Agenda - ISMA SugarNXT 2026

Chief Guest

Sh. Pralhad Joshi
Chief Guest

Sh. Pralhad Joshi

Hon'ble Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and New & Renewable Energy

Government of India

Shri Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution & New and Renewable Energy, and a Lok Sabha Member of Parliament from Karnataka, is a reputed politician and able administrator known for his dedication towards social, regional and national issues. A high-performing Union Minister who shouldered the responsibilities of three portfolios of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs in the previous government. Sheer commitment and extensive work at the grass-root level endeared him to the masses and led to him earning the tag of Man-of-the-Masses. Shri Pralhad Joshi has spearheaded a series of path-breaking initiatives and policy interventions which has led to unlocking the true potential of the Coal & Mining sector to build a self-reliant Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

Guest of Honor

Sh. Sanjeev Chopra
Guest of Honor

Sh. Sanjeev Chopra

Secretary, Department of Food and Public Distribution

Government of India

Mr. Sanjeev Chopra joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1990 with over 33 years of experience in State and Central Government. He is currently serving as Secretary, Department of Food & Public Distribution (DFPD), Government of India, from 31st October 2022, dealing with matters relating to foodgrain management including procurement, storage and movement of wheat, rice & coarse grain for distribution through Public Distribution System Outlets. He also deals with policy formulation for the sugar and edible oil sectors. In the past, he has served as Agriculture Production Commissioner and Secretary of Departments such as Home, Industries, General Administration and Agriculture in the State Government of Odisha. He has rich experience of serving in State PSUs such as Odisha Mining Corporation, Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation and Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation. Mr. Chopra also served as Joint Director in LBSNAA, Mussoorie, closely involved with the design and delivery of mid-career training programme for officers of the Indian Administrative Service. He holds an M.Sc. in Urban Planning from London School of Economics, MBA from FMS Delhi University, and B.Com (H) from Shri Ram College of Commerce. He has been recipient of the National e-Governance Award for Excellence in Government Process Re-engineering for Digital Transformation in 2020 and 2021.

Distinguished Speakers

Sh. Ashwini Srivastava

Sh. Ashwini Srivastava

Joint Secretary (Sugar, Movement)

Department of Food & Public Distribution, Government of India

Sh. Srivastava has wide-ranging experience in operations, logistics and supply chain management, terminal management, business development and Railway administration. He has held key leadership positions in Indian Railways. Presently working as Joint Secretary (Sugar) in DFPD, he is responsible for making policies related to the sugar sector including monitoring of sugar production, prices and implementation of schemes & programmes and ethanol production capacities. He handled the challenging task of transportation of oxygen tankers and other essential items across the nation during the COVID pandemic. He has also been credited for successful planning and operation of India's first corporate train (Tejas Express) operated by IRCTC.

Prof. Ashutosh Sharma

Prof. Ashutosh Sharma

Former Secretary DST

IIT Kanpur

Prof. Ashutosh Sharma is a visionary academician who has made exceptional interdisciplinary contributions in nanosciences and nanotechnology. From 2015–2021, he served as the Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. He is also the Institute Chair Professor & Founding Coordinator of DST Thematic Unit of Excellence on Soft Nanofabrication and Chairman of Center for Environmental Science and Engineering at IIT Kanpur since 2006. He is a recipient of the prestigious Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar award in engineering sciences and was selected as the President of Indian National Science Academy in 2022.

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Sh. Saurabh Diddi

Sh. Saurabh Diddi

Director

Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)

Saurabh Diddi currently serves as Director at the Bureau of Energy Efficiency within the Ministry of Power, New Delhi. One of his most notable contributions is his pivotal role in the Standard and Labelling (S&L) programme, which led to a reduction of approximately 57 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions. He has also been at the forefront of key initiatives, including the development of India's carbon market and the formulation of the National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency. Currently, he is actively involved in the development of the Indian Carbon Market and oversees several other programmes related to energy efficiency in the building and transport sectors. His contributions have made a lasting impact on India's efforts to reduce carbon emissions and enhance energy efficiency, supporting a more sustainable and environmentally responsible future.

