FICCI INNOVATION SUMMIT 2025

HR COMMITTEE

Anuradha Razdan

Member-Management Committee HUL as Executive Director HR Vice President HR, Unilever South Asia

Anuradha (Anu) is a member of the Management Committee of HUL as Executive Director HR and Vice President HR, Unilever South Asia.
She is a Board member of NHRDN India and a member of the CII National Committee for HR and Leadership. She has recently been recognized among India’s Most Powerful Women in Business by Business Today. She featured in the Spencer Stuart & Economic Times list of Rising Indian Women Leaders in 2015.
She is a business focused HR leader who has had an international career with rich experiences in operating company and global leadership roles, partnering members of the Unilever Executive.
She passed out of XLRI in 1999 and joined Hindustan Unilever Ltd. as a Management Trainee.
Anuradha spent the first 14 years of her career in HUL, working with teams in Customer Development, Employee Relations and as HR Partner to members of the HUL Management Committee in Supply Chain and Marketing. In her role as Leadership Development Director, South Asia, she led the Talent agenda, across 5 markets, and was instrumental in bringing significant external recognition to the company.
She worked at Unilever’s headquarters in London for six years, first as Executive Assistant to the former CHRO, followed by a 4 year stint as Vice President HR, Home Care, where she shaped the organisational and cultural transformation of the business globally, to be more agile & consumer connected. She has strong M&A experience having worked with the Unilever Prestige business and has also led the Global Talent Attraction and Employer Brand agenda for Unilever.
Her purpose is to spark magic between people, passion and opportunity – for the benefit of the business, of society and for us all.
Anuradha is a Board member of NHRDN India and a member of the CII National Committee for HR and Leadership. She has recently been recognized among India’s Most Powerful Women in Business by Business Today. She featured in the Spencer Stuart & Economic Times list of Rising Indian Women Leaders in 2015.
She is married to Harsha who is in a Consulting career. They have a son, Rishi who is 10 years old. As a family they love to travel & discover new places and cultures. Anuradha’s other interests include reading, and she follows tennis passionately

Girish Luthra

Senior Vice President – FICCI-CMSME & Chairman Luthra Group of Companies

Girish Luthra is a leading entrepreneur in the field of environment, utilities infrastructure, textiles & hospitality.
Some of his recognitions include being a patent holder for a machine design in textiles, being the recipient of the NRDC Award by the Government of India in the year 2000 and the Young Scientist of the Year Award by the Government of Gujarat in 2003. He is Senior Vice President of FICCI CMSME of India, He is an integral part of the Committee set up by Ministry of Textiles, Government of India to give recommendations in the 12th Five Year Plan for Textile and Apparel and textile policy’14. He has been the head of the Environment Committee of the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce & Industry for over a decade and is the Ex-Chairman of CII, Southern Gujarat Zone.
Over the years he has been a part of several National & International Delegations, as an expert on environment and policy issues at government and nongovernmental levels. Has worked closely with various organizations in United Nations and various countries for work practices in environment and industries at large.
Alongside all his achievements he has always kept in mind the society at large. He is a promoter of the Luthra Institute of Management, a full time MBA College, and his philanthropic work focuses on offering health care for the poor, promoting youth welfare and providing spiritual guidance for those in need.
When not in the midst of work he finds time for photography or mentoring and training people. He is an avid photography enthusiast and also enjoys hobbies like flying and skydiving. His fun loving personality and a balanced approach to life has made him a tremendous source of inspiration to many.

Surender Mehta

CHRO, Nykaa

Surender “Suren” Mehta joins Nykaa as Group Chief Human Resources Officer. He has nearly 20 years of experience with Vodafone in combination of roles both here in India & Global Operations. Suren has also been a member of VOIS (Vodafone’s Global Capability centre) India board since 2017, and in his earlier years worked for ITC, as well as diversified family-run businesses. He comes to Nykaa with Leadership Experience, in different cycles of Company’s Evolution, and has a keen interest of high performance, building an inclusive culture and serving society. Suren got his MBA from IMT- Ghaziabad, and an Advanced Management Programme from Harvard Business School.

Manoj Sharma

Joint President and Chief Human Resource Officer, Aarti Industries

Seasoned HR professional having 25 years of experience with large reputed Indian Multi Nationals across multi geographies covering entire domain of HR function.

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Dr. C. Jayakumar

Executive Vice President & Head – Corporate Human Resources (CHRO), Larsen & Toubro Limited

A highly result-oriented, HR professional with 35 years of experience in successfully planning, designing, implementing, and managing various strategic HR Initiatives. On academic front, he is an alumnus of Madras School of Social Work, XLRI – Jamshedpur and London Business School where he specialized in Leadership & Human Resource Management. Qualified in Law (LLB) and a doctorate in leadership from the University of Madras, he is also certified in OD from the NTL, USA.
Dr. C. Jayakumar has made an immense contribution in the Human Resources arena over the years. He presides on the boards of esteemed professional bodies and in the Board of Studies of various prestigious educational institutions such as AHRD, AIMA, CII – National Committee on Leadership & HR, SP Jain etc.
Dr. Jayakumar has been honored with HR Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022 by FICCI and in 2021 by Economic Times & People Business. ETHRWorld recognized him among the top 50 HR Thought leaders of 2022.

