Governing Council

Organisation: Indian Foreign Service

Designation: Ambassador (Retd)

Formerly
Prime Minister of India’s Special Envoy
Secretary Ministry of External Affairs &
UN Secretary General’s Personal Representative in Cambodia/Indonesia

Ambassador Lakhan Mehrotra , formerly Prime Minister's Special Envoy and Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1958. He is a Gold Medalist in Sanskrit from Allahabad University and apart from Hindi and English also knows Tibetan, Russian and Spanish. During his Indian Foreign Service career, he served, inter alia, as India’s Liaison Officer with the Dalai Lama at Dharamsala, Consul in the Consuate General as well as First Secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the U.N. in New York, Consul General in San Francisco, Chargẻ d’Affaires (Head of Mission) in China, Mexico, Cuba, Panama and Costa Rica, Deputy Chief of Mission with the rank of Ambassador in Moscow, Ambassador of India to Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Yugoslavia, and High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka. While in Sri Lanka, he also served as President of the Colombo Plan. At the headquarters, Ambassador Mehrotra, inter alia, served as Director/ Head of the Northern Division, as Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs and as Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Africa which gave him the opportunity to interact personally with African leaders like President Mubarak, President Nyerere and President Kaunda. He also organized Mr. Nelson Mandela’s visit to India as Secretary of the National Committee for it.


After his retirement from the Indian Foreign Service in 1992, Ambassador Mehrotra was awarded the Jawaharlal Nehru Fellowship to work for two years on South Asia while serving as Honorary Professor at the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University and as Coordinator, South Asia at the Centre for Contemporary Studies, Rajiv Gandhi Foundation. Ambassador Mehrotra’s work as Nehru Fellow was published by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations in 1997 under the title Towards a South Asian Community. He has also authored several other works, namely, Essays on the Art and Culture of India, Vignettes from India, Vignettes from Nehru, Mexico, My Days in Sri Lanka. 
in 1995 and The Odyssey of a Diplomat in 2020. Ambassador Mehrotra received the Man of Achievement Award from the International Biographical Institute, Cambridge. He was International Director of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan for a year before he left for Cambodia in 1997 to serve as UN Secretary General’s Personal Representative in Cambodia for three years and UN’s Envoy in Jakarta from 2000-2003. King Sihanouk conferred on him the Saha Maitreyi Award, Cambodia’s highest honour for foreigners for having obtained the surrender of the Khmer Rouge and supervising democratic elections there. He also received the President’s Gold Medal in East Timor for negotiating peace with Indonesia.

Ambassador Mehrotra was President of the Antar Rashtriya Sahayog Parishad from 1996 to 2002 and Vice President of the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, Shimla from 2003-2005. He is the Founder President of The Centre for International Relations and Community Well-being, Gurgaon.

Organisation: None

Designation: Consultant

Vinod Sobti is a distinguished alumnus of IIT Kharagpur ( 1967 batch ). He has been founding member of Management and Law schools at IIT. He has over 50 years experience in Oil & Gas industry having worked with L&T; and as senior consultant to international companies in U.S. and Japan dealing with projects in Refineries, Petrochemicals and Fertiliser industry.

Vinod was Chairman of Oil & Gas Division of CII in 1986-88 and led Indian industry delegations to Russia and France. Currently besides running his consulting firm in Gurgaon; Vinod loves travelling having achieved United Airlines million miles club and is an avid golfer.

He is an ardent supporter and a volunteer of Earth Saviours Foundation ( NGO ) contributing to welfare of abandoned and old people.

Organisation: Indian Foreign Service

Designation: Ambassador (Retd)

A career diplomat, who served in the Ministry of External Affairs, Govt. of India and in a number of Indian Diplomatic Missions abroad holding various senior and prestigious positions including Ambassadorial assignments before his retirement from the Indian Foreign Service .

Mr Singh carries with him vast experience in divergent fields. He is associated with a number of social organizations. He takes keen interest in debates concerning social, political, economic and cultural fields at various national and international fora. He is heading the DLF City Phase-III Residents` Welfare Association since June, 2008

Organisation: Dehadrai & Co.

Designation: Managing Partner

Over 45 years of corporate experience in the Media and Infrastructure sector; as General Manager of the Times of India, Country Head for Sumitomo Corporation India, CEO & VP Strategic Planning at the Hindustan Times & Country Director for Lexis Nexis India. Have served as the President of the Gurgaon Industrial Association.

Organisation: CIRC

Designation: Secretary

Three decade corporate experience in the infrastructure sector primarily in the steel and mining field, alternative energy fields, negotiating Public and Private Partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures with soft and commercial financing.

Organisation: Tradax Worldwide International Marketing Consultants

Designation: President

A C Bansal alumnus IIT Delhi 1968 batch. Distinguished career spanning over 30 years with ICI including secondment to ICI UK and Kenya. Currently President Tradax Worldwide International Marketing Consultancy and President Ambuja Solvex P Ltd cosmetic ingredient manufacturer with global strategy and market development responsibility. Actively engaged with global cosmetic industry including Trade Shows at Paris, Milan,New York,Seoul,Bangkok etc. Senior industry specific resource with GLG-US based consulting group. Global traveler, a voracious reader and avid golfer. Actively involved with performing arts having led the Fine Arts Society at IIT with several stage performance plays. Currently Executive Member-Governing Council ACAC Gurgaon-NGO promoting performing arts. Also Patron The Golf Foundation. His family is culturally inclined towards fine art with an inclination towards supporting the underprivileged.

Organisation: Indian Foreign Service

Designation: Ambassador (Retd)

Member of the Indian Foreign service who retired as an ambassador in 2012. Served as Deputy Permanent Representative of India to UN and other international organizations in Vienna. Currently independent analyst India's foreign policy and international relations.

Organisation: None

Designation: None

Graduated in Civil Engg from IIT Kharagpur. Worked in Railways in India and deputation abroad. Later worked in Middle East including Iraq, Saudi, Oman, Kuwait etc.

Returned to India to join DLF. As head of construction, was involved in all top class buildings including Residential, Commercial, Malls as well as Golf Courses. Retired after occupying positions of CEO, Director etc

Organisation: Dua Associates

Designation: Partner

Mohd Iqbal Butt is a Partner of Dua Associates, a leading law firm of India. He practices in the areas of Corporate & Commercial, with focus on mergers and acquisitions involving drafting/negotiating of definitive agreements and foreign direct investments into India.

Iqbal also advises clients on compliances with applicable laws within which business may be conducted. He is also advising non-profit organizations in setting their operations and advising on their operations and foreign contributions. Iqbal holds B.Sc. from University of Jammu and LL.B. from the University of Delhi. He is in legal practice since 1993.

Organisation: RJ Corp

Designation: Advisor

Engineer by qualification with over 4 decades of experience in corporate world having occupied senior or top positions in organisations such as Singer, Gautier, Hettich, Pepsi & Budweiser etc.

Organisation: The Supreme Court of India

Designation: Advocate

IES, advocate Supreme court of India, specialist in civil matters

Organisation: None

Designation: None

Vinod Masson is an industry veteran with experience spanning over 50 years. He spent 35 years at Crompton Greaves, including 8+ years as SBU head for Transformers business, and 8 years at Transformers & Rectifiers as Executive Director and Head of strategy. For the past over 4 years he has been a director with a leading electrical manufacturing firm based in Hyderabad. Post retirement, he still holds significant and long standing relationships in the Power Sector, particularly in Transformers, Switchgear and Reactor industries in India and globally. He was actively involved in Industry bodies - Chairman of Transformer Divisions of IEema and Vice President of CIGRE India- International body of Electrical Engineers. In addition to his advisory work, he is an avid golfer and an active member of the community he lives in.

Organisation: LARSEN & TOUBRO

Designation: Senior Vice President (Retd)

1. EDUCATION:--- B. Tech (Mechanical) from I.I.T. Delhi
2. PROFFESSINAL EXPERIENCE:---Retired As Senior Vice President. LARSEN &TOUBRO. ( Head of Hazira
Manufacturing Complex Surat.)
>Most of my 45 years career in L&T spent in Manufacturing (Heavy Fabrication & Machining)
>Underwent 3 months practical training in J.M.Voith Germany in 1974. Later responsibility shifted to
overseas procurement of raw materials, plant & machinery, and International buisness.
>Since 1985, worked on planning, layout, project Finace/Loans for setting up of new Heavy Engineering
Complex at Hazira & later shifted residence to Surat in 1988, when initial phase for ready for production.
> During the 25 years spent there the works grew from a200 Acre plot to 1000Acres, and so did its
Manufacturing Capability & Capacity.
3. EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERSHIPS:---
>Served on boards of following Joint Ventures of L&T along with members of Public undertakings, Foreign
Nationals,& Other Government officials.
a)L&T Joint ventures with M/s Mitsibushi Heavy Industry Japan for coal based power plant equipment.
L&T MHI Boilers Pvt LTD, and L&T MHI Turbine Generators Pvt Ltd. From Jan2010 onwards.
b) Appointed director in L&T Port & Ship building joint venture with Tamil Nadu Industrial Corp Chennai
c) Served on the board of L&T Special Steels & Heavy Forging Facility, in joint venture with Nuclear
Power Corporation of India, for making Nuclear Grade Forgings in India.
4. ACCOLADES AND AFFILIATIANS:---
. Received Chief Executive of the year’ Award from Sth Gujrat Chamber of Commerce & Industry (2007-08)
.President of Hazira Area Industries Association for 6 years ( Nov 1999 ---Oct 2005)
. Member of Hazira Area Advisory Committee, of Hazira Notified Area.
. Member of Social Welfare Committee of CII—Delhi ( 2001-02).

Organisation: None

Designation: Senior Executive (Retd)

Retired as a Senior Executive capable of managing large businesses in
international environment through various kinds of economic cycles.
*Leader and strategic thinker.
*Keen interest in current affairs. Maintained excellent relations with the Embassy
of India and its Ambassadors and most of other foreign Missions and their HOMs
based in Kuwait.
During over 3 decades stay in Kuwait before 2013, was associated with Gulf
Bank as Advisor to its Chairman.
Was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Alghanim Industries
which is one of the top Companies in Kuwait.
Business consultant in Malaysia from 2013 onwards.
India work experience includes of Union Carbide (lndia) Ltd. and Mohan Meakin
Breweries etc.
Intend to return to India from Malaysia for settling down in Gurgaon and set up
a medium size business and do community service.

Organisation: Axis Bank

Designation: Zonal Head

Masters in Physics from University of Delhi and PGPMX from IIM, Indore. A career Banker with 37 years of experience having worked with leading Banks, both in the Public (PNB) and Private Sectors (HDFC Bank and Axis Bank). Last major posting was as Zonal Head, Credit Risk, Corporate Banking, North India in Axis Bank. Won several Awards, both in International and National Competitions in the fields of professional academics. Notably has been the Youngest Award Winner (Ranked IInd) in the Annual International Competition organised by the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), Delhi. A Life member of IIPA. Recently superannuated. 

Academically inclined. Nature lover. A keen Yog and Golf enthusiast.