Speakers

Chief Guests

Shri Hardeep Singh Puri

Hon'ble Minister - Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas

Shri Nitin Gadkari

Hon'ble Minister - Ministery of Road, Transport & Highways

Mr. Nitin Gadkari is the Minister for Road Transport and Highways (RT&H), Government of India. Mr. Nitin Gadkari was born on 27th May 1957 in a middle-class family with roots in agriculture in Maharashtra’s Orange-city Nagpur. Mr. Gadkari got involved very closely with the Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh (RSS) and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and took to social work in a big way. Mr. Gadkari completed his Post-Graduation in Commerce, besides studying Law and obtaining a Diploma in Business Management. Mr. Gadkari has been honored with Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) by the Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth (MPKV), Rahuri, Ahmednagar in 2021 and Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidhyapeeth (PDKV), Akola, Maharashtra in 2022 for his outstanding contributions to the field of agriculture and research for ensuring the financial security of farmers.

In 2022, he received Doctor of Literature (D.Litt.) from the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad for significant contributions in road and infrastructure development in the country.Mr. Gadkari formally entered politics in 1980. Principally, he believes that Politics is an instrument to bring socio-economic reforms in society. He went on to become BJP’s State President in Maharashtra in 2005. He was elevated to the post of party’s National President at the young age of 52 in 2009. He served as PWD Minister in Maharashtra Government during 1995-99, and was leader of the Opposition in the State Legislative Council for four consecutive terms. Mr. Gadkari is committed to promoting the use of alternative fuels, which are import-substitutes, cost effective, indigenous and pollution-free. Under Mr. Gadkari’s guidance, the city of Nagpur was the first city to explore alternative bio-fuels for transport, including Bio-CNG, Bio-Ethanol and LNG. Mr. Gadkari is also introducing Flex-Fuel engines to be run on 100% Ethanol. He also launched the first ever tractor in India, which is run on bio-CNG, thus providing additional income to farmers. He also emphasizes on adoption of Green Hydrogen as a clean and indigenous source of energy, across various industries and mobility sector. Recently, he has launched a car in Delhi, on pilot basis, which runs completely on Hydrogen. Under his supervision, over 70,000 kms of National Highways have been constructed in the last 7 years and 30,0000 kms of new roads are being constructed currently. Twenty-Seven world class access-controlled Greenfield expressway projects being led by Mr. Gadkari under Bharatmala Pariyojana phase-1, are presently in various Pstages of construction. They are of around 9000 kms in length and have a capital cost of Rs 4 Lakh Crores. Mr. Gadkari is a proponent of remote connectivity. Most of these Green Field alignments are passing through remote and tribal areas. These Greenfield Highways will promote socio-economic development of remote and tribal areas. He is the man behind marvelous engineering showcases like Bandra-Worli Sea Link, 55 flyovers in Mumbai, India‘s First Mumbai-Pune Expressway, 14-lane Delhi-Meerut Expressway, Nagpur’s Multi-Layer Metro-Rail cum Flyover system and the upcoming high-tech Delhi-Mumbai expressway. The Delhi-Mumbai distance will be covered in just 12 hours. This will change the entire dynamics of passenger and freight movement on this busiest corridor of India. -2- 35 Multi-Modal Logistics Parks, 600 Way Side Amenities, 105 Tunnels, 28 Emergency Landing Strips are currently being developed under Mr. Gadkari’s tenure. His Ministry has also received around 285 proposals from State Governments to develop Ropeways. Mr. Gadkari has also initiated a Funicular Rail project in Ladakh which will help swift movement of people and goods (including 2-wheelers & domestic animals). Among his other endeavors, unprecedented progress is evident in port industrialization, national water highway traffic, jetties for coastal tourism, Ganga-Yamuna cleaning, fund raising, asset monetization projects, etc. Mr. Gadkari introduced the first ever Motor Vehicle Scraping Policy in the fight against Pollution and Road & Vehicle safety. The New FASTAG policy introduced by Mr Gadkari, is helping commuters to save fuel and time on Toll Plazas. Some of his major works include, unprecedented push for R&D in electric vehicles for developing alternative battery chemistries, such as Sodium and Aluminum batteries and Hydrogen fuel cells. With his waste to wealth policy, Mr. Gadkari is promoting use of new, advanced and recycled waste materials in road construction works. For fast and economical construction, he has mandated large scale use of pre-fabricated pre-cast concrete elements in the highways projects. He is encouraging tree plantation along the highways, installation of solar panels, rain water harvesting and artificial ground water recharge systems. Mr. Gadkari is committed towards the development of qualitative, time-bound, cost effective and sustainable world-class infrastructures in the country. During his tenure as the Union Minister for Water Resources and Ganga Rejuvenation, the monumental “Namami Gange” project became a mass movement involving central and state government agencies, private sector and foreign investors, NGOs, spiritual and social organizations as well as the common people. With his political stature he resolved Inter-State disputes on Water sharing and River Linking, involving 16 rivers in 11 States in a short span of six months. The first Inland Waterway was developed during his tenure, and goods movement was commenced between Varanasi and Kolkata, adding a new dimension to the logistical history of inland water ways in the country. As a part of Amrit Sarovar Mission, he initiated to develop 40 farm ponds in Akola district in association with PDKV. This would help to create additional water storage in the region. Under his leadership, MoRTH has issued the guidelines for use of excavated material from water bodies in Highway construction.

Shri Piyush Goyal

Hon'ble Minister - Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution

Guest Speakers

Shri Tarun Kapoor

Advisor to PM - Government of India

Shri Sanjeev Chopra

Secretary - Ministry of Food & Public Distribution

Mr. Sanjeev Chopra joined Indian Administrative Service in the year 1990. He has experience of over 32 years in different positions in State and Central Government. He is currently serving as Secretary, Department of Food & Public Distribution (DFPD) Government of India, from 31st October, 2022. As Secretary (DFPD), he deal with matters relating to foodgrain management in the country for the central pool stocks including procurement, storage and movement of wheat, rice & coarse grain for its further distribution through network of Public Distribution System Outlets. He also deals with policy formulation for the sugar and edible oil industry in the country. Administration of National Food Security Act, 2013 is one of the major responsibilities.

