Introduction

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is a premier aeronautical complex in Asia with 21 production divisions and 9 R&D centers spread across seven states and nine geographical locations in India. HAL's expertise encompasses design, production, repair, overhaul, and upgrade of aircraft, helicopters, aero engines, accessories, avionics, and systems. The Government of India has disinvested 10.03% equity of HAL and HAL got listed on BSE and NSE on March 28, 2018. Post second phase of disinvestment in August 2020, currently, a total of 24.85% equity shares of HAL are disinvested by GoI. HAL has maintained an 'Excellent' MoU rating for 22 consecutive years. On October 12, 2024, HAL became the first Defence PSU to receive the 'Maharatna' status. HAL recorded the highest ever Revenue from Operations of Rs 30,381 Crores for the financial year 2024-25.

HAL has so far manufactured more than 4,300 aircraft, 5,500 engines and overhauled more than 12,400 aircraft and 36,650 engines for the Indian Defence Services.

HAL's manufacturing divisions are equipped with modern infrastructure for production of fighter aircraft, trainers, transport aircraft and helicopters. The Company has also diversified into manufacture and repair/overhaul of Industrial and Marine Gas Turbine engine and manufacture of structures for satellite launch vehicles.

HAL has so far designed and developed 17 types of aircraft/helicopters, the latest being Hindustan Turbo Trainer (HTT)-40 Basic Trainer Aircraft and Light Utility Helicopter (LUH). The major ongoing indigenous platforms are Light Combat Aircraft LCA-Tejas, Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), Advanced Light Helicopter variants ALH Dhruv, ALH Rudra etc. HAL has also developed expertise in aircraft upgrades. HAL is currently working on the design and development of 25 kN turbofan engine (HTFE-25) suitable for business jets, trainers etc. and the 1200 kW turbo shaft engine (HTSE-1200) for use on helicopters. The UAV programs both fixed wing and rotary UAVs are also underway.

HAL's futuristic programs focus on LCA Mk II, Twin Engine Deck based Fighter (TEDBF), Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), Indian Multi Role Helicopter (IMRH), Combat Air Teaming System (CATS) to strengthen India's technology competency and independence.

Corporate Social Responsibility & Governance

HAL has a long history of embedding sustainability in its operations while pursuing a vision of a developed India. HAL has embraced the community development approach to give back to the society in which it operates. HAL has been working on several initiatives related to water and energy conservation, waste management, healthcare, etc., to minimize the negative impact on the environment.

With an increasing focus on Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) framework, HAL has developed robust practices to address issues such as human rights, human capital development, and health and safety of the employees, contractors, and customers. HAL is also certified for ISO 14001-2015 Environment Management System and ISO 45001-2018 OHSMS (Occupational Health and Safety Monitoring System).

B Thiagarajan holds a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Madurai University. He has also completed the Senior Executive Program of London Business School. He has more than four decades of experience, having worked for reputed companies such as Larsen &Toubro Ltd, BPL Systems Ltd and Voltas Ltd, prior to joining Blue Star in 1998.

Thiagarajan has handled various assignments in the Service Business, Corporate Communications & Marketing and Corporate Affairs & Planning before he was promoted as President-AC&R Products Group in 2009. He was elevated to the Board in 2013. He was appointed as Joint Managing Director in 2016, and with effect from April 1, 2019, he has taken charge as Managing Director. He currently oversees the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration business operations in India geography, including Sales & Marketing, Manufacturing, Supply Chain and Customer Service. He also oversees Corporate Communications and Public Relations functions.

Thiagarajan plays an active role in various industry fora and is the Past President of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Manufacturers Association (RAMA). He is the Past Chairman of CII Western Region and CII Maharashtra State.

He is currently a member of the CII National Council and chairs the CII National Committee on Consumer Electronics and Durables and CII task Force on Rural Development and Migrant Work Force. He is a Senior Fellow and the National Chairman of the Indian Green Building Council.

A practicing Economist and TAS Business leader, driving impact through finance, innovation and digital transformation. As the CEO of Dorian Scale, she advises organizations and leaders keen on future readiness, deep purpose and long-term impact. With over close to two decades at the Tata Group and as Director – Analytics Insights & Impact at Tata Trusts, she has worked across sectors, built high performing teams and catalysed private sector investment and action on digital public goods, market access, jobs, urbanization, designing special institutional programs on SME and Venture Funds. She teaches at some of India's premier management institutes, and is currently a visiting professor at XLRI, Jamshedpur. Her recent book Regional Economic Diversity – Lessons from an Emergent India has been acclaimed for its insights on vibrant economies and Tier 2/3 cities. She serves on select Boards, Ministerial Committees of the Govt. of India and is recognised among the top 100 Analytics Leaders in South Asia.

Srinivasa (Srini) Raghavan is the Executive Director - Engineering and Chief Technical Officer at Cummins India. In this role, he leads the Cummins Technical Center India (CTCI) and oversees the Technical Shared Services organization. He is also responsible for advancing the region's technology strategy, strengthening technical capabilities, developing talent and fostering strong stakeholder relationships. Srini is also a part of the Cummins Global Technical Leadership.

With over 20 years of extensive engineering and leadership experience, Srini began his career at Bosch in 1999. He joined Cummins in 2007 as an Applications Engineering Leader for On-Highway Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and has since excelled in various high-impact positions, significantly shaping product development and innovation within power solutions.

From 2023 to early 2025, Srini served as the Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine (H2 ICE) Development Director during an expatriate assignment in Columbus, USA. In this role, he led cutting-edge advancements in hydrogen engine technology in collaboration with the Engine Business Unit (EBU) and Research and Technology (R&T) teams.

Srini holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the National Institute of Engineering, Mysore and a master's degree in manufacturing management from Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani.

A native of Bengaluru, Srini is married to Aparna, a director of software engineering. They have two sons, Rishi and Rishabh Raghavan. Outside of work, Srini's interests include trekking and watching Formula 1 racing.

