Simone Schiller completed a butcher apprenticeship in the family business and then studied Food Technology in Berlin. In 1994 she started her career in the retail company Otto Reichelt KG, Berlin, department of quality management. In the interdisciplinary course of Public Health at the Technical University of Berlin she expanded her expertise.

In 1997, she become the Managing Director of the Butcher Association Berlin- Brandenburg and head of the Meat Trade College Berlin.

Since October 2011, she has worked for the DLG (German Agricultural Society) in Frankfurt am Main, initially as project manager for quality testing of convenience products. Since December 2012, she has been responsible for the management of the DLG Food Center, and she ended her full-time position in July 2024.

She is currently contributing her experience to various projects, including at the DLG, as a speaker at the DLG Academy, an authorized test representative for the DLG Convenience Quality Test, and has been appointed to the German Food Code Commission (in German "Deutsche Lebensmittelbuch-Kommission", short DLMBK) by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity.

Current activity: Professor for Food Microbiology and -Toxicology at the University of Applied Sciences Hamburg (HAW)

Brief summary of her career: Dr. med vet. Katharina Riehn is veterinary specialist for food safety and meat hygiene and since November 2014 Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Public Health (ECVPH), field „Food Science“.

After her graduation at the Free University Berlin 2004 she completed her doctorate there at the institute for food hygiene under Professor Dr. G. Hildebrandt with a dissertation on the bacterial and viral contamination status of Pacific cupped oyster.

As a research assistant she also took part at DLG quality tests for the first time. After her activity as a research assistant at the institutes of food hygiene at the Free University Berlin and Leipzig University from 2006 on, she works since 2012 as a Professor for Food Microbiology and -Toxicology in the Department of Ecotrophology, Faculty Life Sciences at the University of Applied Sciences Hamburg. In the course of research she is mainly concerned with aspects of relevance to animal welfare in the field of slaughter and food associated parasitic zoonoses. Another focus is the identification of quality parameters from cocoa and mangos.

Dr. Nilesh Amritkar, is a distinguished scientist, visionary entrepreneur, and a passionate mentor. A Ph.D. in Microbiology from UDCT Mumbai and an alumnus of the Stanford Seed Transformation Program, Dr. Amritkar brings over 25 years of leadership in the Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC) industry.

As the Managing Director of Envirocare Labs, he has championed innovations in food, environmental, pharma, and consumer product testing. Under his stewardship, the lab became India's first IGBC Platinum-certified green laboratory, setting benchmarks in sustainability and quality.

Dr. Amritkar serves on several national and international regulatory and advisory bodies including FSSAI, NABL, BIS, FICSI and the TIC Council Brussels. He has led international lab projects, contributed to policymaking, and trained over 3,000 professionals through his Center for Continual Education & Research.

His accolades include the Skoch Order of Merit, the Young SME Value Creator Award, and the National Analytical Laboratory Award, among others. A strong advocate of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, he founded the Envirocare Green Awards to integrate science, sustainability, and social responsibility.

Sven Konradt is Head of R&D at SternEnzym, where he leads a team of enzyme specialists developing practical solutions for the food industry – with a particular focus on applications relevant to global markets, where enzymes are increasingly transforming traditional food processing.

His path into food is an unusual one: after qualifying as a German Master Butcher, he studied Food Science & Nutrition, giving him deep insight into both industrial processes and the science behind the functional ingredients used. Over more than 20 years, his work has spanned application development, technical sales, R&D, and business development across enzymes, flavors, and nutritional supplements.

Along the way, Sven has worked with Ajinomoto, International Flavors & Fragrances, AB Enzymes, Nagase, Balchem, and now SternEnzym. His role sits at the intersection of science, application technology, and customer needs – with a focus on translating ingredient functionality into meaningful food solutions.

Mr. Kher brings over 23 years of expertise in the food processing industry. Since joining Bühler India, he has built extensive experience across rice milling, flour milling, extrusion, pasta, chocolate, and grinding & dispersion divisions, giving him comprehensive knowledge of a wide range of equipment and process technologies.

