Dr. S.Y. Quraishi joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1971 and after holding several strategic and key positions, rose to become the 17th Chief Election Commissioner of India, the world’s largest democracy. He figured in The Indian Express list of 50 Most Powerful Indians of 2011 and 2012, he also figured in India Today's High and Mighty Power List 2012. As Director General, Doordarshan (National Television Network), Dr. S Y Quraishi brought about a turnaround in the programmes and finances of the organisation through introduction of new methods and approaches. He has made tremendous contributions in the field of Health and Family planning: With Special contribution to the policy and program development in the health sector, women and child development sector. Dr. S.Y Quraishi has received several prestigious awards in recognition of his contribution to civil society and human development issues. Some of these are: 'Nehru Fellow- Award from Nehru Children's Museum, Calcutta as a part of 300 years of Calcutta1 celebrations (the only Civil Servant in a galaxy of international awardees for innovative and outstanding work in the field of child welfare). Secular India Harmony Award, 1988; given by the Vice-President of India for the United Children's Movement, New Delhi, (for outstanding - contribution for human understanding). Silver Elephant - the highest National. Award of Indian Scouts and Guides given by the President of India (1995), in recognition of service of most exceptional character to the movement. Defender of Democracy by Chauthi Duniya Group of Newspapers 2011. Dr. Quraishi is well known in India and abroad as a development thinker, for his inclusive style of leadership and for bringing harmoniously together wide varieties of groups and institutions for achieving the common objectives of development. He has travelled widely to represent India at international conferences and dialogues.
Anupriya Acharya is an eminent media and advertising professional with 18 years of experience in media agencies across India and Singapore. She recently took over as the Group CEO, Zenith Optimedia Group, India. Prior to this, she has been at the helm of some other renowned media agencies also and has since 2005 held positions of President - The Media Edge (RDYR), India; CEO - Aegis Media, Singapore; and Leader – Team Unilever, South Asia at Mindshare. Anupriya has been on the Jury for all key media industry awards in India and Singapore and featured amongst ’50 most influential women’ in Media, Marketing and Advertising and amongst top 15 most influential people in Media. She has, in the past, also led the Radio committee of MRUC as Vice Chairperson. A Post Graduate in Chemistry from IIT - Roorkee, her interests are adventure trips, photography and interior designing.
Apurva Purohit is the CEO of Radio City 91.1FM and an IIM -B alumnus. She is one of the very few women CEOs in the Media and Entertainment space and has been managing media organizations for a large part of the 25 years she has spent in the corporate world. Apurva is a specialist in the field of media businesses and brands and prior to her entry into radio she has been part of the television space where she worked with BCCL & Zee Telefilms. She has launched successful TV brands like Zoom, India's first lifestyle channel and also fashioned the re-launch strategy for Zee TV, the flagship channel of Zee Telefilms. She was the first President of the AROI, the Industry body of the radio industry, where she was at the forefront of several industry initiatives like the resolution of the royalty issue, the structuring of the Phase 3 policy and the evangelizing of the medium amongst advertisers. She is also a member of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting's Sectoral Council on Innovation. She has been voted amongst the top 50 women in Business and amongst the top 10 women in the media industry. She is a strong believer in nurturing and encouraging gender diversity at the workplace and Radio City is a reflection of her vision where 34 % of the employees are women.
Srini is CEO of GroupM South Asia, a role he took on in January 2013. A media industry veteran of 20 years, Srini began his agency career working on the Hindustan Lever business. He was part of the start up team at HTA Fulcrum (now Mindshare Fulcrum), India's first media standalone agency for the Lever business. Srini was in Madison Media for close to 6 years, helping the agency expand its client base outside of Mumbai. He was COO Madison Media when he moved to GroupM to help set up Maxus. Srini was CEO Maxus India and later headed the Asia-Pac operation of Maxus, helping the agency acquire scale and become one of the top 3 standalone media agencies in India. Srini had a brief stint with the Times of India group in its Private Treaties division as Director. In his 20 year media agency career he has worked with several leading advertisers including HUL, Coke, Vodafone, Nokia, Samsung, Perfetti, etc. Srini is a Mechanical Engineer from BITS Pilani and Post Graduate in Business Management from XLRI Jamshedpur.