In the past, he has served as Agriculture Production Commissioner and Secretary of Departments such as Home, Industries, General Administration and Agriculture in the State Government of Odisha. He has a rich experience of servicing in State PSUs such as Odisha Mining Corporation, Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation and Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation. Mr. Chopra also served as Joint Director in LBSNAA, Mussoorie where he was closely involved with the design and delivery of mid-career training programme for IAS officers. Mr. Chopra holds an M.Sc. in Urban Planning from London School of Economics, MBA from FMS, Delhi University and B.Com (H) from Shri Ram College of Commerce. He has been recipient of National e-Governance Award for Excellence in Government Process Re-engineering for Digital Transformation given by Government of India in the years 2020 and 2021.

Shri Pankaj Jain

Secretary - Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas

Mr. Pankaj Jain serves as Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. He has wide-ranging experience of over three decades in governance as well as design and execution of policy across the National and State Governments. This has encompassed the domains of oil and natural gas, financial services (banking and institutional finance), industries, power, information technology and MSMEs. Mr. Jain has extensive Board experience as Chairman/Director on the Board of companies in the Petroleum and Natural Gas Sector, Banks, Development Finance Institutions, Insurance Companies, Non-Banking Finance Companies, a Guarantee Company and Regulatory/Supervisory Bodies.

Shri Kamran Rizvi

Secretary - Ministry of Heavy Industries

Speakers

Aditya Jhunjhunwala

President – Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA)

Aditya Jhunjhunwala is the President of ISMA, the premier sugar association in the country. The Association has 200+ sugar industry members from private sugar mills in India. He is the Managing Director of K M Sugar Mills Ltd. KM Sugar Mills Ltd is engaged in the manufacturing of sugar. The company operates in three segments namely sugar, distillery and co-generation. The company has sugar manufacturing facility in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh (India). Mr Jhunjhunwala is actively associated with many industry Organizations and Member of Young Presidents’ Organization (India). He is also on the board of 19 other companies.

José Orive

Executive Director - ISO

José Orive has been the Executive Director of the International Sugar Organization (ISO) since 2014. Based in London, José directs the activities of the ISO, a UN commodities organization with 87 member countries, providing professional services, market analysis and perspectives for all stakeholders in the sugar chain. The scope of this role extends to anything produced from cane or beet, including biofuels, cogeneration of energy, bio-plastics and by-products. Prior to this, for nearly two decades, he was the Executive Director of the Central American Sugar Association (AICA), representing the sugar sector of Central America in international forums, trade negotiations and before governments. Prior to his tenure at AICA, José was a Partner in the legal firm of Arias & Muñoz at the Guatemala office.

Dr. Patricia Luís-Manso

Agribusiness Research & Sustainability Director - S&P Global Commodity

Patricia Luís-Manso has 20 years’ experience in analytical and leadership roles in agri-commodities, investment banking and network industries. In her current role at S&P Global, Patricia is responsible for Agriculture Research and Sustainability, leading a global team of experts in Soft Commodities, Crop Science and Animal Health to generate essential data and intelligence for the Agribusiness industry. Prior to this role, Patrícia was Head of Agriculture, Biofuels & Metals Analytics for Platts and Head of Sugar Research at Louis Dreyfus Commodities. Patrícia has also worked at Kingsman SA, now part of S&P Global, for 7 years as Senior Analyst and Head of Research & Reports. Patrícia holds a PhD in Regulatory Economics from the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, in Switzerland. She also holds a Diploma in Organizational Leadership from Oxford University and a MSc in Economics from Nova SBE in Portugal.

Kona Haque

Group Head of Research - ED&F Man

Kona Haque joined ED&F Man in May 2014 as Group Head of Research, responsible for the company’s commodity and macro-economic research team (including Volcafe coffee, Man Sugar, pulses and grains). She joined from Macquarie Bank where she was responsible for agriculture and soft commodities research for 7 years. Previously, Kona spent 4 years as Senior Commodities Editor at the Economist Group. She has also worked for a shipping consultancy as Director of Bulk Commodities and spent 4 years at Metal Bulletin Research, specialising in base metals. Other experience includes working as an Economist for a grains market information provider and with the United Nations in Rome, Italy. Kona has an MSc in Economics from the London School of Economics and a BSc in Agricultural Economics from Reading University.

Stephen Geldart

Head of Analysis - Czarnikow Group Ltd (CZ)

Stephen is the Head of Analysis for Czarnikow Group Ltd (CZ), a leading provider of financial and supply chain services to agribusiness. His team provide high-quality coverage of the agricultural products, energy, ingredients and packaging markets via Czapp.com, a platform giving access to CZ’s data and analysis. Czarnikow’s advisory team also regularly undertakes strategic consultancy work and corporate finance mandates for energy majors, banks, and agricultural businesses. Before joining CZ in 2008, Stephen worked in the downstream oil industry, primarily on carbon emissions trading and emergency oil stocks. He holds an MSci in Chemistry from Imperial College London.

Luca Meierhofer

Global Head of Sugar Cash Trading - Louis Dreyfus Company

Luca Meierhofer joined Louis Dreyfus Company in 2017 as the Global Head of Sugar Cash Trading, based in Geneva. He started his career with Cargill in 1996, covering all different aspects of the sugar trading business, from hedging to origination and destination marketing. Sixteen years later he joined Bunge as the head of Raw Sugar where he developed the business for over five years,while taking over the risk management responsibility as well. Luca holds a degree in Economics and Finance from Geneva’s School of Economics and Management
(HEC).

Karim Salamon

Head of Analysis - Wilmar Sugar Ltd.

Karim Salamon is Head of Wilmar Sugar Market Research since 2011 – He started his career as wheat cash trader, then spent 3 years as economist in French Union of beet Growers, and has more than 20 years in commodity markets in several companies. He is agronomist engineer from Agro Paris Tech and is managing a team of analyst in different countries on sugar , ethanol and energy transition.

