Rijit Sengupta is CEO of the Centre for Responsible Business (CRB) – and has over twenty five years of work experience across Asia, Africa and Europe.
His interest lies in the interface of business and society – particularly environment management, consumer protection, sustainable entrepreneurship, business regulation, responsible business conduct and SDGs. He has designed and implemented various projects/programmes on these topics in Sub-Saharan Africa; South Asian and South East Asian countries. Currently, while much of his work on sustainable business/SDGs is focused on India, he has also been engaged in: (i) advocating for balanced North-South dialogue on sustainability governance and (ii) exploring greater South-South cooperation and learnings on sustainable business. He enjoys researching, writing and engaging with a wide variety of stakeholders on these issues. He has a Master degree in Agriculture and a Postgraduate degree in Environment Management. He is an Alumnus of the University of Calcutta (India), Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management (India) and the United Nations University, Tokyo (Japan). He is Member, Advisory Board of the Trade for Sustainable Development programme (International Trade Centre, Geneva); Member, Advisory Committee, Consumer Information Programme, One Planet Network (UN Environment, Paris) and Member of the Board, Alliance for Water Stewardship (A4WS, Edinburgh).
Devyani Hari is Senior Director (Programmes) at Centre for Responsible Business (CRB). She has a post graduate degree in finance and started her career with JP Morgan. She then moved into the field of sustainability through her work with renewable energy financing. She has tried her hand at entrepreneurship by setting up her own social enterprise and followed this up with a role in the development sector.
In her previous role as a technical expert with GIZ, Ms. Hari was responsible for working with small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and SME bankers to increase lending for sustainable investments. At CRB, she continues to focus on issues of sustainability especially pertinent to the SME sector, sustainability through global value chains, and the interface between SDGs and the private sector. When she finds time over and above being Director-Programmes & mother, she likes to read.
Director
E : nandini@c4rb.in
Nandini is Director at the Centre for Responsible Business (CRB). She has over ten years of experience working on governance and industry action in the field of sustainability and responsible business behaviour. In her previous engagement at GIZ, she was responsible for driving different projects and cultivating partnerships/collaborations with multiple stakeholders.
A nature lover, Nandini likes to head off into the mountains to unwind and reconnect whenever she gets time.
Siya C. Batra is a communications and campaigns professional with over 6 years of expertise in marketing – with a focus on campaign strategy, corporate communications, social media marketing and event management, She holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Business Management from Purdue University, USA where she also received academic specialization in International Business, Organizational Behavior and Human Resources. She brings these skills to her most recent role at CRB. Prior to joining CRB she worked at Infogain, where she successfully worked with teams across geographical boundaries. An avid animal lover, Siya is a well-rounded and creative individual, with interests ranging from traveling to art and design.
Mr. Aditya has more than 16 years of experience working with grassroots as well as national and international ‘think and do’ tank organizations in the field of environment and sustainability. In the past he has worked with BAIF, Sir Ratan Tata Trust, IUCM, and Columbia University. At CRB he looks after and contributes to the agri and forestry-value chain programs.
Seasoned Development Professional with 14+ years of expertise in Livelihood, Enterprise Development, Market Systems, Institution Building, and Public-Private Partnerships. Experienced as a Technical Advisor to government and CSOs on Agri-Livelihood, Landscape Restoration, and Sustainable Development. Committed to empowering rural communities and driving social impact through strategic, multi-stakeholder collaboration.
Neha is Assistant Director at the Centre for Responsible Business. She is a Lawyer with Masters in International Law (University of Bristol, United Kingdom).
Neha has been in the development sector for over nine years and has keen interest in policy, planning and multistakeholder engagements. In her previous role she was deputed at the Ministry of Corporate Affairs by the United Nations Development Program to provide support in drafting of India’s first National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights. She has managed implementation of Centre Government Schemes, MPLAD funds and solid waste management projects for the Office of Member of Parliament – Ladakh. She also has experience in implementing multistakeholder projects in the Philippines, Ghana, and in India – Bihar and Rajasthan.
In free time, Neha enjoys reading and exploring new restaurants.