Ruzbeh Irani

President - Group Human Resources & Communications Member of the Group Executive Board, M&M Ltd

Ruzbeh joined the Mahindra Group in 2007, as Executive Vice President – Corporate Strategy, heading the Group's Strategy function. He became the Chief Brand Officer of the Group; during that time, he spearheaded Mahindra's entry into racing, and led the development of the Group's brand position and core purpose, 'Rise'. He then moved to head International Operations for the Automotive and Farm Equipment Sectors of M&M. Subsequentially he led Group Corporate Brand, PR and Communications, Ethics as well as Mahindra’s Racing team.
In April 2020, Ruzbeh has taken over as President – Group Human Resources & Communications. He is now also responsible for Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Services. He retains his position as the Chief Ethics Officer for the Group. He is a member of Mahindra’s Group Executive Board.
Ruzbeh completed his Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from Bombay University in 1983. He went on to receive his Masters in Management Studies from the Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai in 1985. He is an alumnus of the Advanced Management Program at the Harvard Business School.
Post his Master's degree, Ruzbeh worked with Hindustan Lever and Unilever for close to 22 years, across geographies, in marketing, customer management and general management. This included stints as Marketing Manager – Home and Personal Care (with Unilever Central Asia), Regional Manager – Western India (with Hindustan Lever), Vice President – Customer Development (with Unilever’s Africa Regional Group), and Customer Development Director on the Board of Unilever Maghreb.

Bhawna Kirpal Mital

Head
HR, ADMIN, IT, CSR
Hero Future Energies (HFE)

Bhawna leads the Human Resource Function at Hero Future Energies (a Hero Group Company). She joined the company at the inception stage and has been part of the growth journey, Company has now presence in India, London, Singapore, Ukraine, Vietnam, and Bangladesh. She has managed the Organization transformation from the start-up to an established and one of the leading IPP in renewable sector today. HFE received its accreditation as ‘Great Place to Work’ by Great Place to Work® Institute amongst Mid-size Companies in Jan 2022. She blends the modern-day HR practices with traditional Indian value system. She is a passionate HR professional driven by results and achievements. She has been providing strategic HR input from people perspective to the Management and collaborating with the Leadership team for strategic alignment, delegation, empowerment, and respect as well as driving initiatives focussed on high performance standards, equal opportunity, diversity and inclusion and resource optimisation.

Lakshmi Chandrasekharan

Senior Managing Director – Human Resources Lead, Accenture, India
Committee Position: Chair
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Lakshmi is Senior Managing Director – CHRO, Accenture in India. With over 25 years of HR experience, she is currently responsible for leading the human capital strategy for Accenture in India focusing on enabling 310,000+ people in India to be successful, professionally, and personally.

Lakshmi joined Accenture in 2003 and has held numerous HR leadership positions, supporting different Accenture businesses both locally and globally. Prior to joining Accenture, she has worked with iGate (now Capgemini) and Nestle. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Presidency University, Kolkata, and an MBA in Human Resources from XLRI, Jamshedpur.

Lakshmi is a strong advocate of enabling equal and empowering cultures and enjoys mentoring young people, especially young women from diverse socio-economic backgrounds and at their early career stages. She is a Melvin Jones fellow of Lions Club International and supports activities that enable persons with disabilities. Lakshmi also co-chairs the FICCI’s HR & Skills Committee and is on the advisory board for XLRI's Centre for Gender Equality and Inclusive Leadership (CGEIL). She regularly features on Business World People's lists of Most Influential Women in HR and has also been recognized among top HR Thought Leaders in the country by ETHR World in 2024.

Lakshmi lives in Bangalore with her family including her husband, son, and parents-in-law. She enjoys traveling discovering local cultures, foods and languages and can speak 5 languages fluently.

Rajeev Dubey

Principal Advisor
Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd.
Committee Position: Chair
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Rajeev Dubey is the Group President (HR & Corporate Services) & CEO (After-Market Sector), Member of the Group Executive Board, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. His key focus areas are Human Capital initiatives of the Group, the After-Market businesses whose CEO’s report to him, Group Communications, Government Relations, CSR and Infrastructure. He is the Chairman of Mahindra Insurance Brokers, Mahindra Steel Service Centres and Mahindra First Choice Services, and serves on the Boards of several Group companies including Ssangyong Motors Korea, Mahindra Intertrade and Mahindra First Choice Wheels. He is Chairman of the Group CSR Council and the Corporate Governance Cell, and a Member of the Governing Council of the Mahindra Institute of Quality and the Governing Board of Mahindra Ecole Centrale.