Dimitri Varsano

Senior Sugar Trader - Sucden

After graduating from Babson College (Boston) in 2017, Dimitri began his career as a trader in Sucden Americas following sugar flows in the LATAM region. He then joined Sucden Paris in 2018 to implement physical and hedging strategies for the global raw sugar book contributing to its expansion in the past 4 years. As of January 2023, Dimitri is directly involved in defining and implementing Sucden’s global sugar trading strategy both on the white and raw sugar flows.After graduating from Babson College (Boston) in 2017, Dimitri began his career as a trader in Sucden Americas following sugar flows in the LATAM region.He then joined Sucden Paris in 2018 to implement physical and hedging strategies for the global raw sugar book contributing to its expansion in the past 4 years. As of January 2023, Dimitri is directly involved in defining and implementing Sucden’s global sugar trading strategy both on the white and raw sugar flows.

Dr. Plinio Nastari

Founder and President - DATAGRO Consulting

Dr. Nastari´s career is intimately associated with the development of biofuels in Brazil, the US, and countries in Latin America and Asia. Since 1978 he has been involved in energy planning at the National Energy Commission, Commission for Reexam of the Energy Matrix, and Civil Society Representative at Brazil´s National Council on Energy Policy. He fostered the connection between renewable fuels and automakers as Executive Director and President of the Board of the Brazilian Association of Automotive Engineers, and was involved in various trade negotiations and trade disputes at US-ITC and WTO. Professor of micro and macroeconomics for 21 years at Getulio Vargas Foundation in Sao Paulo. President of the Brazilian Institute of Bioenergy and Bioeconomy, since 1984 leads Datagro Group with over 180 professionals serving clients in 41 countries.

Mr. Rahul Bharti

Executive Director (Corporate Affairs) - Maruti Suzuki

He is also the CIO (Chief Investor Relations Officer) of Maruti Suzuki. He holds the offices of, Chairman, International Relations & Trade Policy, SIAM Chief Engagement Officer, SIAM Member, OICA, the Global Auto Industry Association Member, CII Haryana State Council He is a Gold Medallist from (now) IIT Roorkee, with more than 29 years’ experience, all with Maruti Suzuki across Vendor Development, New Product Development and Corporate Affairs.

Prashant K Banerjee

Executive Director - SIAM

He is an alumnus of prestigious Indian Institute of Technology Mumbai having more than 30 years of automobile industry experience. He has extensively worked in different capacities of engineering development, localisation, advance technologies, certification testing, regulations and standard formulation roles in multi-national companies namely Toyota, Daewoo and Tata Motors. On behalf of industry, he represents in various policy, regulations and standards committees of national and international levels.

Gautam Goel

Managing Director - Dhampur Bio Organics Limited

Gautam Goel is the Managing Director of Dhampur Bio Organics Limited (DBO) and has been involved in business for around 30 years. He has been directly responsible for various pioneering initiatives and achievements of the Dhampur Group. Gautam became the President of the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) in 2012 and also served as the Chairman of Indian Sugar Exim Corporation (ISEC) in the same year.

Mr. Niraj Shirgaokar

Managing Director - The Ugar Sugar Works Ltd.

Mr. Niraj Shirgaokar has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Engineering from the Bombay University with 15 years of experience in professionally managed multi-national companies, after which he has joined the family business in the year 2005. Mr. Shirgaokar currently is the Managing Director of The Ugar Sugar Works Ltd., the parent organization of the Shirgaokar Group of Companies (SB Group) having interests in sugar, power, ethanol, IMFL, foundries and I.T. Prior to joining The Ugar Sugar Works Ltd., he has worked with Siemens Information Systems Ltd. (part of Siemens India) and Patni Computer Systems, Inc, (now known as IGATE). Whilst working with Patni, he was based in California, USA for a period of 5 years. Mr. Shirgaokar has also co-founded and promoted iResearch Services Pvt. Ltd. in 2008, which is one of the country’s leading marketing first, research-based, Thought Leadership companies, providing services and solutions to customers and partners in USA, EU and Australasia.

He has served as the President of South Indian Sugar Mills Association (SISMA), which looks into the interests of over 60 Sugar Mills in the South of India. Last year he completed his term as the President of the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA), the premier association of sugar and ethanol manufacturers in the country. He is also an avid sportsman and has played Squash for India. He has represented the country at the World Open Squash Doubles Championship. He has been the Over – 35 National Squash Champion; twice a National Doubles Finalist and has been the Captain of the victorious Maharashtra State Men’s Squash Team for over two years. He was best ranked in the top 8 men in the Indian National Squash Circuit in his prime. He has represented Otters Club, Bombay Gymkhana as well as the Bombay University in a winning capacity and as captain several times. He is also a keen Golfer, Tennis Player and Cricketer.

Vivek Saraogi

Chairman & Managing Director - Balrampur Chini Mills Ltd.

Mr. Vivek Saraogi, an eminent industrialist, is a veteran in the sugar industry and has been one of the youngest presidents of the Indian Sugar Mills Association. He has also served as the Chairman of Indian Sugar Exim Corporation Limited and is a former committee member of FICCI & the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Kolkata.Under his stewardship and able leadership, the Company has grown leaps and bounds through organic and inorganic means, enabling BCML to emerge as a leader in the Indian sugar industry. Mr. Saraogi is a commerce graduate from St. Xavier’s College.

Atul Chaturvedi

Executive Chairman - Shree Renuka Sugars Limited

Atul Chaturvedi is a veteran in the Vegetable Oil/ Oil seeds /Sugar and other Agro commodities of the Country. He has more than four decades of successful and varied general and strategic management experience in the field of Manufacturing, Trading and Agri Infrastructure Development. He was associated with Adani Group since 1998 and had played a key role in the development of the Agro and Agri Infrastructure business of the Group. He is currently Director of Adani Agrifresh as well as Executive Chairman of Shree Renuka Sugar. The Companies where he serves as Director are market leaders in their category and have done pioneering work. A widely travelled International Trader, he has hands on experience in handling Agro Products, Vegetable Oils, Grains, Sugar, Oilseeds, Apples, Agri Infrastructure etc. both within and outside India. Mr. Chaturvedi has received many awards/recognitions over the years, like Best Analyst award from ZEE, Agri leadership award etc.

