Our Team

Rajamany holds a diploma in computer applications and a graduate in Maths. She has been with CII for the last 25 years.

At FACE, she is handling the Agri Allied sectors covering Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying. Her core work involves engagement with various stakeholders viz. national and state-level government, farmers, agri & food industry leaders, technology and service providers, financiers, and various multilateral agencies to work to towards boosting the growth of Agri Allied sectors.

She has also extensive experience in working with the International Department of CII focused on enhancement of bilateral relations between India and ASEAN, Asia Pacific countries and in expanding business opportunities for Industry through a range of specialized networking events and global linkages.

Neha Aggarwal had done her Master’s in Information Technology from Manipal University and graduated in commerce stream from Delhi University. She has been with CII since the last 17 years and working in different streams and majorly in Food Regulation domain.

Handling Food Regulatory aspects, as part of her work at FACE involves evidence-based policy advocacy with Government at both the center and state level. She closely works with FSSAI, BIS & Legal Metrology on Food related Regulations/ Standards domestically and internationally.

Sapna Bisht is a finance professional serving as an Executive Officer at CII FACE. She supports the department’s finance and accounting functions, including accounts management, financial reporting, MIS, and compliance with established financial processes. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) degree and has cleared CA Intermediate, strengthening her expertise in financial management and operational support.

Beyond her professional responsibilities, she has a keen interest in travelling and music.

Anju Bist is the Senior Manager with Food Safety & Quality Vertical of CII FACE. With over 25 years of experience in the organisation, she specialises in Operations management, stakeholder liaison, strategic planning and implementation, promotion of Capacity Building trainings and conference with a consistent record of delivering results.

Anju holds a bachelor’s degree in Commerce from Delhi University and Post Graduation Diploma in Business Management from SCDL, Pune.

Saurabh Dwivedi works as a counsellor in the Sustainability vertical at CII-FACE, with focus on carbon markets & sustainable livelihood projects. He is a highly experienced professional with over 11 years of demonstrated success in the fields of Sustainability, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). His professional background is marked by a strong focus on implementing and managing sustainable practices across corporate and non-profit sectors, underpinned by a Post Graduate Diploma in Management focused on Sustainable Development Practices from the Birla Institute of Management Technology (BIMTECH).

In his most recent roles, Mr. Dwivedi has specialized in Sustainability Management, where he has been instrumental in driving corporate transparency and compliance. Key experience includes managing projects on sustainable supply chains and leading disclosures and assessments on major sustainability platforms such as ECOVADIS, CDP, and SBTi. He possesses deep expertise in GHG emission reporting (Scope 1, 2, & 3) and has successfully led carbon footprint assessments for organizations. A notable achievement includes leading a project on a sustainable and traceable mint farming supply chain, involving 3,000 farmers and securing funding of approximately INR 10 Cr from a Swiss client, aimed at improving mint oil quality and enhancing farmer livelihoods.

Kritika Adesh Gadpayle works as Deputy Director – Agriculture at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Food & Agriculture Centre of Excellence (FACE), where she supports the development and scale-up of initiatives on agri-carbon markets, climate resilient value chains, and industry capacity building. Her work spans programme design and implementation, applied research, stakeholder engagement, and knowledge dissemination, with a focus on enabling industry and smallholder participation in carbon markets, regenerative agriculture, and climate-resilient food systems.

In her previous role at Ernst & Young, Kritika contributed to state-level climate policy by supporting the development and implementation of State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCCs), designing monitoring and evaluation frameworks aligned with SDGs and India’s NDCs, and preparing advisory notes on climate-resilient agriculture. She also contributed to the Green Budget Tagging (GBT) initiative for a state of Uttar Pradesh, mapping existing schemes and policies to sustainability targets. Her work spanned sectors such as agriculture, horticulture, dairy, and fisheries, where she provided policy support, drafted technical documents, and identified programmatic and implementation gaps.

She holds a Ph.D. in Environment and Sustainable Development from the Central University of Gujarat, an M.Sc. in Environment Management from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, and a B.Sc. (Hons.) in Botany from the University of Delhi.