Areas of expertise: transformational nonprofit leadership, social development, program management, social impact, technology for good.

With over 25 years of experience in social development, program management, and nonprofit leadership, Bhasin brings a wealth of expertise to her role as CEO of Digital Green Trust. Prior to joining Digital Green Trust, she served as CEO of Nasscom Foundation, where she transformed the organization and took it to the next level by championing technology for social good and worked to bridge the digital divide in underserved communities across India by impacting over 15M lives positively. Before that, she spent two decades at Concern India Foundation as Deputy CEO, leading initiatives in education, health, and disaster rehabilitation, community development, particularly for women.

She is passionate to serve the intersectionality of technology, gender, climate and agriculture. Bhasin is alumni of India's prestigious and preeminent social work college - Delhi School of Social Work, Delhi University.

Abanti Sankaranarayanan is the Chief Group Public Affairs Officer and Member of the Group Executive Board of the Mahindra Group. In her role, Abanti leads Public Policy & Regulation and Sustainability for the Mahindra Group. Abanti serves as Director on the Board of Mahindra Electric Automobile Limited, Mahindra Last Mile Mobility Limited, Mahindra Defence Systems Ltd., Mahindra Aerospace Pvt. Ltd., and CIE Automotive, Spain. She is also Member of the Executive Council of Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM).

Prior to joining Mahindra, she was the Chief Strategy and Corporate Affairs Officer and member of its Executive Committee at Diageo India. As head of Strategy, she led the strategy development and execution for Diageo's business in India. Prior to this, Abanti was Managing Director, Diageo India Pvt Ltd, leading Diageo's business mandate for international spirits in India.

Prior to Diageo, Abanti served as a member of the Tata Administrative Service (TAS) cadre since 1992 in an illustrious career where she held key roles managing some of the best-known consumer brands of the Tata Group in India, United Kingdom, and the United States.

Abanti's contribution to the business have been recognized by Fortune India (The Most Powerful Women in Business; 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016), IMPACT (50 Most Influential Women in Media, Marketing and Advertising; 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017), India Today (India's 25 Most Influential Women, 2013) and Fast Company, New York (100 Most Creative People in Business, 2012).

After 17 years of building technology businesses, Atul shifted to development sector in 2015 and started The/Nudge Institute. He has been working on building better livelihoods for India's poor since.

Along with The/Nudge Institute, he also serves Give and Heifer on their board and Museum of Art and Photography on their advisory board.

Pranshu is the Founder of Karo Sambhav which was setup in 2017 with the aim of 'Making Circular Economy Possible'. Karo Sambhav has been creating a grass-root ecosystem to set up a robust India-wide solution on collection, recycling and secondary material management of multiple types of waste including e-waste, plastics waste, batteries waste, glass waste. He was conferred 'Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2021 India' award by the Schwab Foundation, World Economic Forum. He has worked as Director, Digital Learning for Microsoft and as Head, Sustainability for Nokia. He is a Ashoka Fellow, a Aspen Fellow, a Schwab Fellow, a Chevening Gurukul Fellow, a Ikea, and a Aspire Fellow. He has a Master's in Environmental Management and Policy from International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics (IIIEE), Sweden.

Dr.SSV Ramakumar is currently the Chief Technology officer and Executive Vice President of AM Green- a company promoted by Greenko. Currently, he is responsible for technology scouting, due diligence and adoption of various green technologies. Previously, he has been Director, (R&D) on the Board of Indian Oil Corporation Ltd with more than three and half decades of experience in downstream hydrocarbons sector. He has also pioneered various alternative energy programmes including waste to energy, bio, solar and energy storage etc for IndianOil. He has been a part of various drafting and implementation committees of National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM). A fellow of Indian National Academy of Engineering (FNAE), he holds a doctorate in chemistry from IIT-Roorkee and has been conferred with its Distinguished Alumni Award for the year 2021.

Wilma Rodrigues is the founder and CTO of Saahas Zero Waste (SZW), a social enterprise committed to implementing holistic zero waste solutions across India. This registered MSME, believes that in the 21st century businesses must not just talk but deliver on environmental and social impact.

Wilma moved to Bangalore from Mumbai in 1995. She is a former journalist with the Times of India group and BusinessWorld Magazine.

India got its first set of Municipal Solid Waste rules in 2000 and this was the trigger for Wilma to step into the waste management sector so as to support implementation of the rules. She first set up NGO Saahas in 2001 and then a business model SZW in 2013. The company today brings together Nature People and Technology so that waste is managed in a manner where up-to 98% of waste is diverted from a landfill and maximum resources is recovered.

Waste Management through Resource Recovery results in environmental and social impact. SZW today manages around 100+ tonnes of waste per day.

Srestha is the Director of Just Transition and Climate Change at the International Forum for Environment, Sustainability and Technology (iFOREST). She holds a PhD in Environmental and Energy Policy from the University of Delaware, Biden School of Public Policy and Administration (USA), and a Masters in Environmental Studies from Ohio University (USA).

As a public policy expert, she has worked with India and US-based environmental and public policy think tanks over the past 16 years. Her current areas of work include just energy transition and green growth, climate change, sustainable resource management and benefit sharing, and participatory governance. She has authored/co-authored several scholarly publications in her areas of work. She has also been actively writing and speaking at various public platforms to build policy and public engagement to drive a just energy transition, steer pathways for green growth and support an inclusive climate action agenda.

Geetanjoy Sahu is a Professor at the Centre for Climate Change & Sustainability Studies, School of Habitat Studies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai. His research and teaching interests include environmental jurisprudence, environmental regulation and policy, land and forest rights, and the political economy of public policy design and implementation. He is also the Chairperson of the Centre for Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility at Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai.

Under Radha Goenka's guidance, RPG Foundation is carving a path for India's future by channelling investments into youth, women, environment, and culture. Functioning as a social incubator, the Foundation actively fosters the growth of innovative ideas, providing them with the support needed for successful implementation. Over the years, it has emerged as a pivotal social innovation hub, nurturing niche concepts and transforming them into tangible realities. Our accomplishments are exemplified through the impactful endeavors of our organizations, namely Pehlay Akshar, The Heritage Project, artisan and nature.

Pehlay Akshar Foundation drives functional English in government schools in India, while The Heritage Project Foundation revives India's tangible and intangible heritage through meaningful experiences. artisan:re, a social enterprise, is providing farmers with better market linkages for their produce and nature:re is restoring nature through small steps that rebalance ecosystems and conserve biodiversity across land, water and farm.

Radha is the recipient of Travel + Leisure's Champion of Philanthropy in Tourism Award 2024, the Young Achiever's Award 2024 from Young FICCI Ladies Organization, a member of the Asia Gender Network, GivingPi Network, the Co-Chair of YuWaah Leadership Council of UN India 2022, and a Judge of T4 Education's World's Best School Prizes. She is a passionate writer who advocates women empowerment. Her articles have been featured in esteemed publications such as Tatler, Condé Nast, The Indian Express, and other national papers. Radha holds a degree in Business Communication from the University of Pennsylvania. With over a decade of experience in the social sector, she helps shape, expand, and enrich the programs and organizations she leads.

Aarti is a seasoned communications professional with a demonstrated history of working on the subjects of climate, energy, and environment. She is passionate about communicating climate change better. With a long experience of more than two decades, today, she is the founder and director of Climate Trends, a research consultancy that's driving sharper conversations on climate change. She leads a team focused on building public and policy understanding on issues of the environment, climate change, clean energy, and clean air. Climate Trends is instrumental in supporting the research efforts of many large organisations, think tanks, academics, and researchers working on environmental and sustainability issues. It also closely works with state and central government agencies in the country to strengthen their climate action goals through evidence-based, data-driven research and stakeholder engagements to identify creative solutions to advance sustainable development.

She also started CarbonCopy, an editorial venture to expand coverage of climate change issues in India. Within a few years of its inception, CarbonCopy has emerged as a significant online platform tracking climate science, politics, and analysis from India and around the world.

Bipin Odhekar heads Sustainability, EHS & Operations Excellence function at Marico. He has done his graduation in Production Engineering and Executive Management from IIM Banglore. His professional experience of 24 years of spans over multiple areas like sustainability, operations, projects, quality, Safety and process excellence. He implemented various projects in improving process efficiencies and manufacturing cost.

As a Sustainability Head for Marico, Bipin was instrumental in developing the function. He played a key role in creating sustainability pathway for Marico which includes strategy, targets and governance mechanisms for disclosures. He, along with sustainability team, helped Marico to achieve prestigious recognitions and sustainability goals.

Apart from professional accountabilities in Marico, Bipin Odhekar, has been member of professional forums like Assocham, GreenCO and CII in various capacities.

A perceptive leader and accomplished Brand Strategist, Shilpashree brings over 20 years of rich experience in Corporate Reputation Management, Public Advocacy, and Corporate Sustainability.

She currently leads Corporate Communications, Social Impact (CSR), and ESG for Colgate-Palmolive in India, leveraging a substantial background with global powerhouses like Volvo, the Renault-Nissan Alliance, Alstom, and Terex.

An Engineer-MBA, and IIM-Bangalore alumnus, her expertise extends to Investor Relations, Crisis Management, and Digital Media Management. She is passionate about generating value for brands and society, fostering transparency and collaboration. She is known for consistently delivering impactful results and earning widespread recognition for her leadership and dedication to creating sustainable value.

Founder, Project Sustainable Aquatic Filtering Islands (SAFI) || RSI-I '25 || Youth Ambassador @ IWA '25 || World Science Scholar || The Junior Academy, NYAS

Amairah Anand is a high school researcher and the Project Lead of SAFI (Sustainable Aquatic Floating Islands), a smart water-purification model using biofilters and Arduino-based sensors. She's a World Science Scholar and part of The Junior Academy at the New York Academy of Sciences. Passionate about synthetic biology and sustainable tech, Amairah has conducted protein docking research at a Y Combinator-funded biotech startup and is currently researching Solid and Structural State Chemistry at Research Science Initiative by Center for Excellence in Education at IISc Bangalore under MIT faculty. A national award-winning innovator, she brings the same creativity to everything she does, from MUNs to wheel pottery, and from strumming her guitar to singing songs that echo with purpose. Amairah always aspires to combine science, design, and storytelling to tackle real-world problems!

Karnav Rastogi is a young author, poet, TEDx speaker, and global climate change advocate who has written 13 books in English and regional languages. Through his initiative 'Each One, Read One to Plant One', he distributes free copies of his climate change book to students nationwide. A UNEP Tide Turner Champion and WWF Youth Hero, Karnav has conducted over 50 workshops across 100+ schools and collaborated with Bharat Scouts & Guides, Rotary, and NGOs. Recognized globally, he has received over 25 prestigious awards. Karnav's mission is to spark environmental consciousness through literature and action, inspiring the next generation to become climate warriors and shaping a more sustainable, aware, and equitable future.

Prachi Shevgaonkar is a climate innovator and founder of Cool The Globe, a citizen-led app for climate action with users from over 150 countries, collectively reducing 7.3 million kg of greenhouse gas emissions. She serves as Climate Change Advisor to Tata Power and leads the UN Foundation's Next Generation India Fellowship. From representing India at COP27 to winning a deal on Shark Tank India, her journey blends policy, technology, and grassroots engagement. Prachi has reached over 25 million people through her campaigns and believes that climate action isn't just the job of experts—it's a movement powered by everyday citizens.

