Prof. S.K. Nataraj is the Associate Director and Professor at the Centre for Nano and Material Sciences (CNMS), Jain University, Bangalore, India. He obtained his PhD in Membrane-Based Separation Processes for Industrial Effluent Treatment (2008) from the Centre of Excellence in Polymer Science (CEPS), Karnatak University, Dharwad, India.

Following his PhD, Prof. Nataraj held several prestigious postdoctoral positions: Alan G MacDiarmid Energy Research Institute (AMERI), Chonnam National University, South Korea (2007–2009); Institute of Atomic Molecular Sciences (IAMS), Academia Sinica, Taiwan (2010–2011), focusing on ion-exchange membranes for fuel cells; and Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, UK (2010–2013), where he was a Qatar University Visiting Fellow and later a full-time Postdoctoral Research Associate.

He returned to India as a DST-INSPIRE Faculty Fellow (2013–2015) at CSIR-CSMCRI, Bhavnagar, leading research on sustainable materials and processes for energy and environmental applications, including supercapacitors, fuel cells, membrane-based wastewater treatment, and functional nanomaterials.

Prof. Nataraj serves on the editorial boards of several prestigious journals, including Chemical Engineering Journal (Editor), AQUA – Water Infrastructure, Ecosystems and Society (Associate Editor), JOVE, Frontiers in Membrane Science and Technology, among others. He has authored 5 books, over 220 research articles, 14 US/PCT patents, 45+ book chapters, and edited 1 book. He has guided 18 PhD students, delivered 60+ invited talks, and has over 8,300 citations. His work has been featured in publications such as Nature Asia and Outlook, and he has been recognized as a Top 2% Researcher globally by Stanford University for the past six years.

Dr. Devi Ramamoorthy, Founder of ThaalChemy Innovations, is an eminent researcher holding a Ph.D. in Polymer Science from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM), where she graduated in 2010. With over 17 years of extensive experience spanning both research and industrial sectors, her profound expertise in polymers is widely recognized.

Her comprehensive research endeavours have culminated in the development of groundbreaking patented technologies, clearly demonstrating her inventive prowess and unwavering commitment to advancing scientific frontiers. Dr. Devi Ramamoorthy's diligent efforts have been acknowledged through the successful acquisition of four patent applications and two esteemed Indian patent grants.

Driven by a profound dedication to sustainable and transformative green materials, Dr. Devi Ramamoorthy continues to inspire through her sophisticated scientific methodologies and her steadfast resolve to make a significant impact within the polymer field. Her pioneering contributions, particularly in the realms of polyurethane and cellulose nanocrystals, are instrumental in forging a path toward a more sustainable and technologically advanced future. Presently, ThaalChemy Innovations, located in Chennai, possesses the operational capacity to convert 2000 metric tons of PU foam annually into high-value polyurethane raw material.

A visionary leader and an ardent advocate for MSMEs, Jayant Khadilkar stands at the forefront of innovation in the polymer industry. With a master’s degree in Organic Chemistry from the Institute of Science, Mumbai University, and a management diploma from Jamanalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, his academic background is as robust as his professional journey.

Starting his career with HOECHEST Pharmaceuticals, a German company, Jayant dedicated 12 years to mastering the intricacies of pharmaceutical production. In 1990, at the age of 38, he embarked on an entrepreneurial journey, founding JAY ELASTOMERS PVT. LTD., a company specializing in Polyurethane products. Under his leadership as Managing Director, the company has flourished, earning numerous MSME competitive awards and forging international partnerships to innovate durable ceramic-coated rubber rolls for the steel industry.

Jayant’s expertise is recognized globally, with presentations at prestigious conferences such as the American Society’s Polyurethane conferences and the Aberdeen Conference, UK. His keynote speech at the Tokyo Recycling Conference 2019 underscored his commitment to sustainable practices in waste management, contributing significantly to the circular economy.

