Board of advisors
The Board of Advisors at PRTF is a distinguished collective of visionary academics, industry leaders, and regulatory experts. Comprising eminent professionals from leading organizations, the board plays a pivotal role in ensuring that our AI-centric, AICTE-approved PGDM program meets the highest standards of academic and professional excellence. Its primary mandate is to guide curriculum innovation, foster strategic industry–academia collaborations, and provide mentorship that shapes students into capable managers. Through their insights and experience, the board supports the development of future leaders who can effectively navigate the evolving intersections of governance, business, and technology.
Dr. RANJIT KUMAR
CEO, a-IDEA and Principal scientist ICAR-NAARM,
Former Head ICAR-NAARM
Dr. Ranjit Kumar started his career as an ARS Scientist at ICAR-IARI, N. Delhi in the year 2000. He is a distinguished academic leader in Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Management with over two decades of experience spanning research, policy analysis, and entrepreneurship. Currently serving as the Principal Scientist and CEO of a-IDEA, the Technology Business Incubator at ICAR-NAARM, he is a key figure in India’s agri-startup ecosystem, driving ideation and business acceleration.
Throughout his 25+ years of career at premier institutions like ICAR-IARI, ICAR-IISS, ICAR-NAARM, and ICRISAT, Dr. Kumar has been instrumental in shaping agribusiness education, notably serving as the Head of the Agribusiness Management Division at NAARM (2017–2022). His expertise covers agricultural marketing, value chain analysis, development of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), and promotion of innovation and agripreneurship in India.
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 and Professional journey
Began his professional journey in 2000 as an ARS-Scientist at the IARI.
Key contributions and Academic impact:
Institution building: Repositioning of PGDM-ABM of NAARM, establishing a-IDEA, designing and initiating training for FPOs and on entrepreneurship.
Global collaborations: Extensive research stints, consultations and collaboration with ICRISAT, IFPRI, and CIMMYT (Mexico).
Professional leadership: Students’ research guidance, Member in QRT and RAC of different ICAR institutes, Advisory board of different SAUs, Vice president of the Agricultural Economics Research Association (AERA), Editorial board of Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics (IJAE).
Prolific author: Over 75 peer-reviewed articles and influential policy papers on e-NAM, FPO, and Entrepreneurship.
Recognized excellence: Recipient of the LBS Young scientist award of ICAR, Fellow of AERA and BASA, NAARM’s best faculty and best trainer awards.
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 and CSIR-NPL (under the Ministry of Consumer and Legal Affairs) and DBT and the DST.
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. 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 Vaniki Joshi Lohani
Assistant Professor,
School of Management and Entrepreneurship (SME), JNU
Expert in strategic management, IKS, and Sustainable entrepreneurship.
Dr. Vaniki Joshi Lohani is a distinguished academician and strategic researcher with over a decade of excellence in higher education and corporate strategy. Currently a faculty member at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), she operates at the cutting edge of Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) and Public Policy, bridging ancient wisdom with modern strategic frameworks to drive sustainable development.
Elite academic and Technical pedigree
Dr. Lohani’s foundation is built upon India’s most prestigious technical and management institutions:
IIM alumna: Earned her MBA from IIM Indore, grounding her expertise in top-tier management principles.
Technical rooting: Holds a Tech from IIIT Allahabad, providing her with a rigorous analytical and technological baseline.
Doctoral excellence: Completed her D. from Indore University, specializing in contemporary management challenges.
Professional evolution: From High-Finance to Academia
Before dedicating her career to research and teaching, Dr. Lohani gained significant experience in global financial markets:
Corporate leadership: Previously associated with global powerhouses Lehman Brothers and Sharekhan, where she mastered the complexities of market dynamics and strategic planning.
Premier academic tenure: Prior to joining JNU, she served as a full-time faculty member at IIM Indore, contributing to one of India’s top-ranked management institutes.