Dilip Cherian has pioneered the concept of Image Management in India and is the co-founder of Perfect Relations, South Asia's top public relations and public affairs consultancy group. Being in the business for the past 20 years, Perfect Relations staffs 500 employees in 18 offices all over India. It has worked and partnered with over a 1000 of the largest corporations operating in this growing market, both Indian as well as multinational firms. With a strong lineage of working with political parties and non-governmental organisations it is the indisputable leader in Image Management. Dilip is a highly respected and visible presence on television in addition to being a widely read and prolific columnist. Having already made a significant impact as the formidable editor of The Observer and Business India, he is also an Independent Director on several Media Boards including one of India's best-loved English Radio FM channels 'Radio One' and India's largest Daily Hindi Newspaper – 'Jagran'. Possessing incisive political insight and strategy driven skills as a media & policy expert he is a member on several distinguished Boards of Governors such as the Advertising Standard Council of India (ASCI), the National Institute of Design (NID) & has been a member on the Central Board of Film Certification. He was on the Jury for the prestigious Cannes Lions Awards this year and SABRE Awards in P.R. He is the Honorary Director General and founder of the Centre for Image Management Studies (CIMS), a premier research & training institute that mentors and trains young talent. In addition to being involved with multiple teaching assignments on Image Management and Communications Strategy at premier Management institutions all over the country, he also conducts media trainings for CEO's and top-management professionals of multinational corporations. Mr Cherian is a much sought after speaker, moderator and anchor, and an indispensable element in many televised panel discussions debating on issues of international and national import. He conducts numerous workshops at premier management schools across India, speaks at various national and international forums on a diverse range of topics such as Corporate Strategy, Crisis Management, Public Relations, Lobbying and Evolving India.
Dr Ajeenkya D Y Patil is Chairman of the D Y Patil Group. He is the Pro-Chancellor of the Padmashree Dr. D. Y. Patil University and has served as chancellors nominee of the University of Mumbai Senate. He has a Master's Degree from Richmond College, U.K. and specialization in Marketing from the London School of Economics. The expansion plans of The D Y Patil Group are led by him and it is his vision to turn the group into a global conglomerate of excellence and success. His achievements are- Awarded an Honorary Doctorate by University of Central Lancashire, United Kingdom, for his outstanding achievements in the fields of education, healthcare and social services. Appointed as Honorary Consul of the Republic of Guyana in Mumbai with Consular Jurisdiction over the State of Maharashtra. Appointed by the President of Guyana - Hon. Mr Bharrat Jagdeo - to be the Economic Adviser to the Republic of Guyana. Appointed as an expert on the Consultative Group of Labour & Employment, Planning Commission, Government of India. Appointed Pro-Chancellor of Padmashree Dr D Y Patil University, Navi Mumbai. Nominated as Member of the Governing Council of Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences a joint venture of Dept. of Atomic Energy and University of Mumbai by His Excellency the Governor of Maharashtra. Nominated to the International Baccalaureate Organization Development Council (IBO). Founder President - Dr. D.Y.Patil International Academy Chairman & Managing Director, Dr. D.Y. Patil Educational Enterprises Pvt. Ltd.
Dr. Seth has contributed extensively to the growth, development and scientific progress of Cardiology especially Interventional Cardiology in India and across the world. Over the past 20 years he has pioneered numerous angioplasty techniques for India and Asia Pacific region like Directional Atherectomy, Angioscopy, Stents, Thrombectomy devices & Drug Eluting Stents, use of Impella heart support device failing heart, Bioabsorbable Stents and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI). His expertise, skills and his pioneering efforts in teaching and training in angioplasty have won him respect and accolades all across the world. He is perhaps one of the most recognized and respected Indian Cardiologist across the globe. His efforts have created a unique respect for India on the international sphere especially in the West. For his unique achievements and contributions he was honoured by the National award of 'PADMA SHRI' by the President of India in 2003. Dr Seth has been honoured by the National Award of Republic of Spain "Crus De Oficial Con Insignia Orden De Isabel La Catolica" conferred on the National Day of Spain 2010. He is the Immediate Past President of the Cardiological Society of India - the official National Body of all Cardiologists of India. He is a Vice President of the Asian Pacific Society of Cardiology for the term 2013-2015. Dr. Seth is also founder advisory board member / governor to several prestigious international scientific bodies in the world including - . Asia Pacific Society of Interventional Cardiologist (APSCIC); . SAARC Cardiac Society . Society of Cardiovascular Angiographies and Interventions (SCAI, USA) . American College of Cardiology (ACC) India Advisory Board . Asian Interventional Cardiovascular Therapeutics (AICT) . India Live . Associate Director, TCT Scientific Sessions Dr. Ashok Seth has been highly decorated by the national academia and by citizens' forums throughout the country and abroad with Lifetime Achievement Awards, 'Mason Sones Award' from SCAI (USA) and numerous other awards.