He was declared as “Globoil Man of the Year-2013” and “Globoil Legend “in 2023 for his contribution to Vegetable Oil Industry. Economic Times recognized him as ‘ Promising Business Leader ‘ of Asia in 2021-22.

Mr. Chaturvedi is associated with various Organisations and Trade Bodies. Currently he is Chairman of Asian Palm Oil Alliance (APOA) as well as Senior Advisor SEA. He has been President of Solvent Extractors Association (SEA) as well as Dy. Chairman of SOPA. He is also associated with CII and headed the Task Force on Edible Oil and Oilseeds.

An eminent speaker he is a familiar face in Business channels like CNBC, ZEE, ET NOW and Bloomberg. His views on commodity markets are widely followed.

Mr. Prakash Naiknavare

Managing Director - NFCSF

Prakash Naiknavare is the veteran of sugar sector having a long and fruitful association of more than 23 years with sugar sector. He is currently the Managing Director of National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Ltd., India’s National Sugar Federation, an apex body represents all the 259 cooperative sugar mills & 9 state sugar federations across India. Prior to leading & directing India’s Cooperative sugar sector, he also had a 5 year tenure as Country Head – India of Sugar Maxx Inc., a US based MNC. Mr. Naiknavare has been closely associated with India’s Sugar / Sugarcane/ Ethanol / Co-generation related policies. He has to his honour of having contributed in various high power committees appointed by Government of India. Mr. Naiknavare has widely travelled across the globe & has to his credit having addressed number of Sugar conferences within & outside India.

Vivek M. Pittie

Director - Harinagar Sugar Mills

Vivek M.Pittie, aged 64 years, has a Bachelor of Science degree from Mumbai University. He graduated in 1979 with distinction in Chemistry and Physics. He is a third generation member of the Pittie family, which owns the company. He was appointed as an executive in 1985 and was promoted to the post of Whole-Time Director in 1995. He is an able administrator with over forty years of experience in various capacities in the sugar industry. He has been instrumental in increasing the crushing capacity of the company from 3,000 TCD to 12,500 TCD and in achieving the highest total sugarcane crushed to date in its history of 1.75 million tons in Season 2017-18. He is actively involved in the company’s various cane development activities, and under his leadership the company has adopted the latest technological developments in the manufacture of sugar. He was the driving force behind the establishment of the distillery unit and the co-gen power plant at the company’s sugar complex. This forward integration into distillery and co-generation operations negates, to a large extent, the cyclicality of sugar and provides support to overall profitability levels of the company.

Evandro Gussi

CEO - UNICA

Evandro Gussi is the president and CEO of the Brazilian Sugarcane and Bioenergy Industry Association (UNICA). He oversees an organization dedicated to providing clean, renewable and natural energy in the form of sugar, biofuels, bioelectricity, and biomaterials. Previously, Dr. Gussi was Comptroller General of the Brazilian House of Representatives. He was elected to Congress in 2014 (2015-2019 term) and served as his Party Chief Whip from 2016 to 2017. Dr. Gussi was the author of the “RENOVABIO” Act, a landmark Brazilian legislation to increase the use of biofuels, helping the nation meet its ambitious goals to cut greenhouse gases and live up to its Paris commitments. Dr. Gussi has a S.J.D. in Law from the University of São Paulo Law School (2009) and received a Master’s degree in Law from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (2005).

Kannika Vongkusolkit

Vice President, Trading Business and Risk Management - Mitr Phol Sugar Corp. Ltd.

Kannika Vongkusolkit is Vice President – Trading Business and Risk Management in International Marketing Department at Mitr Phol Sugar Corp. Ltd. She studied a Bachelor Degree in Economics (English Program) from Thammasat University in Thailand before graduated a Master Degree in Management from University of Bath, England. She started her career as an analyst for a local Market Research company specializing in consumer products. She joined Mitr Phol Sugar Corp. Ltd. in 2009 as a researcher in the Futures Market Department. She later moved to International Marketing Team, handling export sales to major traders as well as overseas industrial buyers. After gaining experiences from rotating to different departments within the company, including Finance department and Corporate Sustainability department, Kannika moved back to the International Marketing Team in 2022 to head Raw Sugar Trading and Futures Trading team. Having worked closely with cane farmers in her previous role, she believes that building relationships with cane farmers is the key to sustainable cane supply which in turn leads to sustainable growth in the business.

Jeremy Austin

General Director - Sucden

Jeremy Austin started in the sugar business with Sucres et Denrees in October 1985, having completed a degree in Mathematics at Oxford. He has been with the Group ever since, between New York, Paris, London and Sao Paulo offices. He founded the Sao Paulo office in 1994 and has been responsible for the Brazilian operation since then. With the increase in export volumes from Brazil, our operation has steadily grown to a level of origination approaching 6 million tonnes per crop. Along the way, he also served on the Board of FBA and the board of Tereos International. He still participate on the board of AEXA.

Bruno Trombelli

Commercial Director - Raízen

Bruno Trombelli is Commercial Director at Raízen, where he is responsible for the sugar platform for both domestic and international markets. He has been actively involved with the company’s strategy to develop its international expansion, driving the change from a sugar producer in Brazil to an international player in the global sugar arena. Bruno has been working in the commodities industry since 2008. He worked for several companies such as Alcotra, Cosan, Vitol and Wilmar, covering sugar, vegetable oils, clean petroleum products and ethanol. He has held various positions spanning trading and supply to management, finance, M&A and strategy. Bruno is a graduate in Finance from Ibmec, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and is a Council member at the Sugar Association of London.