In addition to her professional role, she volunteers for child education and climate awareness initiatives and enjoys reading and exploring new places.

Dr Indrani Ghose, Strategic Advisor, Food Safety and Quality of CII's Food and Agriculture Centre of Excellence, is a National Level Resource Person for Food Safety and Standards Authority of India's (FSSAI)'s Food Safety Training and Certification Program (FoSTaC) in the Manufacturing, Catering and Bakery sectors.

One of her key focus areas is the design, development and continual improvement of the unique CII Food Safety Maturity Model and institutionalized CII Award Program for Food Safety in the Indian Industry since 2010. Indrani has also facilitated successful introduction of the Cluster Approach in Indian Food Processing units for implementing HACCP and global standards of Food Safety Management Systems using TQM tools and techniques. She works extensively on establishing Global and National collaborative networks for promoting best practices , developing and deploying new Services and promoting Capacity building and Science behind Food Safety and Quality across the country in both the organized and informal sector.

Bhanvi Grover works as a Deputy Director at CII FACE in the Nutrition vertical, where she leads and supports initiatives focused on workforce nutrition, food fortification, and capacity building across industry and public systems. Her work spans programme design and implementation, stakeholder engagement, knowledge dissemination, and policy advocacy to strengthen nutrition outcomes at scale. Prior to joining CII FACE, she worked at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, in the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, where she was engaged in nutrition research, particularly in non-communicable diseases, strengthening her ability to bridge evidence, practice, and policy.

She holds a Ph.D. in Nutrition from the University of Delhi in collaboration with the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, along with an M.Sc. and B.Sc. in Food & Nutrition from the Institute of Home Economics, University of Delhi.

Beyond her professional work, she enjoys going on treks, travelling, and exploring diverse cultures, which broaden her perspective and inform her holistic approach to health and nutrition.

Jyoti is an Executive, associated with the Animal Agriculture vertical at CII FACE. She holds a Postgraduate degree in Management with specialization in Rural Management from XISS Ranchi and a B.Com (Accounts Honours) from the University of Burdwan. Over the past four years, she has worked on initiatives related to livelihood, women empowerment, dairy development, farmer producer institutions and program implementation. She enjoys reading insightful articles and poetry, listening to music, and gardening during her free time.

Shailly Jain is an Executive at CII FACE, associated with the Regulatory vertical. She contributes to policy advocacy and works on various capacitybuilding initiatives aimed at strengthening stakeholders’ understanding of food regulations. With her background in the food manufacturing sector, she brings handson expertise in food safety, regulatory compliance, and quality assurance.

She holds a Master’s degree in Nutrition from the University of Delhi. Prior to joining FACE, she gained over three years of professional experience in the food manufacturing industry, where she worked extensively on food regulations, safety systems, and quality management frameworks.

Shailly’s strong understanding of both national and international food regulatory standards enables her to support effective programme execution and deliver regulatory excellence across initiatives.

Sam Thomas John is a seasoned Food Safety & Quality professional with over 22 years of experience in the Food & Agriculture sector. He currently serves as Counsellor – Food Safety & Quality at CII FACE, where he plays a key role in strengthening industry standards and promoting excellence across the food value chain. At CII FACE, he is actively involved as a Senior Assessor for CII Awards for Food Safety Assessments, leading evaluation initiatives across the country to benchmark and elevate food safety practices. He is also recognized as an FSSAI National Level Resource Person (NLRP) and approved FoSTaC trainer for the Advanced Manufacturing, Retail, and Catering sectors, contributing to national capacity-building efforts in food safety. Sam is an approved Lead Auditor for multiple global food safety standards and has led numerous training and consulting assignments on HACCP, ISO 22000:2015, FSSC 22000, ISO 17025:2017, and SQF Standards. His expertise spans food processing, regulatory compliance, quality systems implementation, laboratory systems, and risk-based food safety management. He holds a Bachelor of Technology in Agricultural Engineering from University of Allahabad. Prior to joining CII FACE, Sam has held key roles with leading organizations including LMJ International Ltd, SGS India Pvt Ltd, Diversey India Pvt Ltd, and Sealed Air India Pvt Ltd.