Madhu Trehan started the news magazine India Today in 1975. In 1986, she produced and anchored a path-breaking television news magazine programme Newstrack and Trehan became known as a pioneer in investigative journalism. In 2009, Trehan’s best seller book, Prism Me a Lie, Tell Me a Truth – Tehelka as Metaphor was published. Trehan is now Editor-in-Chief of www.newslaundry.com, a website that critiques the press and media.
Myleeta is responsible for the running of BBC Worldwide's businesses in India – including TV sales, consumer products and production. In additional to her India remit, Myleeta is also the creative lead overseeing the Asia content strategy working with other territory leads in the region. As part of her remit, Myleeta oversees BBC Worldwide India's current production of Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa (Season 6) (the Indian version of Dancing with the Stars, a BBC Worldwide format) for Colors Viacom 18 as well as several other productions including Disney Mastermind, What Not to Wear, India and Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa Bangla. Prior to joining BBC Worldwide in India, Myleeta helped co-found TV guide channel, What's On India. Before that, she was Executive Producer at the Travel Channel based in the US. Here she executive produced and launched Travel Channel's Emmy winning, most successful series to date: Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations. The series earned Myleeta two Emmy nominations including Best Non-fiction Series. Before working for the Travel Channel, Myleeta worked at the International Networks at Discovery Communications and as an Executive Producer for Fremantle Asia, based in Jakarta. Myleeta has an MBA from Georgetown University, USA.
Raj Nayak as he is popularly known is one of the most respected and well-known names in the Advertising, Marketing & Media circles in India. He is known to be a thought leader and is recognized for his vision & foresight. With over 24 years of experience, he is currently the Chief Executive Officer of India’s leading GEC channel COLORS –Viacom18. Raj began his career with Tata Economic Consultancy Services and has since worked in various capacities both in the print & electronic media. He joined hands with NDTV in 2003 to set up NDTV Media Limited as its CEO & a minority stakeholder in the company. NDTV Media soon became one of the leading revenue generators in the Indian advertising industry in Television, Internet & Digital Cinema. He Quit NDTV Media after 8 years to set up his own independent entrepreneurial venture. Prior to joining NDTV Media, he was the Executive Vice President, Sales & Marketing for the STAR TV Group (a News Corporation company owned by Rupert Murdoch) where he spent 10 years and was responsible for strategizing, packaging and marketing of all the STAR TV channels and for the groups advertising revenue. He was a part of the start up team of STAR TV in India and went on to become a key member of the STAR TV India management committee. He was also on the Board of Vijay TV & Indya.com. Raj joined Colors - Viacom 18 from AIDEM Ventures Pvt. Ltd of which he was the Founder and Managing Director. He is an extremely astute and savvy person and his biggest strength is his entrepreneurial style of functioning & his ability to create long-standing relationships with agencies, clients and the talent fraternity. The ability to mingle with ease across levels and across industries and be accepted by them is something that is his unique characteristic. A complete people's person, who leads from the front, he is also known to be a tough task master, risk taker & quick decision maker. He is the immediate past President of the International Advertising Association (IAA) - India Chapter and its board. He is also been on other industry bodies such as the board of Media Research Users Council (MRUC) & The Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) etc. Raj has recently been elected to board of The Advertising Club -India.