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Speakers

Distinguished experts leading the conversation in sugar technology and innovation

Niraj Shirgaokar

Niraj Shirgaokar

President

Indian Sugar & Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA)

Niraj Shirgaokar is President of the Indian Sugar & Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA), the premier organization of sugar and ethanol manufacturers in India. He was previously the President of ISMA in 2020-21. Niraj is also the Managing Director of The Ugar Sugar Works, the parent body of the Shirgaokar Group of Companies (SB Group) which has interests in sugar, power, ethanol, Indian-Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL), foundries and IT. He has been a key delegate and contributor to various sugar and biofuel panels, including expert studies involving sugar policy, bioenergy development, sustainability transitions and ethanol expansion. He co-founded and promoted iResearch Services in 2008, which is one of India's leading B2B marketing agencies focussing on research-led Insights and Thought Leadership studies. Previously, Niraj served as the President of South Indian Sugar Mills Association (SISMA), which covers the interests of all private sugar mills in South India. After working in multinational companies for 15 years, Niraj joined the family business in 2005. He has a Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering from Mumbai University.
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Madhav B Shriram

Madhav B Shriram

Vice President

Indian Sugar & Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA)

Madhav Bansidhar Shriram is the Vice President of the Indian Sugar & Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) and the Managing Director of DCM Shriram Industries Limited, bringing over 35 years of deep-rooted expertise at Daurala Sugar Works. A graduate of the prestigious Shriram College of Commerce (SRCC) with a B.Com. (Hons.), Madhav furthered his academic journey with an MBA from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA. He launched his professional career at Nissho Iwai in Tokyo, Japan, before returning to build a distinguished career spanning the textiles, sugar, alcohol, specialty chemicals, and pharmaceuticals sectors. His active memberships across leading industry bodies reflect his enduring commitment to the growth and governance of Indian industry — these include ISMA, the U.P. Sugar Mills Association (UPSMA), the All India Distillers' Association (AIDA), and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Northern Region. A natural institution-builder, Madhav has previously served as Vice Chairman and Chairman of the CII Delhi State Council and chaired the CII Northern Region Committee on Life Sciences. He is also the Vice Chairman of the Shriram Institute for Industrial Research — a globally recognised research institute and testing laboratory based in New Delhi. Beyond industry, Madhav's contribution extends into philanthropy and cultural stewardship. He serves as Chairman of the Shankar Lall Murli Dhar Memorial Society and is a proud member of the Indian National Trust for Art and Heritage (INTACH), Delhi Chapter.
Deepak Ballani

Deepak Ballani

Director General

Indian Sugar & Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA)

Deepak Ballani is the Director General of the Indian Sugar & Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA). Deepak has over 25 years of diverse experience in public policy, government affairs and organizational management. He drives growth and innovation within the sector, especially as the industry navigates evolving policies on ethanol and bioenergy aimed at reducing import dependence and achieving energy security for India. Before joining ISMA, Deepak was the Director General of the All India Plastics Manufacturers' Association (AIPMA). His career includes notable positions with PwC India, UNIDO and the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC). Deepak holds a postgraduate degree in International Trade Management.
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Dr. Sanjay Awasthi

Dr. Sanjay Awasthi

President

The Sugar Technologists' Association of India (STAI)

