Ms. Ravneet Pawha

Deputy Vice President (Global) and CEO (South Asia) – Deakin University Australia and President, AIBC (Victoria)

(TBC) Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science

Ravneet has over 28 years of experience in the international education, research, training, and upskilling sectors. She set up the Deakin University operation in India in 1994, the first ever international "University Office’ in India of any foreign education provider. She is the Vice President (Global Alliances) and the CEO (South Asia), works on strategic interventions for Deakin University across the globe, and advises the senior executive on innovative models of engagement across education, research, and re-skilling.

Ravneet has been awarded the prestigious Business Leader of the Year at the India-Australia Business and Community Awards 2018 and the Exceptional Woman of Excellence in the Women Economic Forum 2019. She has been awarded various Vice Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence for her outstanding contribution to building economic, social, and human capital. In 2021, Ravneet featured in the top 10 "Women of Indian Origin Making a Difference in Australia". She was awarded the Women Empowerment Entrepreneur Award by Asia One for 2020–21.

Mr. Ashok Mysore

Vice President, Regional Head - Delivery & Operations, Infosys Limited, Australia & New Zealand

Ashok Mysore has over 30 years of industry experience across Telecommunications, Financial Services, Logistics, Energy, Utilities and Services industries.

Ashok joined Infosys in 2004 to lead the Telecommunications business and since has held numerous roles before taking up the Regional COO role in 2014 responsible for Delivery & Operations. Ashok has broad experiences in strategy, sales, general management and consulting across Australia, NZ, US, India and SEA. Ashok sits on multiple advisory boards and is a regular speaker across industry, academia and partner ecosystem.

Ashok completed Executive Leadership Program from Stanford Graduate School of Management, an MBA in Strategy & Leadership from University of Melbourne, and Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science & Engineering.

Advisory, Honours & Awards

• IABCA Business Leader of the Year – 2019
• Adjunct Professor (Honorary) – School of Information Technology, Deakin University
• Member of School of IT Advisory Board, Deakin University
• Member of Industry Advisory Board, IIT Kanpur & La Trobe University Research Academy
• External Advisor to Australia India Institute (AII) – Education Body under University of Melbourne
• Associate Vice Chair – Australia India Business Council (AIBC)
• Co-Chair – Innovation & Science – India Australia Chamber of Commerce (IACC)
• External Advisor & Member of Mental Health Foundation Australia (MHFA) Scientific Advisory Committee

Mr. Suresh Raman

Southern India Chapter Chairperson and Vice President IACC

Suresh Raman is the Vice President and Region Head for Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Chennai. He manages TCS’ largest delivery centre, with over 90,000 associates. His focus areas are to provide right experience for customers and associates leveraging state-of-the-art digital technologies; facilitate talent management; nurture innovation, promoting diversity and associate well-being; provide agile and sustainable infrastructure; cost optimization; besides working closely with stakeholders across Government, Industry Associations and Communities.

An alumnus of Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS) - Pilani, Suresh has over 3 decades of experience in Management Consulting Services and Information Technology Industry.

During this period, he has held diverse leadership roles across Sales, Delivery, Operations and Client relationships across multiple geographies as well as leading key strategic opportunities.

Having earlier spent a decade as a Management Consultant within TCS as well as briefly with PriceWaterhouse, he had played an advisory role to MNCs as well as to Governments

He holds / has held key honorary positions and is an active member in industry bodies:

• Board Member, Vice President (Southern Region) and Member of the Executive Committee of the Indo-Australian Chamber of Commerce
• Chairman of CONNECT (2019 / 2020), a premier ICT event of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), hosted by Government of Tamil Nadu and co-hosted by STPI, Government of India
• President of the Madras Management Association (MMA)
• Member of the Tamil Nadu State Planning Commission Working Group on Industrial Policy.
• Member of the Tamil Nadu State Advisory Council to develop a Federal Fiscal Model.
• CII Special Invitee to the Tamil Nadu State Council & General Committee member of Madras Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MCCI)
• Chair of Chennai Chapter of TATA Network Forum

Dr. Margaret Faux

Chair of IACC’s Governance and Ethics Committee

Dr Margaret Faux is a health system lawyer, senior executive, businesswoman, and academic with deep experience and knowledge of health regulation both in Australia and internationally. She has over four decades of experience in the health sector, having commenced her career with over a decade practising as a registered nurse. Margaret has a PhD on the legal and administrative operation of Australia’s blended public/private health system Medicare and is also the founder and CEO of Synapse Medical, a leading global MedTech company offering digital health financing solutions and consulting.