His contributions to defense are noteworthy, with projects like the PLSV Rocket Clamp Lining and Radiation Resistant Tyers for nuclear fuel transport. His association with the Naval Material Research Laboratory since 1995 has led to the development of High-Density Model making Foam for Frigate Ship construction. First ever indigenously developed SYNTACTIC FOAM is a feather in his cap. Acidic and temperature stable special adhesive sealant using Cashew Nutshell based Bio resin is another significant achievement will be patented soon.

Jayant’s innovative spirit has been recognized with awards from the Indian Polyurethane Association, SKOCH-NSE, and CII-SR, among others.

IAMOT-NITTE and SME 100 awards have recognized his efforts. His work has not only earned accolades but has also positioned him as a thought leader in the industry.

Jayant Khadilkar’s journey is a testament to his belief in innovation, sustainability, and the power of MSMEs to drive economic growth. His current focus on recycling waste management reflects his dedication to creating a better future for industry and the planet.

Vivek Savla has been instrumental in modernizing India’s cold storage sector through the adoption of cutting-edge technologies such as Controlled Atmosphere storage and mechanized handling systems. He has set industry benchmarks by pioneering:

• India’s first APEDA-accredited packhouse for fresh fruit and vegetable exports to the EU.
• Customs-bonded cold storage facilities.
• Fully automated Hot Water Treatment systems for mango exports.

Under his leadership, Savla Foods doubled its storage capacity from 15,000 to 30,000 metric tons, becoming the largest privately owned single-location cold storage in Asia. He has also implemented SOPs for fruit and vegetable exports in collaboration with the Government of India, upgraded refrigeration systems for energy efficiency, and introduced new ERP and IT systems for seamless operations.

Mr Savla has received multiple awards for excellence, including “Best Cold Chain” by CII in 2016 and 2017.

Mr. Narendra K. Modi – General Manager (Planning & Coordination), Gujarat Sports Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (GSID), Deputy Director and Technical Advisor , Asian Development Bank.

Mr. Narendra K. Modi is a seasoned infrastructure professional with over 40 years of public sector experience, currently serving as General Manager (Planning & Coordination) at Gujarat Sports Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (GSID). As Deputy Director and Technical Advisor, ADB and General Manager, Planning & Coordination, GSID he is at the forefront of planning and executing world-class sports infrastructure projects that form the backbone of India’s aspirations to host the 2036 Olympic Games.

Previously, as the first-ever Nodal Officer of the Olympic Cell at AUDA, he led India’s maiden Olympic infrastructure readiness study for Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. His portfolio includes pioneering projects such as the Karai Police Sports Academy, the Manipur-Godhavi Sports Complex, and the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex—each reflecting his focus on sustainability, accessibility, and athlete-centric design. As Deputy Director and Technical Advisor, he is assisting two Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on a project aimed at developing Ahmedabad’s peri-urban areas with Urban Growth Centres and constructing ten bridges over the Sardar Patel Ring Road (Ahmedabad). He is also the former Chief City Engineer for infrastructure development and the water department.

With deep expertise in urban governance, stakeholder coordination, and global financing frameworks, Mr. Modi continues to play a pivotal role in shaping India’s sports infrastructure landscape.

Mr Pratik Deshmukh is working as the Design Lead at Prashant Deshmukh and Associates and Technical Director at Prashant Deshmukh Projects Pvt Ltd. He has been part of PDA for last 14 years. He is also Director of Adwiyash Ventures which is a Waterproofing and Concrete surface finishes application company. He has done his Architecture from UK.He has also completed his Diploma in Interior Designing from MMSID. During his Diploma he was the elected class representative of his batch. He has worked on various projects such as Interiors for Sahara Ambey Valley, Architecture for Industries such as Kone Cranes,Toyota forms, Indus Industries Private limited, Glatt etc He has also worked with Indian Railway Institute for Civil Engineers to Develop their Hostel Building as well as Classroom Complex at Koregaon Park Pune.

He is currently working with. Gati Shakti, unit of the Indian Railways. On. Redevelopment of railway stations. He is also working with the Animal Husbandry Department to develop a testing centre. At all for various disease investigations. He was also part of. The advisory committee. On International Conference on Introspection of Sustainable Development Goals. He was also part of the team that designed Hager India Private Limited.

Industrial complex. At. Phulgaon. which we received. National recognition from SSMB and was selected as one of the best Industrial Projects in 2018. He is proficient in German as well as Japanese language. He represented India through Rotary Youth exchange programme after his 10th to Japan. He also represented his Japanese school at the interschool badminton competition where he stood 3rd. Other passions include singing, dancing and travelling the World.

Shailesh Patwardhan is a highly experienced architect known for his leadership in design innovation and technical excellence. With a career spanning diverse sectors, he has contributed to the successful delivery of numerous high-profile projects, particularly in the areas of façade systems, material integration, and sustainable design. His approach blends creative vision with practical execution, making him a respected voice in the architectural community. As Head of the Architecture Department at Arnita, he continues to influence the evolution of contemporary design practices through his strategic and detail-oriented perspective.

Sanjay Gupta is a seasoned professional with over four decades of experience in the footwear components industry. As the President of the Indian Footwear Components Manufacturers Association (IFCOMA), he has been at the forefront of promoting innovation, quality, and growth in the sector. He is also the Director of Sandeep Rubber Industries, a legacy company founded in 1967 by his father, which he has successfully led to become a prominent manufacturer of rubber sheets and soles. With deep technical knowledge and hands-on expertise, Mr. Gupta is a strong advocate for local production, standardization, and the adoption of India-specific shoe sizes to boost domestic manufacturing. He plays an active role in shaping policy and industry practices as a Governing Council Member of the Footwear Design & Development Institute (FDDI) and a Steering Committee Member of the BIS Footwear Committee. Under his leadership, IFCOMA has launched initiatives such as the Components Display Showroom to highlight advancements in the industry. Mr. Gupta is committed to supporting India’s ambition to reach a $26 billion footwear market by 2030 through a focus on R&D, skill development, and strategic industry partnerships.

Mehul Parikh , is a 1995 batch BE Civil graduate from Pune University with over 3 decades’ experience as a Specialist in Waterproofing , Specialty Construction products and Building Envelope Protection solutions .

He is also a former member of the Board of Directors for the India Chapter of American Concrete Institute.

After completing his B.E , Mehul joined his family’s business at “ NINA “ successfully taking forward its legacy by introducing and pioneering adoption in India of several global best practices in waterproofing and specialty construction solutions and led NINA in its journey towards becoming India’s largest specialist turnkey waterproofing contractor. Post the acquisition in Apr’ 2015 by Pidilite, Mehul continued as MD of Nina Percept. Pvt. Ltd till Mar’24.

While at Nina, Mehul has authored and secured a Patent for an innovative basement waterproofing system and is also one of the Co Authors for the Hand Book on Waterproofing published by Indian Concrete Institute .

He is currently a member of the BIS Sectional Committee on waterproofing- CED41 and is part of a team of industry experts working with CIDC towards drafting various essential codes pertaining to waterproofing.

From April’24 Mehul has moved into a larger strategic role within Pidilite as President of Customer Service Group for CC business , where he leads multiple teams that manage Lead Generation , Innovation process , Training Centres , Application management Group , Advanced Diagnostics Lab and Special Structural Repairs business.

Santosh S. Warick, Chief Fire Officer & Fire Advisor of MIDC Fire Service and Director, Maharashtra Fire Service, has got three decades of experience in the field of fire prevention and protection; he has served on various positions in MIDC Fire Services. He is a Science graduate, he is gold medalist from National Fire Service College, Nagpur, and he is MBA in Finance and Law Graduate. He has got expertise in firefighting of various occupancies and implementation of Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures as per National Building Codes of India. He has successfully handled various industrial projects, special townships, SEZs and IT parks in Maharashtra. He is member on various committees of Bureau of Indian Standards on fire and life safety. He has awarded with President Fire Service Medal for Meritorious and Distinguish service.

