Board of advisors
PGDM PROGRAME
CHAIRMAN - PRANAV KUMAR
VICE-CHAIRMAN – AAYAN
DIRECTOR
XYZ
Dr. RANJIT KUMAR
Principal Scientist and Former Head,
ICAR-NAARM
Dr. Ranjit Kumar is a distinguished agricultural economist and academic leader with over two decades of excellence in the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) system. He has dedicated his career to advancing the strategic intersection of agricultural science, agribusiness management, and policy research.
A legacy of institutional leadership
Dr. Kumar has held pivotal leadership roles at some of India’s most prestigious agricultural institutions, driving the national agenda for agribusiness and soil science:
Head, Agribusiness Management Division: Served a distinguished six-year tenure as the Head of the Division at ICAR-NAARM, where he steered the academy’s strategic initiatives in management education and research.
Principal Scientist, ICAR-NAARM: Currently serves as a Principal Scientist, continuing to lead high-stakes research and mentor the next generation of agribusiness professionals.
- Strategic Growth at ICAR-IISS: Contributed over six years as a Senior Scientist at the ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science (IISS), Bhopal, specializing in the economic and sustainable dimensions of soil resource management.
Foundational Expertise & Professional Journey
His career is built upon a rigorous foundation at the pinnacle of Indian agricultural research:
- ICAR-IARI (New Delhi): Began his professional journey in 2000 as an ARS-Scientist at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), often referred to as the “Seat of the Green Revolution.”
- ARS-72nd FOCARS: A member of the elite Agricultural Research Service, bringing decades of deep-domain expertise to the national agricultural landscape.
Core Competencies
Dr. Kumar is a recognized authority in several critical domains:
- Agribusiness Strategy: Engineering market-linkages and value-chain efficiencies for the agricultural sector.
- Policy Research: Analyzing institutional frameworks to drive growth in the Indian agrarian economy.
- Academic Governance: Designing and overseeing specialized management programs at the national level.
Dr. USHA MINA
Professor, School of Environmental Sciences, JNU
Former Scientist, ICAR-IARI
Dr. Usha Mina is a distinguished environmental scientist and educator with over two decades of high-impact experience in research and academic leadership. Her career is defined by a commitment to understanding complex environmental dynamics, transitioning from national-level applied research to shaping the next generation of scholars at India’s premier university.
Academic leadership at JNU
Professor of environmental sciences: Currently serves as a Professor at the School of Environmental Sciences, JNU, a center globally recognized for its interdisciplinary research excellence.
Research mentorship: At JNU, she leads critical research initiatives, mentoring doctoral and postgraduate scholars in the most pressing environmental challenges of the 21st century.
Core competencies
Environmental Impact Assessment: Expertise in evaluating the ecological consequences of human and industrial activities.
Agro-Environmental research: Bridging the gap between agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability.
Interdisciplinary science: Proficient in navigating the physical, chemical, and biological dimensions of environmental systems.
Dr. RAVINDRA GAVALI
Professor and Head, NIRDPR
Dr. Ravindra Gavali is a distinguished academician and senior administrator with over two decades of experience at the intersection of environmental sustainability and rural governance. As a Professor and Head at NIRDPR, the premier national center for excellence in rural development, he plays a critical role in shaping the policies that empower India’s rural landscape.
National leadership in rural development
Institutional governance: Currently serving as Professor and Head at NIRDPR, where he oversees strategic research and training programs designed to strengthen the Panchayati Raj system.
Policy impact: His work focuses on integrating sustainable environmental practices with rural development, ensuring that grassroots governance is both resilient and forward-looking.
Strategic advisory: A key contributor to national-level studies that guide the implementation of rural development schemes and environmental preservation mandates.
Academic foundation
Environmental science pioneer: Dr. Gavali began his professional career in 2003 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences at the university of Pune.
Scientific rigor: His early career in one of India’s top-tier universities provided a rigorous foundation in environmental impact assessment and natural resource management.