Mauro Virgino

Head of Trading Intelligence - Alvean

Mauro Virgino is the Head of Trading Intelligence for Alvean since 2020. Mauro started his career as a Senior Agriculture Researcher at the macroeconomic division of the Brazilian Institute for Applied Economic Research (IPEA), focusing on the Brazilian agribusiness. In the private sector, he worked as ED&F Man’s Head of Sugar Research, agriculture strategist for both Citibank and hedge fund Cumulus, as well as Head of Sugar Research for Tropical Research Services. Mauro is an economist with a Master’s degree in Applied Economics from the University of Sao Paulo and a Master’s degree in Finance from the London Business School.

Sankalp Suman

COP 28 International Youth Delegate, Sr. Manager - Sustainability & Climate Change - ISMA

Sankalp is a Senior Manager for Sustainability & Climate Change at ISMA and will also be India’s official Youth Delegate for COP 28 in Dubai this year. He is an alumnus of the Delhi College of Engineering (DTU) with a background of environmental engineering. Sankalp is young changemaker who has worked on various aspects of climate change including E-waste management, Carbon financing, Bioenergy, Climate Policy etc. He co-founded OffsetGo, a carbon trading platform to develop Nature based, Community centric solutions during his graduation and was awarded by Harvard Project for Asia Relations among others for the same. Sankalp is also a trained storyteller and a writer and actively works towards spreading awareness about climate change mitigation among youth, business, government and other stakeholders of the environment through rallies, seminars, workshops etc.He was awarded the National Youth Icon at the Parliament of India in 2022 for his work in environment.

Danielle Morley

CEO - Bonsucro

Danielle Morley is the CEO of Bonsucro, the leading global sustainability platform and standard for sugarcane. Prior to her appointment at Bonsucro in 2018, Danielle was European Director of Outreach and Engagement at Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, and Executive Director of the Freshwater Action Network at WaterAid. She also sits on the Board for ISEAL – the global membership organisation for credible sustainability standards. Danielle has a range of sector expertise in sugarcane palm oil, water, forests, climate change, and human rights. She holds a master’s degree in Environmental Technology and a bachelor’s degree in Law.

Mr. Rohit Kumar

Secy General Carbon Markets Association of India, VP - EKIE

Mr. Rohit Kumar has more than 2 decades of experience in industry relationships, policy development and advocacy across sectors, project development focusing on environment and sustainability and implementation of SDG at community level, implementation of outcome driven campaigns at grassroot level. He has been at the forefront of various prestigious initiatives targeting to generate positive results for key stakeholder programs through various B2B, B2C and B2G initiatives. Currently working as Secretary General of the Carbon Markets Association of India (CMAI) and Vice President EKI Energy which is committed to enabling India in its journey towards a Net Zero Future. CMAI is associated with key stakeholder Ministries such as, MoP, MNRE, MoEF&CC, Ministry of Agriculture, and Niti Aayog etc.

Earlier he has worked in PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry and was part of organizing Swatch Bharat Campaign and various community based initiatives. He has worked in various media houses as marketing lead and was Director at Zee Media, Aaj Tak. He has been honoured many times for the following: Felicitated by the Vice President of India for India’s Biggest ‘Voter education program’ for empowering the democracy, appreciation from ‘The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’ UNODC, twice recognized in ‘The LIMCA Book of World Records for the biggest green drive for nature conservation, felicitated by the President of India for the initiative “Art Recognizes No Boundaries” for promoting culture and diversity and also appreciated by UN for implementation of SDG’s at grassroot level.

Abhay Bakre

Director General - Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)

Manish Dabkara is the Chairman & MD of EKI Energy Services Ltd. – a leading Carbon Credit Developer & Supplier across the globe. He founded EKI (erstwhile EnKing International) in the year 2008 with the objective to lead companies worldwide to a future of net-zero carbon emissions. Under Manish’s leadership, EKI has grown to become a catalyst for carbon offsets not only within India but globally and has supplied over 200+ million offsets as on date. Today, the company has over 3500 clients across 40+ countries globally. A subject matter expert in the field of energy, climate change, carbon and quality management, Manish is a Certified Energy Auditor & Manager under Govt. of India’s – Bureau of Energy Efficiency (Ministry of Power). He also has certifications in quality and management from IIM-A, IIM Indore, CII and GIZ, in addition to a Masters in Technology in Energy Management.

Mr. Vedang Pittie

Executive – Harinagar Sugar Mills

Since 2006, Mr. Vedang Pittie has been a part of his family run business- Harinagar Sugar Mills Limited. From the start of his professional career, he has actively been a part of installing a molasses based distillery and in founding a Co-generation power plant with the Government of Bihar. With his regular participation in global sugar conferences and courses such as the ISSCT since 2013, STAI, Kingsman conferences, a Sugar Technology course at SMRI, it has helped him to broaden his horizons and upskilled him with better practices to apply within his organisation.

Subhash Kumar

Ex CMD - ONGC, Advisor ISMA

Veteran in Energy Industry with over 36 years’ experience in India and abroad in a Fortune 500 Company (Current Fiscal Group turnover ~ USD 70 Billion and Net Profit ~ USD 6.5 Billion), the top ranking profitable and diversified company of India. Have dealt with all the energy majors and NOCs for building alliances and contributing towards organizational growth. Represented the organization at various national and international fora like APPEC, Global Petroleum Show, World Economic Forum and have been part of Minister level delegations at important bilateral/multilateral events such as OPEC or during ministerial visits to energy exporting countries. Contributed towards global and national expansion of group footprint on India through role in negotiating and closing multi-billion dollar transactions. Have been Board Member of 4 listed companies leading to 360-degree view of industry, management issues and stakeholder management. Have been closely associated with issues relating to sustainability and energy transition during leadership role at ONGC Group companies and also as President of Global Compact India.

Vikram Gulati

Country Head & Executive Vice President (Corporate Affairs & Governance) - Toyota Kirloskar Motor

Currently working as Country Head & Executive Vice President (Corporate Affairs & Governance) at Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt. Limited (TKM). He is a postgraduate in Chemistry from St Stephen’s College, Delhi University and holds a management degree from Management Development Institute, Gurgaon. Earlier while serving as a Civil Servant, he also has a rich and varied experience of over 22 years of working in the Government in various capacities.