Vidur Berry leads FM Approvals’ operations across India, the Middle East, and Africa.

With over 17 years of experience at FM and FM Approvals, Vidur has held diverse roles and is widely recognized for his expertise in risk engineering, fire science, product testing, and loss prevention. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and has undergone advanced technical training at FM’s research facilities in the United States.

FM Approvals, founded in 1886, is an international leader in third-party testing and certification of products that support property loss prevention in commercial and industrial properties. Its parent company, FM (formerly FM Global), is the world’s largest insurance company for commercial and industrial property. FM provides its client-owners with comprehensive solutions in risk management and engineering-driven loss prevention, helping safeguard assets and ensure operational resilience.

Vidur brings a unique blend of technical depth and regional insight, making him a valuable voice in conversations around safety, resilience, and innovation in industrial risk management.

Mr. Isaac Emmanuel has been immersed in the world of polymers for the past 30+ years in various capacities of Sales, Marketing, Business Development, Advocacy, Innovation and Sustainability, and almost all his career with the company which has invented high-tech materials – Bayer MaterialScience/Covestro.

He has pioneered introductions of new materials into the country as well as innovations involving affordable housing, food security and agro-waste usage for construction.

His industry contributions have been as (past) Executive Committee Member of the Indian Polyurethane Association (IPUA), as well as the interlocutor for India Insulation Forum and the Spray Foam Alliance of India; he was also Editor – PU Today, the magazine of IPUA, from 2019 - 25.

Isaac’s last assignment was with the Inclusive Business arm of Covestro (India) where solutions based on sustainable innovations cater to the housing, food, water and sanitation security of underserved communities.

Currently he is Professor of Practice at Somaiya Vidyavihar University Dept of Polymer Science while consulting with few sustainable tech startups including solar cold stores & chemical recycling. He is also Director in two startups related to the agricultural field.

Isaac has a Masters in Polymer Chemistry and is based out of Navi Mumbai.

He completed his B.Tech from Anna University Chennai & Postgraduate in Marketing Management from NMIMS Mumbai.

He has over 32 years’ experience in the specialty chemicals industry.

He is a seasoned commercial leader with earlier stints at companies like Honeywell International, Vertellus / Aurorium, Engelhard / BASF & VVF with a successful history of Business Management, Sales & Marketing, Channel Management, Product Marketing, Customer Centricity & Business Development in a wide spectrum of industries.

In his current role as VP of Jayant Agro-Organics, he is responsible for Sales & Marketing, Business Development of Bio Based Polyols & Castor Derivatives for various end use markets and instrumental in driving the company’s vision toward sustainable development & innovation.

With over 20 years of expertise in slabstock polyurethane foam, Jomi Thomas specializes in raw materials, machinery, and formulation of various foam grades. He currently serves as the General Manager – Operations at Duroflex Pvt. Ltd.

Session Insights:

• Use of bio polyols in flexible PU foam manufacturing
• Low VOC / VOC-free production of flexible foam
• Foam compliances and certifications

Nikhil Kharkar is Consulting Solutions, Marsh Advisory Practice Leader in India. He manages a team of consulting engineers who specialize in Property Loss Control, Logistics Risk Management, Business Interruption Advocacy, Insurance Valuation and Fire Life Safety Consulting. Nikhil’s core technical activities include coordinating Global Property Loss Control Programs with clients and consulting them to improve their Risk Quality with an objective to achieve HPR status. He and his team conduct evaluations of fire protection systems and carrying out Loss Prevention and safety visits. (under-writing information, risk improvement recommendations, providing fire protection specifications, Pre-Acquisition Risk Assessment, Pre-Construction Assessment, Fire Protection Improvement project reviews, consultation on new construction/renovation projects and due diligence visits prior to acquisitions.