Brief Profile – Rohan Sarma
Rohan Sarma is a social and behavioral scientist whose broad area of work has been to understand and analyse the dynamic relationship between Business and Society, and is focused on two curiosities:
As a young leader who has steered several Government of India initiatives, rohan has demonstrated dexterity in participatory research and development planning with vulnerable communities as well as strategic management consulting with business leaders in India.
As a Change Management specialist, rohan continues to provide strategic counsel to public sector and private sector leaders in India through Responsible Business policy and programme formulation and developing frameworks and actions plans on CSR and Sustainability. rohan’s most noteworthy contribution has been in developing the ‘Assessment and Empanelment Standards for Development Institutions in India’ (AESDII) in 2011, as one of the founding members of India’s first Government of India supported and funded CSR thinktank at Asia’s premier social sciences institute – the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) in Mumbai.
For over a decade, rohan has built ‘purpose driven’ institutions, both within public institutions and private sector impact consulting, by founding and leading high performance, inter-disciplinary and high energy teams. rohan is passionateabout Purpose, curious about Compassionate Capitalism, an advocate of Sustainability, an avid supporter of interventions pertaining to neglected thematics, geographies and peoples, and a practitionerof interdisciplinarity, diversity and integration. He is an optimist about the transformative power of business tocreate a sustainable future.
As an artist, his initiative – the Visual, Aural and Sociological (VAS) Project – aims to co-create open access, autonomous, and public infrastructures of thinking, learning and acting through interactive and discursive pedagogies. rohan advises some non-profits and mentors several young professionals, development enthusiasts and social entrepreneurs, through his initiative ‘Community of Purpose’.
As a strategic communications enthusiast, in his last engagement as the youngest ‘Director’ at one of the world’s oldest and largest global strategic communications agencies, with the mandate to build a new Social Impact Practice for METIA region, rohan provided strategic counsel to global corporations on building and designing brands (with a focus on purpose and sustainability), protecting brands (from risks) through strategy and handholding to communicate a brand’s social and environmental impacts on various stakeholders. Currently, as a Senior Fellow at the Centre for Responsible Business, rohan provides strategic counsel to Public and Private Sector Boards and senior leadership in integrating and embedding sustainability into core business practices.
Rohan Sarma has been and continues to be invited as an expert to serve on national committees and taskforces pertaining to Rural Development and Sustainable Development Goals, by India’s leading industry body, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Given his contributions to the CSR and Sustainability sector in India through policy, research and thought leadership, in June 2023, rohan was invited by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Government of India, India’s National Standards body, to serve on India’s first drafting committee on the National ESG Standards as the ‘Social Expert’. In September 2023, rohan was conferred additional charge as the Convenor/Chair of the Working Group on Topical Standards for ‘Affected Communities’. In May 2024, rohan was invited by India’s national standards body, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), as an expert on the ‘Research Evaluation Committee’ of the Management Systems Department (MSD-10) Sectional Committee, to evaluate R&D institutional research proposals for grants sanctioning. Given his research focus and advocacy on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), rohan has been nominated from India to serve on the ISO (International Organization for Standardization) Technical Committee ISO/PC 343 on SDG Management.
|Email: sarmarohan2408@gmail.com | LinkedIn: rohan sarma | YouTube: rohan sarma speaks | ResearchGate: rohan sarma |
Professional Expertise:
Mr. Vinay Pandey is ‘Programme Specialist’ at Centre for Responsible Business (CRB). He is currently leading a project on “To Enable Indian SMEs Sustainability Reporting and Sustainability Capacity Building”.
He is a management postgraduate having over 12 years of professional experience in liaising with government agencies, policy advocacy, industry relations, capacity building, partnerships, stakeholders’ management, to organize seminars/ webinars/ summit/ conference/ award function/ expo/ trade fair. Prior to CRB he has worked at the ASSOCHAM (The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India) & led the activities of the MSME along with Manufacturing, Start-ups, Tourism and States Development councils. He had the opportunity to successfully organize and complete from ASSOCHAM the various industry-oriented programmes and projects. Has led delegation of Indian Food & Beverages Exporters to Saudi Arabia & Sri Lanka. He has also worked for a leading real estate company.
He has done MBA (Marketing & Finance) from Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University and PGDIB (International Business) from Pondicherry University and B.Sc. (PCM) from University of Allahabad &‘Certified Digital Marketing Course’ from ‘Digital Vidya’.
In his spare time, he enjoys reading, watching movies, cooking and exercising.
With over 25 years in engineering/technology, Anamika specializes in strategic marketing and communications across industries. Her interest in clean energy emerged at IBRIVER Energy, where she managed regulatory, compliance, policy and CSR matters.
Anamika holds post-graduate degrees in marketing, finance, and sustainable investing. Based in Bangalore for over two decades, she briefly explored writing about India’s coffee history, published in an American magazine. At CRB, she will be working on the European Union Delegation to India project.
Besides a love for literature, singing, and playing the piano, she likes to go on a daily run and sometimes visit her hometown Mangalore.
Mr. Amit Singh is the Senior Programme Manager at the Centre for Responsible Business. He holds a Fellowship from the Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal, and an MBA from BIT Mesra. With over 10 years of experience spanning industry and academia, Mr. Amit is a dedicated researcher specializing in statistical data analysis and research design.
His expertise extends to regenerative agriculture and gender studies, where he has actively collaborated with stakeholders across various sectors to develop evidence-based strategies aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Purushottam Kumar is a seasoned professional in the field of business and human rights and Labour rights, with a strong focus on global value chains. He has made significant contributions in promoting ethical and sustainable labour practices in various supply chains like Garment, Leather, and Seafood Processing Industry. His expertise extends to stakeholder engagement, fostering relationships with industry associations, suppliers, government departments, and international organizations and to advocacy and compliance with international guidelines such as the United Nations Guiding Principles and OECD due diligence guidelines. His collaborative efforts have led to in-depth studies on labour practices and supply chain sustainability. He conducted multi-perspective research studies and engaged in multi-stakeholder dialogue forums on barriers to quality employment generation within micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). His efforts contributed to the publications like “Reversed Subsidies: Gender, Labour, and Environmental injustice in Garment Value Chains” by Cambridge University Press. Purushottam holds an MBA in Sustainable Development Practices from Birla Institute of Management Technology and a Bachelor of Arts from Jawaharlal Nehru University. Purushottam’s expertise encompasses program management, business and human rights, research and advocacy, corporate social responsibility and stakeholder engagement.
Senior Manager- HRD and Admin
E : hr@c4rb.in
Preeti is a science graduate with a degree in Mathematics(Honours) from Delhi University, and pursued her masters in Human resources from I.P University. She has more than 9 years of experience working with the telecommunication sector, across Talent Acquisition (Recruitment), Complete employee cycle, Employee Engagement, Policy Formulation & Implementation, Data Reporting / HR Analytics.
In her free time she enjoys exploring people, places, culture and stories across the globe.
Hello! I’m Chirag Goutam, a finance professional with an MBA in Finance from Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University, Lucknow. With four years of hands-on experience in finance, I bring a sharp analytical mind and a passion for continuous learning.
Beyond the finance world, I’m an avid learner always seeking new challenges. I find joy in hiking, where each trail is a metaphor for conquering new heights. Javelin throw is another passion of mine, requiring precision and focus.
Senior Event and Communication Officer
E : chelsia@c4rb.in
Chelsia is an alumni of Miranda house and Ambedkar University Delhi with Undergraduate in Geography and Postgraduate in Environment and development respectively. She has been working in the nonprofit industry for the past two years with – WWF India , Angel Xpress Foundation and Perroayuda welfare foundation. Chelsia is passionate to spread knowledge about the entire new world to people of all ages by educating and taking bombard measures for conserving biodiversity, protecting indigenous people, safeguarding tradition and culture, and preserving forests. She is always eager to learn new things and has a positive attitude. She also enjoys being outside watching birds and dancing as a form of therapy.
Nitya Chhiber has completed her undergraduate degree in Environmental Policy and Anthropology from the Claremont Colleges, California in 2012 where she attended Pitzer College. She went on to complete her Master’s in Environmental Policy in 2014 from the Fenner School at the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia. Her 4 years of work experience includes stints at the Centre for Science and Environment, YES Bank and Industree, a social foundation in Bengaluru empowering women in livelihoods. She is currently working at the Centre for Responsible Business on a project funded by the IDRC. In her spare time, she is a fitness enthusiast and dabbles in cooking.