Transdisciplinary expertise: Successfully bridged the gap between pure environmental science and applied socio-economic development, becoming a sought-after expert for rural-environmental integration.
Core competencies
Sustainable governance: Developing frameworks for the efficient administration of rural resources and local government bodies.
Environmental impact and Rural resilience: Specializing in how environmental changes affect rural livelihoods and the infrastructure of Panchayati Raj Institutions.
Capacity building: Designing and leading high-level training modules for senior government officials and rural development practitioners.
Dr. Manju Khari
Dean and Professor, School of Computer and Systems Sciences, JNU, New Delhi
Dr. Manju Khari is a preeminent academic leader and a pioneering researcher in the fields of Artificial Intelligence, Information Security, and Deep Learning. Currently serving as the Dean and Professor at the School of Computer and Systems Sciences, JNU, she is a driving force behind the institution’s technological research and academic governance.
Global research and Scholarly impact
A prolific contributor to the global scientific community, Dr. Khari maintains an extensive research portfolio of over 190+ publications. Her scholarly work is frequently featured in premier, peer-reviewed international journals and conferences curated by the world’s most prestigious publishers, including IEEE, ACM, Springer, Elsevier, Wiley, and Inderscience. Beyond her research impact, she has fundamentally shaped the landscape of computer science education as a co-author of two NCERT textbooks and the editor of 20 authoritative volumes, solidifying her reputation as a primary voice in both national and international academic curricula.
Strategic Research and Government Consultancies
Dr. Khari’s expertise extends far beyond the classroom into national-level research and development. She serves as a highly valued Research Consultant and lead member on critical projects in collaboration with India’s most prominent scientific bodies:
AIIMS & CSIR-NPL (under the Ministry of Consumer and Legal Affairs).
Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
These high-stakes projects focus on the practical application of Cyber Forensics, the Internet of Things (IoT), and Computer Networks to solve complex national challenges.
Editorial Leadership
A highly respected figure in the international scientific community, Dr. Khari actively steers the direction of global research through several key leadership roles:
- Serving as an Associate and Guest editor for prestigious book series at Springer, Wiley, and Elsevier.
- Acting as a Technical Program Committee member and reviewer for an extensive array of elite international conferences.
- Serving as a Peer Reviewer for leading global journals, ensuring the integrity and advancement of Computer Science and Engineering research.
Institutional Leadership and Vision
Before her tenure at JNU, Dr. Khari contributed significantly to the Netaji Subhas University of Technology (NSUT), Delhi. As a Dean at JNU, she continues to mentor the next generation of researchers, fostering an environment where AI and Deep Learning are leveraged for both scientific discovery and social meaningfulness.
Dr. Saurabh Kumar Sharma
Assistant Professor and Co-coordinator, Atal Incubation Centre (AIC-JNUFI)
Expert in Computational Neuroscience and Systems Biology
Dr. Saurabh Kumar Sharma is a distinguished academician and innovation leader at the forefront of Computational neuroscience and Systems biology. Serving as an Assistant Professor and the Co-Coordinator at the Atal Incubation Centre (AIC-JNUFI) at JNU, he plays a pivotal role in nurturing tech-driven startups while advancing the frontiers of interdisciplinary biological research.
Multidisciplinary Academic Foundation
“Dr. Sharma’s academic trajectory reflects a rare synergy between engineering and the life sciences, granting him a unique vantage point on complex systems. He earned both his M.Tech in Computational and Systems Biology and his Ph.D. in Computational Neuroscience from the prestigious JNU.
Research and Technical mastery
His research focuses on the mathematical modeling and stochastic simulation of complex biological and healthcare systems. Dr. Sharma’s work is instrumental in decoding the unpredictable nature of biological processes through:
Stochastic and Nonlinear modeling: Developing advanced delay stochastic models to simulate biochemical reactions and cellular signaling.
Data analytics: Applying expertise in time-series and image data analysis to extract meaningful insights from biological datasets.
Computational tools: Leveraging a high-level technical stack including C, C++, Python, and MATLAB to build robust simulation environments.
Bridging AI and Biology
Dr. Sharma is a pioneer in integrating Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning with traditional biological research. By developing interdisciplinary models at the intersection of mathematics and computer science, he facilitates a deeper understanding of health systems and disease progression.
Innovation and Entrepreneurship at AIC-JNUFI : In his capacity at the Atal Incubation Centre, Dr. Sharma is a key architect of the startup ecosystem at JNU. He mentors early-stage entrepreneurs, helping them translate complex scientific discoveries into scalable business solutions. His leadership ensures that the next generation of “Deep-Tech” startups is grounded in both scientific rigor and strategic viability.
Dr. Dhiraj Kumar Singh, Ph.D
Founder and Managing Director, GRC India
Environmental scientist and Strategic policy advocate
Dr. Dhiraj Kumar Singh is a distinguished environmental scientist and visionary entrepreneur with over two decades of experience in environmental consultancy, policy development, and sustainable business practices. As the founder and managing director of GRC India, he has established the organization as a premier consultancy for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environmental Management Plans (EMP).
Academic and Technical rigor: An alumnus of the prestigious JNU, Dr. Singh holds an M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Environmental Science. His technical mastery is validated by high-level certifications from globally renowned institutions, including MIT, Harvard, Oxford, and Cambridge.
As a QCI/NABET-accredited EIA Coordinator, he provides specialized expertise across multiple industrial sectors, serving as a Functional Area Expert (FAE) in:
- Atmospheric and Aquatic sciences: Air and water quality management.
- Ecology and Biodiversity: Conservation and ecosystem health.
- Waste management: Sustainable processing and circular economy frameworks.
Industrial leadership and Sustainability: Dr. Singh is a pioneer in facilitating environmental clearances and integrating Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) into industrial frameworks. His leadership extends to the core of India’s industrial policy through active contributions to:
- National bodies: FICCI, CII, and the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC).
- International platforms: Serving as a strategic member of the BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BRICS CCI).
Digital Innovation and Social empowerment: Driven by a commitment to social equity, Dr. Singh founded the GRC Sewa Foundation to address grassroots environmental challenges. He is currently spearheading the development of HelpBharat, a digital ecosystem designed to bridge the gap between environmental sustainability and social empowerment, fostering a tech-enabled movement for a greener India.
Dr. SUMIT SINGH
Director, Cotecna Inspection India Pvt. Ltd.
Dr. Sumit Singh is a high-stakes executive and regulatory strategist with a distinguished track record in the testing, inspection, and certification industry. As a Director at Cotecna Inspection, he spearheads strategic operations across critical global sectors, ensuring that international trade meets the highest standards of safety, quality, and legal compliance.
Global leadership in trade and Quality assurance
In his leadership role at Cotecna, a world-renowned leader in trade facilitation, Dr. Singh oversees a multi-sector portfolio that is vital to global supply chains:
Agriculture and Food safety: Driving excellence in the inspection and certification of agricultural commodities, ensuring food security and international quality benchmarks.
Government and Trade solutions: Expertly managing Verification of Conformity (VoC) programs, helping governments and trade entities navigate regulatory barriers and protect local markets.
Minerals, Metals and Consumer products: Directing comprehensive testing and certification frameworks for industrial and retail sectors to ensure global market readiness.
PIYUSH GUPTA
Assistant Vice President – NSH, Johnson Controls–Hitachi Air Conditioning India Ltd.
Global Sales Leader and Strategic turnaround specialist
Piyush Gupta is a high-impact executive with over 25 years of leadership excellence in driving profitable expansion across domestic and international markets. Currently serving as Assistant Vice President at Johnson Controls–Hitachi, he is a specialist in navigating volatile business environments and engineering sustainable revenue growth through innovative Go-To-Market (GTM) strategies.
