Dr. Swati Piramal | Chairperson
Dr. Swati Piramal is Vice Chairperson, Piramal Group, a global business conglomerate with diverse interests in Pharma, Financial Services, Healthcare Information Management, Real Estate and Glass Packaging. She is amongst India’s leading scientists and industrialists whose contributions in innovations, new medicines and public health services have touched many lives.
Over the last 3 decades, Dr. Piramal’s work has been focused on the prevention of chronic diseases that include diabetes, arthritis and heart ailments. Having led a team of scientists, Dr. Piramal has significantly contributed in the field of discovery research. Under her leadership, Piramal Group has been granted over 200 patents in medicine and a library of microbacteria, plants and fungi with over 50,000 specimens was formed. Later, the library was donated to the National Institute of Science.
Dr. Piramal is deeply involved in creating innovative solutions and establishing avenues that promote primary healthcare in rural India through Health Management and Research Institute (HMRI) – a mobile health service, women empowerment projects and enabling transformation of India’s education system across public schools to unlock the potential of the young leaders of tomorrow through the Piramal Gandhi Fellowship Programme.
Dr. Piramal founded the Gopikrishna Piramal Memorial Hospital in Mumbai and was instrumental in launching several pan-India public health campaigns against chronic diseases, osteoporosis, malaria, tuberculosis, epilepsy and polio. The hospital’s first-of-its-kind Sports-medicine Centre was dedicated to the treatment of arthritis in disabled children and the elderly, as well as sports injuries. She started Ostop India, a prevention of Osteoporosis Programme, and a Field Detection Centre for the detection of diabetes & epilepsy. Dr. Piramal has also authored a book on nutrition for patients with kidney disease.
Through various capacities, Dr. Piramal has championed the cause of women leadership. She has served as the First Woman President of India’s Apex Chamber of Commerce (ASSOCHAM), in 90 years. Her strong influence in important public policies and governance related to healthcare, is widely recognized and has led to major policy changes that have helped reduce the burden of disease. Additionally, Dr. Piramal has served on the Scientific Advisory Council and the Council of Trade of the Prime Minister of India.
Dr. Piramal is the Dean’s Advisor to Harvard Business School and Public Health. She serves on the Boards of several healthcare, financial services, manufacturing and service companies as well as on the Boards of Indian and International Academic Institutions such as IIT Bombay, Harvard School of Public Health and the Harvard Business School. In May 2012, Dr. Swati Piramal was elected as a Member of the Harvard Board of Overseers and served on the Board until 2018. Additionally, she was the Commencement Speaker at the Harvard School of Public Health in 1992.
She has been conferred with several national and international recognitions including: Business Leader of the Year Award – Hello Hall of Fame Awards (2019); First Ladies Awards presented by the President of India (2018); Woman of the Year Award for outstanding contributions to society in the Medical field – IMC Ladies’ Wing (2016); LinkedIn Power Profile 2015 list for most viewed CEOs on LinkedIn, India (2015); Kelvinator Stree Shakti Women Achievers Award – Colors (2014); Padma Shri, 4th Highest Civilian Honour, presented by the President of India (2012); Alumni Awards of Merit, the Highest Award bestowed upon a Harvard Alumni – Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (2012); Lotus Award for Leadership and Philanthropy in New York – Children’s Hope India (2012); Inducted into the Hall of Fame of Most Powerful Women in Business – Fortune India (2012); Awarded by Hon. President of India for contributions to better Corporate Governance (2011); Global Empowerment Award – UK by Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Kent (2011); Nominated 8 times in succession as one of the 25 Most Powerful Women in India – Business Today (2011-2003); Distinguished Industrialist Award for outstanding contributions to the Pharmaceutical Industry – Vellore Institute of Technology (2010); Distinguished Scientist Oration (2008); Rajiv Gandhi Award for Outstanding Woman Achiever – Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (2007); Awarded by Prime Minister of India for contributions in the field of Science and Technology (2006); ‘Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Merite’ (Knight of the Order of Merit) one of France’s Highest Honours for Medicine and Trade (2006); Chemtech Pharma Award – Biotech Industries (2006); Lucknow National Leadership Award – Lakshmipat Singhania-IIM, Lucknow (2006); Management Women Achiever of the Year Award – Bombay Management Association (2005-2004)
Dr. Swati Piramal holds a Master’s Degree in Public Health from the Harvard School of Public Health and a Medical Degree (M.B.B.S) from Mumbai University.
Mr. Adil Zainulbhai | Member
Mr. Zainulbhai has advised various government agencies on achieving GDP growth targets and improving rural GDP growth. He is on the India Advisory Council of American India Foundation, a board member of Saifee Hospital, and on the Advisory Board of IIT, Bombay.
Mr. Paresh Parasnis | Member
Mr. Paresh S. Parasnis is the Head of Piramal Foundation, one of India’s leading foundations committed to addressing social issues through high impact solutions, thought leadership and partnerships. At Piramal Foundation, Paresh is responsible for the Piramal Group’s CSR activities implemented through its initiatives including Piramal Swasthya, Piramal Foundation for Education Leadership and Piramal Sarvajal.
Paresh joined Piramal Foundation in August 2012. He is also active on the board of trustees of Shoshit Seva Sangh (providing education to under privileged children in Bihar) and Collective Good Foundation (aiming to bring various stakeholders of social sector on one platform and contribute to the overall development of the social sector).