Dr Reji Mathai

Director - ARAI

Dr Reji Mathai is Director – ARAI, Pune. He has vast experience of more than 28 years in the field of engine and vehicle testing, emission studies and ambient air quality. He has done his doctorate from IIT Delhi. He has been a part of Auto Fuel Vision & Policy 2025 Committee for drafting the policy. He is a member of various committees of Government & bodies, like BIS and CPCB, etc. where he articulates views of mobility concerns in these forums to facilitate future roadmap. He has published more than 50 papers in national and international forums. He has 2 patents to his credit. He is a member of NABL, Pune Knowledge Cluster, life member of TSI, Chairman of SAE Western India Section and Secretary of CIMAC India.

Mr. Amit Sachdev

Regional Consultant - U.S. Grains Council India

Mr.Amit Sachdev is a graduate in Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, from G B Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, now in Uttaranchal. Graduating from the class of 1987, he traveled to Europe for training in dairy & poultry farming and worked in farms in Denmark, Netherlands Belgium & Germany. Coming back in 1990, he has been an independent consultant covering various aspects of livestock production, processing and marketing. As an independent consultant, was responsible for making inroads in processed chicken marketing, value added chicken for Arambagh Hatcheries in East India, Baramati Agro in Maharashtra to name a few and machine milking in some private dairy operations.

Samir Somaiya

Chairman and Managing Director - The Godavari Biorefineries Limited

Samir Somaiya is the Chairman and Managing Director of Godavari Biorefineries Limited, President of Somaiya Vidyavihar and Chancellor of Somaiya Vidyavihar University. He is Chairman of K.J. Somaiya Trust, K.J. Somaiya Medical Trust, K.J. Somaiya Institute of Applied Agriculture Research and the Girivanvasi Pragati Mandal. Along with his wife, he is the owner of Kitabkhana, a bookshop in Mumbai. He is currently the President Elect of the IMC Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He was the President of the Indian Sugar Mills Association in 2009, and the Chairman (Western Region) of the Indian Chemical Council in the years 2006-08. He holds a Master’s in Public Administration (2005) from Harvard University and an MBA (1993), Master’s in Chemical Engineering (1992) and Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering (1990), all three from Cornell University. He was recently awarded The ‘Knight of the Order of Star or Italy (2022). He is also a recipient of the Lala Shri Ram Award for Leadership in the Chemical Industry (2022 – awarded by the Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers), the American Institute of Chemists Award (1990), and of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers’ Award for Scholastic Achievement (1989). He is also a Visiting Lecturer at the Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Cornell University.

Godavari Biorefineries Limited is a biorefining company with $250 million in sales, engaged in the manufacture of sugar, ethanol, renewable energy, chemicals, biogas, and compost, all from agricultural resources. More than 70% of company inputs are from renewable resources. The company also works extensively with 20,000 small farmers in over 200 villages to help improve productivity, yields and standard of living. The company has partnered with research laboratories and done remarkable research in frontier technologies on cellulose and feedstocks for polymers from renewable resources at the pilot scale. The Somaiya Trust and Somaiya Vidyavihar and Somaiya Vidyavihar University are involved in education, healthcare and rural development. The Trust manages over 30 different educational institutions of learning extending from elementary to Ph. D. The education is imparted in diverse areas such as medicine, engineering, the arts and sciences, religion, vocational studies, education, languages, etc. There are over 39,000 students and 1,300 faculty. There is also a 550 bed urban teaching hospital. The Trusts jointly run 8 schools, 6 of which are in rural Maharashtra and Karnataka. Samir is married to Amrita and has three children – Gayatri, Meera and Madhav. He lives in Mumbai, loves to play squash, do yoga, swim, and has a black belt in Taekwondo.

Dr. Prakash Lakshmanan

Professor Director - Sugarcane Research Institute, GXAAS

Dr Prakash Lakshmanan is an internationally recognized sugarcane scientist with more than thirty-five years of research and research management experience in academia, and government and industry research and development institutions. Dr Lakshmanan started his career as a Research Scientist in Thehans Laboratories, a plant biotechnology company in Singapore in 1989 before joining the Department of Biological Sciences at The National University of Singapore in 1992. In 1998, he joined Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations (BSES) in Australia, one of the oldest and well-known sugarcane research institutes in the world, and led research focusing mainly on crop improvement. A researcher with passion for commercial outcomes, Dr Lakshmanan explores an integrated multi-disciplinary approach to deliver science-based solutions to major industry issues.

He led the largest Australian sugar industry R&D investments in collaboration with DuPont-Pioneer, USA and Dow Agricultural Science, USA for sugarcane crop improvement. He is a recipient of multiple awards for R&D excellence from the Australian Government, Australian sugar industry, and the Australian Academy of Science. Currently Dr Lakshmanan is Director, Sugarcane Research Institute, Nanning, China, and Professor at Southwest University, Chongqing, China. He serves in the Editorial Boards of several international journals and an Honorary Professor at the University of Queensland, Australia.

Ankita Patil Thackeray

Chairman - Ashti Sugar Mills Ltd.

Ankita Patil Thackeray is a young ingenious third generation promoter of Ashti and Indreshwar Sugar mills from Maharashtra. She heads the Business Operations of the Sugar, Distillery and Cogeneration division with a vision to enhance efficiency and adapt newer technologies in the business. Graduating with a Masters in Strategic Management from London School of Economics and Sustainability in Finance from Harvard Business School, she firmly believes in incorporating sustainability in every aspect of the business. A social advocate for rural woman entrepreneurship, Ankita also is an elected member of the Pune Zilla Parishad working at the grassroots of Pune district. She is the Vice President of SB Patil Institutes, Member of ISEC and the Working President of Jijau Federation – A platform for women in Rural Maharashtra.