Ranjan Mohapatra

Director HR
Indian Oil Corporation Limited.
Committee Position: Member
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A graduate Mechanical Engineer from BITS, Pilani, have done Post Graduate Diploma in Management from Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneshwar & currently pursuing Ph. D. in Management from BIT, Mesra. Joined IOC in 1987 and since then have taken up different assignments in the fields of Terminal Operations, Supply Chain Management & Logistics. Better known for acumen and in-depth knowledge in Supply Chain & Logistics. Was also one of the main architects of the successful fuel quality up-gradation process of Oil Marketing Companies in India in 2010. Headed the Operation Function of Maharashtra State Office in India, which has the largest number of Oil terminals & depots, from April 2010 to Jan 2012.Prior to taking over the current assignment was the Managing Director of IndianOil (Mauritius) Ltd., the wholly owned subsidiary of Indian Oil Corporation, led a team of young professionals, registering sizable growth in Market Share and Profitability, with IndianOil (Mauritius) becoming the 9th largest company in Mauritius and second largest Oil Company.

Dr. Nirav Mandir

Chief Human Capital Officer

Dr. Nirav Mandir has been instrumental as a Chief Human Capital Officer with Shree Ramkrishna Exports Pvt. Ltd. (SRK), World’s one of the largest Diamond & Jewellery Manufacturing and Export conglomerate, generating a revenue of more than 1.8 billion US$. He shoulders the strategic responsibilities for SRK’s Global HR, IR, Administration, HSE, CSR, and Compliances. As a lead for SRK’s ESG initiative, He is also the Project Administrator for SRK’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities rated among World’s Top 6-LEED:Platinum buildings by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Dr. Nirav has achieved his Post-Doctoral Fellowship from South Korea, a Ph.D. from the USA, Advanced HRM from IIM-A, M.Phil., Post Graduate Diploma in Industrial Safety & Environmental Management, M.S.W.; L.L.B. (Special) & B.Sc. (Physics). He has published Six HR/IR/HSE-related Research Papers in various National & International Journals. He is also a certified Lead Auditor for ISO standards, i.e., 9001, 45001 and 27001. A Certified Assessor for LEAN MFG.; Material Flow Cost Accounting; Psychometric Assessments; Value Stream Mapping; Certified HR Analytics & Metrics Professional; Certified Employee Engagement Professional; Certified Food Safety Supervisor; First Aid Senior; Certified Industrial & Fire Safety Professional; Certified Leadership Coach; Innovation & Strategy Professional from Harvard University, USA and a Certified Independent Director-IICA, Ministry of Corporate Affairs-GoI. He is recognised for his untiring work with prestigious awards in his HR journey:

Awarded for “Excellence in Teaching & Training-2021” by ISTD.
Youngest HR Professional of the Year-2018 by National Institute of Personnel Management.
100-Top HR Minds (India)-2018 by Times Ascent.
Most Influential HR Leaders in India-2016 by World HRD Congress.

The honorary commitments include;

Life Member-Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs
Life Member & Member-Managing Committee-ISTD, Surat Chapter
Member-Institute of Directors
Member-Executive Council, SRK Knowledge Foundation
Chairman-HR & Training Committee, The Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Sr. Member-NHRDN, South Gujarat Chapter
Sr. Member-NIPM, Surat Chapter
Sr. Member-HR Forum, South Gujarat Productivity Council
Sr. Member-HR Committee, Kiran Hospital
Advisory Board Member-Unified Brainz of India
Advisory Board Member-FuturoKnowledge, Singapore
Member-Industry Academia Forum, AURO University &
Adjunct Professor-KEISIE International University, USA

Yuvaraj Srivastava

Group Chief Human Resource Officer
MakeMyTrip.Com
Committee Position: Member
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HR Professional with 20 years corporate HR experience and 5.5 years of experience with Indian Armed forces as commissioned officer. In HR Leadership role for almost 12 years, currently leads Human Resource for combined entity of MakeMyTrip, GoIbibo and RedBus.
Worked with Asian Paints Ltd for around 9 years in different roles across levels. Three years with The Oberoi, New Delhi as Director – HR. Joined PepsiCo India in year 2010 as VP- HR for West Market, later moved to PepsiCo Foods business as Head of HR for All India Sales and Org Capability building . In July 2013, moved to a larger role within PepsiCo to lead Org Capability for PepsiCo India. Currently as Group CHRO for MakeMyTrip.Com responsible for the HR strategy and business partnering for the company and all its overseas subsidiaries. MBA in HR from IMT Ghaziabad and graduate in Industrial psychology from University of Allahabad.