Prasiddhi Singh, 12, is a globally acclaimed environmentalist, climate speaker, author, and social entrepreneur. Founder of the UN-accredited Prasiddhi Forest Foundation and The Green Pillar platform, she has planted over 1.5 lakh trees across 110+ locations and led 1,000+ workshops, empowering 80,000+ individuals across 20 countries. She has spoken at COP28 and COP29, and is a UNICEF India Youth Champion and COP30 Official Impact Maker. From boardrooms to classrooms, she drives climate action through partnerships with global brands, storytelling, and innovation. Prasiddhi now champions nature-based solutions like agroforestry, mangrove restoration, and lake rejuvenation—building a greener, more resilient world for all.

Rajlakshmi Patil is the founder of the D Y Patil Climate Action Lab (D-CAL), leading sustainability initiatives at D Y Patil University and across Maharashtra and India through clean-up drives, plantations, and education-focused workshops. She holds a BSc in Geography from UCL and is currently pursuing an MSc in Urbanisation and Development at LSE. Passionate about integrating sustainability into higher education, she also enjoys skiing, playing the piano, and writing poetry.

Saiansh Tapuriah is a 15-year-old student changemaker from The Shri Ram School, Gurgaon.

Since an early age, he started identifying everyday issues in his immediate environment and has been working on several innovations related to environmental and social causes.

His most notable innovation, with a filed patent, is an affordable device that can detect epileptic seizures, with the potential to help millions of epileptic patients. Some other projects include an app to reduce air pollution, and a campaign to collect and recycle plastic waste from used pens.

Sarthak Saraf aged 12 years, is studying in Grade 7. He is quite interested in Robotics and STEM. He has participated in various events such as WRO, FLL, WSRO, Robotex to showcase his innovation & creativity. He has won various awards at these events at Regional, National, Asia & International level right from the age of 8. He likes working on innovative ideas that can create a social impact through technology. His recent project titled "Sunflower" has been highly recognised by Industry leaders in India, China and Estonia.

Milind Sarwate, Founder of Increate, is an Advisor, Mentor, Independent Director, & ESG Contributor.

Increate (meaning "Uncreated" or "Undiscovered"- increate.in/) works towards business and social value creation, with a focus on capability-building, governance & social aspects of ESG.

Milind's independent directorships include Asian Paints, Mahindra Finance, CEAT, Nykaa, and Hexaware. He specializes in audit committee roles. He has been on listed company boards since 2005. His previous board memberships include Mindtree and International Paper.

His 41-year experience includes long stints as CFO and CHRO in Marico & Godrej.

He is a Chartered Accountant, Cost Accountant, Company Secretary, and a CII-Fulbright Fellow.

Mr. Narayan Shankar is an Associate Member of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI). He holds a Bachelor's degree in Commerce and a Law degree from the University of Mumbai, with over 30 years of extensive experience in corporate law and legal affairs.

He joined Mahindra & Mahindra Limited (M&M) in 2001 and served as Executive Vice President and Company Secretary until April 1, 2025. In this role, he led the Secretarial Compliance function for the entire Mahindra Group and served as a Director on the Boards of several Group companies.

Mr. Shankar has been a member of the Secretarial Standards Board of the ICSI and has contributed to several committees constituted by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

He was part of the MCA Committee tasked with reviewing managerial remuneration and also served on the Sub-Committee of the Company Law Committee (CLC) focused on revising the Companies Act, 2013. Mr. Shankar was a member of the SEBI-appointed ESOP Committee, which revamped the ESOP guidelines into formal regulations in 2014, and he also played a key role in overhauling the SBEB Regulations. Recently, he has been part of the Industry Standards Forum, which updated the minimum information required to be provided to Audit Committees and shareholders for the approval of Related Party Transactions.

Under his leadership, M&M was recognized with the Golden Peacock Award for Excellence in Corporate Governance on three occasions, both nationally and internationally. The company also received the "Best Governed Company" award three times from the Institute of Company Secretaries of India.

Mr. Shankar has actively represented the industry in discussions with MCA, SEBI, and depositories, addressing key issues and advocating on behalf of the corporate sector.

Dr. Gayathri built the Sambhav Foundation with a vision to enable livelihoods and to enhance the quality of life of vulnerable communities through Education, Employability, and Entrepreneurship. Her mission was to touch millions of lives, empower youth, men, and women to earn a decent living, and become micro-entrepreneurs.

She has been extensively involved in policy issues and community mobilizations relating to labour and livelihoods, leading to recognition and accolades across the globe. She also co-founded LabourNet and played a pivotal role in its development and expansion, eventually facilitating its transition to the hands of a professional team to ensure sustained growth and impact.

Dr. Gayathri was cited as one of the top 50 women in business by Business Today, a leading magazine in India, in the year 2017 and "Entrepreneur of the Year in Social Business Category" by Forbes India in 2018. She is also a recipient of NITI Aayog's Women Transforming India Award for 2021. She has been a TED speaker several times. Between 1999 and 2007, Gayathri worked for the International Labour Organization (ILO), a United Nations agency.

She is a member of the Central Apprenticeship Advisory Committee under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE). In 2024, she was given the SABERA Changemaker Award. She has a Doctorate in Development Studies, with 30 publications in the areas of labour, employment, and gender issues to her credit.

Manmohan Singh is the Co-Founder & CEO of Kaivalya Education Foundation, an initiative of the Piramal Foundation. He leads the Aspirational Bharat Collaborative, which aims to improve the lives of over 100 million people living in the 150 most backward districts of India. He believes in fostering collective impact by bringing together Sarkaar (government), Samaaj (civil society), and Bazaar (market) at the panchayat, block, and district levels.

Manmohan has over two decades of experience in driving systemic change in public education and health. He has previously worked with the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and Pratham.

He is a Seed Alumni of the Stanford University Graduate School of Business and an alumnus of Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi. Manmohan is also an Acumen India Fellow and an Aspire Circle Fellow.

She holds degrees in Management and Law and is an alumni of the prestigious Fortune – US State Department Global Women's Leadership program.