Margaret has published widely and is a regular contributor to the Australian health reform debate and is considered one of Australia’s leading experts on the operation of the Australian health system. Her research interests are in the areas of health system codes and classifications, regulation, and digital enablement.

Margaret is also passionate about education and technology and drives innovation in her business using disruptive technologies such as by building Australia’s first medical billing app with Australia’s only medical billing rules engine. Synapse’s training academy, the Australian Institute of Medical Administration and Compliance offers short, online courses on everything from cybersecurity through to the difference between generic and branded medications

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.

Mr. Manoj Paul

General Manager - (India & South Asia)

Heat and Control (South Asia) Pvt. Ltd., Chennai

Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical engineering from Mysore University and a Post-Graduate in Foreign Trade from The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi.

In 1987 joined Kudremukh Iron Ore Company (India’s First 100% EOU) Company as a Graduate engineer trainee and worked as a maintenance engineer in the Mines. Later in 1992, moved to the Export department as Deputy Manager and was one of the key members of the team that developed exports to Chinese steel plants.

In the year 2000, moved to GEA Energy Systems in Chennai as Deputy General Manager (Exports) and was instrumental in developing the export market for the Air-cooled heat exchangers.

In 2006 Joined to Heat and Control (South Asia) in Chennai as Country Manager for India and South Asia. From a small organization having about 10 Employees and a turnover of 4 Million AUD in 2006 today Heat and Control has about 450 employees and has a sales turnover of AUD $ 50 Million.

Heat and Control (South Asia) in 2011 acquired M/s Flavorite technologies a leading supplier of Economical Food Processing equipment in India and today Heat and Control is also able to provide solutions for the small and medium size players in the food processing industry looking for economical equipment

Heat and Control invested a sum of Rs. 125 Crores and set up the largest manufacturing facility of Heat and Control worldwide in Mahindra World City, Chennai and today is one of the leading suppliers of Food processing and packaging machinery in India and exports equipment to more than 20 countries worldwide

Currently is a director of Indo- Australian Chamber of Commerce and the 1st Vice chairman of Indo-American Chamber of Commerce, Tamil Nadu Branch.

Mr. T.R. Kesavan

Group President (Corporate Relations and Alliances)

Tractors and Farm Equipment (TAFE), Limited, Chennai

Thekkepat Raman Kesavan – “TR Kesavan” or “K7” as he is better known, is an Engineering and Management professional with 50 years of national and international experience in both functional and management areas. His domain expertise covers agriculture, construction and mining, oil tools and material handling. He actively participates and continues as the governing council member of industrial and government associations.

Speaker and mentor in national and international fora, Kesavan has a track record of 30 years in areas of agriculture productivity and management, government industry interface and public private partnership. He has made several presentations and addressed professional gatherings across the globe. Kesavan is also an external faculty for leading management schools.

Kesavan has worked closely with Clinton Foundation focusing on Africa and works closely with USIBC on the Agri-cooperation policy making. He also held the helm as the President of Indian Tractor and Mechanisation Association (TMA) over an extended period of five years. He was also the Technical Chair of TMA earlier.

Kesavan also had a distinguished academic career winning the Banko Award and Gold medal in his graduate studies in Engineering from the University of Madras and went on to be the first in the university and gold medalist in his management studies at the University of Bombay. He completed the sandwich course of University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Kesavan likes to spend his spare time mentoring students. He is additionally a prolific speaker and teacher in management and marketing and lectures at leading academic and training institutions. A master of Reiki healing, he also dabbles in spirituality, painting, writing and carpentry and is an avid reader. Happily married, the Kesavans have two grown up sons settled in Melbourne Australia.

