Born in India and later moving to the UK, he developed an early interest in how people, systems, and cultures interact—an interest that continues to shape his work today. His doctoral research led to the development of the Social Innovation for Active Ageing (SIFAA) framework, reflecting his focus on people-centred, evidence-based approaches to complex societal challenges.

He has also completed the Civil Service’s prestigious Future Leaders Scheme and played an active role in advancing equality and inclusion, having co-chaired the Race Equality Network within the Scottish Government and co-founded and co-chaired the Race Allies Network. Dhruv is a recognised public speaker, often sharing insights on designing public services around people’s needs. He has delivered a TEDx talk exploring the power of stories and storytelling—an area he is deeply passionate about. He has also delivered service design training to hundreds of individuals both nationally and internationally and continues to mentor a wide range of talented professionals.