A member of the NIA of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, CSR Committee of CII (Western Region) CSR and Sustainability (FICCI) Women 4 Climate, Aspire Circle etc.

She was selected as one of the top ten women in the UN Disaster and Risk Reduction of the Asia Pacific Region.

Rema leads the NSE Foundation, an organisation promoted by the NSE Group, as its Chief Executive Officer.

Played a key role in transforming NSE group's CSR strategies and programmes covering the domain of education, drinking water, sanitation, elder care, NRM, skill development and health.

Led NSE Foundation's initiatives through large scale impactful programmes in association with various State Governments impacting more than 1.2 million beneficiaries. Some of these programmes have been scaled up and integrated into the public systems.

In past worked with the Times Foundation, The Times Group, Smt. Sulochanadevi Singhania Trust (Raymonds Group) Ford Foundation and M.S. University (Baroda).

While at the Times Group, She led the core team that created and implemented Teach India, Teach English, Lavasa Urban cities programmes etc. She also led the Nalanda spiritual initiatives and was closely involved with the Speaking Tree supplements and events.

Rucha Pande is the Chief Operating Officer at Mantra4Change since April 2021. Prior to this, she headed the Research & Design team at the organization since 2017. Rucha is a graduate of the Women Leaders India Fellowship and is a Schwab Foundation Awardee. She aspires to nurture civil society organizations in the global south to develop high-quality, impact driven programs that leverage and contribute to evidence in the social sector.

Venkat is the Principal Trustee of India Welfare Trust. He spends 90+% of his time and wealth to promote volunteerism and philanthropy in India.

Venkat graduated from IIMA, worked first at "The Times of India" in various corporate and brand management functions and then joined the founding team of Sony Entertainment Television in India.

In 1996, he cofounded Eklavya School, Ahmedabad. He later co-founded Educational Initiatives Pvt. Ltd, a company that works on improving quality of school education in India.

Venkat set up GiveIndia in 2000, to create a "giving culture" in India and transitioned out in 2008, handing over the reins to professional management.

In 2009, he, along with several other volunteers, conceptualized and launched DaanUtsav, a festival that aims to bring India together to celebrate giving. Held from October 2-8 every year, the "festival" is a platform that allows everyone from India's poor to its wealthiest to give back to society.

Venkat is also a signatory to #LivingMyPromise, an initiative where middle class Indians promise to donate 50+% of their wealth to causes of their choice. He has recently been involved in an initiative called #EveryIndianVolunteering (EIV in short) that aspires to engage every Indian in volunteering for social causes.

Mr. Asher O. serves as the Managing Director (India Operations) at Malabar Gold & Diamonds. He also holds a position on the company's Board of Directors, contributing to the strategic direction and governance of the organization.

In his role, Mr. Asher oversees all operations across India, ensuring the company's presence and growth in the vast and diverse Indian market. This comprehensive approach allows him to maintain a robust framework that supports the company's expansive operations. Mr Asher is a commerce graduate with PGDCA from NIIT.

Known for his ability to navigate and resolve complex situations with ease, he is affectionately referred to as the 'crisis solver' within the group.

Beyond his professional achievements, Mr. Asher's leadership style fosters a collaborative and inclusive work environment. He is known for his ability to inspire and motivate his team, encouraging them to achieve their full potential.

Sudarshan serves as the Chief Development Officer at Reliance Foundation. Formerly the CEO of Save the Children, Sudarshan is a seasoned civil society leader and an authority in participatory practices for empowering communities to lead transformation. He has rich local and global experience in academics, development, and in the corporate environment. An alumnus of St. Stephens College, Delhi University, and Institute of Development Studies (IDS), Sussex, UK, Sudarshan is a leading development professional, with myriad professional achievements including successful advocacy for reforms in cooperative laws and the Producer Company Act Enactment; turnaround of AP Dairy cooperatives; launching of the largest bio-diesel cultivation initiative in India; and executing one of the largest rural transformation initiatives - 'bij', as a CSR initiative.

Over the past three decades, Sudarshan has held leadership positions with distinguished organisations. He also brings in academic experience, having teaching experience at IRMA, IIHMR, etc. Sudarshan also serves on Governance platforms, being on the board of Udyogini (NGO), and on the Academic Council of IIHMR's Rural Management Program.

Upmanyu Patil has been working with Swayam Shikshan Prayog since November 1993 and he is a trained civil engineer with management background. He is responsible for the organization's strategic planning, operations, corporate partnerships, training, and business development.

His experience includes strengthening large scale interventions that involve community institutions and PRIs in water, environmental sanitation, energy and rural development. He has been associated with state and district technical assistance plans and interventions that call for designing frameworks.

He is a pioneer in developing Rural social enterprise Sakhi Unique Rural Enterprise in energy sector co created clean cook stove Oorja and developed rural distribution model and now serving with 2200+ village level entrepreneurs and reaching to two hundred thousand families. He founded Sakhi Unique Rural Enterprise a for profit social enterprise.

He supporting 9 women led farmer producer companies and they are growing under his guidance.

He is expert in climate change solutions by promoting clean energy products, nature-based agriculture practices and able to work with 3000+ villages and five hundred thousand families. He has successfully done fund Raising for organisation from last 5 years.

Post founder Demise he has been able to continue legacy of late. Prema Gopalan not only serviced the organisation but it grown twice, in the collective leadership Approach and he head programs and fund raising.

Aman Bhaiya is a visionary intrapreneur and one of the founding members of the State Bank of India Foundation, India's first Section 8 company in the public sector banking space. With nearly a decade of transformative leadership in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Aman currently serves as the Vice President & Head of Strategy at SBI Foundation. He has been instrumental in shaping its long-term strategy, institutional systems, and impact-driven programs with cumulative CSR interventions exceeding ₹1500 Crores.