Rajat is a person who is fascinated to work in the areas that are at the intersection of environment,business and society and likes to look at things from a multidisciplinary and intersectional lens. In brief, he has almost 8 years of professional experience in diverse thematic areas, such as human wildlife conflict, spring recharge, forest rights, waste management, livelihood, Health and Digital Trust.
Rajat holds a Master’s degree in Climate Change and Sustainability Studies from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai.. He began his career as a Programmer cum Visual/Interaction Designer at Cognizant Technology Solutions. He served as the Managing Editor of Conservation and Society at ATREE. Following this, he worked as a Consultant at the Central Himalayan Rural Action Group, focusing on the recharge of Himalayan springs. As a Research Assistant at Keystone Foundation, his work encompassed areas such as Forest Rights, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), Wildlife, and Waste Management. He also worked at the Chintan Environmental Research and Action Group as a Project Coordinator, managing several waste management projects and engaging briefly in fundraising. Most recently, he was a Senior Program Officer at Participatory Research in Asia, where he contributed to projects related to Digital Trust, WASH, Gender, and Health.
In addition to his primary pursuits, he maintains a keen interest in a diverse range of subjects, including history, wildlife, and urban governance—with a particular focus on housing, mobility, and climate adaptation strategies. For leisure travel, his go to areas for a holiday are forests and historical locations , and likes spotting occasional wildlife if he is lucky .His hobbies include swimming, fishing, climbing,listening to music, football, trekking , sometimes reading a good book,and watching movies, he also likes to cook and host people occasionally.
Liza Nagpal is a Senior Programme Officer in the Textiles Vertical at the Centre for Responsible Business (CRB), specializing in Sustainability and Circularity. With a Master’s in Fashion Management from the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Liza has worked with renowned international brands like Zara, Mothercare, and United Colors of Benetton, gaining deep industry insights. Her passion for sustainable fashion led her to academia as a design faculty and further into research. Currently pursuing a PhD, she is exploring innovative approaches to embed circular economy principles within the fashion and textiles sector. Liza combines her industry experience and academic knowledge to drive transformative sustainability initiatives, helping the sector shift towards more responsible and circular business practices .
An MBA graduate in Sustainable Development & Management from Nalanda University, Shubham is passionate about the world of sustainability,and is driven by a deep passion for creating a better world. His journey encompasses diverse experiences, including contributing to government policy think tanks and working on impactful infrastructure projects. His insatiable curiosity and love for books lead him to explore various aspects of environmentalism, green technologies, and personal growth. When not immersed in the world of written knowledge, Shubham finds tranquility in his own personal nursery where he nurtures and grows his plants. As an Eco-Voyager, Shubham embarks on thrilling adventures, seeking hidden gems worldwide. Shubham’s journey embodies the perfect blend of passion, knowledge, and action. Through dynamic engagement, Shubham leaves a greener footprint on the world, making a lasting impact in the realm of sustainability. Join him on this transformative journey towards a more sustainable future.
Senior Programme Officer
E : nidhi@c4rb.in
Praseetha P Kumar is a professional with a bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences from Delhi University and a master’s degree in Natural Resource Management from GGSIPU, where she earned a gold medal. Her experience encompasses internships with NECTAR and a recent stint with WWF-India in Assam. During the latter, she conducted a scope analysis of alternative livelihoods among forest fringe communities near the Manas National Park, emphasizing the establishment of economic resilience through women-owned businesses.
She has joined the Centre for Responsible Business as a Programme Officer
Outside of her professional endeavors, Praseetha finds joy in painting, sketching, reading, and listening to music during her free time.
Channda has also worked as a Research Assistant on a West Bengal government project, assessing water quality in the Sundarbans, and contributed to an alternative livelihood project with WWF. Most recently, she served as an Environment Expert at the Bitan Institute, working on AMRUT 2.0 initiatives and solid waste management in rural West Bengal.
In her free time she enjoys travelling and she is also a trained classical dancer (Katthak).