Founder-director of Wizcraft International Entertainment, India's first Experiential Marketing and Event Management Company Along with his partners Andre Timmins and Viraf Sarkari, he is considered as one of the founding fathers of the Rs. 3000 cr. Indian event management business. Prior to starting Wizcraft, Sabbas was a renowned journalist who began his career while in his teens. His career spanned several leading print publications across the country. Wizcraft has been in the forefront of some of the largest events and entertainment spectaculars including the 50 Years of Indian Independence, the 30 Years of Mauritian Independence, the 10 years of the South African Freedom Struggle, the National Games Opening and Closing ceremonies, the Handover ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, the Opening and Closing ceremonies for the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi and the ICC World Cup Opening and Closing ceremonies. In its 25 years, Wizcraft has ventured and created many brands and International Property Rights in the film and music industry, including the International Indian Film Academy Awards and Weekend.
Sanjay Trehan heads MSN at Microsoft India. Other than scaling up of product offering, driving mindshare and market growth, Trehan is instrumental in developing and executing plans to integrate MSN content with services like Hotmail, Windows Live and Windows Live Messenger across the web and mobile platform. A seasoned internet professional, Trehan has over 20 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Microsoft, he was the founding CEO of NDTV Convergence Ltd., the digital arm of the NDTV Group. Before joining NDTV, Trehan was with Indiatimes, where he rolled out a number of verticals and built Web 2.0 communities. An alumnus of St. Stephen's College, Delhi, Trehan is a founding member of Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and is currently a member of the CII Committee for Telecom and Broadband.
Sunit Tandon is presently Director General of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, the premier Mass Communication and Journalism Institute of the country, under the aegis of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India. Prior to this, he was Chief Executive of the Lok Sabha Televsion Channel (LSTV), Lok Sabha Secretariat, Parliament of India. Earlier official positions held include: Executive Director (Marketing), LSTV; General Manager, National Film Development Corporation Ltd. (NFDC), Deputy General Manager, NFDC; and Deputy Director, Directorate of Film Festivals, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, in charge of Film Selection and Programming for the International Film Festivals of India (IFFIs). Sunit Tandon is also a senior news and current affairs anchor on Indian national television (Doordarshan and LSTV) and a radio broadcaster for over thirty years on All India Radio (AIR). He has presented prime time news bulletins and anchored election, budget and other live telecasts, apart from conducting one-on-one interviews with world leaders and other leading personalities and moderating discussion programmes on diverse topics for over twenty years. He has also, at various stages in his career, been a banker, a theatre critic, a western music critic. He has been associated with theatre as an actor and director and has acted in over 150 plays and has directed more than 25 plays.
Mr. Uday Kumar Varma recently retired from the position of Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), Government of India. He has extensive administrative experience at the highest levels of administration both in the state government (of Madhya Pradesh) and central government. He has a proven track record in terms of efficiency and competence. His administrative service record has been consistently outstanding. Mr. Varma's greatest expertise lies in the field of media, information and broadcasting. Being the spearhead of the successful nation-wide digitization program, the brains behind the social media initiative of MIB, the in-charge of the extremely successful "Bharat Nirman" media campaign and with his nearly half-decade of experience at the senior-most levels of MIB, his knowledge and understanding of mass media, information dissemination, broadcasting, media law, content regulation and all associated matters is unparalleled. Mr. Varma also carries extensive knowledge of the medium and small-scale industries sector, having been instrumental in formulating the government procurement policy in this field. He has also considerable experience in dealing with matters of technology up gradation and involvement of private equities in relation to these industries. Mr. Varma has considerable experience in numerous fields such as industries, health and family welfare, home affairs, women and child development, tribal welfare and labour issues. He has served with distinction as Director of the of the renowned V.V. Giri National Labour Institute, which he completely transformed both in terms of infrastructure as well as its scope, level and quality of academic training and policy development. Mr. Varma also has an outstanding academic background, being an alumnus of the world-renowned Harvard University where he studied public administration and finished among the top students. He completed his undergraduate degree first of his class from the prestigious Benares Hindu University. He has numerous academic decorations and medals and is a published scholar with two books and numerous articles to his name. Perhaps most important of all is the reputation Shri Varma enjoyed as a civil servant. He carries a reputation of having been an efficient, thorough, upright, and visionary officer, and of having an incorruptible and venerable persona.