I have been a complete outdoor person, playing various sports, representing my school and college. The only difference now is, the interest lies in watching against actually playing them.

• Director of TAFE Motors & Tractors Limited, TAFE Access Limited, TAFE Reach Limited and the Group President (Corporate Relations & Alliances) - TAFE Limited, the world’s third largest tractor manufacturer and India’s largest exporter of tractors, with a large portfolio of agricultural products and equipment consisting of MF, IMT, TAFE and Eicher brand of tractors, agricultural implements & equipment, and engines in both Indian and Overseas markets. He represents TAFE in various domestic and overseas industry bodies and government committees.
• Member of the B20 India Task Force on Inclusive GVCs for Resilient Global Trade and Investment.
• Chairman, Expert Committee on Agriculture, West Bengal
• Chairman, Vision Group on Agriculture, Department of Industries & Commerce, Karnataka
• Governing Council Member of the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)
• President of Madras Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI)
• Chairman of National committee on Agriculture, FICCI
• Co-Chairman of Africa Regional Council, FICCI
• Executive Council Member and Co Chairman of 'F&B and Agribusiness' Leadership Forum, Indo-Australian Chamber of Commerce
• Convener – Special initiatives under Food, Agriculture and Retail committee, USIBC

Pawan Parikh

Chief Executive Officer of Safeway Concessions

Mr. Pawan Parikh, has 30+ years of rich international experience across infrastructure, energy, metals & minerals sectors. Mr. Parikh joined Safeway Concessions (platform floated by Macquarie (MAIF 2) for the nine (9) toll roads under TOT-1 bundle) as the CEO since May 2022.

Prior to joining Safeway, he was working with eminent organizations like Shapoorji Pallonji & Co. Pvt Ltd and Siemens Ltd and heading their EPC and Energy Power Transmission businesses respectively.

At Shapoorji Pallonji, where he worked for almost 9 years, he was credited for growing the business internationally and substantially improving business performance

Prior to Shapoorji Pallonji, he worked with Siemens for more than 21 years and was last heading their Energy Power Transmission Division for South Asia with 5 manufacturing units and more than 120 EPC construction sites. He was instrumental in bringing to India various advanced technologies in the space of Power Transmission leading to multi-fold growth in the field of Gas Insulated Substations (GIS), High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Systems, Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS) and Ultra High Voltage (UHV) systems.

In his illustrious career and under his able leadership, the organizations won several awards like “Safety and Continuous Improvement” from Guinea Alumina Corporation & Fluor, “Rashid” award from Emirates Global Aluminium for Best Contractor in the area of safety and many more prestigious awards.

Dr.N. Manoharan

Director – Projects of Hindustan Group of Institutions and Director – International Affairs of Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, Chennai.

Dr.N. Manoharan, presently serving as Director – Projects of Hindustan Group of Institutions and Director – International Affairs of Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, Chennai has served as Vice Chancellor of Sathyabama University, Chennai and Pro Vice Chancellor of AMET University, Chennai. He is Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering with over 37 years of Teaching, Research and Administrative experience in Engineering College / University level. He has specialized in the area of Internal Combustion Engines, Thermography, Radiography, Materials, Micro Electronics and Nano Technology.

He has filed and published Twenty-Nine Patents with ONE Patent granted in different areas of Engineering and Technology. He has published Three Hundred and Ninety-Five Technical papers in different National / International Journals / Conferences of various areas of research. He has organized several Conferences, Seminars, Workshops, Symposia, Short-term and Long-term courses. He is a life Member / member of TWENTY-ONE Professional Societies.

He has served in various higher positions in different Organizations including Vice-Chancellor, Pro Vice Chancellor, Director, Dean, Principal and Professor. He has been nominated by the various GOVERNMENT OF INDIA Apex bodies to serve in the following on various capacity.