Dr. Sanjay Awasthi is one of India's most distinguished sugar industry leaders, currently serving as President of the Sugar Technologists' Association of India (STAI) and Chief Executive of Isgec Heavy Engineering Ltd. With over 36 years of experience, Dr. Awasthi has been the chief architect behind more than 250 sugar plants, distilleries, sugar refineries, and expansion projects across India and internationally, with capacities ranging from 1,500 to 24,000 TCD. His engineered solutions are today operational in India and 45 countries worldwide. A Post Graduate in Sugar Technology from NSI Kanpur, Dr. Awasthi holds a Fellowship of NSI with a Gold Medal and an Honorary Doctorate. He has authored over 200 research papers, holds multiple patents, and has represented India as Counsellor at ISSCT Congresses across Mexico, Brazil, and Thailand — currently serving as Chairman of the ISSCT. His accolades include the John Clayton Award, the Noel Deerr Gold Medal (awarded eleven times), the Sharkara Shree Award from the Ministry of Food, the Maurice Paturau Award at ISSCT 2023, and the Rashtriya Ashoka Sammaan by the Government of India.
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Prof. Narendra Mohan

Prof. Narendra Mohan

Consultant

Indian Sugar & Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA)

Prof. Narendra Mohan has an exemplary career in the sugar industry spanning about four decades including eleven years as Director, National Sugar Institute, Kanpur, India. An author of 7 books, more than 200 papers published in various reputed journals, many book chapters and patents to his credit. He has played a pivotal role in converting the sugar industry into a clean & green industry producing bio-chemicals, bio-products and bio-energy apart from sugar. He has widely travelled and seen the Sugar Industry in various countries including Australia, Thailand, China, Mauritius, Indonesia, Reunion Islands, and the Dominican Republic. He has attended the ISSCT Congress held in Indonesia in 1986 and in India in 1999, as well as several Sugar Conferences organized by ISO, F.O. LICHT, Kingsman, and LMC. He was the Vice-Chairman of the Congress Organising Committee for the XXXI ISSCT Congress held in Hyderabad, India in 2023.
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Gillian Eggleston

Gillian Eggleston

Lead Scientist

Audubon Sugar Institute

Gillian Eggleston is a globally recognized scientist and leader in sugar processing research, renowned for her pioneering work on sugar crop deterioration, industrial enzyme applications, sugar losses, the effects of extraneous sugarcane matter on processing, and industrial sweet sorghum processing. Her research has had substantial commercial and scientific impact across the U.S. and international sugar and allied industries. Dr. Eggleston has authored more than 260 publications, including 85 peer-reviewed journal articles and 12 refereed book chapters. Her international stature is reflected in over 24 prestigious national and global awards, including the FLC National Technology Transfer Award, the South African Society of Sugar Technologists Talbot-Crosbie Award, and the Sugar Industry Technologists and American Chemical Society Melville L. Wolfrom Award. She has served as a senior editor of three scientific books and is widely sought as a consultant in carbohydrate chemistry and industrial processing of sugarcane and sugar beet. Under her leadership, ARS sugar research at the Southern Regional Research Center (SRRC) is now internationally recognised as a world leader in sugar processing research.
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Sambhaji Kadupatil

Sambhaji Kadupatil

Director General

Vasantdada Sugar Institute (VSI)

Mr. Sambhaji Kadupatil (IAS Retd.) hails from a small village in Rahata tehsil of Ahmednagar district in Maharashtra State. He belongs to a family of agriculturists and has been very closely associated with Sugarcane farming and Sugar industry since his childhood. He did his schooling in Pravaranagar, the place where the country’s first sugar cooperative sugar mill was established. He did his Graduation and Post- graduation in English lit. from Fergusson College, Pune. He also completed his Masters Diploma in Business Administration from IMDR Pune and subsequently acquired a Law degree from Shivaji University.
JJ Bhagat