Across roles spanning technology, customer service, and sales, he has developed a deep understanding of customer needs and operational challenges at the grassroots level. He currently leads the sales and technology team for the Foods Business at Bühler South Asia, where he is responsible for delivering technical solutions to customers and driving the development of innovative solutions.

He holds an MBA in International Marketing and a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering, and has further strengthened his expertise through the Leading Product Innovations course at Harvard Business School – Executive Education and the Advanced Leadership Program at Hult Ashridge.

Chithra Nair, Chief Executive Officer, Thinking Forks, is a food innovation and business leader with over 25 years of experience spanning product innovation, R&D, business strategy, and organisational leadership.

At Thinking Forks, she has played a key role in building scalable R&D capabilities, strengthening client partnerships, and translating complex food innovation challenges into commercially relevant solutions across the food and beverage ecosystem.

With prior experience across leading organisations including Unilever, ITC, Synthite, and MTR Foods, Chithra brings deep domain expertise across food categories and a strong understanding of how food science, consumer insights, and R&D capabilities come together to create scalable products and businesses.

Chithra is a strong voice on the evolving food industry, with a particular interest in consumer behaviour, health and wellness, nutrition, and the changing dynamics shaping food innovation. She recently spoke at the CII FoodPro event on “Changing Consumer Habits: The Health, Protein & Affordability Pivot,” sharing perspectives on how shifting consumer needs are influencing the future of food.

As CEO, Chithra is focused on driving the next phase of Thinking Forks' growth, expanding its global footprint, driving digitally enabled food R&D, sustainability-led innovation and strengthening its role as a trusted external R&D partner for the evolving food and beverage industry.

I am Jitendra Joshi Vertical Head for Life Sciences, Food & Beverage, and FMCG at Mitsubishi Electric India, bringing over 24 years of expertise in Industrial Automation. With a decade of focused experience in LS/F&B and FMCG, I have successfully led initiatives in project engineering, sales, product marketing, and business development.

In my current role I am responsible for delivering Advanced Automation/ Robotics and Digitization solution across varied set of Food and Beverages customers which will support them in increased throughput, improved quality and optimise cost.

I am Electronics & Power Engineering graduate with an MBA in Marketing from Pune University, I was instrumental in driving strategic growth, fostering customer partnerships, and delivering innovative automation solutions.

Outside of work, I love playing rhythmic musical instruments like the Tabla and drums.

Amit Kher

General Manager - Head Sales & Technology (Foods Business), Bühler India

Amit Kher brings over 23 years of expertise in the food processing industry. Since joining Bühler India, he has gained extensive experience across the rice milling, flour milling, extrusion, pasta, chocolate, and grinding & dispersion divisions, developing comprehensive knowledge of a wide range of equipment and process technologies.

Throughout his career, Amit has held various roles spanning technology, customer service, and sales, enabling him to deeply understand customer needs and operational challenges at the grassroots level.

Currently, Amit leads the sales and technology team for the Foods Business at Bühler South Asia. He is responsible for delivering technical solutions to customers and spearheading the development of innovative solutions.

Amit holds an MBA in International Marketing as well as a B.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering. He has further enhanced his expertise by completing the Leading Product Innovations course at Harvard Business School – Executive Education and the Advanced Leadership Program at Hult Ashridge.

Sanjay Khajuria is a former Director of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, Nestlé India. He has over 35 years of professional experience, including 32 years with Nestlé in India and at its global headquarters in Switzerland.

He holds a law degree and began his career as an in-house counsel with Nestlé and later PepsiCo, before moving into leadership roles in Corporate Affairs and Sustainability. His expertise spans societal initiatives (CSR), sustainability strategy, government relations, media engagement, crisis management, public policy, and advocacy.

He currently serves as President of CIFTI-FICCI, an industry body representing the food processing sector in India, and is also an Honorary Advisory Member of GAN India (Global Apprenticeship Network – India Chapter).

Sanjay is a regular speaker on topics related to the development sector, food processing, and sustainability.

