Board of Advisors
Dr. Raghunath Anant Mashelkar is known for his own world class scientific research, transformative science and innovation institution leadership, pioneering different Indian movements ranging from traditional knowledge protection to creation of strong yet balanced IPR systems, to inclusive innovation movement based on the concept of Gandhian Engineering that he pioneered. He has been an influential thought leader in shaping Science, Technology & Innovation policies in post liberalised India. Dr. Mashelkar was the longest serving (1995-2006) Director General of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), also Chairman of National Innovation Foundation (2000-2018). He was the President of Indian National Science Academy (2004-2006), as also the President of Global Research Alliance (2007-2018). 45 universities from around the world have honoured him with honorary doctorates, which include Universities of London, Salford, Pretoria, Wisconsin, Swinburne, Monash and Delhi.
Dr. Mashelkar has many firsts to his credit. He was the first Indian to win the most prestigious TWAS-Lenovo Science Prize (2018), which is considered as mini – Nobel Prize for developing world scientists, first Indian from India to be elected as Fellow of US National Academy of Inventors (2017), first Asian Scientist to win the Business Week (USA) award of `Stars of Asia’ at the hands of George Bush (Sr.), the former President of USA and the first and only scientist to win the JRD Tata Corporate Leadership Award (1998) so far. He is only the third Indian engineer to have been elected as Fellow of Royal Society since 1660, seventh Indian scientist to have been elected as Foreign Fellow of US National Academy of Science since 1863, and seventh Indian to have been elected as Foreign Associate of American Academy of Arts & Science since 1780. Dr. Mashelkar has been on the Board of Directors of India’s most reputed companies, which include Reliance Industries Ltd.,Tata Motors Ltd., Hindustan Unilever Ltd., Thermax, Piramal Enterprise, KPIT Technology, etc
Deeply connected with the innovation movement in India, besides chairing India’s National Innovation Foundation, he chaired Reliance Innovation Council, KPIT Technologies Innovation Council, Thermax Innovation Council, Persistent Systems Innovation Council and Marico Foundation’s Governing Council. He co-chairs the Maharashtra State Innovation Council. He has been a member of External Research Advisory Board of Microsoft (USA), Advisory Board of VTT (Finland), Corporate Innovation Board of Michelin (France), Advisory Board of National Research Foundation (Singapore), Corporate Innovation Board (Michelin), among others. The President of India honoured Dr. Mashelkar with Padmashri (1991), with Padmabhushan (2000) and with Padma Vibhushan (2014), three of the highest civilian honours.
Prof. Vasudha Kamat is well known for her significant contribution to the field of Educational Technology/Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Education. She has invested more than four decades of life in the field of education and has contributed to School Education, Higher Education, Teacher Education, Women’s Education, Open and Distance Learning, Life Long Learning extensively. She is nominated by MHRD, GoI to the National Education Policy Draft Committee (GoI) under the Chairmanship of Dr. Kasturirangan since June 2017. The draft NEP was submitted to Hon’ble Minister HRD on May 31, 2019.
She was Vice Chancellor of SNDT Women’s University during the years 2011-16 and has introduced many new practices into Higher Education in general and SNDTWU in particular. She is recipient of the Best Teacher Award by Maharashtra State Government (2005-06), Fulbright Senior Research Fellowship for conducting research in the USA (2005-06), Rotary International Fellowship (2004-05) during which she taught at UiTM, Malaysia. She intensely advocates integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in higher education. Conducts Professional Development programmes for faculty from HE in the use of learner centred pedagogies (more of Cooperative Learning strategies) and integrate ICTs (Blended and Flipped Learning) in day to day teaching-learning process.
She strongly believes in Internationalization of higher education and has brought on board many universities from foreign countries. She is invited by many universities and organizations abroad for academic interactions, and has visited several countries like Canada, China, UK, Slovenia, France, Netherlands, USA, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Bangladesh, Belgium, Qatar, Hong Kong, Belgium, Mauritius etc. She has conducted several research studies for various National/International organizations such as Indian Space Research Organization, UNDP, World-Bank, UNICEF, MHRD, etc. She has closely worked with Open Universities and National Institute of Open Schooling in various capacities. She has many publications (Research papers, book chapters, research reports etc.) at her credit. As a Regional Secretary of All India Association for Educational Technology (AIAET) she had organized several Annual Conferences at State, National as well as International levels. She has books, book chapters and Research Papers at her credit. As a social activist, she works for the Society for Rural Reconstruction and Education (Narayan Ashram) working in Konkan region (Sindhudurg district) of Maharashtra since 1992.
Roma Balwani is currently Director, Strategic Resources, Brand & Communications, an advisory firm specialised in ESG, Sustainability, CSR, stakeholder engagement & CEO, Indian Deaf Cricket Association. Former Sr. Advisor & President, Vedanta Group. Her role encompassed advising on a robust brand strategy for the group which has focus on giving back to communities & society at large and as a natural resource major contributing towards nation building that will help in economic development of our country and position One Vedanta brand to diverse stakeholders across India and globally.
She is also an Independent Director of John Cockerill, India (formerly CMI FPE Ltd.) Chair, CSR & NRC Committees. The Indian hub of John Cockerill, Industry Metals vertical, which is the world leader in the conception, manufacture and installation of reversible cold rolling mills, headquartered in Belgium. Roma has over three decades of experience in various aspects of strategic communications. In her previous role as President, Group Communication, CSR and Sustainable Development at Vedanta Resources plc. She was instrumental in bringing sustainable development goals as a key focus area for the group. She has been the member of the Group Executive Committee which comprises the leadership team at Vedanta. She personally believes in giving back. She is actively associated with disability cricket and promotes deaf cricket as an enabler to instil a sense of pride and purpose for the hearing -impaired youth with sporting talent.
She speaks at several summits on Brand, Sustainable Development & Communications. In over 30 years of experience, she has won several Indian and International awards and accolades. She is the recipient of the Adgully, Exchange4media, Lifetime Achievement awards 2022, 2020 and PRCI, Lifetime Achievement award, 2018. Roma has the distinction of being included in the PR Week Global Power Book 2015, South East Asia. For the last seven years at Vedanta, Roma has been recognized as among the most important and influential In-House communicators from around the world by the Holmes Global Report's Influence 100 now Provoke Media: from 2015 to 2021.
Siddharth (Sid) Pai is a technology consultant who has personally led over $20 billion in complex, first-of-a-kind outsourcing transactions. He now advises boards, CEO’s and investors to help them strengthen and execute their global technology strategies in an increasingly uncertain and volatile world. He has significant international technology P&L leadership experience (over $500 mn). Sid has held Senior Executive, Partner & Board Member positions at organizations like IBM, KPMG and ISG. He is a respected newspaper columnist and industry expert on deep technology issues. Sid is the Co-founder and Managing Partner of Siana Capital Management.
