Jury 2026

Aman Ullah serves as the Head of Corporate Media for Asia-Pacific and the Middle East at HSBC, overseeing strategic communications across these key global regions. With a career spanning over 25 years, he possesses high-level expertise in media relations, reputation management, and public relations. His professional trajectory includes a decade-long tenure as Director at Perfect Relations and a senior leadership role as Head of Communications for HSBC India. Academically, he holds a Master’s in Financial Management from the Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Mumbai. This robust financial background, combined with his extensive corporate experience, enables him to navigate complex global media landscapes with precision and strategic insight.

Ashan Jayatilaka is a strategic communications leader with over 20 years of experience shaping corporate reputation, brand purpose, and stakeholder engagement. He drives integrated communications, reputation management, and corporate brand development for Sri Lanka’s most diversified conglomerate. Passionate about elevating communications as a business enabler, he focuses on purpose-led storytelling, cultural transformation, and modernising communication ecosystems. As Secretary of the PR Association of Sri Lanka, he champions professional ethics and industry development. A published author and storyteller, Ashan explores the intersection of creativity and strategy through fiction and thought leadership.

Bishnupriya Narayan is a senior communications leader with 20+ years of experience shaping corporate reputation and stakeholder communication strategies across Asia Pacific and India.

She has led communications for globally respected organizations including the Singapore Tourism Board, Dream Sports, Akasa Air, and currently heads Communications at L&T Realty. With deep expertise across technology, energy, FMCG, mobility and real estate, she has led digital-first, data-driven campaigns, crisis response programs, and thought leadership initiatives. Known for her ability to counsel, and partner effectively with C-suite executives, Bishnupriya brings a deep understanding of business and reputation risk, enabling her to design communication strategies that support enterprise growth, transformation, and long-term brand equity. Bishnupriya’s contribution to the industry has been recognised through multiple industry awards and actively champions diversity, inclusion, and professional excellence within the communications community.

Bratin Roy is the Director of Corporate Affairs at AB InBev India, where he leads strategic communications and reputation management. With nearly two decades of experience, he possesses a proven track record in media relations, crisis communications, and storytelling across diverse sectors like FMCG, lifestyle, and finance. Previously, he held senior leadership roles at Raymond Limited and Reliance Communications, focusing on corporate communications roadmaps. His expertise is grounded in a background of managing impact stories and building strong client relationships within global organisations.

Deeptha Rajkumar is Director and Head of Group Communications, India at Deutsche Bank, based in Mumbai. She leads strategic communications and reputation management for the bank’s India franchise, advising senior leadership on stakeholder engagement, media relations, and narrative positioning during periods of business transformation and market scrutiny.

With over two decades of experience across financial journalism and strategic communications, Deeptha brings a strong editorial lens to corporate storytelling. Prior to joining Deutsche Bank, she was Vice President – Financial Services at Adfactors PR, where she advised C‑suite leaders on high‑stakes reputation strategy and crisis management. Earlier, she spent nearly 20 years as a senior financial journalist with The Economic Times and The Hindu Business Line, covering banking, markets, and corporate India. She is known for translating complex business developments into clear, credible narratives grounded in context and fact.

Gaurav Laghate is a strategic communicator and editorial leader with over 17 years of experience across the media, entertainment, sports, and retail sectors. He currently serves as the Head of Corporate Brand, PR, and Corporate Communications at Sony Pictures Networks India, where he leverages a unique blend of newsroom agility and storytelling depth. Previously, he held senior editorial leadership roles at prominent publications such as Mint and The Economic Times, managing high-impact narratives and stakeholder relationships. Gaurav is recognised for his ability to navigate complex media landscapes and advise on executive positioning and content strategy. He holds a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Rai University International and a Bachelor of Arts from Jiwaji University.

Kamlesh Kumar Sharma is a seasoned Public Affairs and Communications leader with over 26 years of experience shaping reputation, narrative, and cultural relevance for some of India’s most respected organisations. His work sits at the intersection of corporate strategy, public trust, and storytelling spanning Corporate Communications, Public Affairs, CSR, and Sustainability across both listed and privately held enterprises in the services and manufacturing sectors.

He currently serves as Head of Communications at TVS Motor Company, where he steers brand voice and stakeholder engagement for one of India’s most iconic mobility brands. Previously, he has led the Public Affairs, Communications, and Sustainability mandate for Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCB), and served as Director of Corporate Communications for Coca-Cola India and Southwest Asia, shaping narratives at scale, for one of the world’s most influential brands.

