD and MPhil in Entrepreneurship from the University of Aldersgate. She is an Attorney at Law of Sri Lanka with a LLB (Honours) from the University of London and, has a Master of Arts in Drama and Theater from the University of Kelaniya. She is a Chartered Manager and Fellow of Chartered Management Institute-UK and a Chartered Marketer and a Fellow of Chartered Institute of Marketing-UK. She is a Member of the Bar Association-SL, SL Institute of Marketing, American Marketing Association, and an Associate member of the Institute of Engineers SL and Engineering Council of Sri Lanka.

Thesara is a Diversity and Inclusion Lead and, Board member of the CMI-Sri Lanka Chapter for the 3rd consecutive year appointed as the Assistant Secretary from 01 May 2022 to 01 May 2023. She actively promotes Equality, Diversity, and Inclusivity along with Entrepreneurship in Sri Lanka and, has published over 30 research Journal articles, presented over 60 Conference papers, and delivered numerous Keynote speeches on the same.

Thesara was a Judge of the final panel of Judges choosing the CMI Management Book of the Year 2022. She is an inspirational Author of three novels and four famous Translations promoting women empowerment and, her latest publication is a Textbook on “Entrepreneurship”.

Thesara is a Distinguished Fellow of the Institute of National Security Studies Sri Lanka and a Founder member of Aramuna organisation where she provides legal and marketing advice, while advocating Entrepreneurship among Sri Lankans.

Thesara is an award-winning actress who has starred in a few chosen movies and TV dramas, and won the Best Actress Award at UNDA OCIC 2008 and State Tele Awards 2007. She serves as the Senior Treasurer of Drama Society of UoM. As a hobby she works as a Television Presenter hosting a morning show telecasting in ART TV promoting budding female Entrepreneurs.