As a national thought leader on innovation in social impact, Aman has co-designed and implemented over 250 pioneering projects aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), addressing themes like inclusive education, resilient healthcare systems, women empowerment, livelihood generation, climate action, and innovation-led partnerships. Noteworthy initiatives under his leadership include India's first Development Impact Bond in Education, the Genomics Guided Pandemic Prevention program, and multi-state early childhood education systems strengthening, among others.

Recognized as a Goalkeeper 2023 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for his contributions to the SDGs, Aman also serves on multiple national committees, including the Ministry of Rural Development's Working Group and FICCI's Taskforce on Diversity & Inclusion. His partnerships with global agencies like USAID, UN bodies, and governments across India underscore his collaborative spirit and mission-mode execution.

Aman's unwavering commitment to advancing the SDGs through bold, innovative, and scalable initiatives makes him a formidable changemaker from India. He is driven by a personal vision of contributing to Viksit Bharat @ 2047 through inclusive development and systems change at scale.

Garima is a purpose led leader, inspired by the ability of individuals and organizations to make a positive contribution to society.

A post graduate from Tata Institute of Social Sciences and a certified Sustainability leader from London Business School, Garima has nearly 20 years' experience across sectors. Having worked in positions of increasing responsibility with Tata Motors, Reliance Foundation and GSK, Garima now leads CSR at YES BANK and is the CEO of YES Foundation.

Her varied experience of working closely with communities and social impact organizations has helped her successfully build and implement business aligned CSR strategies.

With a proven track record of positioning CSR and sustainability as critical drivers of business and reputation, Garima looks forward to her continued contribution in this space.

Shashaank is co-founder of v-shesh (www.v-shesh.com) which is an award-winning impact enterprise he co-founded with P Rajasekharan (Raja). v-shesh works in the area of disability inclusion and is recipient of National Award for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities from President of India and was recognised as 'Social business of the year in 10th Emerging India Awards' supported by ICICI Bank and CNBC TV18. Shashaank is also Co-founder of Anyssa Venture Capital which is raising a unique VC fund focused on disability inclusion in Asia.

Smarinita Shetty is co-founder and CEO at IDR, Asia's largest media platform on the development sector. She has more than 27 years of experience leading functions across strategy, operations, sales and business development. Her core expertise and skills lie in building new markets and ecosystems; she has done this successfully with knowledge process outsourcing, low-income housing and adolescent girl empowerment.

Prior to IDR, Smarinita worked at Dasra, Monitor Inclusive Markets (now FSG), JP Morgan and The Economic Times. She also co-founded Netscribes–India's first knowledge process outsourcing firm. She has a BE in Computer Engineering and an MBA in Finance from Mumbai University.

Sumit Tayal is the Chief Executive Officer at Give, India's leading giving platform. With a background in consulting, private equity, and operational leadership, he brings over 15 years of experience across sectors. An alumnus of IIM Bangalore, Sumit has previously held leadership roles at Netscribes and Helix Investments. At Give, he is focused on building trust, and enabling meaningful giving for CSR and for individual givers.

Dr. Vinay Ranjan assumed the charge as Director (Personnel & Industrial Relations) of Coal India Ltd. on 28.7.2021. Prior to taking over the charge, Mr. Ranjan was Director (Personnel) of Eastern Coalfields Ltd. since August 2018.

Before joining Coal Industry, Dr. Vinay Ranjan was holding the position of Corporate Vice President & Head HR of DB Power Ltd., a Dainik Bhaskar Group Company based at Mumbai.

Dr. Ranjan has extensive exposure of working in both Public and Private sectors. After initial years in Navratna PSU Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd, he witnessed the transition of VSNL into Tata Group Company consequent to disinvestment process. He also has had good stints in large Corporate houses of Reliance and JSW group in corporate roles.

Dr. Ranjan has 29 years of broad work experience in Talent Acquisition, Talent Management, Performance Management, Employer Branding, Compensation Management, Enterprise Resource planning, Change Management, Employee Engagement, Industrial relations and Training & Development. He has also successfully extended HR support to overseas entities at different geographies. He led the team for two full life cycle SAP HR implementation, first at TATA Communication, erstwhile VSNL, with implementation partners TCS and thereafter deputed for another cycle at Tata Teleservices Ltd. owing to his expertise.

He is an impactful leader with ability to develop and has led efficient and highly productive workforce. He is known for his excellent stakeholder management skills and empathy with high level of service delivery and execution with high integrity. Dr. Ranjan is an Alumni of prestigious INSEAD Business School and passed out from Fontainebleau, France, with a general management programme. He is an Honours graduate in Physics and holds full time PG Diploma in Personnel Management & Industrial Relations.

Dr. Ranjan has the distinction of speaking at different HR forums and most of the leading B school Campuses across India. Dr. Ranjan has been recognised at various forums for his remarkable contributions like, Asia's Best Employer Branding Award for his stint at DB Power, CHRO of the Year and Pride of HR Professionals (PSU). He is presently the member of Central Advisory Contract Labour Board, President of the All India Public Sector Sports Promotion Board, Regional President (East), National HRD Network and Chairman, CII Eastern Region IR Core Group of BCC&I. He has been ranked among 'India's 100 Great People Managers 2021' by Forbes India.

Jayant Rastogi is a globally recognised leader in the social development sector, a seasoned strategist, and a champion of systemic change. As the Global CEO of Magic Bus India Foundation, Jayant has spearheaded transformative initiatives that empower young people from underserved communities to break free from the cycle of poverty. Under his leadership, Magic Bus has grown to impact over 2.75 million young people annually across India, focusing on holistic interventions in life skills education, and employability skilling.

At Magic Bus, Jayant has been instrumental in fostering pivotal partnerships with governments, corporates, and society to drive systemic impact. Jayant's dedication to innovation has elevated Magic Bus' reputation, making it renowned for its robust automation, strong financial health, cutting-edge technology, and successful acquisition of a Development Impact Bond, all while upholding ethical standards.

