ESG and Sustainability Speakers in India

Dhimant Parekh, a social entrepreneur, is the visionary behind TheBetterIndia.com, India's leading platform spotlighting positive news. He spearheaded product management and developed hoopos.com's entire e-commerce offering. His impactful contributions include crafting early versions of ngpay's mobile commerce app, architecting ibibo's social networking platform, and leading a software team at Honeywell. A versatile individual, Dhimant has ventured into theater, authored a book of short stories, and now pioneers positive impact with The Better Home, India's inaugural sustainability-focused subscription product range. Committed to eco-friendly, toxin-free home care, The Better Home aims to inspire consumers to effect positive change within their homes and protect the environment. Dhimant is an impact worker who is taking India towards a sustainable future.

Nandita Das has acted in more than 40 feature films in 10 different languages. She’s done many memorable roles and worked with several eminent filmmakers. She was conferred the ‘Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters’ by the French Government. She has a Master’s degree in Social Work and is a strong advocate for social justice. Her entrepreneurial spirit is seen as she founded ‘Nandita Das Initiatives’ (NDI), a creative platform which produced her feature films Manto and Zwigato in 2016. Under NDI, she has also directed and produced shorts such as India’s Got Colour and Listen to Her that shed light on pertinent social issues. She is the author of 20 books including "Manto and I" that chronicles her 6 year long journey of making Manto.

Rhea Mazumdar Singhal is the visionary Founder and CEO of Ecoware, India's pioneering sustainable packaging enterprise dedicated to creating a greener tomorrow. Her remarkable contributions have earned her the prestigious Nari Shakti Puraskar, the highest civilian recognition for women, conferred by the President of India. Recognized for her leadership and commitment to sustainability, Rhea is a distinguished World Economic Forum Young Global Leader (2018) and an esteemed Asia 21 Young Leader (2019). She also actively participates in critical initiatives as an invited member of the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) National Committee on Women Empowerment and the CII India CEO Forum on Air Pollution. As a woman entrepreneur, Harvard Kennedy School graduate Rhea leaves no stone unturned in motivating women and setting an example by fostering work-life balance in her organization, and her resolute efforts embody the essence of sustainability and environmental stewardship.

Dr. Muhammad Yunus, a distinguished social entrepreneur and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, revolutionized the BFSI sector by founding the Grameen Bank and introducing groundbreaking concepts of microcredit and microfinance. His strategic vision in utilizing microcredit for economic and social development earned him global acclaim and the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize. Recognized with the United States Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal, Dr. Yunus is also ranked #2 on Foreign Policy magazine's 'Top 100 Global Thinkers.' Beyond his impactful contributions, he advocates for business strategy evolution through social businesses and corporate social procurement partnerships. Dr. Yunus believes organizations can drive positive impact by integrating social responsibility into their supply chains, emphasizing the transformative potential of strategic collaborations for societal benefit.

Aradhana is a sustainability and ESG leader, driving impactful change at Lemon Tree Hotels. The company's mission centers on building an inclusive workforce, exemplified by their 15-year practice of employing Individuals With Disabilities (EWDs). Aradhana aims to raise their current 14% representation to around 30% by FY 2025-2026. Her commitment was recently acknowledged when Lemon Tree Hotels received the prestigious FICCI FLO award for outstanding inclusivity, with Aradhana representing the company. She actively co-leads EWD recruitment and pioneers new initiatives in the disability sector, having conducted groundbreaking trials over the past nine years, including individuals with Down Syndrome, Autism, Visual Impairment/Low Vision, as well as Speech and Hearing Impaired (SHI) and Orthopaedically Handicapped (OH) employees, which the company routinely hires. With an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad and 29 years of experience spanning Sales, Marketing, Corporate Communications, and Sustainability, Aradhana is a pioneering figure in the DEI and sustainability space.

Damayanti has 17+ years of experience in the management consulting industry working across – Business Strategy, Technology Strategy, M&A Advisory, Supply Chain Consulting and Digital led value creation. She is currently heading Digital Transformation for Mahindra Group. Previously she was leading Operations Transformation service line for PwC (Acceleration Center) Management Consulting team. Her core domains are supply chain & operations in life science, pharma, and healthcare industries. 

Damayanti is passionate about impact of digitalization and business value creation through technology. She has built global delivery practices and CoE’s in her prior roles with EY and IBM which involved building capability, assets, accelerators to drive business growth.
Damayanti takes deep interest in emerging technologies and leverages her digital transformation practice leadership experience to drive client value.