• MEMBER OF DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (DST) - NRDMS COMMITTEE to formulate guidelines for the conduct of Remote Sensing & GIS courses in Indian Institutes.
• MEMBER OF THE UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMISSION (UGC) EXPERT COMMITTEE to assess the physical and academic infrastructure of Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU), Anantapur – December 2009.
• MEMBER OF SELECTION COMMITTEE OF BHAVINI (Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Ltd.,) Govt. of India, Kalpakkam for various Scientist and Executive posts.
• CONVENOR OF ANNA UNIVERSITY EXPERT COMMITTEE to assess the physical and academic infrastructure of Several Engineering Colleges in Tamil Nadu.
• BOARD MEMBER OF BOARD OF APPRENTICESHIP AND TRAINING, Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India.
• PRESENTLY SERVING AS NATIONAL ASSESSMENT AND ACCREDITATION COUNCIL (NAAC) PEER TEAM CHAIRMAN to offer Grading and to assess the physical and academic infrastructure of Several Universities and Engineering Colleges in India.
• PRESENTLY SERVING AS NATIONAL CO COORDINATOR for the DST – ICPS Networking Research Project on Digital Poompuhar.

He has served as Executive Council Member of Indian Society for Technical Education (ISTE) for four years and Chairman of Tamil Nadu & Pondy section of ISTE for two years. He has worked around 47 sponsored projects and organized to receive 55 sponsored projects from various Government of India funding agencies. He has guided more than 200 Under Graduate projects, 100 Post Graduate projects, produced 12 Ph.D scholars in different areas of research.

He has also served as Editor-in-Chief of Four National and Four International Journals. He was the Secretary for seven years for the conduct of Common Entrance Test to admit students in B.E/B.Tech/B.Arch/MBA/MCA in the private professional colleges in Tamil Nadu.

He has received Best Teacher award in the year 1992, Bharath Jyothi award in the year 2002, Appreciation award from ISTE in the year 2002 and IAAP-PPA Best Educationalist award from Pondicherry Psychology Association.

Recently he has organized and worked in the following Three Mega Government of India funded Research Projects.

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) Sponsored Respond Research Project titled “Satellite based study of Shoreline response to the coastal structure along chennai – Krishnapatnam Coast”to carryout advance Research in satellite Applications for the duration 2019 – 2022, Principal Investigators – Dr.N.Manoharan, Co – Investigator – Dr.P.N.Sridhar, Budget of the Project: Rs.28.42 Lakhs.

Ministry of Rural Development sponsored Sagarmala DDU – GKY Project on Skill Development Programme for the duration 2019 – 2022. Principal Investigator and CEO – Dr.N.Manoharan, Budget of the Project: Rs.8.14 Crore.

Department of Science and Technology (DST) – ICPS Division sponsored Research Project titled “ Underwater Structural Data Acquisition: A case Study on Poompuhar Heritage Underwater Site” under Networking of Projects for the duration of 2019 – 2022. Principal Investigators – Dr.N.Manoharan, Co – Investigator – Prof.G.Kannan, Budget of the Project: Rs.75.90 Lakhs.

Mr. Rufus Pinto

Country Head, ANZ India

Rufus is an experienced financial services executive having worked across a few geographies. In his current role as Country Head, ANZ India, Rufus is responsible for driving the business by catering to customers’ banking requirements through its strong crossborder connectivity.

Rufus has had the opportunity of working in Mumbai, India; Melbourne, Australia; Kiribati; Vanuatu, Laos and Manila, Philippines within Asia.

His experience includes working at the Private bank in Melbourne; however, Rufus spent majority of his career in Australia working in the Institutional and International banking fields having been a Director for the Consumer & Services sector where he started his career at ANZ. Prior to that, Rufus has worked with Westpac Banking Corporation and National Australia Bank and at both places was primarily responsible for driving relationships in the sectors of Natural Resources; Manufacturing; Multinationals; Diversified Industries including airlines and Financial Institutions & Funds thus deriving a broad expertise in various sectors within Australia and internationally.

Rufus has also been involved in supporting economic growth in the countries he has worked in through various initiatives. He was the President of the Australian Chamber of Commerce in Laos and also a Board Director of Austcham ASEAN.

Rufus considers his interest academic having completed Bachelors of Commerce; MBA; a post graduate Certificate in Applied Finance and currently in his last leg of finishing his CPA. He is married to an ex-banker Natasha Pinto and has an 10-year old son, Ronan Pinto.