An MBA in Marketing, Kamlesh began his career at Rediffusion DY&R, grounding himself in the craft of ideas before moving to a corporate role at Bharti Airtel.

Among his most cherished professional milestones is collaborating with maestros Dr. Ilaiyaraaja and Gulzar to create the corporate brand anthem for HCCB. He occasionally shares his perspectives on @kkschats.

Michelle Samuel is a distinguished global leader in corporate communications with a rich career working with Mondelēz International, Bayer, Monsanto in the food & agriculture, biotechnology, and consumer goods sectors, in addition to successful agency experience across the U.S., Singapore, and India. She has earned acclaim for her work on reputation management, media campaigns, internal and executive thought leadership, stakeholder advocacy, and brand PR and influencer marketing including winning a prestigious Cannes Lion Award.

In her current role as Mondelēz International's Global Director - Communications, Michelle leads the global strategy for internal communications, focusing on employee engagement, executive communication/ thought leadership, and closely partners with global, regional, and business leaders/teams to drive the company strategy. In addition, she has also dual hatted as the Chief of Staff for the Corporate and Legal Affairs function, working closely with business leaders across Communications, Government Affairs, Sustainability, and Legal.

Michelle is recognized for her inclusive, creative, and results-driven approach, her ability to foster partnerships with C-suite leaders and collaborate up-down-and-across, as well as her optimistic, culturally agile leadership style. She values impact, learning, and growth, actively champions D&I initiatives, mentors emerging leaders, and contributes to non-profit organizations dedicated to children’s education and the arts. Beyond her professional sphere, Michelle’s artistic talents include clay art, professional dance and singing, with a broad appreciation for various music genres, including jazz, blues, country, and pop.

Her leadership philosophy is grounded in the belief that effective leadership involves asking the right questions, embracing continuous learning, and staying curious and open to inspiration from any source. Her simple mantra: “Listen. Learn. Lead.”

Mittal Solanki, is a strategic communications professional with extensive experience in the BFSI space. She currently serves as the Head of Corporate Communications at Axis Mutual Fund, following a nearly 14 years tenure at Axis Bank where she held progressive leadership roles including Vice President. Her expertise encompasses integrated communications strategy, crisis management, and online reputation management for diverse sectors like digital banking, wealth management, and insurance. Previously, she managed external media communications for ICICI Lombard and handled prominent retainer clients at Adfactors PR. Academically, she holds a Master’s in International Relations from Jawaharlal Nehru University and a PGDM in Advertising and Public Relations from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication.

Nanda is one of the few SCMP® Certified Communicators in India, and has over two decades of experience spanning Business and Corporate Communications, Branding, Policy Advocacy, Media, and Publishing. Over the years, she has successfully built national and international PR and Communications functions from ground up, directed award-winning nationwide PR campaigns, steered policy advocacy, and led DEI and crisis communication initiatives. She currently heads Brand and Communications at Capitalmind.

A dynamic leader with 20+ years of experience, Nidhi blends capital markets rigor with award-winning storytelling. Currently heading Corporate Communications and Investor Relations at Tata Consumer Products, she and her team have architected high-impact narratives recognized by the Stevie International Business Awards, LACP, India Digital Awards (IDA), and ICL Forums. A pioneer in organic growth, under her leadership, they scaled LinkedIn 5x to 500,000+ followers and secured 700+ Tier A media mentions in their media outreach. By integrating AI-enabled content and modernizing the intranet platform with 94% adoption, she brings a unique lens on building authentic brand architecture that drives enterprise value.

Padma Venkataraman is Head of Communications and Design at the Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS), where she anchors institutional branding and reputation, stakeholder engagement, and programme communications across IIHS’ wide portfolio comprising practice, research, capacity development, digital blended learning, and IIHS University. Her focus is on building clear narratives and designing systems that mainstream complex ideas into accessible public value, while holding communications to measurable outcomes.

With over two decades of experience, Padma has worked across television, advertising, public relations, corporate communications, and development communications, spanning national and international mandates. She focuses on shaping integrated audience-first-messaging-next-and-channel-later strategies that bring together editorial rigour, visual storytelling, and content to disseminate knowledge that is critical for current and emergent challenges.

Padma has a deep interest and unending belief in the practice of communications across its many facets, and its power to enable and influence change for the larger good.

Warning: As a jury member, she will bring a sharp critical eye for clarity, craft, and credibility, with particular strengths in purpose-led storytelling, design-led communication, and impact-oriented strategy.

is a senior global corporate communications and reputation strategist with over two decades of experience across highly regulated and consumer-facing industries, including pharmaceuticals, automotive, and luxury & lifestyle.

She currently leads Corporate Communications at Strides Group, overseeing communications for two publicly listed entities and spearheading high-impact mandates across IPO and listing communications, ESG storytelling, crisis management, and investor engagement. she played a pivotal role in conceptualizing and executing the successful listing of OneSource, India’s first pure-play specialty CDMO, delivering ₹7,880 Cr in shareholder value.

Known for building high-impact narratives, leadership visibility, and stakeholder trust across complex, regulated environments.

Outside the boardroom, she is an avid traveller, passionate cook, swimmer, and an enthusiastic networker - always curious, always connecting.

Priya Patankar leads Corporate Communications at PhonePe, advising the company’s leadership on reputation management while defining the organization’s PR, internal communications, and content strategy. She also contributes significantly to the investor relations charter.

With two decades of experience across startups and established organisations like Flipkart and Dr. Reddy’s, Priya joined PhonePe in 2017. She played a pivotal role in driving digital payment adoption post-demonetization, spearheading extensive media campaigns and consumer education initiatives during a period of rapid scaling. A strong advocate for women in leadership, Priya is dedicated to fostering gender equality and diversity within the tech ecosystem.

Revathi Pandit is a seasoned communications leader with deep expertise in corporate reputation, brand storytelling, and strategic stakeholder engagement. As Lead – Corporate Communications at JioBlackRock Investment Advisers, she plays a pivotal role in shaping the narrative of one of India’s most significant financial services joint ventures between Jio Financial Services and BlackRock.

With a career spanning leading financial institutions, Revathi brings a strong track record in building integrated communication strategies that drive visibility, trust, and business impact. Prior to her current role, she has led communications mandates across prominent organizations in the financial services sector, including roles associated with Edelweiss Financial Services and Kotak Mahindra Bank, where she managed media relations, corporate positioning, and high-impact campaigns.

At JioBlackRock Investment Advisers, Revathi is at the forefront of communicating a digital-first vision aimed at democratizing access to investment advice in India. Her ability to translate complex financial concepts into compelling narratives, combined with her strategic acumen, makes her a respected voice in the communications industry.

Dr. Rudolph Joyer Noronha is a distinguished communications executive currently serving as the Chief General Manager of Corporate Branding and Corporate Communications at ONGC MRPL. Based in Mangaluru, Karnataka, he leads strategic initiatives to enhance the corporate identity and brand presence of one of India’s prominent energy organisations. With a high-level leadership role at ONGC MRPL, he oversees the integration of branding efforts with comprehensive corporate communication strategies. His professional profile reflects a deep commitment to managing organizational reputation and stakeholder engagement within the industrial sector. Dr. Noronha’s expertise positions him as a key figure in driving the public narrative and communication excellence for his organisation.

Saraswathi is a seasoned corporate and business communications expert with 17 years of experience working with enterprise and consumer technology companies, including IBM India, HP India, Amazon India, Canon India, and Freecharge. She is proficient at developing integrated campaigns that combine earned, owned, digital, and paid media, with an expertise in CSR communications, C-suite communications, leadership training, team management, crisis management, internal communications, analyst relations, and influencer engagement strategies.

Shakambhari Thakur is Senior Director, Communications at Walmart Global Tech India, with nearly 25 years of experience at the intersection of technology, brand, and reputation. Her career has evolved alongside India’s dynamic tech landscape, where she has built and led high-performing communications teams and shaped impactful narratives for global organizations including Bosch Group in India, Samsung Research, Applied Materials, and National Instruments. A strategic storyteller and trusted advisor on reputation management, Shakambhari drives initiatives that align business priorities with cultural insight. She brings a strong perspective on brand, purpose, and narrative, and believes in the power of authentic storytelling to build trust, inspire action, and create lasting impact.

Shilpi Jain is a seasoned corporate and development communication professional with nearly two decades of experience across the corporate, government, and development sectors. A collaborative leader and strategic thinker, she is known for crafting communication that goes beyond visibility to create credibility and impact. Working at the intersection of strategy and storytelling, she designs integrated communication solutions that enhance brand reputation, foster meaningful dialogue, and drive measurable outcomes aligned with organizational goals.