Dr. Larry P. Walker

Professor - Somaiya University

Dr. Walker received a B.S. in Physics, and MS and Ph.D. in agricultural engineering from Michigan State University. He was a Cornell University professor from 1979 to 2015 where he led multidiscipline research on biomass conversion for energy and chemicals. Dr Walker has served in numerous leadership roles including membership on the National Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee, and leadership of the Northeast Sun Initiative, a regional bioenergy and bioproducts initiative. He is the founding Co-Editor in Chief of the journal “Industrial Biotechnology”. Dr. walker is a Director for Godavari Biorefineries Inc and is the CoDirector of the Centre for Sustainable Development and Climate Action, Somaiya Vidyavihar University. For his leadership in industrial biotechnology, he received the “Biotechnology Innovation Organization Leadership and Legacy Award” in 2018. This year he was honored by his alumni mater with the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Dean’s Pinnacle of Excellence Award.

Dr. Sushil Solomon

Advisor - ISMA , Ex-Director at Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow

Sanjay Ganjoo

Director General - Indian Federation of Green Energy

Mr Ganjoo is Director General of Indian Federation of Green Energy (IFGE) an Industry Organisation for Green Energy Companies. IFGE is an Industry body for Green Energy Companies. IFGE has been working extensively on subjects like Bio Fuel, Waste to Energy, Electric Mobility etc and has organized many national and international conferences on these subjects. IFGE has been instrumental in bringing policy changes in terms of amendment of Forest Act and also in revival of Bamboo Mission, introduction of Bio Fuel policy through its intense effort of convincing policy makers.

Ajay Singh

Chairman - Spicejet

Ajay Singh is the principal shareholder and Chairman & Managing Director of SpiceJet. He founded SpiceJet in 2005 with the vision of making air travel accessible for all Indians. After a successful stint, he exited the airline in 2010. Five years later, he bought back the airline at a time when it was on the verge of closing down and went on to script one of the most remarkable turnaround stories in global aviation. His leadership and strategic decisions have positioned SpiceJet as a successful and influential player in the global aviation landscape and he is widely regarded as the face of Indian aviation. Since assuming leadership in 2015, Mr. Singh has spearheaded a remarkable transformation that has propelled SpiceJet to new heights of success. The airline has achieved 20 quarters of profitability, demonstrating his strategic acumen and ability to drive growth.

Furthermore, SpiceJet has consistently maintained the highest passenger load factor for a record eight consecutive years, showcasing its popularity among travelers. In recognition of its exceptional performance, Bloomberg ranked SpiceJet’s stock as the best performing aviation stock in the world in 2017. Mr. Singh, a first-generation entrepreneur, has consistently demonstrated his boldness in pursuing ambitious goals. Under his astute leadership, SpiceJet made a historic order of 205 Boeing aircraft, marking one of the largest deals in the history of the American aviation company. This significant investment garnered recognition from former US President Donald J. Trump, who lauded its potential to generate tens of thousands of job opportunities in the United States. Under Mr. Singh’s leadership, SpiceJet has been at the forefront of driving innovation and sustainability in the Indian aviation industry. The airline has achieved significant milestones, including operating the country’s first-ever BioJet fuel-powered flight. The airline proudly introduced a revamped ‘Made in India’ in-flight entertainment system, which uses off-the-shelf, cost-effective mobile phones to serve as both Wi-Fi servers and content hubs, offering a significant cost advantage. In line with his strategic vision to expand the horizons of SpiceJet, Mr. Singh unveiled SpiceXpress in 2018, establishing it as India’s leading cargo and logistics platform. The launch proved to be pivotal during the challenging times of the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent nationwide lockdown when transportation options were severely limited. SpiceXpress played a crucial role in maintaining the country’s supply chain, ensuring the seamless movement of essential goods and commodities. Throughout the national lockdown, not a single day went by without SpiceXpress planes taking off, transporting critical medical supplies, medicines, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables to every corner of India and beyond. This unwavering commitment to service and support has truly exemplified SpiceXpress’s dedication to assisting the nation and its citizens in their time of greatest need. In November 2020, as India faced the daunting task of expanding its testing capacity amid the surging Covid-19 cases, Mr. Singh’s healthcare venture, SpiceHealth, introduced a game-changing solution. With a firm commitment to affordability and efficiency, SpiceHealth launched the most cost-effective and rapid RT-PCR testing in the country, significantly reducing the financial burden for individuals seeking testing services. By offering this essential diagnostic tool at a fraction of the existing cost, SpiceHealth played a crucial role in facilitating widespread testing and supporting India’s efforts in combating the pandemic. Mr. Singh had already established a track record of success in various ventures prior to his remarkable achievements at SpiceJet. Notably, he spearheaded the turnaround of the financially struggling Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and the national television broadcast network, Doordarshan. In his role on the Board of DTC in 1996, Mr. Singh devised and implemented a strategic plan that transformed DTC from a loss-making entity into a thriving and efficient transport service. He led a comprehensive overhaul of Doordarshan, India’s premier television network, and was instrumental in the successful launch of two major channels, DD Sports and DD News, which added diverse and engaging content to the television landscape. Mr. Singh, as an advisor to the Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Technology, played a crucial role in shaping key policies and legislations and drafting the National Telecom Policy and Information Technology Act that had a profound impact on the telecom and IT industries in India and reduced the cost of mobile calls. Beyond his business ventures, Mr. Singh has actively engaged in various other spheres and garnered recognition for his contributions in different domains. In the realm of politics, he served as the media head of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s 2014 election campaign. During this time, he coined the popular slogan “Abki Baar Modi Sarkar” (Now is the time for Modi government), which resonated with the public and became synonymous with the party’s message. His passion for sports is evident through his involvement in the boxing community. He currently holds the position of President of the Boxing Federation of India and serves as the Vice President of the International Boxing Association. His leadership in these roles highlights his commitment to promoting and nurturing the sport at both national and international levels. In January 2019, Mr. Singh made history as the first Indian to chair the prestigious Aviation, Travel and Tourism (ATT) Governor’s Meeting at the World Economic Forum in Davos. He was nominated to the Board of Governors of the International Air Transport Association in June 2019. His active involvement extends to his presidency of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India. He has also been recognized on a global scale, receiving the esteemed “Low-Cost Leadership Award” at The Airline Strategy Awards in London in 2018. Education has been a cornerstone of Mr. Singh’s journey. He graduated from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi, where he earned a degree in engineering. He furthered his education by obtaining a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Cornell University in the United States. Additionally, he holds a Bachelor’s degree in Law from the Law Faculty of the University of Delhi. Through his multifaceted accomplishments, Mr. Singh has left an indelible mark in politics, sports, business, and education, showcasing his leadership skills and dedication to driving positive change.