Shuddha has over 12 years of work experience in Beauty & Personal care working with CPG leaders. She has worked with Unilever for 9 years in marketing purposeful brands like Vaseline, Glow & Lovely, Dove, Ponds, and launched Ayurvedic master brand Lever Ayush. She has expertise in social impact & product sustainability. She has worked on brands at different consumer journeys from brand building to innovations & renovations. Before this, she worked as Sales Manager, Customer Development, Consumer Products (Johnson's baby, Neutrogena, Clean & Clear, Listerine, Bandaid, Benadryl) at Johnson & Johnson. 

Apart from this she holds advisory & consultant position in marketing & social impact companies in the US & India. She is passionate about Music, Marketing & Sustainability.

Prof. Anjal Prakash is an Associate Professor (Research) and Research Director at the Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business. He specializes in water and climate change, urban resilience, and gender and social inclusion in South Asia. He has held roles at institutions such as TERI-School of Advanced Studies and ICIMOD, Kathmandu, Nepal, where he led the Himalayan Adaptation, Water, and Resilience (HI-AWARE) program. Prof. Prakash is actively engaged with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), serving as coordinating lead author for the Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate (SROCC) and a lead author for IPCC's 6th Assessment Report. He holds a Master's from Tata Institute of Social Sciences and a Doctorate from Wageningen University. Prof. Prakash's publications and editorial roles underscore his commitment to environmental and social sciences.

With 23 years of rich professional experience across functions, industries and countries, Payal is an expert in creating value through innovative ideas and strategies, which will have a positive impact on revenues. She is the Founder of Carbonfixers, a consulting firm which makes businesses and infrastructure Climate Resilient and Sustainable through Strategies, Technology Aggregation and Resource Efficiency. She consults about ESG Consulting, Green Buildings, Sustainability and Just Transitions.

Kripa's extensive experience collaborating with various I/NGOs, including Naandi Foundation, STCI, KeF, AMREF, and SDGPP, spans health, education, and sustainability sectors. Leading projects in operations, MIS, strategy development, and stakeholder management, she is recognized for her expertise in policy and advocacy, contributing to national reports and key policy documents like the National Health and Mental Health Policy draft. As a public health expert, she shares insights as a panelist and session chair at forums focusing on health, education, and sustainability. Her consulting prowess is evident in streamlining program processes, crafting RFPs, and conducting research projects. Kripa's ability to address challenging issues with logical solutions stems from her wealth of experiences, making her a valuable asset in advancing initiatives that promote health, education, and sustainability.

Procyon Mukherjee has been an Industry Expert in the field of Supply Chain Management having worked for 34 years in every aspect of supply chains. He has held transformational roles with specialization in procurement, manufacturing, supply chain, logistics, operations planning, integration and sustainability, to name a few. He is the author of The Search for Value in Supply Chains and the designated Senior Leader in LafargeHolcim Global Team. He has worked in Global Multinationals starting from Philips, Alcan Inc., Novelis and LafargeHolcim as well as in Indian Global Conglomerate, the Aditya Birla Group in its flagship company Hindalco. His career started in eastern part of India and then he went on to work in various parts of India.

Dr. Kumar is a versatile business professional with over 25+ years of experience in Sustainable Business Operations, Business Development, Sustainability & LCA, Project Planning, Change Management, Risk Management, Resource Management & Strategy Planning. He is the first advocation partner in India for a global sustainability think tank, promoting target-based sustainability and regenerative economy. 

As a sustainability leader, he has initiated several endeavors for creating value and good business sense, promising to deliver revenue gains, cost savings, and other benefits that lift enterprise value & promote sustainable development. He has extensive experience in directing the research and analysis required to design corporate sustainability strategies to ensure that business practices, goods, and services are environmentally friendly and in compliance with regulatory standards.

Aunindo Ghosh, once entrenched in corporate realms, now channels his expertise towards climate change advocacy and research. With a robust background spanning 17 years in corporate domains, he made a pivotal shift towards environmental causes. Co-founding Alaap, a non-profit organization dedicated to Himalayan reforestation, and serving as a Climate Action fellow at Bhoomi Network, Aunindo spearheads initiatives tackling issues such as lake rejuvenation and sustainable agriculture. Aunindo's speaking engagements delve into diverse topics, ranging from contextualizing climate change and its root causes to exploring sustainability, technology's role, and global case studies. Armed with degrees from Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, SPJIMR Mumbai, and Jadavpur University, he actively contributes to organizations like the Rethinking Economics India Network and the Indian Society for Ecological Economics, where he focuses on the intricate intersections of climate economics.