Mr. K. Parameswaran

A seasoned Business Manager with over 25 years of experience at Alfa Laval India, K. Parameswaran is a Mechanical Engineer by training, with deep expertise in business development, technical and project sales, key account management, and international sales across India, Africa, and the Middle East. Currently heading the Prepared Food & Beverages business, he has a proven track record in managing complex sales operations, developing innovative applications, and driving strategic growth in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, brewing, protein, fruit processing, and energy. Recognized for his strong leadership and people management skills, Parameswaran has successfully led high-performing sales teams, built lasting customer relationships, and delivered high-value projects. Multilingual and globally oriented, he has participated in international leadership programs, reflecting his ongoing commitment to professional growth and excellence.

Shashidhar Subramanya

Head of Corporate Technology and Application Centres, Middle East Africa and India Region, Bühler Group

Shashidhar manages the South South Innovation Initiative at Bühler Group

covering the needs of India and Africa markets. He drives Process and Technology Innovations with solutions that are built ground-up in the region - for the region. His responsibilities at Bühler also include engaging with the start-up ecosystem in India, steering the activities at the Application and Training Centres in the region, furthering the Innovation Culture through employee engagement events and developing support functions for global R&D teams in India. He has been associated with Bühler since 2014.

Qualification:

• Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering, R V College of Engineering
• Masters in Applied Mechanics, IIT Madras
• Masters in Product Design, NID Ahmedabad

Mr. Ashish Jogi is the Co-founder and CEO of Fudtekey Solutions, one of India’s leading contract research and innovation companies in the food and nutrition sector. He is widely recognized as Innovation Expert in the food and nutrition industry, both in India and internationally. Ashish is a pharmacy graduate, MBA, and patent professional by training. Before becoming an entrepreneur, he spent over a decade at Novartis, a Switzerland-based global healthcare leader, where he served as a patent attorney working on technology licensing of the most cutting-edge platform technologies in small molecules.

With a proven track record of transforming visionary concepts into commercially successful products, he has helped over 150 companies bring their ideas to life. Under his leadership, more than 450 products and projects have been successfully launched across 35 food and nutrition categories in more than 10 countries, including India.

Ashish is known for blending deep market insight with scientific expertise to drive innovation that is both impactful and consumer-centric. From startups to legacy brands and business conglomerates, he has been the go-to partner for organizations aiming to scale through innovation. His ability to deliver results across geographies and categories has made Fudtekey Solutions a name synonymous with speed, precision, and success in innovation, technology, research, and development.

In addition to Fudtekey, Ashish is also the co-founder of multiple food-tech and life sciences ventures, including MinoniM Life Sciences Pvt Ltd (drug discovery), Chime Food Innovations Pvt Ltd (specialty ingredients), and Healsty India Pvt Ltd (scientific clean-label functional foods). Each of these ventures reflects his commitment to science-backed, future-ready innovation.

A startup enthusiast at heart, Ashish actively mentors founders, invests in idea-stage and revenue-stage startups, and serves on the Innovation Council of ICT, Mumbai. He thrives on turning ideas into winning products—and believes that great innovation always begins with asking, “What if?”

Mr. Arun Om Lal.

Senior Advisor: Hexagon Nutrition Ltd.

Professor Industry Chairman : Nutraceuticals & Food Fortification.

Ex.President: Hexagon Nutrition Limited

Ex.Co Chair ASSOCHAM – National Council, Food Processing & Value Addition

Ex. Chairman ASSOCHAM: National Council Task Force – Nutrition & Food Fortification.

A visionary leader with an outstanding track record of successful business strategies, Mr. Arun Om Lal has cultivated staunch credibility in the Nutraceutical Industry. Possessing more than three and half decades of experience in the consumer durable and nutraceutical industry, Mr. Arun Om Lal is currently Sr.Advisor to Hexagon Nutrition Ltd and Nominated as the Professor Industrial Chair: Nutraceuticals & Food Fortification at NIFTEM – Kundli ! Focusing on ACADEMIA AND INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP .

After completing his Master's in Marketing Management from Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai (1988-1991), he showcased his prowess in building some world-renowned brands. Mr. Arun has contributed to the success of brands like Morphy Richards (1992 – 1996), Jockey Int (1996 – 2000), Evian Natural Spring Water (2000 – 2003), Himalayan Natural Mineral Water (2003 – 2008), and Hexagon Nutrition (2009 to 2024)

Mr. Arun’s dedication and hard work had been acknowledged in the past as he was rewarded with many awards including "Best Health Care Entrepreneur" in 2016 & 2017. It was under his guidance that Hexagon Nutrition won the “Best Nutrition Company Award” in 2017 by ASSOCHAM Nutrition, Food and Safety Award.

For more than a decade, his work has been focused on the improvement of the nutraceutical industry and addressing the issue of malnutrition by stimulating the food fortification vertical.

Mr. Arun Om Lal has been working to deploy strategies to spread awareness about food fortification , LSFF and Nutrition , and bring it to the mainstream food industry. Apart from being a nutraceutical leader, Mr. Arun Om Lal was been elected as ASSOCHAM Co-chairman for Food Processing Industry and Value Addition ( 2017 to 2024 ) . He was also a national committee member of CII, FICCI, AIFPA National committees, and the Advisory Board of Center of Excellence for Food Fortification, NIFTEM which further states his prominence in the food and nutrition industry. His work in the nutraceutical industry is worth following and getting inspired from.

Mr.Arun Om Lal was the Managing Director of Sunrise Nutrition Pvt Ltd,Mumbai (2017 – 2024) and Currently an Co – Founder of CMAM ASSOCIATION , Delhi . DIN No. 07159367.

Jaishree Nilkhan

Head of External Relations, India and Middle East, General Mills India Private Limited

Ms Jaishree Nilkhan accomplished Food and Agri Business professional with focus on public policy. Presently she is working as Head of External Relations, India and Middle East for General Mills. In this role, she is responsible for leading the General Mills External Relations function to advance business interests through identification of key opportunities and risks, ensuring business continuity, implementation of relevant public affairs/advocacy strategies thereby contributing to the overall business growth. As member of India leadership Team, she partners with operational and expert teams to distil complex and ambiguous external issues.

Before General Mills, she has worked with Roquette as Head of Policy and Public Affairs. Previously she was associated with Ministry of Commerce and Industry initiative, Invest India and NABARD Consultancy services managing progressive roles and responsibilities in last 14 years.

Ms Jaishree possesses strong academic background with B Tech in Agricultural Engineering and M Tech with specialisation in Food Process Engineering.

Dr. Prabodh S Halde , PhD ( Food Tech), Having total 30 years of experience, Now he is working with Marico Ltd from last 18 years and currently working as Head Global regulatory, Public Policy and Advocacy. Apart form Technical qualification, he has double post-graduation in management , MBA and MIRPM . He is Past President of Association of Food Scientists and Technologists of India CFTRI Mysore, and a renowned Food Technologist with a well-rounded, multi-disciplinary experience. He is chairman of western region for AIPFA India & Chambers for advancement of small and medium businesses. He is Joint secretary of SEA of India and Treasurer of PFNDAI. He is active member of various industry associations like CII,FICCI, IBHA etc.

He has a passion to nurture the young entrepreneurs. Prabodh has 30 years of string industrial experience& worked for Bakemans, ACC & Coca Cola India. He is on various board and renowned trainer in area of food processing, food safety and startup. He is part of smart protein committee by DBT government of India . He is part of Gujarat state food safety committee .

He is supporting food startups and mentor for over 25-30 food startups and through Trusted group activity he is supporting and mentoring over 200 startups & students

He was member of subcommittee for Ayush Ministry for covid task group and they published Ayush covid guidelines. He was Research Council member of CSIR-CFTRI during 2020-23. He was central advisory member for FSSAI Govt of India as a reprehensive of food industry. He was member of Niti Ayog Empowered group 2020-21.