Dr. Pragya Joshi is a veterinary professional and animal agriculture development specialist currently working as a Consultant with CII FACE. She has experience across industry, research, extension, communication and field implementation, with work spanning dairy, poultry, fisheries, meat, animal feed and fodder. Her areas of focus include AMR and One Health, climate-resilient and sustainable livestock production, and animal health. At CII-FACE, she has contributed to several industry-led and multi-stakeholder initiatives, including the One Health Pilot Project, and AMR stewardship drive. Her work involves project implementation, stakeholder engagement, knowledge development, communication and policy-oriented engagement.

Prior to CII, she served as an Assistant Professor at Khalsa College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Amritsar. She holds a Ph.D. and M.V.Sc. in Veterinary Extension Education from ICAR-IVRI, Bareilly, and a B.V.Sc. from GBPUAT, Pantnagar, along with postgraduate diplomas in Animal Welfare and Rural Development. She has also gained international experience at The Pennsylvania State University, USA, working on ICT-enabled veterinary extension and digital knowledge development.

Harshita Kesarwani works as a Deputy Director at CII FACE in the Agri vertical, where she leads initiatives focused on strengthening Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), fostering agri-startup engagement, and building partnerships across government, industry, academia, and the development sector. Her work spans programme conceptualisation and implementation, stakeholder engagement, capacity building, policy dialogue, and facilitating market linkages to promote inclusive and sustainable agricultural development. Prior to joining CII FACE, she worked across leading organisations in the agriculture and rural development ecosystem, including DeHaat, Absolute and ISAP India Foundation. Over the years, she has contributed to government-supported FPO promotion programmes, CSR initiatives, and digital agriculture interventions, working closely with central and state government agencies, development partners, private sector organisations, and farmer institutions.

She holds a B.Sc. in Agriculture from Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Agri-Extension Management from the National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad.

Beyond her professional work, she enjoys travelling, exploring new destinations and spending time with her pets. She values opportunities to learn from new places and people, making every journey both enriching and memorable.

Nilabh Keshav is the Team Lead for the Dairy Transformation Project being implemented by CII in partnership with the Government of Bihar, where he leads initiatives aimed at strengthening the dairy ecosystem through stakeholder engagement, programme implementation, and institutional collaboration. Prior to this he served as State Head, CII Bihar State Office, where he leads and supports initiatives focused on investment promotion, government liaison, policy advocacy, and industry engagement. Over the past four years, he has been instrumental in strengthening industry–government collaboration in Bihar through strategic stakeholder engagement, programme management, and investment facilitation. He has been closely associated with AGRO Bihar, Eastern India's largest farm mechanization exhibition, and has successfully coordinated and anchored several investment roadshows, business summits, and industry outreach initiatives that promote economic growth and industrial development in the state.

Prior to joining CII, Nilabh gained over six years of professional experience across the BFSI sector, government, and media. He served as Deputy General Manager (DGM) at the Bihar Industrial Area Development Authority (BIADA), Government of Bihar, where he was responsible for overseeing industrial areas and facilitating industrial development. Earlier in his career, he also worked with the editorial team of a print media organization, strengthening his communication and content development skills. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Media Science and a Master's in Business Administration (MBA) with dual specializations in Marketing and Human Resource Management.

Beyond his professional responsibilities, Nilabh has a keen interest in writing and enjoys exploring ideas through articles and blogs. He is also passionate about singing, and believes that these creative pursuits broaden his perspective, foster meaningful connections, and complement his professional approach to leadership and stakeholder engagement.