Programme Officer
E : rishika@c4rb.in
I am a Political Science (Human Rights and Journalism electives) graduate from Loreto College under Calcutta University. My academic journey induced a deep interest in rights advocacy and social justice which I further explored through internships with organizations like Child Rights and You (CRY) and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). I went on to pursue my Master’s in Development Studies from the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, during which I undergone a research internship at IIT Kharagpur.
My professional journey began with grassroots engagement—working closely with underprivileged and marginalized communities, especially in the unorganized sector advocating
for their rights and entitlements. With three years of experience, I have worked with various corporates, brands, CSOs, and business supply chains to promote labour rights, conduct capacity building workshops, human rights risk assessments, implement Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) and responsible business conduct.
As a part of Business and Human Rights, I have worked across diverse sectors such as garments and apparel, rugs & carpets, organic cotton, natural stone, and IT, in geographies including India, Bangladesh, and Madagascar. My core areas of interest include laws and governance, labour rights, sustainable development, responsible business conduct, supply chain due diligence, and international relations.
Apart from this, I am a big-time foodie and love to travel whenever I get a chance!
Programme Officer
E : sweta@c4rb.in
I’m Sweta Kumari, a sustainability enthusiast and Programme Officer at the Centre for Responsible Business, where I contribute to projects driving circularity in the Indian textile and apparel sector. With a Master’s in Environmental Science and Sustainability from St. Joseph’s University, Bangalore, and a Bachelor’s in Environmental Science from BBMKU, Dhanbad, I bring both academic insight and a practical mindset to sustainability challenges.
My journey has taken me through impactful experiences, including an internship at the United Nations Global Compact Network India, where I worked on impact assessments, SDG-driven research, stakeholder engagement, and major sustainability events. I’m deeply passionate about using technology and communication from GIS mapping and ESG analytics to branding and storytelling to make sustainability more actionable and accessible.
Outside of work, I enjoy exploring the intersection of design, data, and environmental impact, and am always looking for ways to turn research into real world solutions. I believe in purposeful, measurable change and strive every day to contribute to a future that is both responsible and regenerative.
With an academic background in Psychology, Political Science, International Development and Critical Theory, Isha specialises in interdisciplinary modalities of thought. She has a rigorous foundation in children’s welfare, community management and social scientific research, and is passionate about leveraging humanitarian principles, sustainable development goals (SDGs), and evidence-based research to drive impactful solutions for underserved populations. Outside of work, Isha is a die-hard cinephile, an avid fiction reader and an amateur track athlete. She enjoys spending time with her dog, Maximus, above all else.
Tejaswini Nirvan is a creative individual with deep thinking and a strong interest in exploring and utilizing various mediums of art and design to refine her practice as a designer. Holding a Bachelor of Design from the Australian National University, she specializes in a human-centered design approach. Passionate about sustainable fashion, gender equity, and women’s rights, she has actively contributed as a volunteer with UN Women Australia and held multiple roles during university. Currently, she serves as the Communications Officer at the Centre for Responsible Business (CRB), where she drives impactful narratives at the intersection of design, sustainability, and social justice.
Office Assistant
Ravinder is CRB’s oldest employee. He has been with the organisation since 2013. He ensures that the Office is always well stocked and all office staff and guests are well taken care off. Ravinderji assists in administrative tasks. In his spare time he can be seen pouring over Newspaper. He enjoys watching and talking about cricket.
An avid traveler and foodie, Ms Sonali Paikaray has a background of Life Sciences with a professional degree in MBA in Business Sustainability from the renowned Teri School of Advanced Studies. She has entrepreneurial experience and she applies the same learning and practical approach towards the work she handles.
Apart from food hunting and explorations, she likes to read and learn and practice about the sustainable approach towards life.
Programme Manager
E: shreya@c4rb.in
Having completed her graduation from Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University with a degree in History, Shreya pursued her Masters in Social Work from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. She has previously worked with the Ministry of Education, Ernst & Young (EY) and the National Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Hub across domains of research, corporate social responsibility, skill development, higher education, project planning and operations. At CRB, she assists in developing the organisation vertical on Business and Human Rights.
In her spare time, Shreya is an amateur baker and enjoys reading, exploring cuisines and photography.
Priyanka is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Responsible Business. She has completed her doctoral studies from IIT Kanpur, with specialization in CSR. As a part of her thesis, Priyanka has undertaken extensive fieldwork to get an insight into various perspectives of CSR interventions. She holds a master’s degree in Development Studies from Gautam Buddha University, Greater NOIDA and a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Delhi. Priyanka is always on a lookout for meaningful connections and likes to practice meditation and yoga.
Ziaul Haque holds MBA from Aligarh Muslim University and Entrepreneur Certificate from ISB Hyderabad. He is having 5 year’s experience in various roles from Corporate to Social Development. In his previous role as a Research Analyst with Global Opportunities he was responsible for Collecting, Analysing and Interpreting the data and collaborating with Foreign Universities from USA, UK and Canada
He is a Poetry Lover and passionate about Monitoring and Evaluating the Public Policy and studying about Governance.
Senior Adviser (International Affairs)
E : richard@c4rb.in
Senior Adviser – International Affairs for the Centre for Responsible Business. Previously, Richard served for 22 years as a leading Member of the European Parliament, where he was the longstanding Rapporteur on Corporate Responsibility and played a key role in proposing and negotiating Europe’s first rules for corporate sustainability reporting. Following his parliamentary career, Richard became Chief Executive Officer of the global organization advocating for the integration of sustainability in finance, which later merged to form the International Sustainability Standards Board. Currently, he is a Strategic Advisor on Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability, Business and Human Rights, Senior Associate at Frank Bold LLP, lecturer and faculty member at Audencia Business School, and board member at the Eiris Foundation and r3.0. He is also the host of the podcast, Frankly Speaking.
Honorary Advisor
E : tanikbusiness@gmail.com
Mr. Ashok Juneja B. Text., MIE, Chartered Engineer has 38 years of textile industry experience with companies like Vardhman, Mahindra & Mahindra, Birla, Inarco, Kirloskar Toyota, and Saurer. After his last assignment as Director – Sales and Service at M/s. Saurer India, he is now an independent Management Consultant. Ashok is also the National President of The Textile Association (India) for the term 2019-2021.
He has previously been awarded with Service Memento (1999) and Service Gold Medal (2008) by TAI for enormous contributions during All India Textile Conferences.
Director General &; CEO of the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA)
Dr. Bhaskar Chatterjee is widely acclaimed as the Father of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in India. He was instrumental in framing and issuing the CSR guidelines for Public Sector Enterprises (PSEs) in April, 2010. Thereafter, he played a major role in the inclusion of Section 135 in the Companies Act of 2013 and in the framing of the rules thereafter.
As the Director General & CEO of the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), he spearheaded the National Foundation for Corporate Social Responsibility (NFCSR).
He has spoken and lectured on the subject of CSR and Sustainability at a very large number of National and International forums over the last decade.
Dr. Chatterjee is closely associated with the Sustainable Development Goals and the entire national effort for carrying forward the implementation process. He coordinates closely with the United Nations Global Compact and the Niti Aayog.
Currently, as CEO of the Anil Agarwal Foundation (Vedanta Group), he is associated with the Company’s initiatives for reducing carbon emissions to zero by 2050, environmental stewardship, introducing innovations for evolving greener business models and taking steps to achieving net water positivity by 2030.
He currently also Chairs the National Committee for Formulating the Indian National Standards for ESG. This Committee has been set up by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Govt. of India.
In his present role at the Anil Agarwal Foundation, he coordinates and oversees the entire gamut of CSR activities that is carried out by the Vedanta Group across 14 Business Units. He also supervises the four National Priority Programs in the sectors of education and nutrition for women and children, rural health, animal welfare and women’s empowerment.
Senior Adviser (International Affairs)
E : manfred@c4rb.in
Chair in Social Research and Methodology at the University of Basel and Director of the Social Transitions Research Group. He is a Research Councilor at the Swiss National Science Foundation, Member of the Uganda National Academy of Sciences, and Senior Advisor at the Centre for Responsible Business. His research focuses on socio-sustainable transitions. As part of the research program Proof of Transition Concepts (proTract), he and his team explore positive, real-world examples of sustainability transitions involving diverse stakeholders. His current research activities are located in Europe, India, and Singapore.