Nikhil’s work experience in the field of Risk Management is 18 years and a total Industry experience of 30+ years. Nikhil joined Marsh in 2013 after working with FM Global for 6 years, the last 2 months as Engineering Specialist in evaluating Dust Explosion Hazards in food, pharma, tyre and power stations. Some of the occupancies evaluated are automobile and ancillary manufacturing set ups, food processing, secondary pharmaceutical locations, machine shops, rubber tire manufacturing and plastic processing and offices. Apart from evaluating high-challenge occupancies such as Power Plants and Paper Mills. Nikhil’s expertise is into evaluation of Combustible Dust Explosion Risks apart from Fire Protection Consulting. He has also evaluated mission critical server farms, reliability review of power and air conditioning systems from clean rooms from fire and smoke damage in the Electronic Data Processing environment. In addition, evaluation of Nat Cat exposures and providing engineered solutions to clients to reduce the damage and the downtime is also one of his expertise. In addition, Nikhil has lead more than 250 Risk Engineering Consulting Projects.

Nikhil has 12 years of experience in the field of Fire Protection & Detection industry, which includes design and troubleshooting special fire protection systems and detection systems. He had been involved in revising the corporate fire protection systems specifications for India’s largest power Utility company from 1997 to 1999 when he served as Sr. Design Engineer in Vijay Fire Protection System Pvt. Ltd in Mumbai. At Tyco Fire & Security in Bengaluru he was Regional Sales Manager for the Southern region, prior to which he was Technical Support Manager for water-based, special protection and detection systems.

Arvind Surange is the senior most project consultant in Cold chain & allied fields in India. He is ASHRAE Fellow Life Member and Past President of ISHRAE. He is Associated with ACR and Cold Chain for over 62 years

Hi introduced many technological innovations 1) such as integrated Cold Chain Projects. 2) Application of sandwich panels for Cold Chain Projects Construction (1985–1990) and many more. He was the first to introduce the concept of Green Cold Chain Design at a global level in 2008, which has been acknowledged in various publications, including ASHRAE and ISHRAE, GCCA etc. on Global Scale. He Chaired ISHRAE’s Global First Green Cold Chain Conclave held on in Pune.

He is a past member of ASHRAE Refrigeration Committee and past REF Chair of ASHRAE RAL, His Work on Sustainable Cold Chain has also been acknowledged in ASHRAE Refrigeration Facility Guide.

He is a Chairman and Managing Director of ACR Project Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and a recipient of many prestigious awards such as Life time Service Award from ISHRAE & Life time Achievement Award form Rotary Club, GCCA & ASHRAE- UNEP Award for Sustainable Cold Chain Project Design.

A seasoned polyurethane industry professional with over a decade of experience spanning technical and commercial functions, including an international assignment in South-East Asia. A chemical engineer by education and an alumnus of the Executive Management Program at IIM Bangalore, bringing a strong blend of technical depth and strategic business acumen. Demonstrated expertise in managing diverse clientele across India—both independently and within lean, high-performing teams. Known for a hands-on approach, strong industry understanding, and a proven ability to drive business growth and customer satisfaction across multiple market segments. Additionally, actively involved in leading sustainability-focused initiatives and related projects within the polyurethane domain, aligning innovation with environmental responsibility.

Mr. Veeraj Patil is the Managing Partner at Rising Japan Infra Mumbai LLP, a manufacturing company specializing in innovative and sustainable building solutions. He is actively promoting Prefabricated construction material and systems to numerous residential, commercial, and industrial projects across India.

His expertise lies in modern construction materials, project execution, and business development. Under his leadership, the company has developed advanced systems such as Rising EPS Cement Sandwich Panels, promoting faster, eco-friendly, and cost-efficient construction.

Mr. Veeraj is passionate about integrating technology with sustainable practices to shape the future of construction in India.