Veena Swarup

Group Former Director HR
Engineers India Limited
Committee Position: Special Invitee

A Management professional with more than 3 decades of experience in Public Sector, was Director (Human Resource) on the Board of Engineers India Limited (EIL), a Navaratna Public Sector under the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, from October 2012 and Superannuated on 30.06.2016. At EIL, has taken several path breaking initiatives towards strategizing HR for diversifying & overseas scenario through effective Talent Management, Training & Development, Performance Management, Employee Communication, CSR & Brand building, with a view to take EIL to greater heights

Salil Bhandari

Partner
BGJC Associates
Committee Position: Member

Mr Salil Bhandari is the Founder of BGJC & Associates LLP, an audit and consultancy firm established in 1982. The firm is a known professional firm with clients like LNJ Bhilwara Group (HEG Ltd, RSWM Ltd, Maral Overseas Ltd), Apollo Tyres Ltd, Dalmias, Jubilant group ( Jubilant Industries Ltd, Jubilant Consumer Products Ltd, Jubilant Foodworks - Dominos), Blackberrys, Radico Khaitan group, J K Group etc. The firm has 9 partners with Branches in India and internationally linked to IR Global through which it serves in over 100 countries.

Founder & CEO
Grow Talent Company Limited and Founder SOIL-The School of Inspired Leadership
Committee Position: Special Invitee

Anil Sachdev is the Founder and CEO of Grow Talent Company Limited and the School of Inspired Leadership-SOIL. Grow Talent was created in July 2000 and became the leader in the strategic HR consulting industry by 2006.It enabled large number of Global and local firms to achieve breakthrough performance by realising the potential of their people and creating a talent advantage.
In October 2008, Anil and the other co-founders of Grow Talent entered the field of Education by creating SOIL- the School of Inspired Leadership. This innovative School has been co- created by a consortium of 32 leading firms and has focus on the five pillars of inspired leadership: Compassion, Diversity, Ethics, Mindfulness and Sustainability. In 2019, Soil has launched its second campus in Manesar- the SOIL School of Business Design that is offering the first of its kind two years full time MBA that combines the disciplines of liberal arts, design thinking and management education.
Anil’s experience in India and across the world covers areas such as talent management, strategic change and organizational transformation. Recognised as a thought leader in leadership development and Organizational transformation, Anil has done pioneering work with leading global and local firms. He has spoken at national and global conferences all over the world and has written contributory pieces for leading publications. He has been adjunct Faculty to leading business schools such as Indian School of Business, Kelly School of Business, Indiana University, GMI, Flint Michigan, Antioch University, Seattle, Ohio University and University of New Brunswick, Canada. Anil began his career with Tata Motors in 1975 after completing his MBA from the University of Pune and joined Eicher in 1978 and worked in HR, operations and TQM. He is the Founder of Eicher Consultancy Services and was its CEO till 2001.
He is active in management circles and has held several public offices such a Chairman of National Committees on Leadership Development, Human Resources, Industrial relations of the Confederation Indian Industry. Anil is a member of the Academic Committee of CEDEP, the leading Leadership Institute of Europe, located at Fontainebleau. He is a member of the World Compassion Council, based in Seattle and a Trustee of the Chinmaya Mission. He serves on the Global Board of Shizenkan University in Tokyo.

Vikram Tandon

Group CHRO, Adani Group

Vikram is a seasoned Human Resources professional with over three decades of experience across a range of diverse businesses, geographies, and cultures. His expertise lies in thoughtful management of the intersection of strategy, talent, and organization culture, with extensive outcomes in organizational effectiveness, talent management, succession planning and leadership development.

Prior to joining the Adani Group, Vikram was the Head of Human Resources at HSBC India, one of the world's largest banking and financial services organizations. Before HSBC, Vikram was at the American International Group as the Regional Human Resources Director for the Mediterranean, Middle East and South Asia region and participated in AIG’s rapid growth through several startup joint ventures and acquisitions. His career also included several years at Inchcape Plc, Dubai, the ANZ Grindlays Bank, India, and Indian Hotels Company Ltd, where he has held multiple roles in HR.

Vikram holds a master’s degree in Human Resources from XLRI Jamshedpur and has certifications in Leading Change, Management & Innovation from the Harvard Business School. Vikram was the past President of the National HRD Network, Mumbai Chapter and has been recognized as one of the top 10 HR Leaders in India by Startup Lanes.

Archana Chadha

Head of Human Resources, HSBC Ltd.

Archana Chadha heads Human Resources for HSBC, India Bank. Responsible for shaping and driving HSBC’s people strategy, Archana has been instrumental in fostering a positive and growth work culture, as well as re-defining the workplace for tomorrow.

With a wealth of experience in the field of HR, Archana brings an unparalleled expertise to the table by virtue of her stints across different businesses in Retail Banking and Securities Services.