Rashmi Saini is a Programme Manager at the CII Food and Agriculture Centre of Excellence (CII-FACE) with over 10 years of experience in agriculture and agri-food sector programmes. She is involved in strengthening Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) through the implementation of FPO Business Service Unit (BSU), aimed at improving governance, market linkages, and sustainable agricultural practices and Technology Deployment at FPO level . She plays a key role in conceptualizing and coordinating the CII FPO Awards and Summit, fostering engagement among policymakers, industry leaders, development partners, and FPOs.

She has been actively involved in proposal development, preparation of policy briefs, and value chain studies, supporting evidence-based policy advocacy and programme design. She holds an MBA in Agribusiness Management and has a strong interest in institutional strengthening, value chain development, and inclusive agri-enterprise models.

Debanjana Majumdar is an Executive at CII FACE, associated with the Food Safety & Quality vertical. She manages the Assessor Training Programme and various in-house programmes aimed at strengthening food safety systems across the industry. She serves as the primary point of contact for FoSTaC training and acts as the CII Secretariat for the CII Food Safety Award, supporting effective coordination and programme execution.

She holds a graduation in Food Science & Nutrition Management from Jadavpur University and a post-graduation in Nutrition & Dietetics with a specialization in Food Safety & Quality Management from Symbiosis International University. During her master’s, she interned with Troo Agroroots Pvt. Ltd. (Healthy Binge) in the Quality & R&D division.

Debanjana is also trained in multiple classical dance forms, holding a special degree in Uday Shankar Style and Rabindra Nritya.

Varsha Mishra is a food technologist with +8 of experience in Agri-food exports, trade facilitation, and stakeholder engagement. Prior to this, she served at APEDA, Ministry of Commerce & Industry where she worked on export promotion and global outreach for Indian Agriculture and Processed food Products. She has also worked with M/s Haldiram Snacks Pvt Ltd where she handled export QA, QC and export regulatory compliances. She holds an M.Tech in Food Technology from Jamia Hamdard and a B.Tech from Delhi University.

Rashid Nazki works as Director – Programs and Partnerships at CII–Food and Agriculture Centre of Excellence (CII FACE), where he leads the Programs and Partnerships vertical, overseeing a diverse portfolio of programs across agri-food, dairy, nutrition, and allied development ecosystems, focused on improving system efficiency, resilience, inclusivity, and long-term impact. His work spans program design and implementation, grants and program management, stakeholder engagement and policy interface, including building and managing strategic partnerships with the Central and State Governments, donors, national institutions, on-ground partners, and other stakeholders to drive programs in an effective and impactful manner. Prior to his current role, he has led several national-level initiatives across public health & nutrition, education, skill development, livelihoods, sustainability and gender inclusion, enabling him to bridge community-level insights with institutional and policy perspectives.

He holds an MBA from the University of Pune and has completed an Executive Program in Social Impact Strategy from the University of Pennsylvania. He is also an active member of the Society for Birth Defect Research.

Rashid is also a watch collector, enjoys painting, and likes travelling and exploring different countries and cultures.

Mayur Nilawar works as a Counsellor at CII FACE in the Agriculture & Food domain. At CII FACE, he is actively involved in driving technical advocacy and industry engagement by leading the CII Cold Chain Awards, training assessors, evaluating sites, and validating emerging technologies. He also contributes to capacity building and manages research and technical projects on cold chain infrastructure, including storage & logistics, and the Green Star Rating framework for cold chain. His work draws on deep expertise in AgTech, sustainability, renewable energy, IoT product management, and post-harvest management, including cold chain.

Prior to his work at CII FACE, Mayur has worked extensively in the AgTech startup ecosystem and development sector, implementing post-harvest solutions for storage and logistics of agricultural and milk products.

He is finalising his PhD at IIT Bombay, where his research focuses on solar-powered cold-chain solutions for agricultural produce. He holds an MTech in Product Design and a BTech in Mechanical Engineering from Pune University. Beyond his professional work, he enjoys travelling and discovering new places.

