Paul.E.Prakash

An engineer from M.I.T , is currently Technology Leader – Packaging Development & machinery at Pidilite Industries Ltd.

Prior to his current stint with Pidilite, he has been heading packaging development at Dabur India Ltd, Reliance Retail and Marico.

He has been personally responsible for some unique developments for certain FMCG packaging both in rigid as well as flexible formats.

He has a total work experience of 39 years of which 33years has been directly connected with packaging development in various capacities for industries as varied as Lube oil, Retail, FMCG & Adhesives. This wide experience has given him a good insight into many aspects of packaging.

DR. ASHOK KUMAR
Vice Chairman | Greenscape Eco Management Pvt. Ltd

Dr. Kumar is a qualified Chartered Accountant and Company Secretary. He has a vast experience of 40 years in the field of Finance and Corporate Affairs and is currently widely known for his contribution to the emerging e-Waste industry in India. He has worked with various multi-national companies and large scale listed companies and has been instrumental in executing large turn key projects with technical collaboration from Japan, UK and Germany. He is associated with waste management companies and advising on various issues including finance, corporate and corporate governance etc.

Dr. Kumar is Ph.D in Finance. He is currently involved in “Circular Revolution” with one of India's biggest E-waste and Plastic Recycler -“Greenscape Eco Management".

He works closely with government agencies and various stakeholders of e-Waste industry in India and has been an active contributor in several awareness events of electronics recycling and secondary raw material extraction including European Union Conference on Electronic waste in 2018. He is a firm believer that circular economy is the only path for a sustainable future. Currently he is a member of Committee for Circular Economy on Electronic waste, constituted by Niti Aayog, New Delhi.

Dr. Ashok Kumar is a Chairman of E-waste Committee, constituted by Material Recycling Association of India (MRAI). MRAI is the Apex National Association representing interests of India’s Recycling Industry. MRAI is the voice of Indian Recycling Industry firmly associated with the most regional trade associations having a collective strength of more than 20,000 Micro and MSME members.

Dr Kumar says ' While linear approach works towards reaching the end , circularity works towards creating from the end to begin a new cycle, just like life in nature'

Miklesh Goel
Co-Founder & Director | Nirmal Vasundhara Pvt Ltd

Mr Miklesh Goel is the Co-Founder and Director of Nirmal Vasundhara Private Limited company, engaged in the business of Waste Management and EPR Compliance services. He is a passionate person having vast expertise in Management and Marketing sector. His experience, analytical skills and deep understanding about the subject helps to demystify the Plastic Waste Management Rules. His passion and experience have helped Nirmal Vasundhara to develop a roadmap for faster connection and quality-based work commitment. He is a strong believer in preserving nature which enables him to put his trust and efforts to support the mission of Nirmal Vasundhara. He strongly believes that plastic should be handled responsibly for a better tomorrow.

Nirmal Vasundhara Private Limited is a waste management company that provides PWM Registration and 100% EPR Compliance under the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 and successive amendments thereof. Under the directorship and leadership of Mr. Miklesh Goel, Nirmal Vasundhara has successfully secured tie-ups and collaboration with various Urban Local Bodies, Recyclers, Rag Pickers and other Stakeholders. Nirmal Vasundhara provides consultancy to PIBOs and Recyclers for Registration, Action Plan Submission and Annual Return Filing in accordance with the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016

Dr. Praveen Aggarwal

CEO | Action Alliance for Recycling Beverage Cartons (AARC)

Dr Praveen Aggarwal (CEO, AARC) has an experience of over 34 years in managing overall businesses, Corporate & Public Affairs, Corporate Social Responsibility in leading MNCs and Indian Companies and Foundations across India and Southwest Asia. He is a PhD Holder in Management (CSR) with extensive research on Drivers of CSR in Corporates and Perception of CSR by Management.

He has worked in leadership positions in several organizations including Swades Foundation, Coca- Cola India and South- West Asia, Jain Satellite Television, MGF Group and has successfully conceptualized and implemented strategic roadmap for driving CSR and corporate affairs for sustainable businesses besides managing P&L.

Between 2002- early 2012, Praveen led CSR/ Sustainability and Corporate Affairs for Coca- Cola India and Southwest Asia with increasing responsibilities.

From June 2012 till May 2016, he led Swades Foundation as its Head & COO and transformed Swades into one of the largest and most upcoming NGO, creating a unique model of Rural Development covering over 2100 villages through a team of over 350 full-time professionals.

Praveen has been part of various prestigious forums and committees such as CII, FICCI and AMCHAM during his entire tenure.

Currently, Praveen is serving on the Advisory Boards of NGOs- VSO India, READ India, FUEL and FORCE. In past assisted FUEL and FORCE as their Advisory Board Member. His community development experience spans the entire gamut of sustainability practices including farm, non-farm as well as off-farm sectors besides all facets of water management including water for agriculture

Mr. Tusar Ranjan Pattnaik

CORPORATE HEAD – EHS & SUSTAINBILITY | DABUR INDIA LIMITED (INDIA & SAARC COUNTRIES)

A dynamic personality with vibrant, enthusiastic nature and inspiring industrial background. A NEBOSH certified professional with versatile background of B. tech in Electrical Engineering, Post diploma in Industrial safety by state council. An IIT Kharagpur food safety and MBA in Human Resource professional. He holds Lead Auditor certifications for OHSAS-18001, ISO-14001, and ISO- 45001.

Mr. Tusar Pattnaik is a well-known personality in the field of EHS, Sustainability & Plastic waste management, with a proud experience of more than 22 years in driving EHS initiatives with India’s various prestigious organisations such as Indian Acrylics, ISGEC, Hindustan Coco Cola, Nestle India, Punj Lloyd ltd, Bhartia Electric limited & Dabur India Limited. Currently Mr. Tusar is working as a Corporate Head of EHS & Sustainability in Dabur India Limited (India & SAARC Countries).

He has achieved millstones in field of EPR implementation, Environment management, Sustainability, Safety management, Legal compliance like CGWA, PCB related matter, Handling of Green field projects, planning, designing, and implementing comprehensive EHS management system and make organisations proud to achieve business objectives inline to EHS management systems. Mr. Tusar is actively involved in various CSR activities like PET recycling, imparting training on Road safety & Home safety at CDC centre to village youth & women. Tusar has participated in several webinars and conferences in order to share his expertise with others.

At present he is a founding member of WeCare Society and PET Packaging Association & AARC also. He is also serving as a corporate member of the FICCI and the CII as well & Environment committee member of CII. Mr. Tusar Pattnaik had worked exceptionally well to drive Plastic waste management at Dabur India Limited and & got the success to become the First plastic neutral FMCG company in Feb 2022 & continue the momentum year by year.

Mr. Tusar Pattnaik has been honoured with many top level award in field of Health, Safety, Environment & Sustainability from many prestigious organisations like ROSPA, CII, APEX India, FAME, Business world, MSME global conference Policy times, Grow care and similar. Also In Sept 2021, 2022 Mr. Tusar has received CEO Excellence Award, the most prestigious award of Dabur India Limited.

Nicolas Menet

Plastic Recycling Business Development Manager

AXENS

Nicolas Menet holds an engineering degree from Ecole Des Mines de Nantes in France. He is also a functional safety certified engineer and also holds lean & six sigma qualifications.

Nicolas has 20 years’ experience in the energy sector and has always, over the years , focused in performance improvement of assets through innovative processing technologies and digital solutions..

Nicolas Menet has been in charge of promotion of consulting services, connected services and digital applications at Axens working closely with companies in the energy sectors in their transformation journey, ensuring, through Axens technologies, the highest level of performance with a reduced environmental footprint.

Axens has recently launched two plastics chemical recycling technologies in order to gain activity/presence in the anticipated circular economy and Nicolas is acting as the business development manager for those technologies.

Chakravarthi AVPS
Global Ambassador
World Packaging Organisation

A die hard lover and an evangelist of packaging, recognised as most influential leader in the segment,

Mr. Chakravarthi AVPS is Global Ambassador of World Packaging Organisation and a member on its executive board.

With a strong penchant and deep knowledge in Pharmaceutical Packaging, he is also board (COA) member for Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council, Government of India.

He is CEO and Managing director of Ecobliss India an internationally renowned company for its packaging innovations. Chakravarthi is also one of the longest serving board members of Indian Institute of Packaging and was chairman for its prestigious golden jubilee committee.

Winner of various National, International awards that include Ameristars and Worldstars, he is now acting as Jury for various international competitions and award programmes. Delivered keynote addresses, chaired and mentored various conclaves and programmes in packaging, food & pharma landscapes in more than 25 countries. Chakravarthi is fond of connecting dots across the globe, spreading awareness and he sincerely believes ‘Packaging matters!’ for the world.

Awards & accolades :

• *UBM recognition award for contribution to Indian Pharma industry.
• *PHARMEXCIL Honour & recognition
• *Padma Mohana award for Industry leaders.
• *Packaging Leadership Award from World Quality Congress
• *TV 5 business leaders finalist.
• *Chief jury/ jury for various National & International awards.
• *Mentor for CPhI Innopack Pharma Worldwide
• *Chairperson for PPL, an Indian Express initiative of pharma packaging & labelling

Rahul V Podaar
Managing Director
The Shakti Plastic Industries

Mr Rahul Podaar Managing Director driven to manage costs and establish strategic mutually beneficial partnerships and relationships with users vendors and service providers. Adept at creating strategic alliances with organization leaders to effectively align with and support key business initiatives. Excel at building and retaining high-performance teams by hiring developing and motivating skilled professionals.

Some of his significant credentials

• Member at NITI Aayog
• Vice President for Plastic Recycling at MSMECCII
• Committee Member at Indian Plastics Institute (IPI)
• Committee Member at The All India Plastics Manufacturers Association (AIPMA)
• Member at Organisation Of Plastics Processors Of India (OPPI)
• Member at The Plastics Export Promotion Council (Plexconcil)
• Member FPITA

Vishnu Vardhaan
CEO
Infinite Cercle Inc. (CercleX)

Vishnu Vardhaan is the CEO of Infinite Cercle Inc. www.cerclex.com based out of India and USA.

He leads tech-based waste transformation efforts of unique waste streams for the world's leading companies.

Some of his claims to fame include creating an entire stationery range with shredded currency notes for the RBI, India's first Plantable newspaper with New Indian Express (using paper and textile wastes), and recycled t-shirts from ocean-bound PET bottles, amongst others.

Saurabh Shah
Managing Director
Landbell GFS India

Saurabh has master’s in electrical engineering and MBA in Marketing from University of California, Irvine. He has worked in various Engineering and Marketing capacities for national and international organizations in India and the USA.

He headed the Solid Waste Management business at Excel Industries Limited Mumbai where he was responsible for business development and overall management. He played a key role in launching the brand MobiTrash for waste management in India. He has actively participated and led industry associations to interface with the government.

Landbell GFS provides EPR and waste management advisory services to brands and governments in India.

Nerida Kelton
Vice President Sustainability & Save Food
World Packaging Organisation (WPO)

Nerida has worked in the Packaging industry for close to 25 years and holds the Vice President Sustainability & Save Food role at the World Packaging Organisation. She is also the Executive Director position at the Australian Institute of Packaging which is the peak professional body for packaging training & education in Australasia.

Nerida is passionate about educating the industry on the important role that packaging plays in minimising Food Waste and how designing Save Food Packaging can make a difference. She is also one of the creators of the annual Xmas Foodbank hamper program which is designed to help those who are vulnerable and in need. The volunteer program has packed over 14,0000 hampers to the value of over $1 Million AUD over the last 11 years. She , is the lead for the Save Food Packaging Consortium project within the Fight Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre and was the packaging representative on DAWE’s National Food Waste Strategy Steering Committee.

Nerida is also committed to helping educate and train packaging professionals in the importance of sustainable and circular packaging design and recognising best practice in this area. She is also the WPO lead for the Global Packaging Design for Recycling Guide which is currently being translated in multiple languages across the globe. The second stage of the global project is the development of a large series of country waste stream mapping guides which are in progress. This project sits under Nerida’s portfolio and is achieving great outcomes for the WPO members across the world.

Mr. Paras
Director-Marketing
GEM

Mr. Paras is Director-Marketing, GEM. He spearheads the marketing and sales for plastic business of GEM
He has ~ 20 yrs. of exp. across FMCG and waste management sectors.

Rajesh Kumar Gera
Packaging & Recycling Consultant
Chairman Program Committee-IPI

Mr. Rajesh Kumar Gera is a B. Tech in Plastics Tech ('85 Batch) with Distinction from HBTU Kanpur. He did B.Sc. in PCM from Agra College, Agra ('82). He has rich experience of 37 years plus in Plastic raw materials, Processing, Business Development, Recycling & Sustainability. He has worked on NPD, EDP, ISO & Training. He is a ‘Master Trainer & Lead Assessor’, Chairman of Program Committee of prestigious Indian Plastics Institute (IPI), a national-level body focusing on Training and Development of Plastic Professionals in India and select neighboring countries.

He first joined in 'Product Development and Technical Services' (PDTS) Dept. as a 'Technical services Engineer' in Hindustan Polymers Vizag in ‘85, where he worked on 'Troubleshooting, New grades Development and Market Promotion’ of PS and EPS resins. He was responsible for successful launch of their EPS in India, establishing PS/EPS Grades in FMCG and other end-uses.

He then joined CEAT- Glass Fibre Division) making Glass Fibres for FRP). He was responsible for starting the Business Development Department Dept. & worked there for close to 8 years. Some of his key development/promotion projects included “FRP Underground Petroleum Storage Tanks” developed for the first time in India & First ever National Conferences on ‘Pultrusion, FRP Underground Tanks, Glass Fibre Tissue Waterproofing’. Developed & Promoted FRP Products in Indian Railways and SRTU’s & established ‘FRP Products’ in Govt. CPWD Projects among others.

He then joined Technical Services Department in RIL-PET Divn. in Dec '97. He has worked in the 'Marketing, Business Development and Promotion, Product Development, Market Promotion, Recycling & Sustainability' Depts. He had been responsible for development and promotion of PET markets for different end-uses esp. Edible Oil, Pharma, Liquor and Dairy sectors in India. He had been actively involved in organizing national and international conferences focused on PET and has been a key speaker in many seminars globally focused on 'PET, MB's and Recycling'. He is in fact one of the most networked persons in the plastic Industry, both in India and globally.

He superannuated as AVP-Business Development from Reliance in ’20 after 2 decades plus of association. He is currently working as a 'Packaging and Recycling Consultant' based in Mumbai. His core areas remain ‘Business Development, Technical Services, New Applications Development, EPR, PWM, Recycling & Sustainability’ & working with few majors in the industry in these ecosystems. He can be reached on rajeshkgera@gmail.com & +919967033107 (M).

Shekar Prabhakar
Co-Founder & CEO
Hasiru Dala Innovations Pvt. Ltd.

In Nov 2015, as a for-purpose company that is focused on creating better livelihood and entrepreneurship opportunities for waste pickers and informal waste workers through inclusive businesses that enable the circular economy, mitigates climate change and helps them adapt with resilience. He has over 22 years corporate experience in sales & marketing in the IT industry in India, UK and US and as a Professor of Marketing for 10 years. He is a graduate of IIT Madras and IIM Calcutta. He lives in Bangalore with his wife Nalini who runs the not-for-profit Hasiru Dala. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/shekarprabhakar/)