Governing Council

Mr. Sudarshan Jain, Chairman

Secretary General, Indian Pharmaceuticals Alliance (IPA)

Sudarshan has a strong passion for healthcare and the education sector. Currently, he is the Secretary-General of the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (www.ipa-india.org), Senior Advisor - Apax Partners and Board member of multiple organizations. He has served in several leadership positions for over 40 years in Healthcare industry (Lupin, Johnson & Johnson, Piramal, Abbott) and was formerly the Managing Director at Abbott Healthcare Solutions.

His current Board engagements include Abbott India, Healthium Limited (Apax portfolio company), Zandu Chemicals Limited,Indian Institute of Health Management Research – Jaipur, Indian Education Society (IES), Advisory Board of Narsee Monjee University, Mumbai (NMIMS). He is the Visiting Faculty at Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad. He has contributed in shaping the healthcare policy and improving access to healthcare in India.

Mr. Goutam Bhattacharya, Chief Executive Officer

Goutam Bhattacharya is the CEO of LSSSDC and a member of its Governing Body. He also serves as Joint Apprenticeship Advisor Life Sciences to the GOI. A pharmaceutical and healthcare professional with over 27+ years of working experience in leading multinational pharmaceutical and medical device companies in India, Goutam has worked in senior leadership positions with companies in India like LG Life Sciences; Boston Scientific & Win-Medicare.

He has acquired deep domain knowledge in Pharmaceuticals, Biologics, Medical Devices, Diagnostics, Vaccines & Agrochemicals sectors and has successfully managed multiple business functions. He has been a core member of management committees in the organizations he has worked with and has been instrumental in setting up long term core strategies; specially emphasizing the development of human capital by skilling and training of team members. He has received multiple trainings and awards including high performance sales and marketing functions in US by Boston Scientific & leadership trainings in LGLS. Passionate about building up and growing new businesses, exploring new domains and making a difference to the society at large, he is extremely keen in collaborating with teams of multiple organizations and ethnicities from across the world.

Mr. Bodh Raj Sikri, Treasurer

President, Pharma Indenting Agents Association (PIAA)

Mr. B.R. Sikri, the Key promoter of ABS Group of companies dealing with APIs/formulation. Group companies have trading, indenting, marketing, import export, manufacturing of formulation and APIs etc. Also add that Mr. Sikri is associated in various positions in almost all the pharma associations such as, IDMA, BDMA, BDDA, PIAA, HDMA, FOPE, Pharmexcil etc. Bulk Drug Manufacturers Association ® Bulk Drug Dealers Association ® Joint Forum of IDMA, FOPE, CIPI FOPE - Federation of Pharma Entrepreneurs (an organization of Tax-Free zones) Himachal Drug Manufacturers Association.

Dr. Shubnum Singh, Secretary

Principal Advisor Health Policy, (CII) Confederation of Indian Industry

An alumni of Lady Hardinge Medical College, Delhi, Dr. Shubnum is a founder member and currently, Director of Max Healthcare Institute Ltd. where she is actively involved in strategizing and developing different verticals of the business. Her special interest in physician behavior has led her to lead for the group a program for setting the governance framework & templates.

She is a lead founder member of the Healthcare Sector Skills Council (HSSC), Chairperson - HSSC Advisory Committee on NOS, Accreditation & Certification and Core Team Member of Healthcare Federation of India (NATHEALTH). She has also served as member of Performance management Team under aegis of Cabinet Secretariat, Govt of India, and is an active member of various committees and forums.

Rishikesh Raval, GB Member

President - Group Human Resources, Zydus Cadila

Rishikesh has been working as an HR professional for the last 30years. Prior to joining Zydus Cadila, he has worked in Cadila Pharmaceuticals, Cyanamid, Pfizer, Glaxo and Sarabhai Group Rishikesh has done his Masters from The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, he also completed Sr. Leadership Program and Executive Education in Human Resources Management from IIM-Bangalore and IIM-Calcutta. Rishikesh has had an incredible impact in the area of human behaviour, organization building and cultural transformation in India with leading MNCs and large Indian Business organizations. For more than two decades, he has immersed himself in the practice of People Processes, Organization Development, and Change Management.

Dr. B. Suresh, GB Member

Pro-Chancellor, JSS Academy

Dr. Suresh is a Pro-Chancellor of the JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research in Mysuru. He was first elected president of the PCI in 2003. He resigned from the post in November, 2021. He was the first academician elected to the post of Council president when he was acting as the president of the Tamil Nadu State Pharmacy Council in 2003. Later, in 2008 and in 2013 he was unanimously elected to the top post. During his 18 years period as PCI president, Dr Suresh brought out many education regulations and modifications that have fundamentally altered the pharmacy education in the country. He is also the Chairman of the Scientific Body of Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission, which is responsible for setting of standards for pharmaceutical substances and formulations.

Dr. Suresh is also the delegate member of the United States Pharmacopeia Convention and also the member of the Council of Convention of the USP. He is also the member of ACPE International Services Commission , USA . He was also the past President of Asian Association of Schools of Pharmacy, Chairman of the Education Section of the Federation of Asian Pharmaceutical Association and the Executive Member of Commonwealth Pharmaceutical Association.

Lakshmi Prasanna Chundu, GB Member

Director – Regulatory affairs, PHARMEXCIL

Lakshmi Prasanna Chundu is the Director of Regulatory affairs at PHARMEXCIL. The Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council of India (PHARMEXCIL) is a council formed under the foreign trade policy to facilitate the exports of pharmaceuticals and allied products by way of assisting the Indian manufacturers in terms of international market exploration. We have approximately 3,700 members dealing with formulations, APIs, biologicals, vaccines, contract research and manufacturing, and analytical services.

Lion Daara B. Patel, GB Member

Secretary-General, Indian Drug Manufacturers Association

Lion Daara B Patel is a Bachelor of Commerce from University of Mumbai and has a Diploma in Materials Management from Indian Institute of Materials Management (IIMM).He has worked with multinational companies as well as large business houses like Hindustan Ciba-Geigy Ltd., Wockhardt Ltd., J.L. Morison (India) Ltd., Jet Airways (India) Ltd. Currently (since 2002) he is the Secretary General of Indian Drug Manufacturers’ Association (IDMA), an apex body of 1000 plus pharmaceutical and bulk drug manufacturers. He is responsible for the smooth functioning of the association as per the constitution and By-Laws. He organizes industry specific seminars, training programs & workshops, makes presentations, efficient handling of pricing related issues, EXIM policy and regulatory & technical affairs, Industry Trade related issues. He also coordinates activities / issues with other Associations like OPPI (Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India), IPA (Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance) etc.

Dr. Montukumar M Patel, GB Member

President, Pharmacy Council of India

President of Gujarat Pharmacy Council Dr. Montukumar Patel has won the election of executive member in pharmacy council of India (PCI). Dr. Montukumar Patel was elected unopposed as executive member. He was also became youngest president of Gujarat State Pharmacy Council few years back. Years later, Gujarati youth got a place in Delhi Pharmacy Council of India. Dr. Montukumar was elected as the youngest executive member in the history of India. With 76 thousand registered pharmacists in Gujarat and 12 lakh pharmacists across India will get benefit from young panel.

Ms Archana Bhaskara, GB Member

Chief Human Resource Officer, DRL

Archana Bhaskar is the Chief Human Resource Officer at Dr. Reddy’s and a member of the Management Council. She is also responsible for Corporate Communications and the Design Studio 5B for Dr Reddy’s. Archana joined Dr. Reddy’s in June 2017 and has over 31 years of people management experience across diverse industries and goegraphies. Prior to joining Dr. Reddy’s, Archana was with Royal Dutch Shell , where she was the head of Human Resources for the Global Commercial businesses. Earlier, she worked with Unilever, in India and then held positions of European and global responsibility. Archana is an alumna of Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University, where she studied Psychology and Mathematics, and then a post graduate from Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore.

Mr R K Agrawal, GB Member

National President, BDMA (Bulk Drugs Manufacturers Association India)

He is currently National President for Bulk Drugs Manufacturers Association India. He is also Director in Jeedimetla Effluent Treatment-first CETP established in the Country. B.Tech Chemical Engineer by qualification & with more than 45years of varied Industrial experience in Chemical and Process Industries& is Managing Director of Bulk Drug Manufacturing Company by name M/s Nakoda Chemicals Limited. Starting his entrepreneurship journey from Jeedimetla industrial estate (Hyderabad) in 1990 in very small way, He has come a long way with US-FDA accreditation to his Company and Exporting Products to almost 60 countries across the globe. His Company M/s Nakoda Chemicals Limited is known Brand leader in its product range.

Mr G S Krishnan, GB Member

President, ABLE (Association of Biotechnology-Led Enterprises)

Experienced thought-leader in the Industrial Bio-tech Segment propagating Sustainable solutions across the SAARC countries with Global market exposure. In-depth knowledge and vast experience in overall Strategy and General Management capabilities in a Multinational environment, with a total tenure spanning 35 years. After a 27year tenure at a Danish Biotech company, Novozymes South Asia Pvt. Ltd, majority of the role as Managing Director and Regional President, is now engaged as Independent Director, Advisor/Consultant, and Leadership Mentor across the Industrial segments.

Looking forward to supporting the Biotech sector at large and the startups in particular to address the future challenges with innovative ideas and envisioning India to become a booming Bio economy and lead the world. Current roles and responsibilities: Director, Stakeholder Relations - Novozymes South Asia Pvt Ltd Bengaluru, Consultant - Clara Foods – San Francisco USA, President - ABLE, (Association of Biotech Led Enterprise) , Member – CII Bioenergy Committee , Member - Vision Group on Biotechnology, Government of Karnataka.

Mr Rajinder Suri, GB Member

CEO, Developing countries vaccine manufacturers network

Rajinder Kumar Suri is CEO of DCVMN. He is responsible for leadership, governance, strategic orientation and operational excellence of DCVMN Secretariat. He is member of several advisory expert groups including COVAX Manufacturing & Supply Chain Task Force Leadership Team, MI4A (Market Information for Access to Vaccines) Advisory Group to WHO on Malaria, Global TB Vaccines R&D Roadmap by EDCTP, National Academy of Medicine’s (NAM) Expert Group on Supply Chain as well as Vaccine R&D to advance Pandemic and Seasonal Flu preparedness and response, Expert Group on Seasonal Influenza Vaccine and Market Design and Demand Intelligence pillar of the Partnerships for African Vaccine Manufacturing (PAVM). To meet un-precedented challenge posed by COVID-19, Rajinder worked shoulder to shoulder with industry associations like IFPMA and BIO along with COVAX partners.

Mr J. Jayaseelan, GB Member

Chairman (Industrial Pharmacy Division), IPA

A serial entrepreneur with 28 years of experience and an inspiration for any budding entrepreneur. Angle investor with extreme success rate. Founder and promoter of following USFDA approved pharmaceutical companies which was sold for 70 million USD : Formulations – Edict Pharmaceuticals (Now known as Par Pharmaceuticals) , CRO – Ethics Biolabs (Now known as Par Biosciences) , API Company (Now known as Par Active).

Currently he is chairman of Industrial Pharmacy Division at IPA (Indian Pharmaceutical Association).

Looking forward to supporting the Biotech sector at large and the startups in particular to address the future challenges with innovative ideas and envisioning India to become a booming Bio economy and lead the world. Current roles and responsibilities: Director, Stakeholder Relations - Novozymes South Asia Pvt Ltd Bengaluru, Consultant - Clara Foods – San Francisco USA, President - ABLE, (Association of Biotech Led Enterprise) , Member – CII Bioenergy Committee , Member - Vision Group on Biotechnology, Government of Karnataka.

Mr Mohit Mathur, GB Member

Vice President (Human Resource and Administration) NSDC and Director NSDC International

He is an accomplished professional who endeavors to offer modest and practical solutions to problems related to Strategy, Business, People, Organization and Ecosystem. With his 25 Years of professional expertise in Indian and Global Corporates, he brings in perspectives from various industries like Consumer Durables, Sales & Distribution , Engineering Goods, EPC and Services. Few of his competencies are strategic, Business, and Operational Excellence Organizational Culture and Values Business Ethics, Compliance and Governance Organization Design and Structures Transformation.

Mr Vinod Kalani, GB Member

Co Chairman – FOPE (Federation of Pharmaceutical Entrepreneuers)

Vinod Kalani, Co Chairman FOPE & Promoter, Cris Pharma India, who represents various industry associations and is a promoter of companies like Cris Pharma India, Oasis Infotech, and Oasis Test House cites the ‘America First’ policy as well the US bypassing WTO agreements as some examples of NBTs. According to him, the definition of quality and implementation of quality parameters keeps changing from time to time, within individual countries, even while varying from country to country. He points out that adapting to these changing regulations slows down the process and adds to the costs as well.