Under her thought leadership and guidance, HSBC people practices have grown from strength to strength. Known for being an empathetic leader and a strategic thinker, she has made a remarkable impact on the strategic priorities and imperatives of the bank’s India franchise.

HSBC has always put people at the focal point of its priorities and a testimony to that would be the pride and advocacy showcased by its employees and alumni. Archana has not only strengthened the narrative, but has also been pivotal in underscoring wellbeing priorities, focus on inclusion and building a culture of trust amongst employees.

HSBC India has been recognized across various forums for their unmatched people practices. Great Place to work three times in a row; NHRDN People First Ace Awards three time across categories such as Talent Management, Strategic HR Management, Workforce Planning & Staffing, Total Rewards and Performance Management; ET BFSI Excellence Awards 2022 in Best HR Initiative in the Sector are just a few of the accolades bestowed under her able leadership.

Mr. Bijender Vats

Global Chief Human Resources Officer
Crystal Crop Protection Limited

Mr. Bijender Vats serves as the Global Chief Human Resources Officer at Crystal Crop Protection Limited and stands as a distinguished alumnus of the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta. With an impressive 26-year career, he has honed his expertise in various Human Resources functions within the pharmaceutical and agrochemical sectors.
A remarkable facet of his professional journey is his extensive experience, encompassing both commercial and Human Resources roles across the Asia Pacific region. He initiated his career at Cipla Limited and subsequently held positions at Novartis, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, and MSD before assuming the role of Global CHRO at Crystal Crop Protection.
Mr. Vats specializes in managing mergers and acquisitions, navigating change management, and fostering leadership development. Beyond his corporate endeavors, he possesses a deep passion for teaching and running. He has contributed as a visiting faculty member and served on the boards of prestigious institutions such as NMIMS Mumbai and S P Jain while being personally invited as a Prominent Key-note speaker at the Symbiosis Group of Colleges (SIBM-Pune, SIOM-Nashik and SIIB-Pune), IIM-Ranchi, Manage, Hyderabad and BIMM-Pune to lead the next generation of students towards the right direction in their careers.
Additionally, Mr. Vats holds a certification in Organization Development from CAMI, USA, and is accredited in Competency Mapping and Assessment & Development Centers through T V Rao Learning Systems.
His areas of specialization are anchored in a wealth of experience, including active participation in three global mergers and acquisitions. This background equips him with expertise in managing mergers and acquisition scenarios, facilitating organizational integration, spearheading HR development and transformation, nurturing leadership development, refining performance management strategies, cultivating culture development, and guiding change management initiatives. Additionally, he possesses a keen acumen for talent management and succession planning.
For his contribution to the success of HR Strategies in his career, He was recognized as “The Great Indian CHRO of the Year” in 2024 by Transformance. He was also awarded “The CHRO of the year” award at the CHRO Confex by Gains Skills. It is with immense pride and honor that Mr. Bijender Vats has accepted the esteemed role as a jury member for the Jombay 40 Under 40 Future HR Leader Certification. His involvement in this capacity reflects the recognition of his exceptional expertise in the field of HR. It is indeed a prestigious and enriching opportunity for some of the brightest professionals in the HR domain to learn from his vast knowledge and experience.
In addition to his outstanding professional achievements, Mr. Vats is an enthusiastic runner who embarked on this journey in 2015 after receiving a diabetes diagnosis. Over the past three years, he has not only effectively managed his diabetes but has also motivated others to prioritize their fitness.
With an impressive record of completing 43 marathons to date, Mr. Vats is not only an active runner but also serves as a prominent brand ambassador for some of the country's leading marathon events. Furthermore, he holds the esteemed position of an official pacer for two of the largest and most prestigious marathon events in the country—the Airtel Delhi Marathon and the Tata Mumbai Marathon. His unwavering dedication to promoting health and fitness is truly commendable.

Srinivas P.M.

Head - Human Resources, P&G India Sub-Continent

Srinivas P.M. currently heads the Human Resource function for P&G in India Sub-Continent. Srinivas joined P&G in 2001 as the Associate HR Manager in India and since then has grown in the company across various leadership roles. During his stint, Srinivas has mastered Talent Strategy, Talent Acquisition and Organizational Development within the HR function at P&G. He has a diverse experience of managing and leading various verticals of the Human Resource function across countries like Singapore, China, Australia and Indonesia. Prior to his present role in India, Srinivas was the Business and Organization Strategy Director at P&G Indonesia. Srinivas is passionate about developing talent, grooming young leaders, building gender equal organization’s and developing high impact employee engagement programs. Srinivas has an MBA in HR from Symbiosis International University and a Bachelor of Engineering from Nagpur University.

Amit Kalyani

Vice-Chairman & Joint Managing Director
Bharat Forge Ltd

Mr. Amit Kalyani serves as the Joint Managing Director at Bharat Forge Limited, a prominent entity within the Pune-based Kalyani Group. This conglomerate operates across various sectors including specialty steel, hi-tech metallurgical manufacturing, automotive components, defense systems, infrastructure, and specialty chemicals.