Currently, Shilpi leads the Corporate Communications function at IPE Global, where she drives cohesive, multi-channel strategies to strengthen institutional reputation, performance, and public engagement. Her role spans media relations, crisis communication, leadership positioning, and strategic narrative building, ensuring consistency and clarity across diverse platforms and stakeholder groups in a complex, multi-geography environment.

Her journey into the development sector began in 2010, marking a deliberate shift to purpose-driven communication. Building on a strong foundation in corporate and public-sector engagement, Shilpi brought with her a results-oriented mindset to the social impact space - leveraging communication as a tool for reputation management, strategic narrative building, and stakeholder engagement at scale. This transition enabled her to bridge institutional priorities with grassroots realities, a perspective that continues to shape her work.

Prior to joining IPE Global, Shilpi worked with the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), where she led the development of its digital media strategy and spearheaded several national e-campaigns. At WaterAid India, she managed the India Sanitation Portal, launched at SACOSAN 2008, contributing to the national discourse on sanitation and hygiene. Earlier in her career, she spent nearly a decade at NIIT Limited, where she played a key role in creating a nationwide testing and certification platform - an initiative that earned her the NIIT Excellence Award in 2006.

A perceptive leader and accomplished Brand Strategist, Shilpashree brings over 20 years of rich experience in Corporate Reputation Management, Public Advocacy, and Corporate Sustainability. She currently leads Corporate Communications, Social Impact (CSR), and ESG for Colgate-Palmolive in India, leveraging a substantial background with global powerhouses like Volvo, the Renault-Nissan Alliance, Alstom, and Terex. An Engineer-MBA, and IIM-Bangalore alumnus, her expertise extends to Investor Relations, Crisis Management, and Digital Media Management. She is passionate about generating value for brands and society, fostering transparency and collaboration. She is known for consistently delivering impactful results and earning widespread recognition for her leadership and dedication to creating sustainable value.

Shree Das, the Head of Social Media and Public Relations at Britannia Industries Limited. With over a decade of experience, she has led strategic communication initiatives for global technology and consumer brands, including Lenovo, Xiaomi, and Unacademy. Her expertise spans reputation management, crisis communications, and internal and external stakeholder engagement. Recognised as a prominent industry leader, she has received numerous accolades, such as being named one of the “Top 100 Influential Game Changers” and appearing on PR & Corp Comm’s “40 Under 40” list. Shree holds an MBA in Public Relations from Symbiosis International University and an Honours degree in Economics from Delhi University.

At Mahindra, Swati Khandelwal leads the Group Corporate Communications pision, bringing strategic insight, creative energy, and an unwavering commitment to strengthening the organisational brand and safeguarding its reputation. Her role is pivotal in shaping Mahindra’s narrative across stakeholders and platforms.

Swati is a seasoned media and communication professional with over two decades of dynamic experience spanning television, digital, and print media. Prior to joining Mahindra, she held leadership roles at some of India’s most respected business news channels, including Zee Business (as Executive Editor), CNBC-TV18, and Bloomberg TV India. Over the years, she has engaged deeply with key figures in business, policy, and industry, earning respect for her incisive journalism and impactful storytelling.

Academically, Swati holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from Sikkim Manipal University and an MBA from Symbiosis, Pune. She was honoured with the prestigious Donald T. Sheehan International Scholarship at the Wharton Seminars for Business Journalists, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

She is also a proud alumna of the Harvard Business School Future Shapers Program of the Mahindra Group — a testament to her forward-thinking leadership and commitment to excellence.

Recognised for her exceptional communication skills, Swati excels in crafting compelling multimedia content and engaging audiences across broadcast, digital, and print platforms.

Tithi Sarkar is a communications leader with over two decades of experience across journalism, technology communications, and corporate strategy. As Head of Corporate Communications at Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India, she drives clear, impactful storytelling that strengthens reputation, builds engagement, and supports business priorities at the company’s largest R&D hub outside Germany. Her roles at Microsoft, Genpact, ITC Limited, and publications like India Today, The Economic Times, and The Telegraph have shaped her ability to turn complex ideas into accessible narratives. She focuses on collaboration, practical communication that influences outcomes, and initiatives that foster inclusion and purpose at scale.

Vinifer’s a Global Corporate Communications Leader with over 26+ years of experience in driving Reputation, Trust & Influence across healthcare, technology, consumer, travel, eCommerce, digital, hospitality, aviation, beauty, and lifestyle. Her career spans both agency and in-house leadership roles, giving her a strong commercial lens and a deep understanding of how communications drives business outcomes.