Founder
The BORBHAG Group
Co Founder & Principal, BORBHAG Consultancy
Co Founder & Partner, Quad Law Associates & Co Founder, The BORBHAG Foundations
Co Founder & Director, BSAG Consulting
Co Founder & Partner, Quad Law Associates
Treasurer, The BORBHAG Initiative Society
Chief of Staff, The BORBHAG Group & Associate Principal, BSAG Consulting
Chairperson, Advisory Board
Trade Negotiations,
Public Procurement
Infrastructure & International Development
MSMEs & Finance
Wildlife & Environment Conservation
Economist & Sustainable Livelihoods
Academics
Technocrat & Entrepreneurship
Corporate Strategy, Mentor — Startups & Leadership
Journalist & Author
Tea Technocrat
Shiv brings expertise in finance and marketing – a former banker, he has worked with large multinationals including Citibank and Standard Chartered Bank during his career. Subsequently, going on to join his family business of hospitality, today he is a well-recognised social entrepreneur. Shiv has also started production of Jojoba Oil in the north western state of Rajasthan, he is the largest grower and manufacturer in India and has expanded to a direct-to-consumer retail business. In his entrepreneurial journey, Shiv has also developed the Indian market for low-cost vacuum sewage systems including building awareness of zero human contact with sewage and introducing energy and water saving systems for a greener future.
Shiv holds a Masters Degree from Cardiff Business School and a Bachelor of Science from IILM. He is an alumni of the Doon School, Dehra Dun. He has a passion for wildlife photography – something he continues to pursue today.
Anusuya is a Founding Partner of Quad Law Associates with a specialization in corporate-commercial litigation, arbitration and international trade law. With over eighteen years of experience, she has advised clients in a wide range of Intellectual Property Rights litigations, including infringement of patents, copyright and trademarks as well as complex commercial litigations and arbitrations of national importance. Anusuya is sought out for her expertise on international trade law, advising and representing Chambers of Associations, Importers and User Associations in trade remedy investigations carried out by the Indian Ministry of Commerce. She advises clients on trade remedy litigation before various High Courts and represents them before the Customs Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT).
Anusuya is regularly invited to write and speak on international trade law. She has contributed a chapter on Trade Remedies in India in the International Trade Law Review, published by the UK- based Law Business Research Limited.
Anusuya has a Masters degree in Law from the University of London, where she specialized in International Business Transactions, Competition Law and Company Law in 2003. She earned her LL.B degree from the University of Pune.
A lawyer with 20 years’ experience, Priyanka co-founded Quad Law Associates in 2016, a boutique law firm specializing in Dispute Resolution (Litigation & Arbitration). She is widely recognized for her work in anti-bribery matters, specifically those involving issues under the U.S. FCPA, UK Bribery Act and the Indian Prevention of Corruption Act.
As co-founder of the BORBHAG Foundations, she leads the Foundation’s efforts of providing legal assistance to marginalized communities and educational opportunities to those who seek them. Priyanka has always sought for opportunities to make a positive difference to lives around her.
She lives in Delhi with her husband and daughter and when she is not wearing her work hat, she is found traveling, gardening, cooking for people.
Priyanka received her BCL Degree (European & Comparative Law) from the Oxford University, B.A. (Honours) English and LL.B degrees from the Delhi University, and completed her schooling from Carmel Convent School, New Delhi.
Balinder brings with him thirty years of experience in corporate and public affairs – with deep relationships across a wide swathe of stakeholders. Having worked across sectors, Balinder has engaged virtually every corner of the Indian ecosystem through his work with international and domestic corporations, helping them to navigate one of the world’s most complex yet opportune business environments.
He has had success in building coalitions and working with corporations, NGOs, government departments, media and communications agencies. He has worked in cross-functional, remote and international teams both within a single organization and across entities. Balinder has consulted several Fortune 500 companies and Indian Blue Chips across a diverse set of industries including infrastructure projects, insurance and financial services, aviation, telecommunications & IT, consumer goods and hospitality and quick service restaurants. He has also executed public affairs programs in Sri Lanka. Sustainability and implementation of clean technologies are areas of special interest.
Balinder holds a degree in Commerce from Punjab University, and can be found poring over the editorials on a quiet morning.
A visionary tea professional, with his empowering business philosophies, ethical approach and local expertise in the North East Region, Mr. Goswami is a sought after Organizational Consultant for the Corporate Sector. In his long and illustrious career, spanning over five decades, Mr. Goswami has received great admiration both from industrial quarters as well as governmental institutions for his achievements and management qualities.
Mr. Goswami has diverse expertise on the tea industry, including in-depth knowledge on day-to-day management and operations of the industry, wide experience in handling labour and local issues and diversification programs within the tea industry. Having successfully run profitable ventures within tea estates, he is proficient with the entire spectrum of marketing and packaging teas. Mr. Goswami was instrumental in setting up one of the first tea tourism company in Assam and also in getting Assam’s first ISO 9002 certification for Hattiali Tea Estate.
Nikita brings close to nine years of experience working with multinational and domestic Indian firms with the formulation and execution of their policy and advocacy strategies. She has worked across a wide range of sectors including financial services, infrastructure, as well as in economic policy and development while specialising in healthcare. Nikita also brings a passion for the development sector where she is working to support implementation of programs at the last mile.
Nikita’s expertise lies in developing evidence-based access models and exploring innovative platforms for healthcare delivery and financing. She has worked across an interesting range of projects covering communicable and non-communicable diseases, health infrastructure in small cities as well as building out the country strategy for a large development agency. During the span of her career, she has worked with consulting organisations including Deloitte and a boutique public policy firm based in New Delhi. She has also worked with two leading industry chambers - U.S. India Business Council (USIBC) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). During her time in New York, she was part of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Regional Bureau for Asia Pacific.
Nikita holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from Columbia University in the City of New York and a Bachelor of Arts (Economics) from Fergusson College.
In her free time, she enjoys playing golf, swimming, reading, and playing the piano.
Born to a tea planter family of Jorhat in Assam (India), Anirudh spent his formative years in the tea estates of Upper Assam. His evolution with the tea world of Assam and life as a planter’s son in the 1980s is the reason that Anirudh remains so passionate about the environment, close to the lives and culture of the tea communities, understands the changing needs of the industry, empowering its people, and uplifting its overall infrastructure.
Anirudh founded the BORBHAG Group in 2010 with the objective to enable inclusive development between business, policy and last mile implementation. With his aim to take investments to North East India and help the region prosper, Anirudh was instrumental in introducing solar and LED based solutions in the region. His ability to envision and identify investment opportunities ahead of time, strategize, plan, formulate projects and bring people together for their execution has helped him expand his outreach globally.
Today, Anirudh is sought for his significant understanding of Centre-State relations, latest policy developments, advocacy initiatives, to make investments and change happen in the remotest districts of India as well as established cities. At present, he also co-heads BSAG Consulting, the India offices of McLarty Associates, a leading Washington-based private sector diplomacy firm, that has helped clients manage government and policy issues around the world since 1998.
Anirudh was fortunate to be mentored by the sharpest Chairmen and business leaders in the auto ancillary sector at a very young age. This provided in depth exposure to the industry and national committees which has been rewarding and lasting. His thought leadership led to pioneering ideas in Public-Private-Partnerships, creation of specialized Industrial Training Institutes, the first smart village in Northeast India under the aegis of The BORBHAG Initiative Society and the redevelopment and revival of a Mughal-era park in the heart of Delhi under The Qudsia Bagh Welfare Society which he founded.
He has key experience across sectors such as healthcare, nutrition, education, power, new and renewable energy, food processing, social development and CSR initiatives. His dream to build a new-Tea-world-order however (as his wife quips) remains his first love, followed by Northeast India, his family, his plants, travel, explore and relax with some OTT programs. He currently lives in Delhi with his wife, daughter and his maverick dreams, some of which have come true and many that will.
Anirudh received his Master’s Degree in Political Studies from the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi (India), Bachelors of Arts in History, Economics & Political Science from St. Josephs’ College of Arts & Sciences, Bangalore (India) & is an alumni of The Doon School, Dehra Dun (India).
Mr. M.P. Bezbaruah, in his experience of over four decades in the Indian Administrative Service, has held portfolios across all key sectors including Tourism Secretary, Government of India. He is well recognised for his contribution in International Cooperation, Tourism as well as an illustrious tenure in North East India.
Mr. Bezbaruah, is accredited with adding a new dimension to Tourism development in India by drafting the National Tourism Policy and launching the intensive marketing campaign “Experience India” which blossomed into the very successful “Incredible India” campaign. Apart from innumerable articles in national & international journals and speeches in international conferences, he has also authored three books on Tourism. As the Minister (Economic) in the High Commission of India, London, Mr. Bezbaruah, also played a role in India’s first economic liberalisation and piloted the formation of the Indo-British Partnership. Recently he was Chairman of the Committee of Ministry of Home Affairs on the concerns of the people of NE in Metropolitan areas- popularly referred to as the Bezbaruah Committee. Currently, he is also Member, NITI Forum for North East.
Mr. Bezbaruah has been Member/Chairman of numerous national & international organisation, including Chairman of the North Eastern Regional Institute of Science & Technology and RBI’s Banking Ombudsman. He holds a BA (Hons) from Gauhati University and a Masters Degree from Delhi School of Economics as well as a Master of Public Administration Degree (MPA) from Harvard University.
Mrs. Sheela Bhide, brings over three decades experience in the Indian Administrative Service, holding key portfolios with the Central Government and the Government of Andhra Pradesh.
During her tenure with the Government, Mrs. Bhide, was responsible for promotion of industry & foreign trade, budget & finances for foreign aid, corporate governance as well as procurement for defence equipment. Recently, Mrs. Bhide also Chaired the Committee appointed to oversee distribution of assets and liabilities of government companies & corporations as part of the bifurcation between the Indian states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. She holds multiple honors & awards including the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration. Mrs. Bhide also brings extensive consultancy experience including with the MSME sector and sustainable development.
Mrs. Bhide holds an MBA in Financial Management from the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU); PhD in International Trade from Institut de Hautes Etudes Internationales, Universite de Geneve; M.A. Economics from George Mason University; Masters in Public Administration (MPA) from the John F. Kennedy School of Government- Harvard University; M.A. Political Science, Poona University, India and a B.A. Political Science, History, French, from Fergusson College.
Rajni Sekhri Sibal is an IAS of the Haryana cadre; 1986 batch. She recently retired as Secretary, Government of India covering diverse portfolios including Fisheries, Agriculture Home Affairs and Skill Development. She is the first lady to have topped the All India Civil Service Examinations. She also brings experience of working in the private sector and is a widely published author. At present Ms. Sekhri is the Independent External Monitor of SEBI, the Security Exchange
Mr. M Ramsekhar brings over two decades experience in the Indian Administrative Service, having worked extensively in the areas of urban development, industrial and economic development, infrastructure, transport, and governance. He also possesses experience working in senior positions in private sector and consulting.
Widely respected for leading large and complex organizations, Mr. Ramsekhar is also known for stabilizing and growing businesses and helping strengthen reforms and improving governance. He has served as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System Limited, and led IPE Global, a leading player in the development sector in South Asia. Prior to this, he was CEO of CRISIL Risk & Infrastructure Solutions and Chief Strategy Officer for GVK Power & Infrastructure Ltd.
Mr. Ramsekhar holds a MPA Public and Economic Policy, Urban Development from The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE); MPA Infrastructure Finance and Regulation, Columbia University in the City of New York. He also holds a B.Tech (Mech Engg) from SV University College of Engineering.
Mr. Navin Kumar Maini brings over four decades of extensive experience in commercial and development banking. A career banker , he has worked with UCO Bank, IDBI, and retired as the Deputy Managing Director of the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), the premier financial institution for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in India. Simultaneously, he was Chairman of the Boards of SIDBI Venture Capital Ltd, SIDBI Trustee Co. Ltd, Indian SME Asset Reconstruction Co. Ltd, Indian SME Technology Services Ltd and Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises.
Mr. Maini is currently, amongst others, on the Boards of NSE Clearing Ltd, Capital Small Finance Bank Ltd, Ugro Capital Ltd, AYE Finance Limited and Access Assist; he is also on the Advisory Boards of IvyCap Venture Fund and Lok Capital Group, besides being a Member of the Innovation and Transformation Board, Govt of Tripura. Mr. Maini is widely sought after for his expertise and is an eminent speaker in the fields of development banking and microfinance. He is a recipient of the prestigious “Award for Lifetime Contribution to the Micro Finance Sector” instituted by HSBC and Access Development Services.
He is a graduate from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi and holds a Degree in Law. He also has postgraduate qualifications in Management from MDI and in International Trade from IIFT, besides being a Certified Associate of Indian Institute of Banking & Finance (CAIIB). He has undergone top management programmes at Harvard, Stanford and Cranfield Schools of Management.
Mr. Mike Pandey is India’s iconic wildlife conservationist, Environmentalist & Filmmaker. He is globally renowned and honoured for his pioneering and landmark conservation work, having dedicatedly worked for over three and a half decades to protect wildlife & the environment in India
Some of Mr. Pandey’s acknowledged work includes The Last Migration - Wild Elephant Capture in Surguja, Shores of Silence: Whale Sharks in India which led to the ban on the killing of whale sharks on Indian shores, Vanishing Giants – a story of his passion and involvement with elephants; Gyamo-Queen Of The Mountains; Looking for Sultan, amongst others. He has also produced one of India’s most popular television programmes - Earth Matters – a series on the wildlife and environment of India. One of his most recent projects explores the rich biodiversity in India’s Northeast.
Mr. Pandey has produced over six hundred films and has demonstrated that powerful films are living proof of the difference a film can make in bringing about changes locally, nationally and globally. He has won three Green Oscars and over three hundred other international and national awards, besides being a Jury of numerous International Film Festivals.
Dr. Amiya K. Sharma brings on board several years of vast experience across academia, both in India and the United States. He is Executive Director, Rashtriya Gramin Vikas Nidhi (RGVN), an organization working on creating an enabling environment where the poor and underprivileged can ensure sustainable livelihood with dignity.
Dr. Sharma, leads a diverse team in implementing projects with a vision to empower local communities, contribute towards sustainable well-being and economic empowerment. This, across the realms of institution building & women cooperatives, food security, skill development for livelihood and enhancing market linkages for weaver communities. He also brings in depth expertise of nurturing and strengthening grassroots level initiatives of NGOs and community owned institutions.
Dr. Sharma is a Member of various Committees including National Committee on Social & Economic Development, Ministry of Finance, Govt. of India and Executive Member of Centre for Micro Finance & Livelihood (CML) set up by Sir Dorabji Tata Trust in the NER. He holds an M.A. degree from the Delhi School of Economics and a Ph.D. from Rutgers University, U.S.A.
Prof. Bhagat Oinam is well respected in the academic fraternity having held multiple teaching positions in his illustrious career of over three decades. He is currently Professor, Centre for Philosophy, School of Social Sciences and Chairperson & Concurrent Faculty, Special Centre for the Study of North East India Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).
Prof. Oinam is credited with expanding the horizons of research and teaching on North East India – a rarity in the country. He has facilitated a holistic understanding of the region across diverse aspects including social, economic & political change, livelihood studies, border trade, global capital and institutions, conflict, peace and security studies, amongst others, bringing together different epistemic perspectives with strong commitment to multi-disciplinary research.
Prof. Oinam also has extensive international exposure delivering multiple lectures and is widely published in journals and anthologies on diverse topics across the country. He is a well-respected author, having co-authored Northeast India: A Reader, Perspectives on Manipuri Culture. His areas of specialisation include Phenomenology and Existentialism; Moral, Social and Cultural Philosophy; Philosophical Anthropology; Aesthetics. He holds a M.A., M.Phil. and Ph.D. in Philosophy.
Mr. Chander Mohan is credited with pioneering various initiatives in the realms of Entrepreneurship Development and Science Communication during his distinguished service of close to three decades with the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India where he has been primarily responsible for design, development and delivery of Science & Technology (S&T) packages to address societal challenges, mainstreaming & empowering women in S&T domain and promotion of scientific temperament among masses.
Chief among his many achievements has been conceiving the Science Express (SE), a unique exhibition train in 2007, which under his stewardship attracted over 18.6 million visitors during its 10 years long run to over 530 locations in India. It created history and was adjudged as longest running and most visited science exhibition in the world, receiving wide media coverage as well as 11 entries in the prestigious Limca Book of Records. He is also widely recognized for his novel & innovative initiatives during early years of his career in Entrepreneurship & Skill Development for sustainable livelihoods, particularly in hilly terrains and in the hinterland. Most recently, he served as Chair Professor, UGC Chair for Tribal Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University.
Mr. Mohan, who holds a Masters in Chemical Engineering from Panjab University with specialization on Renewable Energy and a Diploma in Management, presently focuses on Science Popularization, Renewable Energy and Skill Development. He also spends time mentoring start-ups in Mental Health and Technology space.
Mr. Sunder Rajan is a well recognised thought leader with over three & a half decades of experience spanning multiple geographies and industries, including several years as Chief Executive and Profit-Centre Head of businesses.
Mr. Rajan brings expertise across diverse sectors including FMCG, Textiles, Dairy and Manufacturing. He has a proven track record as a successful Leader who has conceptualised and executed strategies for transformational outcomes, including successful ‘turn around’ of businesses. His strength is in understanding the industry’s strategic drivers, especially the end consumer’s needs, and then ensuring operational excellence across the value chain to achieve optimum results. Till March 2016, Mr. Rajan was the CEO of Sona Koyo Steering Systems Ltd., a publicly listed company manufacturing automotive components for all the major passenger vehicle makers.
Today he is widely sought after for his expertise and has been advising Founders and CEOs of start- ups and high growth companies in India and New Zealand. His areas of focus include manufacturing, healthcare, F&B and digital consumer services. Mr. Rajan is also Advisor, India Beachheads, New Zealand Trade & Enterprise and a Stanford SEED Consultant.
Mr. Rajan holds a MIM, Business Administration & Management, Victoria University of Wellington and an MBA. Business & Marketing from Panjab University. He holds a BSc. From Delhi University.
Mr. Mrinal Talukdar is a Seasoned Journalist, Filmmaker, with a passion for the development sector. Spanning a career over three & a half decades, across all platforms of Print, News Agency, Television, and Digital, he has emerged as one of the most trusted face of Assam’s television.
With fourteen books, both in Assamese and English, seven of which are best sellers, Mr. Talukdar is considered one of the most respected writers of Assam. He specializes on the Post-independence Assam and most known for “Mautam” & “Post-Colonial Assam”. Within the development sector, he brings expertise in improving the quality of life for children, and is credited for setting up the first smart village in the North Eastern state of Assam, empowering local communities and bringing access to sanitation, solar and drinking water.
Mr. Talukdar is a regular guest faculty, teaching conflict situation of North East, Mass Communication and Connectivity of ASEAN countries. He holds a post-graduation in Mass Communication through Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and a Bachelors’ Degree from Gauhati University. He is an agriculturalist by passion, with interest in tea and Biofloc fishery, is involved in Organic Community farming.
Mr. Rohinton Babaycon brings over four decades of rich & diversified experience in the plantation sector spanning across Tea, Rubber, Cash crops, Horticulture. As Chief Executive (Tea Division) of Andrew Yule & Co. Ltd. , a Public Sector Undertaking of Govt. of India, under the Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises, Mr. Babaycon played a key role in turning the division out of the out of BIFR and Draft Rehabilitation Scheme.
Mr. Babaycon has deep understanding of implementation of ISO 9001:2015, 14001, 22000 & HACCP related projects & Quality Control, ETP and Rainforest Alliance Compliance, Organic conversion both in Darjeeling and Assam Gardens. With IDH India, Mr Babaycon assisted in developing and scaling ‘Agri Entrepreneurs’ in the Assam Bengal and South India on the Small tea Growers Platform and developing alternate income strategies.
He is possibly one of the first Tea Executives’ from Assam to take a sabbatical to pursue his MBA, which he earned in International Business from Western Sydney University.