Roli Pande works as Director – Agriculture Policy and Programs at FACE, where she brings over 16 years of experience in the agriculture domain. With a strong focus on evidence-based policy advocacy and sectoral transformation, her work involves close engagement with government stakeholders at both the central and state levels. She plays a key role in shaping CII’s agriculture research agenda and has contributed to several agri-specific research reports at the CII Food and Agriculture Centre of Excellence (FACE). Supported by deep and sustained engagement with industry, she brings practical, on-ground perspectives into policy and programme design. Roli also leads the deployment of CII’s Farmer Producer Company (FPC) programme, working closely with stakeholders to strengthen farmer institutions and market linkages.

She holds an MBA in Agribusiness Management from the National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad, and is a graduate in Agriculture Sciences from Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture & Technology.

Outside of work, Roli actively pursues fitness and wellness, and enjoys trekking and adventure travel, and spending time in nature—interests that reinforce her on-ground understanding of rural landscapes, resilience, and sustainability.

Pawan Kumar Pareek is a seasoned Food Safety, Quality, and Regulatory professional with over 20 years of experience across pharmaceutical research and the food industry. He holds a Master’s degree in Microbiology and began his career in global antibiotic drug discovery, leading programs on novel antimicrobial development. His work spanned pre-clinical research, pharmacokinetics, biomarker evaluation in higher animal species, and translational dose optimization, resulting in international patents and peer-reviewed publications. After transitioning to the food sector, he has led initiatives in quality systems, regulatory compliance, R&D-driven innovation, and operational excellence across dairy, infant nutrition, and health supplements. His focus areas include strengthening governance frameworks, implementing HACCP-based systems, leveraging data-driven tools, and embedding a culture of continuous improvement through Lean methodologies such as 3M, 5S, and Kaizen. Currently with CII Food & Agriculture Centre of Excellence (CII-FACE), he drives national platforms and industry collaborations on food safety transformation, ESG integration, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) stewardship in animal agriculture, working closely with policymakers, global institutions, academia, and industry leaders. He also serves as an Ambassador for AMR Insights, promoting responsible antibiotic stewardship globally.

Divya R is an Executive Officer with the Tractor and Mechanization Association (TMA), on deputation from the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), New Delhi.

She has experience in stakeholder engagement, policy advocacy, program management and project execution across diverse industry initiatives. At TMA, she is involved in industry coordination, policy-related engagements and initiatives aimed at supporting the growth and development of the agricultural mechanization sector.

Prior to her current assignment, Divya was associated with the implementation of automotive skill development program, working closely with industry partners and training institutions to address skill gaps and strengthen workforce readiness.

She brings strong capabilities in managing cross-functional initiatives, building stakeholder partnerships and driving collaborative efforts towards achieving organizational objectives.

Divya holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and an MBA in Human Resources and Finance from Bharathiar University.

Beyond her professional pursuits, she is a trained classical dancer and singer and enjoys travelling.

Sohini Roy is an Executive at CII–FACE in the Food Safety and Quality Vertical, where she plays a key role in advancing national food safety initiatives. She acts as the CII Secretariat for the CII Food Safety Award, overseeing its endtoend management, stakeholder coordination, and continuous enhancement of the assessment models and award frameworks that promote excellence in food safety across industries. In addition, Sohini manages the Open House and InHouse Assessor Training programmes PanIndia, contributing to capacity building and industry upskilling. She is also a point of contact for the CII Food Safety Summit, supporting programme planning, coordination, and seamless execution. Before joining CII FACE, Sohini worked with Cipla Pharmaceuticals in the Medical Information Department, where she was responsible for identifying, categorising, and reporting issues related to pharmaceutical products, strengthening her foundation in evidence-based evaluation and regulatory communication.

Sohini holds a Master’s degree in Microbiology from St. Xavier’s College and a Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology from the University of Calcutta. During her master’s programme, she interned at the Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (IICB), where she conducted research on infectious diseases and immunology, specifically on Leishmania donovani. This experience deepened her scientific grounding and enhanced her ability to translate research insights into practice and policy.

Beyond her professional commitments, Sohini is a trained classical dancer, skilled in Kathak and Odissi, and holds formal degrees in Kathak and Rabindra Nritya, reflecting her passion for Indian classical arts and cultural expression.