Educational Qualification
Post Graduate Diploma in Entrepreneurship, Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management Equiv. to M.B.A (2nd Rank), Master of Business Administration (M.B.A) Specialization Human Resource Management, Ph. D. in Business Administration
Professional Qualification:
Proficiency in Strategic Management,
From IIM-Kozhikode, IIM-Lucknow, IIM, Indore, XLRI, Jamshedpur, IIFT, New Delhi, MDI, Gurgaon, IIM-Ahmadabad, IIM-Bangalore, IIM-Kolkata.
Other Qualification:
Post Graduate Diploma in Management- Marketing & Sales From Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan, Bombay; Certified Financial Consultant (CFC) and MIFC from Institute of Financial Consultants ( IFC) U.S.A ; Charted Business Administrator (C.B.A.) From Chartered Association of Business Administrators-Canada; Accredited Certified Trainer from National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD) (Govt. of India) Noida UP; Certified Business Counsellor from Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII). Ahmadabad; Certified Accredited Trainer for Agriculture Supply Chain Management from Ministry of Agriculture & Farmer Welfare, Govt. of India & Agriculture Skill Council of India.
Dr. Ramesh Mittal has worked almost thirty five years at national & international level; His area of interest is Entrepreneurship, Management, Agribusiness Management, Agricultural Marketing Innovation, Sustainable Development, Strategic Management, Skilling, Farmer Producer Companies/organisations, SME & Startups, He has received award for CSR & Sustainable development, his credentials were as a nodal officer for Indo Holland project, Indo Australia Grain Partnership Project & Indo Germen Project to enhance export Value Chain to European Union. he was associated with many projects i.e. United State Agency for International Development, United State Department of Agriculture, Michigan State University, Word Bank, Asian Development Bank, Asian Productivity Council (APO-Japan), Agricultural and Food Marketing Association for Asia and the Pacific(AFMA), Thailand Productivity Council, Philippine’s Productivity Council, Afro Asia Rural Development Organisation, Vietnam Productivity Council, Multi State Agricultural Competitiveness Project etc. he has also presented country paper on Supply Chain Management at Thailand, Competitive Supply Chain Management at Vietnam, Brand Management of Agricultural Produce through GI at Tokyo, Japan and also visited University California, USA to participate in USAID-SAMS Project & Michigan State University. He was Chief Consultant for GIZ to prepare Agri/Horti policy overview. Recently he has been invited as an expert/resource person to address Value Chain-Marketing at South Korea, Seoul. He has also written more than two hundred research papers/articles. He has organised more than three thousand capacity building training programmes across the country, his contribution as an author of four books namely International Marketing (Three Editions), Consumer Behaviour, Service Marketing, E. tailing and Retailing. He was founder editor of Journal of Entrepreneurship at NIT Jaipur. Journal of Agricultural Marketing, Journal of Agribusiness Innovations & Start-ups at NIAM, Jaipur, He has done more than thirty T.V. talk shows on Door Darshan and other channels. He has worked as marketing professional in USA on H1 B VISA for six years & travelled more than 30 countries around the world. He has received lifetime achievement award and Smart Incubation centre award sponsored by European Union & US India Business council, He has also confronted Skoch award for Excellence in 2023 and Leadership in Agribusiness award by Agriculture Today in the year of 2024.
Prof. / Dr. Ramesh Mittal
Former Sr. Director CCS National Institute of Agriculture Marketing & Founder Director of Innovation & Entrepreneurship Federation of CCSNIAM, GOI
e-mail: – mittalramesh@gmail.com
Advisor
E : viraf.m.mehta@gmail.com
Viraf Mehta is a social anthropologist who has been at the forefront of corporate responsibility issues for nearly three decades, notably with pioneering companies and NGOs, including Tata Group and Partners in Change. Between 2002 and 2010, Viraf led Partners in Change before joining the team as an advisor. He has also served on the boards and committees of various Industry, Government and Civil Society organisations, including the Bureau of Indian Standards, Global Compact Network-India, the South Asia Forum for Responsible Business. From 2006 – 2011, Viraf has been focusing attention on Business and Human Rights and has worked closely with SRSG Prof. John Ruggie’s mandate. Viraf was also the rapporteur at the 1st UN Asia Regional Forum on Business and Human Rights as well as a Regional Advisor to the Institute of Human Rights and Business in the UK.