Prior to joining the Foundation, he served as Executive Director & COO with HDFC Standard Life Insurance Limited. During his tenure with HDFC Standard Life (2000-2012) he was a Member of various Board Committees and Chair / Member of Management Committees. He worked in various capacities with HDFC Limited (1984-2000) & with Hindustan Lever Limited for two years (1982-84). He has also been a consultant to the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.
He has rich experience of over 30 years with major strengths in strategy, project management, time bound execution and building robust & customer friendly servicing models. Paresh is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.
Mr. Jalaj Dani | Member
He spent over 2 decades in various capacities with the Company. Asian Paints is Asia’s third largest paint company and amongst the top ten paint manufacturers in the world with manufacturing presence in 19 countries and servicing customers in more than 65 countries. Jalaj, till recently, was responsible for the Supply Chain and Chemicals business of the Company. He also spearheaded the Human Resources, Corporate Quality and Safety Functions at the group level.
Jalaj is Chairman of the Society and Board of Governors for Indian Institute of Management (Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu). He is also a Board member of National Skill Development Agency (NSDA) and part of the Pradhan Mantri Kaushalya Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) Steering Committee, both of which functions under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship of India. He serves as Independent Director on Board of Havells India.
Jalaj has been the chair of the Paints and Coatings Sector Skill Council (PCSC) from its inception in 2015 till September 2017. He was the President of The Indian Paint Association (IPA) for 2015-17. Jalaj is actively involved in Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Young President’s Organisation (YPO), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry(FICCI) and other Business Councils in various capacities. He also serves on Next Generation of Leaders Board (NGLB) in Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad. Jalaj was identified as ‘Stars 2000’ – Potential Leaders in the New Millennium by ‘Business India’ Magazine way back in 1998.
Over the last 8 years, Jalaj has devoted a lot of his time in philanthropic activities which he believes is crucial for shaping the society. He personally overseas initiatives in education (touching lives of more than 10,000 students in rural Gujarat), infant and women health (working with more than 800 health workers in two districts of Gujarat) and skilling sports professionals (Physical Education Teachers to high performance coaching and support services). He is a Trustee of Tribhuvandas Foundation, which was set up by Tribhuvandas Kishibhai Patel – the founding Chairman of the Kheda District Milk Producers Cooperative Union, today better known as AMUL. Jalaj is also the Vice President of Kapadwanj Kelavani Mandal, a trust which aims to provide affordable and quality education in Kheda and Anand district of Gujarat, India. He is on the Board of Pratham (Piramal Foundation) and also involved closely with HN Reliance Foundation Hospital.
Mr. Debasish Mitter | Member
Mr. Debasish is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICAI). He has been working for Modern philanthropy which is focused on maximizing social rates of return on their investments through the spirit of venturing.
As Country Director, India, Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, Debasish leads the foundation’s strategy and operations in the country. Debasish helps to manage and develop the India-based portfolio to improve learning levels in schools serving underprivileged children; to catalyse sustainable and large-scale models that help youth gain meaningful employment; and to support early-stage, market-based enterprises providing financial services to urban poor families.
Prior to joining the foundation, he spent 13 years with American Express in various leadership positions in Delhi, Miami and New York. During his career with American Express, he led a variety of operational, transaction-related, finance and strategic responsibilities. Prior to that, Debasish spent several years with Dowell Schlumberger, an oilfield services leader, in senior finance roles in the Middle East and the Far East.
Dr. Nilima Kshirsagar | Member
Dr. Nilima Kshirsagar, is a MBBS, M.D (Pharmacology), DNB (Clinical Pharmacology), PhD. (Pharmacology), FNAS, FNAMS, FRCP (UK), FACCP (USA).
Her areas of expertise and research includes Public health, clinical trials, pharmacovigilance, phytopharmaceuticals, drug and vaccine development, drug delivery systems, infectious diseases , tropical diseases and regulatory science.
She is the Chairperson for Scientific Advisory Group Basic Medical Science Division and Member of Scientific Advisory Board, Emeritus Scientist. She is also the Secretary General for Clinical Division International Union of Pharmacologists.
Past Accomplishments
She was the former National Chair for Clinical Pharmacology from 2010 to 2020, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Govt. of India New Delhi, India. She was also the former acting Vice-Chancellor at the State Health Science University – (MUHS), Dean Director of medical education and research and also represented other prestigious Institutions like Governing Council, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi.
She was the Chairperson of the Board of Foundation for Disease Elimination and Control of India and Member of Scientific Advisory Committee of Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) Geneva. She was also the former President of the Indian Pharmacology Society (IPS) and Infectious Disease Society (IDSI), India and initiated and established FAIMER USA centre in GSMC KEM Mumbai
She has Industry and product development experience in the Pharmaceutical Industry and worked for Piramal Life Sciences as a Consultant and conducted clinical trials, received marketing approvals & patents.
She has published over 200 papers in the Lancet, Lancet Global Health, Lancet infectious diseases, British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, WHO publications on safety of Medicines in public Health and paediatrics, books including on Regulatory requirement for drug development.
Awards
She has received many National, International, University and College awards like the Nathaniel T. Kwit Memorial Distinguished Service Award by American College of Clinical Pharmacology in September, 2018, B.C. Roy National Award, Vasvik Award for Industrial Research and Mayor of Mumbai’s award for three times.