Global research and Institutional impact
Dr. Lohani is a sought-after researcher with a portfolio funded by India’s highest regulatory and research bodies:
Funded research portfolio: Principal investigator for numerous high-stakes projects funded by IKS-AICTE, ICSSR, MGNCRE, NCST, and others.
International footprint: Serves as a Visiting Faculty at world-class institutions, including Bayes Business School, London, and Lingnan University, Hong Kong.
Key research domains: A recognized authority in Sustainable Entrepreneurship, Rural Women Upliftment, and the integration of IKS in Strategic Management.
Dr. Dhiraj Kumar Singh
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.
Harish Kumar
AI Researcher and Practitioner
Founder, Quantamix Solutions B.V., Netherlands
Expert in Agentic AI, Knowledge Graphs and LLM Governance
Harish Kumar is an elite AI architect and researcher operating at the global frontier of applied Artificial Intelligence. With over 18 years of experience across Fortune 500 giants—including Amazon, Philips, and ING—he bridges the gap between complex algorithmic research and enterprise-grade production. As a European Patent holder and published researcher, he specializes in building Autonomous Intelligence that is both mathematically rigorous and regulatory-compliant.
Impact at a glance
- 18+ Years of Enterprise Digital & AI Transformation Experience.
- 500+ Professionals Trained across EMEA, Americas, and APAC.
- 4 Production AI Platforms Architected and deployed (CrawlQ.ai, GraQle, FrictionMelt, TraceGov.ai).
- Research Authority: Holder of EU Patent EP26162901.8 and lead author of the TAMR+ Framework for AI cognition.
Pioneering research and Intellectual property
Harish doesn’t just deploy AI; he evolves the science behind it. His research portfolio serves as the primary technical foundation for his teaching modules:
GraQle (EU Patent): A revolutionary Knowledge-Graph Reasoning Engine that enables multi-hop LLM reasoning across 17,000+ nodes.
TAMR+ (SSRN 6359818): A peer-reviewed framework for AI Agent Cognition, integrating episodic and semantic memory to achieve 74% accuracy in complex regulatory reasoning.
TraceGov.ai: A pioneering platform for EU AI Act and ISO 42001 Compliance, automating risk classification and audit trails for regulated industries.
Strategic professional trajectory
Founder and CEO, quantamix solutions B.V. (Netherlands): Architecting production-grade LLM systems and delivering high-stakes AI strategy to global teams.
GenAI platform lead, ING bank: Orchestrated an unprecedented 65% enterprise AI adoption rate within six months, overseeing the deployment of Azure OpenAI and MS Copilot.
GenAI consultant, amazon ring: Engineered AI-driven efficiency tools delivering 50% content creation gains for global marketing operations.
Regional AI lead, philips: Scaled Generative AI adoption across three continents, achieving EUR 500K in annual savings through role-based learning paths.
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
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. 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.
DR. HANUMAN JAT
Director, ICAR CAZRI, Jodhpur
Former Director, ICAR-IIMR, Ludhiana
Dr. Hanuman Sahay Jat is a distinguished agricultural scientist and visionary leader with decades of impactful contribution to Indian agriculture. He currently serves as the Director of the ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI) in Jodhpur, having previously led the nation’s premier maize research initiatives as the Director of the ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research (IIMR) in Ludhiana.
As a pioneering agronomist, Dr. Jat has been at the forefront of developing and scaling conservation agriculture techniques. His research across intensive maize, rice, and wheat systems has revolutionized sustainable crop management—enabling farmers to optimize food production with fewer resource inputs while drastically improving agroecological resilience against climate variability.
During his leadership at ICAR-IIMR, Dr. Jat spearheaded critical advancements in crop genetics and protection, playing a pivotal role in the development of climate-resilient maize hybrids and leading the national defense strategy against the destructive Fall Armyworm (FAW) pest.
An accomplished academic and leader, Dr. Jat has published over 100 peer-reviewed research papers in high-impact national and international journals. His groundbreaking work in sustainable crop production, resource-use efficiency, and climate-smart agriculture has earned him numerous prestigious national awards and accolades.
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. 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.