He is on BOM studies for BMN/Khalsa/SNDT Polytechnic /ICT Aurangabad /ICT Kolhapur /K.G.Somya college/Pondicherry University/DYPATIL University etc . He is on advisory board on SVT SNDT & MIT Pune

He is National resource person for Fostac program of FSSAI. He has delivered over 300 National and international seminars. He has trained over 6000 food safety officilials in last 16 years for various FDAs and FSSAI as part of TOTO programs.

He has organized or part of organizing committee for over 200 national and international program/seminars over last 20 years.

An accomplished motivational and technical speaker, he has delivered more than a two hundred seminars and lectures at different conferences all across India and abroad on Food Processing / Quality and Food Safety. He has represented India 6 times for Codex Meeting from year 2012 to 2021.

His chosen area of expertise is Food Safety and Food Regulations. As recognition of his expertise, he was selected to be part of a PMO visit delegation to Tajikistan as a food industry expert in June 2015. In May 2017, he was invited by US state department for 21 days of exchange program at USA as food safety expert under Leadership exchange program. He is recipient of Globoil food safety award 2018 and Outstanding regulatory award 2018 by AIFPA India . He has been also awarded by MIT university pune for outstanding personality award 2019. He got National food safety ‘Eat Right Awards 2019’ in professional by FSSAI. He got special recognition award by ITC-FSCAN in year 2020. He is recipient of National Eminence award 2023 by CPRTTF. He has received outstanding work in eat right program by Hon, Government of Maharashtra in April 2023.

He has 3 patents in his credit as primary inventor. He has started various innovative programs in AFST Viz Project Ashirwad, Project Avishkar, Project Power talk and Project Parampara. All these programs are now popular at national level . He has written much-appreciated books on Food Safety regulations for sectors such as the Oil industry, Bakery Industry and the Retail industry. These informative books have proved to be very useful guides for Food Business Operators. He has also published 5 motivational books for students named ‘Prabodhika’ , recently 5th Prabodhika was blessed by HE Shri Ramnath Kovind, President of India. He also work for udaan welfare foundation for under privileged section of society.

Mr. Bill Simos

(Director of FJS Asia Pacific at JBT Marel )

Bill has over all 35+ years of experience and specializing in Fruit Juice extraction and separation technologies. He has been an instrumental part in building and developing the Fruit & Vegetables Business Segment of JBT Marel Asia Pacific region and is currently based out of Hongkong. With decades of experience in New Technology integration and development Bill brings with him an in depth knowledge about India and overall Asia Pacific market.

Contact : bill.simos@jbtc.com

Dr. Rashida is the Founder of LabelBlind®; India’s 1st Artificial Intelligence led Digital Food Labelling Software Solutions, to strengthen the food regulations ecosystem in India.

Rashida is an expert in Food Labelling with a PhD in Food Science and Nutrition. She is featured on the Niti Aayog’s list of 75 leading Womenpreneurs on the occasion of Azadi ka AmritMahotsav

She is an Expert on the ASCI panel – Advertising and Standards Council of India - regulating claims made by food ads across national media. LabelBlind® was the principal investigator for the front of Pack Labelling Baseline study commissioned by FSSAI. She is also associated with the Food Future Foundation.

Her organisation works with top-notch brands like ITC Hotels, Abbott Healthcare, Reliance Brands, PVR Inox Cinemas, Tata Starbucks, Tim Hortons, NAB Foundation and more, to guide them on Food and Regulatory Compliances.

Rashida is also awarded the Junior Research Fellowship by the University Grants Commission, India and the Dr K.U.Naram award for a distinguished performance in academics at post-graduate level. Her association with academics continues as visiting faculty in leading universities, inspiring young students to fulfil their dreams with skills and self-belief.

National Sales Leader, End User, Discrete & Hybrid Rockwell Automation India

Neville Thomas Dsouza is a dynamic and results-driven business leader with nearly three decades of experience in driving growth, transformation, and innovation across diverse industries through strategic excellence in Marketing and Sales. As the National Sales Leader at Rockwell Automation India, Neville has played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s strategic direction and delivering consistent performance since 2010.