Jayant began his career in the corporate sector, holding leadership positions in organisations such as Motorola, where he was the CEO, as well as Godrej, HCL, and Novell. These experiences provided him with deep expertise in business strategy, operations, and team development. His corporate journey shaped his commitment to combining business acumen with social impact, enabling him to transition into the development sector with a vision of creating scalable, sustainable solutions for social change.

Growing up as the middle of three sisters in a colony of factory workers in Bengal, Nayana dreamt of a world where all children grow to their full potential, irrespective of gender, order of birth, and family's wealth. It is therefore no wonder that she grew up to be a human who lives by the values of equality and justice. A strong believer in collaborative leadership, she finds joy in nurturing leaders rather than followers. She has always worn her work titles lightly, be it as a Programme Officer in some of the biggest philanthropies in India and internationally, or currently as the head of the organisation. She keeps humor handy, while tackling the many challenges of work and life. Her passion is to foster meaningful participation by translating technical lingo into common everyday language. She loves delving into complex social issues and believes that a good connection between the head and the heart brings real change. Her dream of seeing every human achieving their full potential keeps her motivated even after 25 years in the social sector.

A world-renowned Surgeon, Dr. P. Raghu Ram established South Asia's first purpose built comprehensive Breast Centre (Hyderabad), founded a Breast Cancer Charity to create awareness about the importance of "early detection", implemented a large-scale population-based screening Programme in Telangana & Andhra Pradesh and played a pivotal role in genesis of a Breast Surgical Society. He is a Padma Shri & Dr B.C. Roy national awardee and Officer of the Most Excellent Order of British Empire (OBE). He is a former President of Association of Breast Surgeons of India and Association of Surgeons of India (world's second largest Surgical Organisation).

Dr. Bharat V. Shah is one of India's leading nephrologists with an illustrious career spanning clinical practice, research, education, and organ transplantation advocacy. He is the Managing Trustee of the Narmada Kidney Foundation and Director of the Institute of Renal Sciences at Gleneagles Hospital, Mumbai. He is also Director of Advanced Renal Replacement Therapies and Transplant Diagnostics and Immunogenetics. He is also a visiting consultant nephrologist at Reliance Foundation Hospital. Dr. Shah is a respected educator affiliated with the National Board training program in nephrology and the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences. He has over 97 publications to his name and has received multiple national honors including the Khullar Oration (2011), J M Patel Oration (2016), and Dronacharya Award (2018). As Secretary of the ZTCC Mumbai, he plays a pivotal role in organ transplant coordination. Dr. Shah brings deep expertise in renal care, transplant ethics, and preventive nephrology to the public health discourse.

With a medical career spanning over five decades, Dr. Sultan A. Pradhan has had the privilege of being trained and serving at some of the world's leading cancer institutions — including the Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai and the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

A pioneer in head and neck oncology and one of the early advocates of laser surgery for laryngeal cancers, Dr. Pradhan's clinical contributions have significantly shaped treatment protocols for complex cancers in India.

As a dedicated academician, he has authored three widely referenced books on surgery of the larynx and hypopharynx, forming essential reading for ENT postgraduate students. His efforts to establish oncology training programs in public hospitals such as Nair, Sion, and KEM have strengthened the capacity for cancer care delivery to underserved communities.

Dr. Pradhan's work has been widely recognized. Among the many honours he has received are the QIMPRO Platinum Standard Award, the Lifetime Achievement Award from IFHNOS, the Rotary Club of Bombay's "Citizen of Bombay" Award, and the prestigious Dhanvantri Award presented by the Governor of Maharashtra.

His deep commitment to advancing head and neck cancer care — the most prevalent form of cancer in India — led to the founding of the Head & Neck Cancer Institute of India (HNCII) in 2023. Located in Mazgaon, Mumbai, this 100-bed, dedicated facility stands as a centre of excellence in clinical care, research, and medical education.

A kidney transplant recipient and former corporate leader, Jaya Jairam turned personal adversity into purpose. With a background in engineering and finance, she left an 18-year career to champion organ donation in India. In 2016, she launched MOHAN Foundation's Mumbai Chapter, driving partnerships with the Maharashtra government that enabled over 450 transplants, transforming lives of the underserved. She also founded a Patient Support Group for the dialysis and transplantation patient community. A Mini Fellow of the Gift of Life Institute (USA) and recipient of an International Scientific Grant, Jaya is a published researcher and relentless advocate for ethical, accessible organ transplantation nationwide.

Mr. Rameshwar P. Naik is a seasoned healthcare leader and social impact advocate with over two decades of grassroots experience delivering medical aid and public health support across Maharashtra and India. Currently serving as the State Desk Head for Charity Hospitals and State Head of the Chief Minister's Medical Relief Fund in Maharashtra, Dr. Naik has also served as a consultant to the Medical Education Department in Madhya Pradesh. Through his NGO, Niramay Seva Foundation, he has facilitated free healthcare access for over 12.5 lakh underprivileged patients, organized more than 100 health camps, and conducted multiple awareness drives and cataract surgery programs. A dedicated changemaker, he has championed organ and eye donation marathons and worked extensively to increase transparency in charitable hospital services. Dr. Naik brings a unique perspective on inclusive, preventive, and scalable public health, making him a valuable voice in the conversation on rethinking CSR in healthcare.

Mrs. Shalini Jatia is the Officer-In-Charge of the ImPaCCT Foundation at Tata Memorial Centre (TMC), an autonomous body under the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India. TMC currently operates nine hospitals across the country, with two additional facilities under construction.

In 2010, Shalini played a pivotal role in establishing the pediatric foundation at TMC and continues to lead its comprehensive care and support infrastructure, positively impacting countless children and their families who are battling cancer. She works closely with government agencies, NGOs, corporate entities, and private and charitable trusts to provide essential financial and psychosocial support to patients from all parts of India seeking treatment at the hospital.