Mahendra Chouhan is a Professor, Author, Board Advisor on Corporate Governance, Sustainability and Integrated Reporting. Mr. Chouhan is Managing Director of Mahendra and Ardneham Consulting, an advisory company specializing in aligning and embedding Governance and Sustainability in the Business Strategy. His focus is on advising companies on building cohesive and high-performing boards and selection of Independent Directors. His areas of expertise include governing for long term Sustainability and ESG. He is the Chairman of Fino Payment Bank and a consultant with IFC-World Bank Group.

With over 25 years of experience in corporate communications, Meera champions the pivotal role of strategic communication in leadership. She offers expert guidance on various facets including content, stakeholder engagement, sustainability, and investor relations. Through workshops focusing on content strategy, pitching, science communication, storytelling, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), sustainability, and corporate social responsibility (CSR), Meera nurtures leadership skills. Meera's expertise extends to coaching CEOs, CXOs, women leaders, and entrepreneurs in effective leadership communication. Her diverse clientele spans industries such as chemicals, agrochemicals, telecom, IT, biotech, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, education, energy, oil and gas, agrotech, biochemistry, and nonprofits. Grounded in extensive real-world experience, her insights offer practical solutions tailored to the unique challenges of each sector.

Chandra Bhushan stands is one of India’s foremost environment and climate change experts, focusing on sustainability and ecological well-being. He is the President & CEO of the International Forum for Environment, Sustainability and Technology (iFOREST). He was Deputy Director of Centre for Science and Environment during 2010-2019.He has researched, written and campaigned for issues ranging from climate change and energy transformation to rights of mining-affected people and industrial pollution. He has led 20 independent scientific studies on food safety and environmental pollution that have catalyzed significant improvements in the food safety and environmental regulations of the country. In 2017, he was conferred with the Ozone Award by the UN-Environment’s for his contributions towards the framing of the Kigali Amendments to the Montreal Protocol. Bhushan is a columnist for India’s leading media houses including Times of India, Malayala Manorama, Financial Express, and Gaon Connection.

Arun Krishnamurthy is the founder of the Environmentalist Foundation of India (E.F.I), a wildlife conservation and habitat restoration group responsible for restoring 107 freshwater bodies across 14 states in the country by 2019. Arun is an alumnus of the Madras Christian College, the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, and UNESCO IHE. Arun has spoken at various universities, corporate events, and 12 TEDx events. Topics covered by Arun include Wildlife, Water, Environment, India's traditional water management, People and conservation, Public mobilization for nation-building, Youth motivation for conservation, and more. Arun is a Rolex Laureate of 2012, Jane Goodall Global Youth Leadership Awardee, British Council Climate Champion Excellence Award, and more. His passion towards the environment is not only inspirational but also drives everyone around him to strive towards a greener and sustainable tomorrow. 

Urvashi Prasad is a Public Policy Specialist in the Office of the Vice Chairman at NITI Aayog. Her work focuses on policy matters pertaining to the social sectors in the Vice Chairman's office. She has authored over 80 articles and papers in the national and international media on health, nutrition, sanitation and gender, among other areas. Urvashi was previously a Director at Operation ASHA, one of India's largest tuberculosis control NGOs. She also led the health portfolio of the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation in India for five years.

Dr. Siddiqui is a Menstrual Health Consultant & Educator, Founder Director, Humjoli Foundation, Author, Speaker & a Corporate Health & Wellness Trainer. As a passionate Menstrual Health Activist, she is working incessantly towards normalizing 'Periods', providing right & precise information on adolescence, menstruation, menopause, menstrual disorders and women's reproductive health. She has a deep understanding of the intersectionality of public health and MHHM experiences of girls and women in developing countries. Dr. Siddiqui has experience & expertise in consulting on MHHM, designing and implementing end-to-end community outreach programs and ground activities, training, guidance, management support, mentorship to members of feminine hygiene & FemTech companies and conducting sessions on menstrual health & hygiene and other women's health issues. She has spoken at global forums like Global Period Poverty Forum, Australia, Western Sydney University, Australia, Monash University, Australia, Queensland University, Australia among others.