Bharat Forge Ltd, under Mr. Kalyani's leadership, stands as India’s largest export-oriented auto component company, boasting global revenues of US$ 2 billion. With a transcontinental presence spanning Europe, North America, and India, the company caters to esteemed clients in automotive, oil and gas, aerospace, defense, construction, and mining industries worldwide.

Having joined Bharat Forge in 1999, Mr. Kalyani's career trajectory has seen him transition from manufacturing to IT, Finance, and Strategy. His pivotal role encompasses driving the Group’s strategic direction and spearheading diversification efforts over the past decade. Mr. Kalyani is instrumental in functions such as finance, M&A, talent development, growth strategy formulation in new products and sectors. He is currently responsible in overseeing domestic and international business of the Company, driving ESG initiatives, achieving carbon neutrality across various geographies in which Company operates, managing human capital, overseeing enterprise functions, and driving growth strategy.

Additionally, he holds board memberships in various group companies such as Bharat Forge Limited, BF Utilities Ltd and Kalyani Steels Ltd. He also serves as an independent director on the Board of Schaeffler India. Mr. Kalyani's contributions extend beyond corporate realms; he actively engages in government committees focusing on manufacturing, education, skill development, and bilateral relations.

Presently, Mr. Kalyani chairs the CII Smart Manufacturing Council, FICCI Committee on HR & Skills and participates in the World Economic Forum Digital Manufacturing and Automotive Governors forums. His academic background includes a BE degree in Mechanical Engineering from Bucknell University, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. He is also an alumnus of Harvard Business School's OPM program and a member of YPO.

Passionate about manufacturing, technology, and corporate social responsibility, Mr. Kalyani is particularly dedicated to initiatives in education, healthcare, and societal welfare.

Deepshikha Mukerji

Regional Human Resources Director
Abbott

Amit Antony

HR Director
Fragomen India

Amit Antony is a seasoned Human Resources professional with over two decades of experience in talent acquisition, engagement, development, and strategic HR initiatives. Currently, he serves as the Director of Human Resources at Fragomen India, where he oversees the HR function for the Firm. He is currently based out of Fragomen’s Kochi office. Having started his career in HR in Mumbai, Amit’s CV includes significant roles at various organizations like Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Dhanlaxmi Bank, and EY, where he managed HR functions and led various strategic initiatives. Having completed his schooling in Goa, Amit went on to complete his bachelor’s degree in business management from St. Aloysius College, Mangalore. He also holds a Master’s degree in Labor Laws and Labor Welfare from Symbiosis Law School and a PGDM in HR (MBA) from Balaji Institute of Modern Management, Pune. He has also recently completed an Executive Program in Creating Entrepreneurial Organizations from IIM Ahmedabad. Amit’s expertise includes leadership development, strategic HR planning, and fostering inclusive work environments, in addition to employee relations and talent management.

Mr. Prem Singh

President, Group HR (Group CHRO)
JK Organization

Prem Singh is the President Group HR (Group CHRO), JK Organisation, New Delhi. He sits on the Board of Management, JK Lakshmipat University; and is also the Convenor, Directors & Senior Executives Council, strategic think tank of the Group. He is also the Hon President, National HRD Network, a premier association of HR in India. In addition, he is also the Co-Chairman, HR/IR Committee, PHD Chamber of Commerce. An alumnus of IIT Delhi, Prem completed the CHRO Program from Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania. He brings with him a rich experience of 32 years, having worked with American, European and Indian companies, including 3 years stint overseas, for an expatriate assignment. In addition to HR, he has also handled Corporate Communication, TQM, Lean, CRM etc. He is a certified Black Belt in Six Sigma. He is an Executive Coach certified by Marshal Goldsmith; and a Strengths Coach, trained by Gallup. He has been invited as a Chief Guest on convocations of various Universities, and as a keynote speaker in several conferences organised by IIMs, Economic Times, NHRDN, CII, AIMA and several Business Schools etc. He has been on Advisory Boards of several Universities such as Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, NIRMA, Chandigarh Universities, etc. Also on the SPJIMR Delhi Centre Industry Advisory Council Meeting. He has been awarded with “Chairman’s Leadership Excellence” award in 2016, “Seasoned HR Professional” by NHRDN in 2017, “Pride of HR” award by Top Rankers Club in 2022 & “CHRO of the Year” award by Business World in 2023.