JJ Bhagat

Managing Director

STM Projects

J.J. Bhagat is a Gold Medalist postgraduate in Sugar Technology with an extraordinary career spanning over 50 years in the Indian and international sugar industry. His expertise covers the full spectrum of sugar mill operations — from plant balancing and efficiency improvements to greenfield project development — across facilities ranging from 2,000 to 20,000 TCD, with integrated distilleries and cogeneration units. Since 2007, Bhagat has been providing Project Advisory Services to over 25 leading sugar mills across Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka. A defining chapter of his career was his tenure as Mission Director of the Sugar Technology Mission — a Government of India initiative chaired by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam — where he spearheaded the modernisation and rehabilitation of over 35 sugar factories nationwide. He has served on multiple High-Level Government Committees on sugar policy, cogeneration, and ethanol development. Bhagat served as President of the Sugar Technologists' Association of India (STAI) and in 2022, STAI honoured him with a Gold Medal for over 50 years of Professional Excellence — the first such award in the association's history. He has travelled to over 45 sugar-producing countries.
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Sambhaji Kadupatil

JN Sharma

Group Technical Advisor,

Uttam Sugar Mills Limited

A Mechanical Engineer having experience of about 27 years in ISGEC in Manufacturing and Project Management departments at various positions. Further, 29 years of experience in Project Management, Project Implementation, Operation and Maintenance of Sugar, Distillery, Cogeneration and Stand alone Power Plants in Uttam Industrial Engg. Ltd. and Uttam Sugar Mills Ltd. holding various positions. Presently working for Uttam Sugar Mills Ltd. as Group Technical Adviser.
JJ Bhagat

Karthik Ranganathan

Head – O&M Business

Praj Industries

Karthik Ranganathan is the Business Head – Products & Services (Bioenergy) at Praj Industries. He brings over 22 years of leadership experience spanning bioenergy, renewable fuels, digital transformation, and corporate strategy, with a strong track record of building and scaling technology-driven businesses. At Praj Industries, Karthik leads the global Bioenergy Products & Services business, driving growth across services, bioproducts, operations & maintenance (O&M), and spares for the ethanol and renewable fuels industry. Under his leadership, the business has witnessed significant expansion, achieving multi-fold growth in revenue and profitability, while strengthening Praj’s presence across both domestic and international markets. Karthik has played a key role in developing service-led business models for ethanol plants, including the Combiferm Bio-Products package, O&M services, digital monitoring platforms, and integrated plant optimization solutions. He has also been instrumental in expanding Praj’s global footprint, securing projects across Europe, APAC, and the Middle East, including initiatives related to carbon capture and sustainable bioenergy solutions. Prior to his current role, Karthik was a key member of Praj’s Corporate Strategy team, where he contributed to shaping the company’s renewable energy growth roadmap, building global partnerships, and supporting strategic investments to strengthen Praj’s technology portfolio. Before joining Praj, Karthik worked with global technology organizations including Cisco Systems and Delphi Automotive, where he led large-scale engineering and technology programs. Karthik holds an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore and a Post Graduate Diploma in Artificial Intelligence from the University of Texas at Austin (Texas McCombs School of Business). His areas of interest include bioenergy value chain development, ethanol plant optimization, digitalization of industrial processes, and sustainable energy systems.
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Karthik Ranganathan

Ashok Baraskar

MD

USIPL

Mr. Ashok Marotrao Baraskar is Vice President – Design & Engineering at Uttam Sucrotech International Pvt. Ltd., Pune. He holds a B.Tech from IIT Bombay and an MMS from Pune University, with over four decades of experience in the sugar and process industry. He has worked with Sumac International, Vikram Projects, ThyssenKrupp Industries India, and Uttam Sucrotech, contributing to plant design, engineering, and technology implementation. He has been involved in the development and execution of Low Pressure Extraction Systems, Continuous Vacuum Pans, Tailflex Coupling for mills, and steam economy projects including Falling Film Evaporators.
Sunil Singhal