Each year, TMC sees approximately 4,500 new cases of childhood cancer, with 80% of these children coming from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, necessitating extensive support. The counseling and care provided at TMC have set a benchmark in the industry, largely due to Shalini's leadership. She oversees a dedicated team of 80 professionals, including doctors, infection control teams, social workers, data analysts, and volunteers. This team provides individual, local-language counseling, significantly reducing treatment dropout rates. Additionally, Shalini's team conducts unique bereavement counseling for families who lose a child during treatment.

As a thought leader in the field of pediatric oncology, Shalini has contributed to the drafting of guidelines for the Indian Cancer Cure Fund in collaboration with HDFC Bank, ensuring a consistent pipeline of support for cancer patients. Her groundbreaking research, which demonstrated how the social support services at TMC have reduced abandonment rates in pediatric cancer patients from 25% to 4%, earned her the Best Paper Award at the International Pediatric Oncology Congress in 2012. This work was also published in Pediatric Blood & Cancer in 2019.

Shalini is committed to continuously improving cancer care by attending global summits and bringing back best practices to TMC. She has presented research papers to prestigious bodies such as the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) and has participated in renowned observership programs at institutions such as Boston Children's Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in the USA.

In addition to her work at TMC, Shalini serves on the boards of several NGOs, where she lends her expertise and leadership to furthering their missions. She is also deeply committed to mentoring students, helping to guide the next generation of leaders in healthcare and social impact. Furthermore, Shalini has played a key role in expanding TMC's volunteering and employee engagement programs, encouraging a culture of giving back and fostering a sense of community within the hospital.

In 2013, Shalini was honored with the 'Contribution to Society' award by Friends of NaMo. She has also received numerous accolades for her service, including recognition at the Can-India Conclave. Shalini's work has inspired countless individuals and has strengthened TMC's reputation as a leading cancer care center. TMC doctors proudly carry the distinction of being "Trained at Tata Memorial," a testament to Shalini's impactful contributions.

Anurag brings with him more than 28 years of diversified experience in CSR, and community development. Growth oriented, impact focused, at present, he anchors CSR at Capgemini in India by building and strengthening ecosystem of change and development. Over the past decades, he has worked with various grassroot, donor, UN, Policy Thinktanks and research Agencies and Corporates.

His core competency lies in long-term strategic planning and vision-building among diverse stakeholder groups. He specializes in leading organization towards change and transition management in social development space.

He represents Capgemini's commitment to bridging the digital divide as part of its Digital Inclusion initiatives. Under his leadership, Capgemini has achieved tremendous impact through diverse digital literacy initiatives, engaging over 5.2+ million community members, launching 55+ Digital Academies under LEAP (Livelihood Education through Action against Poverty), and leveraging the skills of 95,000+ employees under the Tech4Positive Futures platform, to craft solutions that benefit the community at large.

Mr. D. Vijay Kumar holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree and a Post Graduate Diploma in Personnel Management & Industrial Relations from the prestigious Xavier Institute of Social Service (XISS), Ranchi. He joined Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in the year 2000 and is currently serving as Additional General Manager (HR) at the MiG Complex, Nasik.

With over two decades of experience in Human Resource Management, Mr. Kumar has held various key roles, including a significant tenure at HAL's Corporate Office, where he was actively involved in policy formulation and strategic HR initiatives. He has played a pivotal role in the development and implementation of the Company's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy, aligning organizational goals with sustainable development objectives.

Known for his deep understanding of industrial relations and people management, Mr. Vijay Kumar continues to contribute effectively to HAL's HR and CSR frameworks through his leadership and strategic insight.

Having spent nearly two decades laying the foundation for Malabar Group providing strategic direction to the group's vision and creating an internationally recognized brand through Malabar Gold & Diamonds, Mr. Abdul Salam is an indispensable member of the team as its Vice chairman. Equipped with an MBA in Marketing and Finance and years of experience honing his international business expertise, Mr. Abdul Salam was a founding member of the Group. By applying strong business acumen, system acuity, and leadership talents, Mr. Salam is very much at home creating professional organizations out of an entrepreneurial venture. Mr. Abdul Salam has worked in diverse corporate sectors within India before he moved to the Middle East. He offers a history of success spearheading all facets of enterprise operations in a multimillion-dollar corporation in the Middle East. It's after this odyssey that he came to the Malabar Group, dedicating his full time to it. Later, He played an active role in formulating the unique business model for Malabar Gold & Diamonds, the flagship retail division of Malabar Group. His strategies for the business went forth to place the business in an enviable leadership position in India at first, and later taking wings to overseas. Mr. Abdul Salam has played a pivotal role in the growth of the brand by bringing out the best out of the person's capacity of both young and older generations in the group. It's again under his capability coupled with the chairman's vision that the Malabar Group has developed and diversified into multiple business verticals within the group.

Mr. Ketan Deshpande is a nationally recognized social entrepreneur who founded FUEL at the age of 19 with a mission to ensure that no student is deprived of a career opportunity due to lack of access or information.

He holds an MBA from Symbiosis International University (SCMHRD) and is a Dr. D.C. Pavate Fellow at the University of Cambridge, UK. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Mr. Deshpande represented India at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit 2016, hosted by former U.S. President Barack Obama at Stanford University, and his work has been personally appreciated by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. He has received several prestigious recognitions, including the Ashoka Fellowship, the Champions of Change Award from the Prime Minister of India, and a spot in BusinessWorld's "40 Under 40" list.

He has also worked with over 137 Army Public Schools, reaching 75,000+ students from defence families through career awareness and scholarship programs.

In 2025, he represented India at the World Economic Forum in Davos, contributing to discussions on education, skills, and digital inclusion.

He is currently leading the establishment of the FUEL SkillTech University in Pune — a first-of-its-kind institution aligned with NEP 2020, AICTE, and NSQF guidelines, focused on future-ready, industry-integrated education across management, digital technology, science, commerce, and future skills.