Viraf has been instrumental in making different policy shifts, including that of National Guidelines on the Responsible Business Conduct. Currently, Viraf is also a member of NHRC’s core group on Business, Environment and Human Rights.
Advisor
E : divya@c4rb.in
Divya is a passionate Sustainability and CSR professional with rich experience in the Textile and Apparel sector sustainability issues. Divya works across industry sectors and engages in promoting uptake of responsible business policies and practices across value chains.
Divya steers the strategic direction of CRB and has been responsible for conceptualizing and developing the global portfolio of CRB’s services, programmes and partnerships as a member of the founding leadership team at CRB. Divya is a graduate from National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Delhi and a post graduate in Social Responsibility and Sustainability from Aston Business School, UK.
Senior Fellow
Dr. Rajat Panwar is a Senior Fellow associated specifically with our Sustainable Palm Oil Initiative. Dr. Panwar is a tenured faculty in Forest Ecosystems and Society Department at Oregon State University, USA. Dr. Panwar is a Deputy Editor of the journal Business & Society.
With more than 39 years of PSU experience in the areas of Governance, Business Responsibility, Sustainability, Corporate Social Responsibility, Resettlement & Rehabilitation Dinesh has special interest in Institutional Strengthening, Stakeholder engagement, negotiation & conflict resolution, Social & Environmental Impact Assessment, Socio Economic and Need Assessment Survey, training and capacity building. A Mechanical Engineering graduate from GB Pant University and undergone Leadership Programme at IIM, Lucknow, LEAD International, UK and ICH, Norway, he provided leadership for formulating Standards on “Social Accountability at Work Place” & “Guidance on Good Governance” for Bureau of Indian Standard, “National Voluntary Guidelines on Economic, Social and Environmental Responsibilities of Business” and “National Policy on Rehabilitation & Resettlement” for Government of India.
Dr. T. R. Manoharan is a sustainability professional based in New Delhi. He is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) International Member and visiting faculty in School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi. He holds Master’s Degree and M. Phil in Economics from University of Kerala and PhD in Forestry Economics from Forest Research Institute University, Dehradun. Dr. Manoharan occupied senior positions in both national and international organisations and his experience include development and management of projects, stakeholder engagement, research, teaching and policy analysis in the area of environmental economics, forest conservation, trade and environment, environment regulation and forest certification.
Yukti has a degree in history and law from St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi and Harvard Law School. She has more than five years of work experience across various sectors including Mining Regulation, Climate Change, conducting Human Rights Due Diligence, Corporate Social Responsibility, Stakeholder Mapping and Community Engagement. She has previously worked with Centre for Science and Environment (New Delhi), Centre for Responsible Business (New Delhi) and Context Consulting (London). She is an elected member of the Zila Parishad from Fatehabad, Haryana. She is the founder of Sustaim Consulting, a boutique consulting firm for conducting Human Rights Impact Assessment.
Rajnish has studied Economics at St Stephen’s College, University of Delhi and Management at the IIM Calcutta. Before deciding to set up a textile export company, Rajnish did a stint at the Tata Steel. He is credited with growing the export company into India’s leading design houses for home textiles for European and American specialty stores in a span of two decades. Later years, Rajnish assumed the role of Resident Representative at Delhi for MJunction Ltd and as Advisor at Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd, handling relationships with senior government officials and ministries. He has served as an honorary visiting fellow with Observer Research Foundation. At present, he teaches Energy Law and Policy as a Visiting Faculty member at OP Jindal Global University’s law school. Rajnish researches the strains of India’s transition from a socialist to a market economy. He was awarded a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the Jindal School of Government and Public Policy in 2018.
Ramanuj has over 9 years of experience in the sustainability domain. He has worked in both non-profits and consultancies on projects related to various economic sectors. Some of his work areas include circular economy, resource efficiency, water stewardship, greenhouse gas estimation, climate risk assessment and urban sustainability indicators, among other areas. He has several years of experience in policy advocacy and research. Ramanuj is highly interested in working in the intersection of climate change and water.