Sunil Singhal

Chairman

Chemical Systems

Mr. Sunil Singhal is a pioneering technologist, entrepreneur, and sustainability champion with over five decades of transformative impact on the Indian sugar industry. He is the Founder, Chairman, and President of Chemical Systems Technologies Pvt. Ltd. He is also the Founder of Ecoware — a trailblazing brand offering compostable, biomass-based tableware as a sustainable alternative to single-use plastic. A B.Tech in Chemical Engineering from IIT Kanpur (1971) and top rank holder of IIT JEE 1966. Mr. Singhal's contributions to the sugar sector are unparalleled. He led the creation of India's first sugar refinery in 1998 and has since contributed to 60 refineries worldwide. His innovations include global firsts such as a brine recovery system, a decanter-based mud removal system, and a continuous ion-exchange process, alongside technologies that have enabled an average 50% reduction in energy consumption in sugar mills. He holds multiple patents spanning sustainability, sugar processing, and environmental engineering. His honours include the Distinguished Alumnus Award from IIT Kanpur (2012) and the Lifetime Achievement Award from STAI.
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Gavin Smith

Gavin Smith

Sugar Process Specialist

Gavin Smith is a highly experienced Sugar Process Specialist with more than 30 years of hands-on and consultancy experience across the sugar industry, including sugar downstream and alcohol processing operations. He has worked extensively with sugar factories and related process industries, supporting both operational improvements and project execution. Gavin specializes in project management within complex process environments and is known for his practical, data-driven approach to improving factory performance and efficiency. His expertise covers critical areas of sugar processing, helping factories identify losses, optimize energy use, and enhance overall operational reliability.
Satyajai Mayor

Satyajai Mayor

MD

Permionics

Dr. Satyajai Mayor is a distinguished chemical engineer and an internationally acclaimed figure in membrane technology. Carrying forward a remarkable legacy of 50 years shaped by his father Late Mr. Satyapal Mayor, Dr. Satyajai Mayor has played a key role in advancing membrane science in India. As the Managing Director of Permionics, he has led the development of advanced membrane systems, driven innovations in process design, and successfully translated these into large-scale industrial applications. His work spans critical sectors, including impactful contributions to the sugar industry, where membrane-based processes have enhanced efficiency, recovery, and sustainability. Dr. Mayor has been a torch-bearer of Indian Membrane Society strengthening industry academia collaborations to nurture new generation of membrane scientists and foster development of indigenous membrane technologies.
Anup Kesarwani

Anup Kesarwani

Director

Chemical Systems

Anup Kesarwani serves as Director at Chemical Systems, bringing a strong background in the chemical and industrial sectors. At Chemical Systems, he has been instrumental in developing strategic business initiatives within the food processing industry, delivering specialised chemical solutions across the sugar value chain. His experience includes a notable tenure as Manager, Marketing at DCM Shriram Industries, contributing to strategies across sugar, distillery, and organic chemicals.
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Anup Kesarwani

Vivek Verma

Managing Director

Spray Engineering Devices Limited (SED)

Vivek Verma is the Founder and Managing Director of Spray Engineering Devices Limited, established in 1992. A qualified Agricultural Engineer, he specializes in developing innovative and sustainable industrial solutions focused on thermal energy optimization, waste heat recovery, and resource recycling to achieve net-zero emission. He has pioneered sustainable technologies based on Mechanical Vapour Recompression (MVR), driving high-efficiency process systems across the sugar, distillery, biofuel, jaggery, and wastewater sectors. Under his strategic leadership and technical guidance, the company has successfully deployed energy-efficient process solutions globally, establishing a presence in over 40 countries while delivering measurable improvements in operational efficiency, sustainability, and environmental performance.
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Anurag Goel

Anurag Goyal

Head of Marketing

ISGEC

Anurag Goyal is a sugar industry leader with 28 years of experience in designing over 50 modern sugar plants across the globe. A post-graduate in Sugar Technology from NSI, he specialises in energy-efficient plants, refineries, and distilleries, with technical consultancies spanning 35+ countries. An eight-time winner of the Noel Deer Gold Medal and recipient of the Dr. Bansidhar Gold Medal, he serves on the Factory Processing Committee and as Councillor for India at ISSCT.
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Anurag Goel