Rajkamal Vempati

Head Human Resources, Axis Bank
Committee Position: Co-Chair

Rajkamal Vempati is the Group Executive & Head of Human Resources at Axis Bank. Rajkamal is a member of the Management Committee and a passionate advocate of sustaining a human workplace & creating an inclusive culture geared for the future. Her team of HR professionals at Axis Group is focused on nurturing distinctive career experiences that matter to the people and wherein they thrive. Axis Bank has been recognized externally as an employer of choice for its Diversity, Equity & Inclusion efforts and its Giga Opportunities program has been widely lauded. She is also the Co- chairperson of FICCI HR Committee. She graduated in Science from Himachal Pradesh University and holds an MBA from XLRI Jamshedpur. She is a recipient of “Distinguished Alumnus Award” from XLRI, Jamshedpur and she has also been honored with Honoris Causa, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). by Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies.

Prior to Axis Bank, she was heading Human Resources for ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company. Rajkamal was a consultant with Hewitt Associates, part of the HR Leadership Program at GE Capital and has worked with ICICI Prudential Life Insurance across diverse roles.

Personally, having experienced the drop out from career due to long distance marriage and re-entering the workforce subsequently with a young daughter, she is super passionate about mentoring and coaching female executives so that they remain in motion in careers of their choice. Her favourite pastime is planning for holidays and itineraries with her family and friends.

Mr. Kunal Sharma

Vice President HR, Unilever

Kunal Sharma has spent over 18 years at Unilever in various roles spanning Talent Acquisition, HR Services, Outsourcing, and HR Business Partnering across different regions including Bangladesh, MENA, and the UK.

His purpose is ‘From Chaos to Euphoria’, aiming to drive passion, positive change, and team cohesiveness in establishing HR as a strategic business partner.

He enjoys travelling and running and is a certified deep-sea diver.

Kunal holds an MBA in HR from SCMHRD, Pune.

Bharat B Aggarwal

Senior Vice President - HR, Admin., Corp. Comm., and Business Transformation at G R Infraprojects Limited

With over 33 years of deep-rooted experience in Human Resources and Business Management, Bharat has successfully led transformational HR initiatives across diverse sectors including EPC, Telecom, and Manufacturing. His core strength lies in bridging strategy with execution—designing people-centric solutions that drive cultural alignment, operational agility, and sustained business impact. Known among peers for his collaborative leadership style and sharp focus on organizational design, talent development, and change enablement, Bharat consistently elevates HR as a strategic business partner. His work reflects a nuanced understanding of complex business dynamics and a relentless commitment to fostering excellence across people, processes, and performance.

Over the years, Bharat has held leadership roles across leading organizations such as Fluor Daniel India, Fujitsu India, and the Aditya Birla and Vardhman Groups, and is currently serving as Sr. Vice President & CHRO at G R Infraprojects. His experience spans building HR systems from the ground up to leading regional talent strategies and board-level governance. From transforming HR and administrative functions to driving global talent and mobility programs, Bharat has consistently aligned people practices with evolving business priorities. His career is a testament to strategic foresight, operational excellence, and an unwavering focus on enabling people-driven growth.

Mr. Naveen Kumar Kukatapu

Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), SeedWorks International Ltd

Mr. K. Naveen Kumar is a distinguished HR leader with over 20 years of experience, including nearly 17 years in the agriculture industry. Currently serving as the Chief Human Resource Officer at SeedWorks International Ltd., Mr. Naveen joined the organization in 2018 and rose to the CHRO role through demonstrated expertise and impactful leadership.

At SeedWorks, he led the transformation of HR into a strategic business function—scaling the workforce from 140 to 400+, enhancing cultural architecture, and driving performance, retention, and employee well-being. His initiatives helped SeedWorks achieve top rankings in Great Place to Work and Gallup surveys. The Hyderabad Management Association conferred upon him the prestigious “HR Manager of the Year 2024–2025” award. This honor reflects the lives uplifted, careers nurtured, and cultures transformed under his leadership.

Mr. Naveen’s expertise spans performance management, compensation benchmarking, strategic hiring, succession planning, employee engagement, learning and development, and global talent management. He has introduced several high-impact programs, including the rollout of MOOC-based learning platforms to promote self-paced development, structured succession planning frameworks to build future-ready leadership, and stay interviews to enhance retention. His efforts have also included smooth campus-to-corporate transition initiatives, job architecture implementation through role evaluation and banding, and wellness-driven partnerships such as Ekincare.

In addition, he has successfully led HR operations across Asia and Africa, reflecting his strength in managing diverse and cross-cultural workforces.

Mr. Naveen holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, Statistics & Computer Science and an MBA in HR & Marketing from Osmania University.

Ms. Puneet Rajput

CHRO, Piramal Pharma

Ms. Puneet Rajput is the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) for Piramal Pharma Limited. Ms. Rajput comes with more than two decades of rich and diverse experience in pharma, telecom, life sciences and consulting industries. She is an experienced leader in aligning HR strategy with business strategy, diverse organization models, large/small scale M&A integrations, Organization Design and Development, Diversity and Inclusion, Digital HR, Sustainability and CSR, and developing HR business teams and leadership teams.