Throughout his career, Neville has held leadership roles across multinational organizations, serving as an industry expert in Consumer Goods, Life Sciences, Automotive, and Tire segments. He brings a unique blend of technical expertise and commercial acumen, consistently creating value for both customers and the organization.

His core strengths include developing and executing annual industry and regional sales plans, managing key accounts, and building strategic partnerships that drive sustainable growth. Known for his customer-centric approach, Neville excels in aligning business objectives with customer needs to foster long-term loyalty and success.

A dependable and inspiring team leader, Neville is deeply committed to mentoring and empowering teams to achieve operational excellence. His passion for performance, innovation, and collaboration makes him a compelling speaker and a respected thought leader in the technology and industrial sectors.

Shri S. Gautam joined Food Technology Division, BARC in 1995 through prestigious Training School Program. He completed his doctorate degree in science from University of Mumbai, and post-doctoral studies (2005-07) at University of Medicine and Dentistry, New Jersey, USA. Using radiation technology Dr. Gautam has worked extensively on the preservation of foods, development of special purpose ready-to-eat meal, as well as on the understanding the potential nutraceutical applications of dietary ingredients. He has carried out fundamental studies to reveal the mechanism of cell death in stressed bacterial cells. Dr. Gautam has served as the Chief Scientific Investigator for IAEA Coordinated Research Project (CRP) and members of National Project Team of different IAEA projects. He was instrumental in setting up a litchi treatment plant for preservation of litchi fruits at Muzaffarpur, Bihar. Dr. Gautam has 150 publications in peer reviewed journals and books, alongside many abstracts in conferences. He is currently serving as Head, Food Food Technology Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai and also Professor at Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), DAE, Trombay, Mumbai. Dr. Gautam has been awarded highly prestigious DAE-Homi Bhabha Science & Technology Award (2016) for outstanding contributions in the area of Food Science and Technology as well as DAE Group Achievement Awards twice (2009 & 2011). Dr. Gautam is a fellow of Maharashtra Academic Sciences. He was associated with FSSAI as Chairman and member of scientific panels. Recently, Dr. Gautam addressed the Scientific Forum of IAEA General Conference at Vienna on the theme Atoms for Food.

Mr. Pankaj Maheshwari

A seasoned business leader with over three decades at Alfa Laval, where he currently serves as Vice President, Food & Water Division Hub for India, the Middle East, and Africa.

He holds a B.Tech in Dairy Technology from the National Dairy Research Institute – Kurukshetra University, a Postgraduate degree in Business Management from the Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune, and has completed Executive Management Training at Ashridge Business School, United Kingdom.

Since joining Alfa Laval India in 1990, Mr. Maheshwari has been instrumental in driving the company’s growth beyond national boundaries - establishing a strong presence across South East Asia, the Middle East, South America, Africa, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. His leadership as All India Country Manager was pivotal in positioning Alfa Laval as a trusted partner across these diverse markets.

Renowned for leading from the front, Mr. Maheshwari champions a culture of customer focus, people development, and ownership. He is passionate about empowering teams by challenging them with greater responsibilities, recognizing excellence, and fostering an environment of fairness, trust, and high performance.

I am a postgraduate in Agriculture with a specialization in Post Harvest Management of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops, driven by a passion for reducing post-harvest losses through innovative product development and sustainable practices. With over a decade of experience in the Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC) industry, I currently serve as Associate Director – Organic & Sustainability at FoodChain ID India, where I lead programs in Organic, GlobalG.A.P., Regenerative Organic, ESG and other Sustainable Certifications.

As a qualified Lead Auditor for globally recognized standards including BRC, FSSC, ISO 45001, and various Organic certifications, I bring a strong foundation in auditing, training, process optimization, and quality management systems. My work bridges the gap between on-ground agricultural practices and global compliance frameworks, with hands-on experience in farm cultivation, organic farming, and complaince management.

I am committed to empowering agri-food businesses and farmers to build resilient, transparent, and sustainable supply chains, while promoting regenerative practices that benefit both people and the planet.