Shiva Kumar

COO & Board Member

Avant Garde

Mr. S. Sivakumar is the COO and Board Member of Avant-Garde Systems and Controls, a leading engineering consultancy with over 36 years of experience in sugar, cogeneration, and bioenergy sectors. Under his leadership, Avant-Garde has engineered over 200 bagasse-based cogeneration plants totalling approximately 4,000 MW and executed over 80 distillery projects globally. He is a recipient of the ISGEC Gold Medal for Engineering Excellence by the Sugar Technologists' Association of India in 2021.
Gavin Smith

Subhash Chander Kalia

Chairman & Board Advisor

S I Energy Ventures Pvt. Ltd.

A distinguished engineering leader and IIT Kharagpur alumnus, Mr. Subhash Chander Kalia brings over 46 years of expertise spanning energy, power generation, industrial automation, and process industries across India and overseas. He is widely credited with pioneering PLC and DCS-based automation in Indian sugar mills from 1992 onward — a transformative contribution that elevated operational efficiency, reduced costs, minimized downtime, and optimized by-product utilization across the sector. As Chairman of S I Energy Ventures Pvt. Ltd., he provides board-level strategic direction on energy systems, plant modernization, automation roadmaps, and capital investment decisions. His technical counsel spans the full spectrum of power plant controls — including boilers, steam turbines, coal and ash handling, soot blowing, auto synchronization, and load management systems. Known for his rare blend of deep technical mastery and strategic governance insight, Mr. Kalia has served as a trusted advisor to promoters, CEOs, and plant leadership teams during critical phases of commissioning, stabilization, and performance optimization. He continues to mentor engineering teams and guide organizations toward long-term operational sustainability and excellence.
Boris Morgenroth

Boris Morgenroth

Dr.-Ing.

IPRO Industries (Germany)

Dr Boris Morgenroth, born 1968 in Berlin, Germany, studies Sugar Technology at the Berlin Sugar Institute, Technical University Berlin, Department Food Process Technology, and finished his master thesis in 1993. Subsequently, he worked for the Suedzucker Central Office ZAFES with regard to his PhD thesis on evaporator technology, which he completed in 2001 but also for many other sugar companies between 1993 and 1997. In the year 1997 he joined the company Balcke-Duerr on the development and market introduction of the falling film plate evaporator technology. Since 2002 he is working for IPRO Industrieprojekt GmbH, Germany, rendering engineering services for beet and cane sugar factories and refineries worldwide. Since 2014 he is Director of IPRO India Pvt Ltd. Dr. Boris Morgenroth is member of the ISSCT Engineering Section since 1996 and was the Chair of the Engineering section from 2013 until 2023. Since 2023 he is member of the Process section of ISSCT.
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Anup Kesarwani

Carlos Villa

Business Director High Tech Gas Detection

Honeywell

A results-driven leader with a proven track record of driving revenue growth, profitability, and business transformation across the United States, Brazil, and Mexico. Experienced in creating new revenue streams, expanding market segments, and delivering omni-channel strategies. His value creation philosophy rests on three pillars — people, strategy, and execution — with a strong focus on talent development and employee engagement. Technically proficient in IIoT, SaaS, and MES systems, he combines strategic vision with operational depth.
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Sumant Basu

Sumant Basu

India Head

Visionaize

Sumant Basu leads the India operations of Visionaize Technologies — an AI and 3D Digital Twin company headquartered in California, USA — bringing with him an exceptional career spanning 40 years across Thermal, Wind, Solar Power, Cement, Sugar, and Chemical sectors. His areas of expertise encompass the full spectrum of Automation, Instrumentation & Control (I&C), and Electrical Engineering, with deep specialisation in Process Modelling, Predictive Modelling, AI/ML Modelling, and Digital Twins. A prolific researcher and innovator, he holds a Patent in Aero-foil Modelling & Design and has published extensively in prestigious international journals including IEEE. His published work spans critical topics such as non-linear model predictive control for supercritical boilers, steam turbine modelling, frequency response systems, and coal pulverizer simulation. He has also developed and commercially launched CFOMS — a real-time software product for monitoring and analysing creep and fatigue stress in boiler components. Sumant has provided professional consultancy to the Central Electricity Authority (Ministry of Power), NTPC, DVC, CII, ISA, and the Electric Power Research Institute, USA.
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Dr. Sangeeta Srivastava

