Ananya Bhatia (they/them) is an undergraduate at SFU studying Sociology, Public Policy, and Social Data Analytics. They immigrated from India to Canada at a young age and bring experience in youth advocacy, civic and community engagement, and grassroots organizing, with a focus on equity-driven, community-led initiatives.

A returning member of CityHive’s Youth Advisory and an alum of Urban ReVision: BIPOC Mentorship Studio, Ananya has learned and applied skills in urban planning, public engagement, and civic governance. They completed a community engagement project with Translink and created a Youth Engagement Guide with their team to inform transportation planning.

Ananya is a co-founder and Outreach & Resources Director of the Surrey Rainbow Project, a community-service co-operative providing programs and events for 2SLGBTQIA+ racialized communities in Surrey. They lead outreach, resource development, volunteer engagement, and support program/event development and delivery while analyzing its impact to understand community needs and improve programming. Ananya is also the Co-Lead of the Surrey Youth Newcomer Council, facilitating workshops, organizing events, and collaborating with community stakeholders to address challenges faced by newcomer youth.

They are committed to amplifying diverse youth voices in decision-making spaces and empowering youth with skills and opportunities to advocate for themselves. Ananya brings lived experience, research, advocacy, and a passion for grassroots social change to CityHive’s Youth Advisory.