Dr. Shatadru Sengupta is presently Chief Legal Officer at Hardcastle Restaurants Private Limited, (McDonald’s India West & South), subsidiary of Westlife Foodworld Ltd, a BSE-listed and NSE-listed company, of which he is the Company Secretary.

He has total post-qualification work experience spanning 32 years. He serves as General Counsel for the above companies and advises other companies in the group, in all areas of law.

He is a Mechanical Engineering graduate from VJTI, Mumbai, a Fellow Member of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (FCS), a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) and Masters in Law (LL.M.) from Mumbai University, a Doctorate in Law (Ph.D.(Law)) from Mumbai University and an MBA (Operations) from ICFAI University. He also holds a Six Sigma Green Belt issued by KPMG.

His areas of expertise include property law, commercial laws, contract law, company law and allied corporate laws such as the SEBI Regulations, intellectual property laws, criminal law, cyber laws, labour laws, indirect and direct tax laws, consumer law, foreign exchange and foreign investment regulations, food law, law relating to weights and measures, environment law, competition law, import-related law, municipal laws and various kinds of litigation, covering civil, constitutional, criminal and consumer matters and other adversarial matters.

He is a member of the Executive Committee of the Confederation of Indian Food Trade and Industry (CIFTI), the food arm of FICCI and regularly contributes at its meetings.

He is Chairman of the Protein Foods and Nutrition Development Association of India (PFNDAI), as also a member of each of the Governing Board and of the Regulatory Affairs Committee of PFNDAI. He has delivered presentations at PFNDAI workshops and has had articles published in its journal.

He is associated with the All India Food Processors Association (AIFPA) and is a member of its Executive Committee, and has been invited to speak at a number of its seminars and workshops on food and regulatory topics.

He is a member of the Advocacy Committee and of the Sustainability Committee of the Retailers Association of India (RAI), and has participated as a speaker in its seminars.

Kshitij Thakur is the founder of Agrograde, an Indian startup reimagining post-harvest with AI, computer vision, and robotics. Agrograde is the first Indian startup to deploy AI-powered grading and sorting systems for onions and potatoes. Kshitij started Agrograde in 2017 to address deep-rooted problems in fresh produce supply chains and the lack of suitable technologies for Indian use cases. Since then, Agrograde's technologies have enabled transparency and quality-backed trust in some of the most challenging, fragmented, and trust-deficit supply chains. With over 70 machines installed across 12 different states and a cumulative daily processing capacity exceeding 23,000 quintals, Agrograde has been helping producers, FPOs, traders, and food processors use state-of-the-art technology to reduce and capture waste while increasing their processing bandwidth by up to 250%. Agrograde's innovations have been recognized by organisations like NITI Aayog, Social Alpha, IGKV, IIM A, Mahindra, MANAGE, Samunnati, and BSE.

Debabrata Das is the Co-founder & CEO of ProPlant Foods, a pioneering food-tech startup shaping the future of sustainable, plant-based protein in India. With a background in Food Technology & Management, Debabrata has led ProMeat from concept to commercialization, securing prestigious grants, raising capital, and launching products across both D2C and B2B markets.

ProMeat is backed by IIT Bombay, SIDBI, and leading global accelerators and has received recognition, including the Fi Awards and several international innovation honors.

Debabrata also serves as the India Lead of the Sigma Squared Society, building a thriving community of high-potential founders across the country. He is deeply committed to sustainability, food security, and fostering an inclusive startup ecosystem that empowers young innovators to solve global challenges.

• Name & Role
  Kaushal Dongre is the Founder & CEO (or Co-Founder & CEO) of Paawak Foods.
  Ministry of Food Processing IndustriesFood InfotechPaawak Food Products Private Limited
• Education & Background
  He holds degrees in Commerce and Law from the University of Mumbai.
  Mad4India+1
  In earlier days, he played cricket at a competitive (A-division) level in Mumbai. Times Applaud
• Inspiration & Vision
  Influenced by mentor Dr Prabodh Halde (ex-President of AFST India), Kaushal envisioned an innovative agro-food venture aimed at both empowering farmers and providing healthy alternatives to refined sugar. Ministry of Food Processing IndustriesFood Infotech
  He perceived jaggery as a healthier natural sweetener and wanted to bring it to consumers in a modern, hygienic, convenient form. Mad4IndiaPaawak Food Products Private Limited
• Entrepreneurial Journey
  After a few early venture setbacks, he founded Paawak Foods in 2014. Times ApplaudPaawak Food Products Private LimitedVegan First
  The brand pioneered small jaggery cubes, addressing consumer concerns about size and hygiene. Paawak applied for a patent early on. Mad4IndiaFood InfotechVegan First
  Initial traction was slow—98 out of 100 shops rejected the product—but persistence paid off. Vegan FirstPaawak Food Products Private Limited
  Over time, Paawak’s sales grew significantly; by 2021, around 250 tonnes sold and noticeable revenue growth (e.g. Rs 19.2 crore business). Vegan FirstPaawak Food Products Private LimitedYourStory.com
• Approach & Values
  Focused on consumer-first innovation: hygienic packaging, chemical-free production, convenience (cubes), backed by R&D & “P Technology.” Paawak Food Products Private LimitedVegan FirstFood Infotech
  Emphasizes fair farmer pricing and healthy lifestyle benefits in product offerings. Ministry of Food Processing IndustriesMad4IndiaEconomic India

Paawak Foods — Overview

• Founding & Location
  Launched in 2014, based in Navi Mumbai / Maharashtra, as an agro-food startup focused entirely on natural jaggery products. YourStory.comPaawak Food Products Private LimitedFood Infotech
• Products & Innovation
  First in India to create process-patented jaggery cubes (“P Technology”). Vegan FirstPaawak Food Products Private LimitedFood Infotech
  Products include small jaggery cubes and jaggery powder, delivered in hygienic, consumer-friendly packaging (e.g. MAP—modified-atmosphere packaging). Vegan FirstPaawak Food Products Private LimitedYourStory.com
• Business Model & Reach
  Growth reported as rapid; multi-fold revenue increases since inception and broadening distribution across multiple Indian regions (Mumbai, Pune, etc.), also online. Economic IndiaYourStory.comPaawak Food Products Private Limited Positioning as a health-focused FMCG / natural food brand.
• Mission Statement
  Aims to make jaggery a household healthy alternative to refined sugar, and to support farmers via fair practices.

Sandip RAJYAGURU, who brings 14 years of extensive experience in the food, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical industry. With a proven track record of driving growth and innovation, Sandip RAJYAGURU has held various technical and commercial roles in multinational companies, with a strong focus on the Asian markets. currently he is working at Jindal Speciality chemicals pioneer of making Inulin from chicory roots a greenfield project first time from India.

Throughout their careee Sandip a RAJYAGURU demonstrated expertise in product development, regulatory affairs, business strategy, marketing strategy, brand management, and team management.

Raghunath Sawant is the Head of Operations at Hexagon Nutrition Ltd. He is a Food Tech Regulatory and legal professional with 20 years of experience in developing organizations Operations, Regulatory compliance, Quality assurance, Food Safety strategy, procedures and processes.

Has won the Best Food Safety Professional Award Winner 2018

He is Life Member of AFSTI (Association of Food Scientist and Technologists)

Has won the Best Operations Leader of the year 2024 at Future of Manufacturing Summit 2024

He is the Lead auditor for FSSC 22000, Environment Management System, OHSAS and ISO 9001:2015 QMS.

Providing Industrial Automation solutions in F&B, FMCG & Packaging domain since last 28 years. Where I have successfully design, developed & commissioned machines at various national & international sites.

In my current role I am responsible for providing field proven solutions to various OEM’s to optimise the way they design, manufacture & service their machines by reducing time to market with continuous improvement. Thus, helping in sustainable long term business growth for both of us.

I have completed B.E. (Electrical & Electronics) from Bangalore University and an MBA in Marketing. I am instrumental in driving strategic growth, fostering customer partnerships, and delivering innovative automation solutions.

Outside of work, I love to play Cricket and follow “The Art of Living” centre.