Shruti Sharma is a Project Manager with the Dairy Investment Accelerator program, where she manages innovative pilot initiatives, supply chain studies, government relations, private investment facilitation, and vendor engagements across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Odisha, Assam, and Andhra Pradesh.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in food technology from the University of Delhi and dual postgraduate degrees, specializing in Food Technology from Allahabad Agricultural University and International Business and Consumer Studies from the University of Kassel, Germany. Shruti brings experience in project management, investment facilitation, policy advocacy, trade analysis, and skill development.

Outside of work, she enjoys sketching, cooking, and creating handcrafted decor for her home.

Akul Singh is an Executive at CII FACE, associated with the Food Safety & Quality vertical, In his current role, he manages finance, marketing, and administrative functions while supporting effective programme coordination and execution across key initiatives.

He holds a graduation in Economics from the University of Delhi. He brings over three years of diverse professional experience across the Corporate and Development sectors. In the IT and consulting domain, he has worked as a Project Manager, while in the development space he has served in HR roles. His cross- functional exposure enables him to contribute effectively to operations, stakeholder coordination, and programme delivery.

Veergandham Pavan Kumar is an Executive at CII FACE, associated with the Agriculture Vertical. His role focuses on programme development, research, and stakeholder engagement across agri-value chains, climate-resilient farming, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and agri startups.

He manages and supports programmes related to FPO capacity building, institutional strengthening, and market-oriented interventions. He also supports programme outreach and marketing efforts for key initiatives such as the FPO Summit and the CII FPO Awards, contributing to stakeholder engagement, participation, and effective programme visibility.

He holds graduation in B.Sc. Agriculture from Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola and MBA in Food and Agribusiness Management from Symbiosis International University. During his MBA, he interned with Haldiram Foods International Pvt Ltd in the Supply Chain and Logistics division.

Dr. Imti Walling is a Deputy Director at CII FACE, where he is currently engaged in advancing dairy transformation initiatives aimed at enhancing productivity, strengthening value chains, improving farmer incomes and promoting sustainable livestock-based livelihoods. His work involves programme implementation, stakeholder engagement, capacity building, knowledge management and development of evidence-based interventions that support inclusive growth within the dairy sector. Working in partnership with government institutions, cooperative societies, industry stakeholders and development organizations, contributing towards enhancing the sustainability and efficiency of the dairy ecosystem.

With over 14 years of experience in agricultural project management, policy development, and rural development, he has contributed to initiatives that strengthen agricultural systems and rural livelihoods. Prior to joining CII FACE, he worked with Ernst & Young as a consultant to the Government of Meghalaya, supporting agricultural strategy, policy development, research, and stakeholder coordination.

Dr. Walling holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from Nagaland University. His expertise spans project management, research, and policy, with a strong focus on sustainable and inclusive agricultural development.

Beyond his professional responsibilities, he is passionate about basketball and committed to promoting inclusive and sustainable development that improves the livelihoods of rural communities.

Manish is a Director at CII FACE, leading the Food vertical. As part of this vertical, he leads the CII National Committee on Food Processing industries, which includes work related to Food Safety, Quality and Regulatory aspects, executed through stakeholder’s engagement, policy advocacy, regulatory facilitation, capacity building, and knowledge dissemination, to strengthen Trade, investment and compliance outcomes for the industry.

He has had the opportunity to contribute towards the Task Forces at the Prime Minister’s office, Niti Aayog, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Food processing industries, Ministry of Agriculture and Family welfare, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade.

Additionally, he has been a part of the core CII team, that engaged with the Government for convening and organising the World Food India, Eat Right Movement, Organic Food Festival, and Made in India.

He holds a Masters in Business Law (MBL) from National Law School of India University(NLSIU), Bengaluru, a Masters in Science (MS - Consultancy Management) from Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani and a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management (PGDBM) from Centre for Management Development (CMD), Modi Nagar.