Global sales and Market expansion
With deep expertise in international trade and cross-border operations, Piyush has successfully scaled business footprints across high-growth regions:
International leadership: Formerly served as Head of international sales, spearheading market penetration and revenue growth across Africa, SAARC countries, and the Middle East.
Strategic global training: Participated in the ‘Strategies for Winning in International Markets’ program from IIM-Ahmedabad (2021), refining his approach to global competitive dynamics.
Market entry execution: Orchestrated comprehensive expansion models that ensure profitable growth in both emerging and established international territories.
Business excellence and Turnaround mastery
Recognized as a Turnaround Specialist, Piyush excels at revitalizing underperforming business units and optimizing enterprise-wide processes:
Digital transformation: Holds a certification in Digital Marketing from MICA (2022), allowing him to integrate modern digital strategies into traditional B2B and B2C sales frameworks.
Process engineering: As business excellence head, he steered enterprise-wide turnaround initiatives and GTM strategies to improve operational efficiency.
Operational leadership and Mentorship
Piyush is a transformative leader known for building resilient, high-performance teams:
Multi-functional oversight: Expertly leads diverse teams across Sales, Service, and Operations to deliver sustained performance.
Team empowerment: Dedicated to mentoring and building multi-functional teams, ensuring long-term organizational alignment and excellence.
Academic foundation and Credentials
Digital marketing: MICA (Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad).
Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management: NMIMS
Bachelor of Science: Dayal Singh College, University of Delhi.
Dr. Jayanand, Ph.D
Pro Vice-Chancellor, Shobhit University
Expert in Bio-electromagnetics and Institutional governance
Dr. Jayanand is a preeminent academic leader and research scientist with over 25 years of distinguished experience in teaching, high-impact research, and strategic academic administration. Currently serving as the Pro Vice-Chancellor of Shobhit University, he is a recognized authority on steering large-scale educational institutions toward global standards of excellence.
Elite research and Academic foundation
Dr. Jayanand’s scholarly foundation is rooted in one of India’s most prestigious research environments:
JNU Alumnus: Earned his Ph.D. in Bioelectromagnetism from JNU, New Delhi.
Scientific pioneer: He has made fundamental contributions to the fields of Biophysics, Biomaterials and Bio-electromagnetics, exploring the complex intersections of physics and biological systems.
Prolific author: His research legacy includes over 80 publications in esteemed national and international journals, alongside eight authored books that serve as critical resources in his field.
Executive leadership and Institutional growth
Dr. Jayanand is a seasoned administrator with a proven track record of navigating the complexities of modern higher education:
Pivotal governance roles: Formerly served as Vice Chancellor and Registrar at Noida International University, where he was instrumental in shaping the institution’s academic and administrative identity.
Quality and Accreditation expert: He possesses deep expertise in NAAC accreditation processes, academic planning, and quality assurance, ensuring that institutions under his leadership meet the highest regulatory and educational benchmarks.
Strategic visionary: His leadership is defined by a commitment to institutional scaling, fostering industry-academic partnerships, and modernizing curriculum frameworks.
Mentorship
A dedicated mentor and recipient of prestigious national honors, Dr. Jayanand has significantly expanded the scientific workforce. He has successfully guided 14 Ph.D., 25 M.Tech, and 16 M.Phil scholars, fostering a culture of rigorous inquiry and innovation.
DR. HANUMAN JAT
Director
ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research (IIMR), Ludhiana
Dr. H.S. Jat is the Director of ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research (IIMR), Ludhiana, with an M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Agronomy from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. He has made significant contributions to developing and promoting Conservation Agriculture (CA) techniques for maize, rice, and wheat systems, enhancing food production with fewer inputs while improving agroecological resilience. Leading maize research in India, Dr. Jat has played a key role in developing numerous maize hybrids and combating the fall armyworm pest. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed papers and received numerous national awards for his work in sustainable crop production.