Mr. Atul Mulay

President - Bio Energy Division - Praj Industries

Mr. Atul Mulay currently serves as the President of the Bio Energy Division at PRAJ Industries Limited in Pune, where he also oversees global operations. With a distinguished career spanning 35 years in the biofuels sector, Mr. Mulay brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his roles. He holds key memberships in influential committees, including the Biofuel Working Group under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the Biofuel Advisory Committee in Maharashtra State, and the Confederation of Indian Industry’s (CII) National Task Force on Sugar and Ethanol.

As the Founder Member and Chairman of the BioEconomy Committee within the Indian Federation of Green Energy in Delhi, he is a driving force behind the promotion of sustainable practices and green initiatives in the industry. Additionally, Mr. Mulay actively contributes to academia as a member of the Board of Studies at MIT ADT University in Pune and as an Advisory Committee Member of MIT Engineering College.

Dr. Preeti Jain

Global Director - Policy, Chemicals & Carbon Solution - LanzaTech

Dr. Preeti Jain is Global Director (Policy, Chemicals & Carbon Solution) with ‘LanzaTech: a carbon capture and transformation’ leader creating a sustainable future for all. A ‘World Economic Forum Agenda Contributor’, she is passionate advocate for science-based policies. A Scientist by training (PhD, Chemistry) and MBA (AIM, Philippines); she brings 20 years of diverse geographical (SE Asia, Middle East, US) experience spread across refining & petrochemicals, renewables energy, R&D, International Advisory etc. where she contributed to craft conducive policies and support businesses towards energy transition, sustainability & climate change. In the past, she worked with prestigious National Committee on Auto Fuel Policy, Indian Clear Air Program, Source Apportionment in Indian Cities, National Energy Policy etc.; to bridge between science & technology for enabling sustainable growth and people at large.

Mr. Ravi Gupta

Executive Director - Shree Renuka Sugars Limited

Mr. Ravi Gupta is a highly accomplished individual in the agri commodity industry with 32 years of experience. He currently serves as the Executive Director of Shree Renuka Sugars Limited, a prominent global sugar and ethanol company. Prior to his role at Shree Renuka Sugars Limited, Mr. Gupta held several notable positions in renowned organizations. He served as the Managing Director of Noble Group (now COFCO) in India, the CEO of Australian Wheat Board (AWB) in India, and the Vice President of Louis Dreyfus in India. These roles have provided him with extensive expertise and insights into the industry. Mr. Gupta’s passion lies specifically in the Sugar & Ethanol Industry, and he has been actively involved in shaping policies related to ethanol in India. He is recognized as a valuable resource and influential figure in the field, contributing significantly to the development of the ethanol sector in the country.

Akhilesh K. Goyal

Managing Director – Shrijee Sugar & Power Pvt. Ltd (MP)

Akhilesh Goyal, aged 39 years, is an Engineering Graduate, having experience of 16 years in Sugar, Power & Ethanol Business. One of the leading Sugar business group in central part of India. He is having key interest in the bio energy sector made project on Ethanol during his graduation. Under his technical thinking and management the firm has achieved huge growth.

Annie Denny

Director General - World Sugar Research Organization

Annie Denny is Director General of the World Sugar Research Organization. She trained in nutrition at Newcastle University in the UK and holds a Masters in International Nutrition from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Annie has worked in nutrition roles for over 20 years, spanning food industry, food retail, charity roles and media work. She is a passionate believer in communicating science to individuals in understandable language. At WSRO, Annie’s motto is “Research isn’t finished until its communicated”. Annie joined WSRO as Director General in 2020. Annie leads a small team of nutrition scientists who research the latest evidence on sugars & health, keeping WSRO’s Members up-to-speed with scientific and health policy developments on sugars and health.

Marie Christine Ribera

Director General - CEFS

Marie-Christine Ribera is a French citizen and lives in Brussels. She began her professional career in 1987 with an internship at the European Commission before becoming a policy officer in variety of settings, initially with the French National Federation of Rural Territory Management and later in the regional Chamber of Commerce of Industry of the Ile-de-France region. In 1991, she joined the French National Centre for Young Farmers as Advisor in charge of Community matters. During this time, she was also a substitute member of the Economic and Social Committee of the EU. In 1993, she became legal advisor to the Director General of the French inter-professional National Cereals Office.

In 1999, Marie-Christine Ribera joined COPA-COGECA (European farmers and Cooperatives Association) as Policy Advisor with special responsibility for arable crops and bilateral agreements. She has been deeply involved in agriculture, environment and food policies of the European Union, developing a robust network of relations on the Brussels/EU scene. In 2008, Marie-Christine Ribera was promoted to the position of Director of Commodities & Trade. In 2009 she joined the European Association of Sugar manufacturers, CEFS (Comité Européen des Fabricants de Sucre in French) as Director-General.

Avantika Saraogi

Promoter & Business Lead - New Initiatives - BCML

Avantika Saraogi is a young pioneer in the world of sugarcane operations, bringing a passion and drive that is truly exceptional. Graduating with distinction (Cum Laude) and a B.A. Hons from Scripps College in Claremont, California, USA, Avantika is now the fourth-generation member of the promoter family to join Balrampur Chini Mills Ltd. Leading the charge in sugarcane development, procurement, grower relations, strategy, technology, mechanisation, and more, Avantika is driven to take the industry to new heights.She sees sugarcane as the new oil, with untold potential for value addition to products and by-products.

Her vision is nothing less than a world that recognizes and embraces the incredible potential of sugarcane. But Avantika’s drive extends beyond the bottom line. She is dedicated to promoting sustainability and reducing the environmental impact of sugarcane cultivation and the sugar mill complex.