Prior to joining Piramal Pharma Limited, Ms. Rajput was the Senior Director – HR (India and South Asia) and Regional HRBP Leader for Asia Pacific and Japan, Thermo Fisher Scientific. Previously, Ms. Rajput has worked with Vodafone and Wockhardt Ltd.

Ms. Rajput completed her Chief Human Resources Officer Program from The Wharton School and Masters in HR, Personnel Management and Industrial Relations from the University of Mumbai.

Mr. Sanjay Bahl

Independent Director, TMI e2E Academy Pvt. Ltd.

An alumnus of BITS Pilani, Mr. Sanjay Bahl brings over 35 years of leadership experience across EdTech, Skill Development, Telecom, Electronics, Retail, Talent Transformation, Rural & Social Sectors, and Online Education.

With a proven track record of creating new ventures, driving successful turnarounds, and leading large-scale organizational transformations, he has consistently delivered sustainable growth across geographies including India, the Middle East, Africa, and other emerging economies.

He has held multiple leadership roles as President, CEO, and Managing Director, leading cross-functional, multi-location teams and building strong customer and partner relationships to drive business excellence.

A strategic thinker and collaborator, Mr. Bahl has spearheaded joint venture partnerships with industry, government, and institutions, managing B2C, B2B, B2G, and PPP models aimed at profitable and scalable growth. He works closely with government bodies, academic institutions, and industry organizations to align policies and implement initiatives that empower youth and enhance workforce capabilities in both domestic and international markets.

His leadership philosophy is grounded in a deep understanding of strategy frameworks and emerging technologies — including AI, ML, GenAI, IoT, 5G, and Industry 4.0 — and their transformative impact on business models, talent ecosystems, and career pathways.

Recognized for his innovative approach to business transformation, operational efficiency, and ability to navigate competitive markets, Mr. Bahl has contributed significantly to organizations such as NIIT, upGrad, Centum, Airtel, CASIO, and Crompton Greaves.

Ms. Kalpana Devnani

CHRO, Smartworks

Kalpana Devnani is the current Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) at Smartworks. She is a HR leader proficient in Organizational Transformation & Change Management. Kalpana is extremely passionate about building a deep-rooted culture that is Fair, Inclusive, Performance Driven & Business Forward.

She pursued her MBA in HR from MDI, Gurgaon and possesses over 14 years of rich HR experience across leading FMCG, Managed Office Spaces, QSR and Banking organizations – including Jubilant Foodworks, Godrej Consumer, Samara Capital, among others.

Kalpana has held various Head HR & Leadership roles for over 6 years across medium & large scale organizations at different stages of growth - Inception, Expansion, Merger & Acquisition and Transformation. She has also led teams and partnered with business leaders to conceptualize and drive talent strategy, deeply embedding performance culture, building individual and organizational capabilities and leading change management initiatives.

Ms. Meghna Gupta

Chief Human Resources Officer, National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL)

Meghna Gupta is a seasoned Human Resources leader with over two and a half decades of experience across leading financial institutions. With more than 15 years in senior HR roles, she currently oversees HR, CSR, Administration, and Infrastructure at NSDL, driving transformation, governance, and culture in a highly regulated environment. A trusted advisor to leadership, she has shaped people, policy, and culture agendas across organisations. Her earlier roles include Senior Vice President – HR at Axis Bank, where she led people strategy for 24 divisions and 13,000 employees, and founding leadership at Axis Asset Management, where she built the organisation and its HR function from inception.

Recognised for driving institutional change with foresight, inclusivity, and a strong governance lens, Meghna advocates for fair, transparent, and future-ready organisational cultures. Passionate about mentoring, she enjoys coaching young professionals and supporting them in building strong career pathways.

She serves on the Board of Directors of the Rotary Club and actively leads key community initiatives. An avid solo traveller, she values the opportunity to meet diverse people and engage with new perspectives from around the world.

Chair

Ms. C Lakshmi

Co-Chair

Ms. Rajkamal Vempati

Mr. Yuvaraj Srivastava

Dr. C. Jayakumar

Mr. Manoj Sharma

Mr. Girish Luthra

Ms. Bhawna Kirpal Mital

Mr. Surender Mehta

Ms. Archana Chadha

Mr. Srinivas P.M.

Mr. Salil Bhandari

Dr. Nirav Mandir

Mr. Ruzbeh Irani

Mr. Kunal Sharma

Ms. Deepshikha Mukerji

Mr. Amit Antony

Mr. Prem Singh

Mr. Bharat B Aggarwal

Mr. Naveen Kumar Kukatapu

Ms. Puneet Rajput

Mr. Sanjay Bahl

Ms. Kalpana Devnani

Ms. Meghna Gupta

Mentors

Ranjan Mohapatra

Mr. Rajeev Dubey

Ms. Veena Swarup

Mr. Anil Sachdev