Dr Sovani is a postgraduate in pharmacology. He has about 40 years of experience in the pharma industry in various Indian and multinational firms in the field of clinical research, regulatory affairs, medico marketing, training and pharmacovigilance. He currently runs a consultancy firm, that is providing services in clinical research planning and execution, medico marketing, sales force training, GCP training, gap analysis in research, due diligence of CROs and pharmacovigilance coaching. He is an MD in Pharmacology with additional Management training from IIM. He retired as the Country Manager, India, for Revogenex Inc, a US based pharma start up. 

Binish Desai, a pioneering social entrepreneur and innovator, has transformed environmental engineering and waste management as chairman of the EETech Group. With a master's degree in environmental engineering and an honorary Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Technology, His journey began at age 11, leading to the creation of over 150 eco-products through Eco Eclectic Technology. Recognized internationally, he received the "Rotary International Alumni Global Service" award and was honored as a Covid Hero Youth Icon of the Year 2020 for his innovative recycling of PPE kits. Listed in Forbes' "Asia’s 30 Most Successful Social Entrepreneurs under 30" and "Top 10 Social Entrepreneurs of India," Binish’s impact extends to recycling over 3500 tonnes of industrial waste. His life and achievements are celebrated in a forthcoming book and Bollywood biopic, encapsulated in this quote: "There is nothing useless in this world; what might be waste to you is someone's asset."

With over 35 years of experience in the construction industry, they are a senior business leader and head special initiatives at Larsen & Toubro, a leading engineering and construction company in India. Leading corporate strategy and thought leadership, he focuses on sustainability, innovation, and digital technology. His track record includes executing high-value projects in residential, commercial, infrastructure, and industrial sectors. He excels in leadership development, marketing, tendering, execution, contracts, and claim management. Additionally, he successfully divested a Larsen & Toubro subsidiary, showcasing strategic acumen and financial management skills. His passion lies in creating value for stakeholders and contributing to the growth and transformation of the construction industry.

Nakul Anand is the Former Executive Director at ITC Limited. The industry veteran has now joined Tricone Luxury Hotels company as the Chairman of its Advisory Board. His extensive experience and expertise has proven be invaluable in guiding Tricone Luxury Hotels’ vision of sustainable and luxurious hospitality and real estate experiences. His is deeply entrenched in the launch of luxury hotels and real-estate development projects in Alibaug. A staunch advocate for sustainability, Anand pioneered 'Responsible Luxury', earning global acclaim with a record-breaking number of LEED® Platinum and Zero Carbon certified properties. Honored as the 'Corporate Hotelier of the World 2019', he embodies collaborative leadership, emphasizing continuous learning and disciplined action. Anand's mantra, "If It Is To Be, It Is Up To Me", epitomizes his transformative approach to success.

Ar. Priyanka Arjun is an accomplished Indian architect based in Udaipur, leads the design firm Priyanka Arjun and Associates. After completing her education at ASA, Jaipur in 2006, she established her own design firm in 2013 following a diverse range of professional experiences worldwide. Her work embodies creation of spatial experiences with material exploration . She is also a member of the Natural Stone Institute (NSI) in the USA and actively contributes as a Stone Consultant.

“The design should reflect its time, place and people; but desire for timelessness.”

Portfolio encompassing a wide range of projects, including resorts, hotels, apartments, mixed-use buildings, schools, restaurants, housing, and residential developments. Over the course of ten years, the firm has successfully delivered over 3 million square feet of projects across eight cities in India. Sustainability is a core passion of the firm, specializing in stone and lime construction and having completed projects with IGBC and Griha ratings.

With 12 years of expertise in industrial engineering, production, and quality within the retail sourcing sector, Divesh has mastered optimizing processes, ensuring top-notch quality, and driving cost efficiency. His journey is deeply rooted in fostering sustainable business practices aligned with organizational strategies. However, Divesh’s true passion lies in aligning people with the overarching goals of the organization, enhancing engagement, and driving meaningful work. Transitioning to a Senior People Advisor role, he focuses on personal development, capability building, and fostering inclusion. Divesh is dedicated to empowering individuals to discover purpose in their work and align their efforts with meaningful goals, speaking passionately about Crafting Meaning at Work, Purposeful Goals, and Purposeful Leadership.

Deepak Mahurkar is a Mechanical Engineer, and post graduate in Finance and Marine Engineering. He started his career with Armed Forces as a Naval Officer. Later, he worked with the Power Generation sector to move into the Oil & Gas Sector. During his 31 years of professional career, Deepak gained diverse consulting, marketing, commercial, sales and operations experience. In consulting, his experience spans investment advisory, policy & regulations advisory, operational efficiency improvement, and business strategy related consulting.