Dr. Santhosh Mathew is the India Country Lead for Public Policy and Finance at the Gates Foundation. Prior to joining the Gates Foundation in 2018, he was an Indian Administrative Service officer of the Bihar cadre for 32 years, having served as Additional Chief Secretary, Chair of the National Council for Teacher Education, Professor of Social Management at India's civil service college in Mussoorie (1994 to 2000) and Joint Secretary in India's Ministry of Rural Development (2013 to 2017). From 2000 to 2003, he took time out from his government duties to serve as the Country Director for the Leadership for Environment and Development (LEAD) program in India.

Dr. Mathew has a PhD in Development Studies from IDS, Sussex, an MSc in Social Research Methods from the University of Sussex, an MA in Economics from the Delhi School of Economics and a BA in Economics from Loyola College, Chennai.