Dr. Sangeeta Srivastava

Executive Director

Godavari Biorefineries Limited

Sangeeta Arunkumar Srivastava is an Executive Director of Godavari Biorefineries Limited. She holds a bachelor's and master's degree in chemistry from Doctor Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya, an M.Phil in chemistry from Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya, Jabalpur, and a Ph.D. in science from University of Mumbai. She has over 29 years of experience in research and development. Prior to joining the Company, she was associated with Somaiya Organo-Chemicals Limited as a General Manager (Corporate R&D).
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Padma Shri Prof. G D Yadav

Padma Shri Prof. G D Yadav

Emeritus Professor of Eminence

Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Mumbai

Professor Ganapati D. Yadav is one of India's most eminent scientists, serving as Emeritus Professor of Eminence at ICT Mumbai. A Padma Shri awardee (2016) and member of the US National Academy of Engineering (2022), Prof. Yadav ranks in the top 0.2% of researchers in Physical Chemistry globally and No. 1 in India per Stanford University surveys for five consecutive years. His research portfolio includes 570 peer-reviewed papers, 137 granted patents, and 21,000+ citations with an h-index of 72. He holds the distinction of having guided 117 Ph.Ds, 158 Masters, and 51 Post-docs as a single supervisor — a national record.
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Dr. Anjan Ray

Dr. Anjan Ray

Investment Partner

Navam Capital

Dr. Anjan Ray is an Investment Partner with Navam. A chemistry graduate of IIT Delhi, Anjan received his PhD in chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania under the guidance of Nobel Laureate Prof. Alan MacDiarmid. He then worked for over two decades across functions ranging from technical sales and servicing, quality control, R&D, and marketing to general management, M&A, and business strategy at corporations including ICI India Limited, Jubilant Group, and Honeywell UOP. In November 2016, Anjan joined CSIR's Indian Institute of Petroleum (CSIR-IIP) in Dehradun as its eighth Director. As CSIR-IIP Director, Anjan led the development and first real-world demonstrations of sustainable aviation fuel-powered aircraft flights in India, forging key partnerships with leading Indian civil aviation players as well as the Indian Air Force. He held additional charge as Head of the Research, Project Planning, and Business Development Directorate at the CSIR headquarters from June 2017 to August 2018.
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Abhishek Tripathi

Abhishek Tripathi

Vice President

Paques

Abhishek is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in Sales and Marketing, Product Management, Business Development, and Operations. He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing from ICFAI Business School. With over 10 years of experience, Abhishek has held various roles and responsibilities at prestigious companies such as Pentair, a US-based filtration company, and Napino Auto, a Hero Group company. Currently, he is associated with Paques, a European-based global pioneer in wastewater treatment and biogas filtration, serving as Vice President of Sales & Business Development. In his current role, Abhishek is responsible for driving the growth of Paques Capital Equipment Sales across India and the Middle East.
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Boris Morgenroth

Aditya Jhunjhunwala

Managing Director

KM Sugar Mills Limited

Aditya Jhunjhunwala is the Managing Director of K M Sugar Mills Ltd. KM Sugar Mills Ltd is engaged in the manufacturing of sugar. The company operates in three segments namely sugar, distillery and co-generation. The company has sugar manufacturing facility in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh (India). Mr Jhunjhunwala is actively associated with many industry Organizations and Member of Young Presidents’ Organization (India). He is the past president of the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA).