Mr. Abhishek Poddar

Western India Chapter Chairperson and Vice President IACC

Abhishek is India Country Head, Macquarie Group and Managing Director at Macquarie Asset Management (MAM), based in Mumbai. In this role, Abhishek is responsible for sourcing of investment, executing transactions, asset management and external stakeholder relationship management across renewables, energy transition, infrastructure, and private equity funds.

Abhishek joined Macquarie in 2018 and has been leading the asset management and exit initiatives across various MAM funds invested in India. He has also been driving new investment opportunity in the Energy Transition domain across India and Southeast Asia.

Prior to joining Macquarie, Abhishek spent more than 18 years in management consulting industry in India and Asia-Pacific region, wherein he advised large companies on a range of topics across corporate strategy, value maximisation, digital transformation and organisation set up. In his last role as a Senior Partner at A.T. Kearney, he led the Energy and Process industry practice for the firm in India.

Abhishek has authored several articles and publications and is a frequent speaker at various industry forums and conferences. He has been closely involved with various economic and industry policy matters as Chairman of India Australia Chamber of Commerce (Western Chapter) and a member of the CII National Committee on Power, Renewables and Infrastructure.

Abhishek has a Master of Business Administration from IIM, Ahmedabad, and has studied B.Sc. (Hons) in Mathematics from St. Stephen’s College, New Delhi.

Mr. Ravin Ajit Mirchandani

Chairman

Ador Powertron Limited, Pune

Ravin Mirchandani is a traveller, both professional and spiritual. He has spent his life on the road in many continents and his passions have ended up him being about the road as well,- sustainable carbon-free mobility & road safety.

Ravin believes he is fortunate that his job provides him the opportunity to work on both of his passions through a focus on lithium & hydrogen mobility for vehicles and technology to change and influence driver behaviour on roads. Ravin has been a jury member since 2018 for the CHARGE ENERGY awards held in Iceland each year which are focused on identifying the best legacy & emerging brands in the energy, clean energy and e-mobility space globally.

Ravin also has a private pilot’s license and believes that if one works in sectors that fire your passion, eventually one is bound to find the success that we all aspire towards.

Ms. Malini Dutt

Director – Trade & Investment

New South Wales Government, Mumbai

Malini Dutt has been active for close to two decades in international business, a major part of which has involved the India-Australia corridor. Malini keenly anticipates developing new opportunities arising from the Australia-India Economic Cooperation & Trade Agreement, helping Australian and Indian companies to open new markets.

Malini has previously represented the Australian Federal Government in roles with the Australian Consulate General and Austrade. She was also the first female International representative of one of the world's leading seaports, the Belgian Port of Antwerp.

Malini holds an MBA degree in Marketing and a Masters in International Business from the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade.

Mr. Sandeep Bhatia

Managing Director, Head of Equity, India

Macquarie Capital Securities (India) Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai

Sandeep joined Macquarie as Head of Equities, India in October 2015. Sandeep brings with him three decades of experience in Indian equity markets. In Macquarie, Sandeep’s focus has been to build the domestic equity business across foreign and domestic clients. Macquarie has focused on growing the domestic pool of commissions in its equity business as domestic savings get funnelled into the Indian equity markets. Macquarie has focused on deepening its corporate relationships and increasing client engagement in energy, telecom and banking sectors.

Sandeep was previously the Head of Sales for Kotak Institutional Equities. Before Kotak, Sandeep was at UBS for 12 years where his roles included Managing Director and Head of Research and Head of India Equities. He has an MBA from Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore and is a gold medallist in Indian Economics from the Institute. Sandeep is a CFA Charter holder and Cost Accountant and in his spare time is an amateur photographer and tech buff as well

Mr. Rohit Manchanda

Individual Member, IACC

An accidental entrepreneur, Rohit is currently assisting his family in rebuilding a business.

Rohit has worked both in Government and the private sector over the last twenty eight years. Prior to his current role, Rohit was the Trade & Investment Commissioner for India, for the New South Wales Government. He established the Indian operations in 2009 and was responsible for attracting foreign direct investment, trade and other business and directing promotional activities for New South Wales (NSW).

In his earlier roles, Rohit was the Chief Representative in India for the Mayor of London’s Office and the London Development Agency (LDA).

Rohit worked for the Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) in Mumbai from 2002-2007 and was awarded the ‘Global Austrader Award’ in 2006.

After starting his career in marketing roles with Jindal South West (JSW), a leading Indian steel company, Rohit joined Expopoint Software, specialising in software and direct marketing activities for business events. Rohit established the Singapore office of Expopoint, leading the South-East Asian operations of the company through markets in India, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore. He holds a Masters of Business Administration in Marketing.

Mr. Nishant Patel

Member, Australian Alumni Association

A Trendsetter by nature, Nishant prefers to blaze on untrodden paths and go after challenging business ideas that demand creativity, innovation, strategic thinking, and sharp business acumen. A serial entrepreneur and sixth generation businessman with 15+ years of experience in Business & Entrepreneurship, Nishant is a powerhouse of ideas with a knack to envisage the market & consumer trends and customer’s pulse, Nishant has founded and managed multiple businesses and award-winning social initiatives. He is recognized as ‘The 40 Under 40 Indian Achievers 2020’ as an Entrepreneur in FMCG, Travel & Software solutions.

Mr. Abhishek Poddar

Managing Director

Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets