Hon. N. Chandrababu Naidu - Chief Minister, Andhra Pradesh
Born to an agriculturist, Mr Naidu started his innings in the political arena with the 1978 assembly polls. Since then, he has served in the government in various capacities. After serving as Director of the A.P. Small Scale Industries Development Corporation, he became a Minister and held the portfolios of Cinematography, Technical Education, Revenue and Finance and Minor Irrigation among others. Mr Naidu has a keen interest in rural development activities in general and the upliftment of the poor and downtrodden sections of society in particular. A firm believer in the power of the information technology for the upliftment of the people of the state, Naidu's efforts have been commended by various institutions like the World Bank, the World Link magazine, The Economist and Computer World.

Hon. Sahib Singh Verma, Union Minister for Labour, Government of India
Labour Minister Sahib Singh Verma strives to work for evolving a harmonious relationship between the employers and the workers. Mr Verma, asserts that the procedures to ensure better labour welfare would be simplified and red tape eliminated.

Hon. B. Dattatreya , Union Minister of State for Urban Development, Government of India
The BJP Andhra Pradesh unit president and a crusader endowed with philanthropic zeal, Mr. Bandaru Dattatreya, affectionately called "Dattanna", has the image of man with a correct mix of experience as an organiser and as well as parliamentarian. Born to a poor family at Gowliguda in Hyderabad in 1946, Mr. Dattatreya joined the RSS as a pracharak after graduating in science from Osmania University.

Hon. Dr. M.A. Kuttappan. - Minister for Welfare of Backward and Scheduled Communities and Youth Affairs.
He was first elected to the state assembly from Vandur constituency in 1979, He was then elected from chelakkara in 1987 and from Njara in 1996 and in 2001. He was making his debut in the state cabinet.

Hon. Sithembiso Nyoni, Founder, Organisation of Rural Associations for Progress, Zimbabwe
Starting her career as a high school teacher and a visiting professor at Selly Oak Colleges in Birmingham, England, and an Adjunct Professor at the School for International Living in Brattleboro, Vermont, she has started working for the rural development. She is a member of 25 National and International Boards and is President of 3 International Movements. Currently, she is the Minister of State in the President's Office responsible for the development of the informal sector and small enterprises. Ms. Nyoni is a winner of the 1993 Right Livelihood award for outstanding leadership in grassroots mobilization against hunger, the 1995 United Nations 50 Communities award on behalf of ORAP for effective mobilization of communities around environmental issues and forestry and the 1999 Humanitarian Award from InterAction for demonstrating her extraordinary leadership in support of nongovernmental organizations and the people they serve.

Hon. T. Devender Goud, Minister for Home & Cinematography, Andhra Pradesh, India
Having got elected as chairman of Zilla Parishad, Ranga Reddy in 1988, became the convener of the committee of Zilla Parishad Chairman in Andhra Pradesh . He is a member of Polit Bureau of Telugu Desam Party since 1991. He was elected to Legislative Assembly in December 1994 from Medchal Constituency, with 3 major independent portfolios viz., Backward Classes Welfare, Co-operation & Total Prohibition in the Cabinet of Sri. N.T. Rama Rao. He then became the Minister with important Portfolio of Revenue, Relief & Rehabilitation in September 1995 in the Cabinet of Sri. Nara Chandrababu Naidu. He is Appointed as Chiarman / Convener/ Member of several Cabinet Sub-Committees constituted by State Government, and has the credit of solving many problem confronted with Government. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly in October 1999 for the second time with thumping and became Minister for Home, Jails, Fire Services, NCC, Sainik Welfare, Film Development Corporation and Cinemetography.
He won the appreciation for bringing in ‘ Mutually Aided Cooperatives Societies Act’ as Minister Cooperation and for implementing CARD (Computer Aided Administration of Registration Department) for the first time in the country as Minister for Revenue. A massive project i.e. CORD (Computerization of Revenue Department) was initiated by him is underway. Another achievement to his credit was codification of revenue Laws & Acts in “Revenue Code”. It is the first ever exercise made in the country.
As Chairman of Cabinet Sub Committee on Administrative Reforms, he strived to bring about structural and functional changes in all the Departments to meet the Growing demands of the public- both long term and short term. His recent innovative Schemes are “Mythri” a program of ‘people participation in policing’, “Sannihitha” an effort to bring police close to the people, “Video linkage” between the Courts and the Jails for trying the under trial and remand prisoners for speedy justice and optimum utilization of police force in escort duties, “retreat” a regular and periodical training for police officers by arranging interface of senior and junior level officers for introspection and also introduction of the Andhra Pradesh Control of Organized Crime Act 2001. Come into effect from 05-11-2001 to control the mafia & other organized crime.

Hon. Gopala Krishna Reddy, Minister for Employment Generation and SSI, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh
Elected from the constituency Srikalahasti, Andhra Pradesh, consecutively for 3 terms as a M.L.A since 1989. He was a cabinet minister for Minor Irrigation, Ground Water, Roads and Buildings. Currently he is the Minister for Employment Generation in Andhra Pradesh holding the crucial position of creating livelihood opportunities for rural women and youth. Under his able guidance the state has become one of the best in the country in implementation of a programme DWACRA which mobilizes rural women into self-help groups and provides credit support.

Hon. Dr. N. Janardhan Reddy, Minister for Panchayati Raj and Rural Development, Government of Andhra Pradesh
Dr. Janardhan Reddy has a degree of MBBS and he served for many years in his Praja Nursing Home in Nagarkurnool. He was a District Chairman for Chest Disease Hospital in Mahaboobnagar, also he was a Charted President, Lions Club, Nagarkurnool, Mahaboobnagar District. After that he was elected as M.L.A from 1985-1989, from 1994- 2002 and again he elected as a M.L.A from 2002-2004 in the Constituency of Nagarkurnool, Mahaboobnagar District. He held a portfolio for Drought Relief in 1998. He was also the Minister for Prohibition, Forest and Environment from 1995-1999, for Food & Civil Supplies, Legal Meteorology, Consumer Affairs from 1999-2001, and also for Medical, Health & Prohibition from November 2001- 2002 September. From September 2002 he is the Minister for Panchayati Raj and Rural Development.

Hon. Ramulu Pothuganti, Minister for Sports & Youth Services, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh
As a minister he is responsible for the most popular scheme in the country ‘ Chief Minister’s Youth Empowerment’ (CMEY) that invests in young people with limited skills to come together and start joint small enterprises in Andhra Pradesh. His constituency is Achmapet (SC) Andhra Pradesh. He joined as a Market Committee Secretary from 1978-1994. He joined in Telugu Desam party with blessings of late Sri. N. T Rama Rao in 1994. He got elected to the 10th Legislative Assembly, Member- Agriculture University, Member-Legislative Assembly SC Committee, Member-Ethics Committee, Panel Speaker-Legislative Assembly. He was re-elected to the 11th Legislative Assembly in 1999.

Mr. M. G. Gopal, Managing Director, Hyderabad Metro Water Works Board
He has a degree in M.Com CAIIB (Certified Associate of Indian Institute of Bankers), also holds PGDPEM (PG Diploma in Public Enterprises Management), Diploma in Equipment Procurement Management (ILO, Italy). Joined in the Indian Administrative Service in 1983, after working as a Bank Officer for 6 years. Worked as District Collector, Adilabad during 1990- 92. Worked as District Collector, Vishakapatnam during 1995-1997.
As Joint Secretary in Project Management Unit of Finance & Planning Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh between 1992-1995 handled a US$ 365 million World Bank Project called AP Cyclone Emergency Reconstruction Project.
As Joint Secretary in Irrigation Department in 1995, participated in an international seminar on farmers participation in irrigation management at Mexico organized by the World Bank and drafted policy for Andhra Pradesh. As collector, Vizag supervised a mock drill for testing of-site emergency plan for a simulated accident, started Vishaka Utsav and other tourism promotion in the state. As director of Tourism and Managing Director of AP Travel & Tourism Development Corpn. During 1997-98, took steps to develop Master Plans for tourism promotion in the state. April 1998 onwards as Commissioner, EPTRI, a consultancy and training organization, undertook a number of steps to transform the organization to enable it to stand on its own, technically, commercially and financially.

Mrs. K. Damayanthi, Project Director AP AIDS Control Board, India
Project Director, A.P. State AIDS Control Society from November 2001 till date. She has been proactively pursuing activities that encourage the students and young people to be involved in providing awareness in HIVaids among rural areas. She was also a Special Officer and Addl. Commissioner of Family Welfare from November 2000 to November 2001. SPD, World Bank ICDS Project, from August 2000 to September 2000. Project Officer, ITDA from October 1998 to July 2000.

Prof. G. Subba Rao, OSD to Chief Minister Government of Andhra Pradesh
Prof. Subba Rao has degrees of M.A (English), Delhi University, B.Ed, Delhi University, PhD., University of Pennsylavania, U.S.A., in Education Policy and Leadership. Starting his career as a Lecturer in English, Delhi University, he became an Assistant Professor of English – Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi. He Entered into I.A.S in July 1979. In his long span of service, he held several important positions such as a Sub-Collector, Vikarabad, RR District, as a Project Officer, ITDA, Palvancha, as a Collector & District Magistrate in Districts Annathapur, Karimnagar, as a Joint Secretary to Chief Minister, as a Director Information & Public Relations, Director, Special Area Development Programme., as a Collector & District Magistrate, Chitoor District, as a Private Secretary to Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers, as a Director, Elementary Education and Teacher Education, as a Ministry of HRD, Department of Education, Govt. of India, New Delhi, as a Executive Officer, Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanams, Tirupathi. Presently taken charge as Secretary to Government, Education Department, Andhra Pradesh Secretariat, Hyderabad.

Mr. Kamal Vardhan Rao, Commissioner, Youth Services, Government of Andhra Pradesh, India
Having done M. Phil in Political Science, Hyderabad University, he got selected to the Indian Administration Service. He held as Director of Fisheries, as a Secretary Excise, as a Managing Director, SC/ST Corporation, as a District Collector, Kollam (Kerala), as a Consultant in NIRD and also as a Joint Secretary, Industries, Government of India. Currently as the Commissioner of the Youth Services in AP is in-charge of a major entrepreneurial program for youth known as “Chief Minister’s Empowerment Programme”.

Dr. Maxine Olson, Resident Co-ordinator, UNDP Resident Representative and UN Resident Coordinator Designate, India
Ms. Maxine Olson-Maynard is the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme for India. UNDP is the largest organization within the United Nations System for social and economic co-operation. Ms. Olson has been with UNDP since 1979. She has worked with UNDP in a number of capacities, including in natural resource management and environmental issues more generally, information and communication technology, micro-finance and employment and on economic and political empowerment of women worldwide. She has been an active advocate for women in senior management within the United Nations, and led the formulation of the first UNDP policy on gender balance. Her position immediately prior to coming to India was in Malaysia as Director for Country Operations, Asia and the Pacific, overseeing the program and administrative operations for UNDP in 34 countries.

Mrs. C. S. Ramalakshmi, IFS, Commissioner, Employment Generation Mission
First Lady of IFS Officer in India, First Women Forest Officer in the Indian Forest Service in India. She has done her Master of Science, in Botany. She won a State award “Uttamseva Patra” from the Govt. of Andhra Pradesh for the services rendered to the flood victims of Godavari flash floods in Karimnagar district during 1986 in Andhra Pradesh. Posts held as a District Forest Officer, Guntur District (1983-1986), as a Divisional Forest Officer, Karimnagar(East) from April, 1986 to January, 1988, as a Project Director, DRDA Chittoor from February, 1988 to March, 1990, as a Executive Director, District Scheduled Castes Service Cooperative Society, Nellore from April, 1990 to March, 1992, as a Special Officer (Agriculture), Director (DWCRA), Additional Commissioner, Rural Development and Special Commissioner (Rural Development) Government of Andhra Pradesh from March 1993 to 21st June 2001. Presently Working as Commissioner, Women Empowerment & Self- Employment (Rural Development), Government of Andhra Pradesh from 22nd June 2001.

Mrs. Savita Gokhale, Head, Earth Caare Foundation, India
She has degree of Bachelor of Science - with Chemistry, Physics & Botany, University of Mumbai-1971. Hobby course in Ceramics, J.J.School of Arts, Mumbai, 1973. Diploma in International Trade, Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan, NewDelhi, 1987.6 months certificate course in using computers, APTECH, Kohima, 1999. Her work WORK EXPERIENCE from 1978-1986 she was an entrepreneur she ran “ORCHID ASSOCIATES”— A weaving unit in Nagaland worked in Banaras House Ltd from 1988-1991. As Export Executive, worked as Senior Merchandiser with SNAP Services Pvt Ltd Madras looking after their Delhi office from 1992-1994, Worked as senior Merchandiser with Ambiance India Pvt. Ltd. from1994-1996, worked with Orient Exclusive – sister concern of Orient Fashion as in charge of their home furnishing division looking after production, designing and merchandising of home furnishing from 1997 January-1997August, worked as Product Manager in Li and Fung, India Pvt Ltd from 1997 August-1997 December.

Ms. Nancy Ames – Vice-President and Director, Center for Family, School and Community, EDC Inc.
A leader in education reform and youth development, Ms Ames has nearly 40 years of experience in program design and management, policy development, research and evaluation and training and technical assistance. Most of her work has focused on promoting equal opportunity for all, especially those young people who are at risk of educational failure and unemployment due to poverty, gender, disability or racial/ethnic/religious prejudice. Ms. Ames also helped launch Learning in Deed, a four-year service-learning initiative funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to promote service-learning in K-12 schools throughout the United States. She is the founder of the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform, a unique alliance of middle-grades leaders dedicated to improving academic and developmental outcomes for all students. She co-authored Changing Middle Schools: How to Make Schools Work for Young Adolescents and School Reform Behind the Scenes: How ATLAS is shaping the future of education.

Nomito Kamdar Regional Representative, Ashoka Innovators, South India
She co founded The Adventurers as a part of the original team in the early eighties. In the enthusiasm to make adventure and the out doors accessible for all, she worked with all cross sections of people, women, youth, tribal people, disabled children, juvenile delinquents, street children. The fervor to use the outdoors as an effective medium led to the emergence of various concepts, Outbound training programs, outdoor youth leadership programs, Adventure therapy - to build self confidence and self esteem amongst various cross sections of people. She played a key role in establishing the Indian Institute for Adventure Applications -- a training center for outdoor learning and eco tourism in the Western Ghats rainforests. She has been in the forefront of the 'Western Ghats Restoration Project', a grass root level initiative to restore the bio-cultural diversity of the Western Ghats.
Since 2001, Nomito Represents Ashoka: Innovators for the public, a global non profit organisation developing the profession of social entrepreneurship around the world. Nomito Identifies social entrepreneurs in south India and is particularly keen on bringing lesser-known individuals from rural area into the Fellowship. She helps them access a range of services from Ashoka and Ashoka partners to enhance the impact of their work.

Mr. G. David Miller - Director, International Development Programs, Southern New Hampshire University
A development practitioner for over thirty-five years, Miller has lived in countries like Afghanistan, Israel, Morocco and Tunisia. Starting with a number of administrative positions in the Ministry of Health in Israel, the United States Peace Corps, United States Agency for International Development and Save the Children Federation, Miller written and lectured extensively on development issues, particularly focusing on the questions of post-colonialism and the growth of civil society. As a Visiting Fellow at the Thomas J. Watson Jr. Institute for International Studies at Brown University, he has conducted research on the growth and influence of non-governmental organizations in building civil society. In an effort to strengthen this network, Mr. Miller is currently engaged in forming partnerships between the New Hampshire College CED Program and parallel institutions in other regions.

Ms. Astrid Hollander, Project Associate, UNEVCO
Astrid Hollander has been working for the UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre since January 2003, first as an intern, and since September 2003 as an Associate Expert. Astrid undertook studies in social anthropology and has a Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) from the University of Waikato, New Zealand, and a Master’s degree from the University of Muenster, Germany. Before joining the UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre, Astrid worke as a volunteer for the Latin American Media and Communication Project of the German Friedrich-Ebert-Foundation in Quito, Ecuador, for the Education Sector of the UNESCO Office for the Pacific in Apia, Samoa, and for a German Association that promotes the learning and teaching of intercultural competence in schools and adult education.

Ms. Shobana Kamineni, Executive Director, Apollo Hospital
Ms Shobana Kamineni is the Executive Director of Apollo Hospital Enterprises Ltd. and Vice Chairperson of the KEI Group, Hyderabad. She has been the Chairperson of CII - Andhra Pradesh during the year 2000-01. She is the Chairperson of CII National Committee on Entrepreneurship and CII (Southern Region) Social Development Sub-Committee. She has a degree in Economics and 20 years experience in the healthcare industry. Her experience was largely in the sphere of project management wherein she established most of the Group’s large projects. Ms Kamineni is currently involved with the pharmaceutical retailing, SCM and Franchising.
An avid sportsperson, Ms Kamineni was a national level Squash player and is currently interested in adventure sports. She has served on the recent National Games Marketing Committee. Her other interests include social development for women and reviving handicrafts and weaving in her husband’s ancestral fort. She is also involved with restoration of the fort and temple. She serves on the Young Lives – Save the Children UK that is a part of Centre for Economics & Social Studies.

Erik Dauwen, Director, NFTE, Belgium
Born in Antwerp - Belgium, on January 6th 1952. He had his own business in the graphical and communication sector from 1975 till 1999. He then became director of NFTE Belgium with the intention to empower underprivileged youth through entrepreneurship. In 2000 he was worldwide elected as NFTE Trainer of the Year. With his energetic style of training he has trained over 500 trainers worldwide. His experience as commercial judge helps him to teach the do's and don'ts of entrepreneurship. He strongly beliefs that teaching entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial attitudes helps young people to regain self-confidence, build up their self-esteem, and helps them with their social-economical integration in society.

Ms. Yamuna Pathak, Student, St. Francis College, Hyderabad, India
She is pursuing B.A., Psychology Final Year, St. Francis Degree College. She is Running an NGO, working on HIV/AIDS & on Youth Related Programs. Represented India on behalf of IRCS (Indian Red Cross Society) in Australia on International Humanitarian law. Received prestigious special achievement award for social work from the Principal of St. Francis Degree College. Received many medals and accolades for Social work. Working on many Socio -Economic problems, participated in many State/ Central Government programs. Compered for many National/ International Summits.

Ms.Catherine Kamping, Co-ordinator, YES Country Network, Philippines
Catherine Kamping, 22 years old, a young, dynamic and energetic leader from the Republic of the Philippines who value life as the most important element in the universe. Have been involved in different youth development related initiatives from local, national and international level. Right now, she is taking a Masteral Degree in Entrepreneurship and Social Development at the Asian Institute of Management.
She is the Coordinator of the Youth Caucus for the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (UNCSD11), Global Youth Action Network Regional Coordinator for Asia and she as well is affiliated to other youth groups, an International Youth Adviser for the Youth Employment Summit (YES). In the Philippines, she is the Secretary General of the Youth for Sustainable Development Assembly (YSDA), Chairperson of the Philippine Youth Employment Network (PYEN) and Vice-President for External Affairs of the Students’ Action’s Vital to the Environment and Mother Earth Movement (SAVE ME).
Catherine took a very active role in the processes of the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), she delivered the final youth statement during the closing ceremony (final plenary session) of the WSSD in front of world leaders, Presidents, Prime Ministers and fellow youth leaders, and she got a standing ovation after the speech, quoted by the UN Secretary General and South African President as the best speech delivered in the plenary session.
Catherine also took an active role in the Youth Employment Summit leading the Philippine Delegation of young leaders; she as well made a presentation in a plenary session on the topic Youth Employment Summit Country Networks. It is her commitment to serve the youth sector; she is dedicated to support the initiatives for youth development. Catherine will dare to reach the farthest of the land and to climb the highest mountain to measure the depth of humanity. She believes that every young people could make a difference.

Mr. Pervaiz Tufail, National Youth Technical Advisor, YES Pakistan Network
A post graduate in clinical psychology has also got a certificate in Rights Based Approach for Programming, Gender, Micro Credit, Capacity Building in Life Skills, Reproductive Health/HIV/AIDS, Project Cycle and Community Mobilization. His key competencies are Gender Training, Community Development, Capacity Building on Management Skills, Life skills Training, Career Planning and Guidance, violence against women, Reproductive Health, HIV/AIDS, Formal/Non-Formal Education, Children and Youth Issues, Micro Credit and Project Management
As a National Youth Technical Advisor, YES Pakistan Network, he brings his vast experience as Program Manager in an NGO AMAL Human Development Network and involved in planning, management, report/proposal writing, monitoring and evaluation, liaison with national and international donors, and project management ands planning. He has also worked as Project Manager YES! (Youth Empowerment Skills), an HIV/AIDS awareness/prevention and rights based Life Skills project for out of school street living/working children, and National HIV/AIDS trainer. He worked in national, international agencies like UNICEF, Oxfam, CRS, CIDA, WPF, Plan International, Government Child Guidance and Care Center, Rozan, and Sadaqat Clinic.
He has membership in institutions like UNAIDS, International Youth Parliament, UNFPA, National Commission for Child Welfare Department, Save the Children UK’s Street Children Network, Pakistan Psychological Association and Human Development Network.

Mr. Praveen Kumar Prithvi YES Country Network Coordinator, India
Praveen has ten years' experience in coordinating community development work in the predominantly poor neighborhoods of South India, as a founder of the Youth Social Service Movement and later with Exnora International as a Project Officer. At Exnora, he led the formation of community-based youth groups in various parts of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh and he co-founded the India Conservation Corps. Praveen received his Master's degree in Gandhian Thought from the University of Madras, and he served in the King County World Conservation Corps in Seattle, Washington,USA in 1996. He is presently heading the World Corps operations in India along with his wife Deepa Anandakrishnan. In his current position as the Country Coordinator of World Corps India. He is responsible for managing and supervising World Corps India and its projects in Kuppam Constituency, Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh, including all aspects related to partnership development with key stakeholders, fund raising, project finance management, training programmes, grounding of the project, field operations and public relations.
Praveen serves on an advisory capacity to several NGOs such as the Youth for Environment and Sanitation, Chennai and Jayaprakash Narayan Community College in Chennai which are NGOs that focus on youth development. He has also been involved in Development Consultancy work for the Kuppam Area Development Authority, Andhra Pradesh. Praveen is also the Coordinator of the YES India Network.

Dr. Aliya H. Khan - Associate Professor, Dept. of Economics, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad
Working at the Department of Economics, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan since October, 1987 (as Assistant Prof. from October 1987 to December 2001 and as Associate Professor since January 2002). Main areas of teaching and research include Labour Economics, Human Resource Development and Macroeconomics. Have worked at the Federal Ministry of Labour on deputation from the University from April 2002 to March 2003 in the capacity of Deputy Chief on various Employment issues pertaining to Labour Policy, Labour Legislation, Child Labour, Bonded Labour, Skill Development etc., in coordination with other concerned Federal Ministries (Planning, Finance, Education, Health, Agriculture, Commerce, Industries and Women Development, Special Education & Social Welfare), Provincial Governments, Worker & Employer Organizations, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and other UN agencies. Maintain active collaboration with the ILO in the capacity of an academic resource person for labour issues. Also provide input to the Ministries of Planning and Finance with regards to the Poverty-Employment nexus in the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) of Pakistan and support different worker and employer organizations in their capacity building exercises. She has developed a good rapport with policy makers, civil society and international organizations in the professional capacity of an academician who is interested in disseminating subject specific knowledge and research output towards the development of socioeconomic policies.

Dr. Chetan Sharma Founder, Datamation Foundation Charitable
Founded Datamation Foundation(a registered charitable trust) & is the CEO of Datamation Consultants Pvt. Ltd. Under his able stewardship and guidance, Datamation Foundation has been chosen as the finalist for the World Bank's InfoDev's Information & Communication Technology based project (ICT Stories 2002 competition) on the creation of sustainable livelihoods in India's IT Industry for the socially & economically weak people. Same project was also the finalist at the Rome Global Junior Challenger 2002. An MBA from Pune University, was the recipient of many international & national awards such as the Outstanding Young Consultant Award initiated by the Govt. of India as well as the recipient of the Global Economic Forum Award. He has been listed on the International Who's Who of Professionals. He has presented several papers in amny national and international conferences

Dr. Emelia Timpo - Team Leader, UNAIDS Inter-country Team for South Asia
Emelia Timpo took up her assignment as Team Leader for the South Asia Inter-country Team in March 2003. As Team Leader, has responsibility for overall coordination of UNAIDS regional activities including provision of support to regional cosponsors and other regional partners in the development of, strengthening and monitoring of sub-regional and regional strategies and programmes that benefit national responses to HIV/AIDS. Additionally she supports Country Programme Advisors in the eight countries in strengthening Theme Group operations with support of the implementation of the national plans. The sub-region includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Prior to her assignment in India she was the UNAIDS Country Programme Advisor for Ethiopia and the focal person for interaction between UNAIDS and the African Union and the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) from December 2000 - March 2003. She was based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. For Ethiopia, she coordinated the United Nations support for the national response, supported the development of the national strategic framework for HIV/AIDS 2001-2004, regional implementation plans and supported the initiation of a national Partnership Forum for HIV/AIDS bringing together the public and private sectors, PLWHAs associations, NGOs, religious organizations and the media, etc. For the African Union was a member of the Technical Committee that planned the Abuja Summit on HIV/AIDS in April 2001 and contributed to the development to the Abuja Declaration and Plan of Action. Ms. Timpo has a Ph.D. in Plant Physiology from Rutgers University, New Jersey, Masters in Agronomy from Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, and a Bachelors degree from the University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.

Dr Hafiz A Pasha - UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific
Dr. Pasha has a M.A. from Cambridge University, England, and a Ph.D from Stanford University, USA. He has 27 years of experience of research, teaching and public service. Dr. Pasha has held a number of important public appointments, which has involved high level inputs into the policy making process in Pakistan. He has served as the Federal Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, with the status of a federal minister, Education Minister and Commerce Minister in three governments. Earlier, he was the Vice Chancellor/President of the University of Karachi, Dean and Director of the Institute of Business Administration, Karachi, and Research Professor and Director of the Applied Economics Research Centre, University of Karachi. He has been the chairman or member of a large number of task forces, commissions or committees. He has published extensively in the fields of public finance, social development, and poverty.

Dr. Ismail Serageldin- Director General Bibliotheca Alexandrina
Dr. Serageldin worked in a number of capacities at the World Bank since joining in 1972. At the time of leaving the Bank in 2001 to lead and rejuvenate the historical Library of Alexandria, he was the Vice President of the World Bank. Some of the global initiatives that mark his exemplary vision and intellectual superiority are CGIAR and CGAP. He authored over 45 books and monographs (edited or authored) and 200 articles, book chapters, and technical papers on various topics. Distinguished University Professor, Wageningen University, the Netherlands. Also serves as chair and member of a number of advisory committees for academic, research, scientific and international institutions and civil society efforts.

Mr. Jayaprakash Narayan, Loksatta.
A 1980-batch IAS officer, Jayaprakash, however, quit his job late in 1996 following a highly impressive track record. What is special about Jayaprakash is that he left his IAS job not because he was disenchanted or disillusioned. On the other hand, he had a highly distinguished as well as eventful 16-year-long career in the government. Highly respected in the state for his result-oriented administration, Jayaprakash, an optismistic individual, here talks about the efficacy of reforms in the governance.

Dr. Leena Srivastava - Executive Director, TERI
She holds a Masters' degree in Economics from the University of Hyderabad and Ph.D. in Energy Economics from Department of Management Training Program at the Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, New York, USA. She is a member of several national and international committees and has several publications to her credit.

Dr. Mariappan Velayutham Executive Director MSSRF
He adds 35 years of rich and varied experience in agriculture to the prestigious MSSRF. He evolved and operated an All India Coordinated Research Project for promoting soil test based fertilizer recommendation and use for obtaining specific yield target of crops. He also provided leadership for the completion of soil survey of the different states in the country and brought out the soil map and report for all the states in the country. He promoted the advancement of soil research and higher level education in soil science at the various research institutions of ICAR and the state agricultural universities, while working at the ICAR Headquarters from 1984 - 1996. He is a member of International Editorial Advisory Board for the volume, "Encyclopedia on Soil Science - Marcel Dekker, INC, New York. He has contributed 246 papers and publications.

Dr. Malcolm Peter Hazelman - Senior Extension, Education and Communications Officer, FAO Regional Office, Bangkok.
A Samoan, is currently Senior Extension, Education and Communications Officer at the Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific based in Bangkok, Thailand, a position he has held for the past three years. Prior to joining FAO, he was Manager for the Agriculture Programme of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) which serves 22 Pacific Island Countries and before that, was Tropical Agriculturalist for the same organization. He also served 18 years on the faculty of the University of the South Pacific's (USP's) School of Agriculture at the Alafua Campus in Samoa in various capacities which included being Lecturer in Agricultural Botany, Lecturer in Horticulture and Senior Lecturer in Agricultural Extension including being the Associate Director for the USP Institute for Research, Extension and Training in Agriculture (IRETA) which serves 12 Pacific Island Countries. He has served on the Board of Trustees for the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI), the Board of the Agricultural Development Programme in the American Pacific (ADAP) and was a founding member of the SIOSIOMAGA Society, the Environment NGO for Samoa. He holds degrees in Tropical Agriculture and Horticulture from the University of Hawaii and in Education from Cornell University. In relation to youth matters, he is responsible for the rural youth programmes, projects and activities for the FAO in the Asia and Pacific region where he is working in partnership with Government, NGOs and Civil Society organizations to promote the role of youth regards food security and sustainable development. He puts out every two month the e-newsletter AsiaPacYouthWorks.

Dr. Margaret Catley-Carlson - Chair, Global Water Partnership, ICARDA
She is actively involved in organizations that apply science and knowledge to national and international problems in freshwater governance, health, agriculture, environmental protection, international development and development finance, she is Chair of The Global Water Partnership, of the Board of ICARDA (Agricultural research in dry areas) in Syria and of The Water Resources Advisory Committee for Suez/Lyonnaise of Paris. The Vice Chair of the International Development Research Centre in Ottawa, Ms Catley-Carlson was the president of CIDA (Canadian International Development Agency) and of the Population Council. She has also been the Deputy Minister of Health in Canada and Deputy Director (Operations) of UNICEF, with the rank of Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations. She has received eight honorary degrees and became an Officer of Order of Canada in 2002.

Dr. Mridula Seth - Technical Adviser (Adolescents & Youth), Technical Support Group, UNFPA New Delhi
UNFPA has launched the Sixth Country Programme of Assistance to the Government in India (2003-2007). As a member of the technical team, Mridula has been involved in the process of developing partnership for adolescent component of the UNFPA supported programmes through the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, and the Ministry of Human Resource Development. She has also contributed to developing programme interventions in the UNFPA supported Integrated Population and Development projects in six states of the country (Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Orissa, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh) with a focus on adolescent sexual and reproductive health and life skills education. Prior to joining UNFPA, she was teaching 'Extension methods and Communication techniques' in a college affiliated to Delhi University. She is a Fulbright scholar and was awarded Senior and Junior research fellowship from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR). She has guided postgraduate and doctoral research from Delhi University.

Dr. Ponna Wignaraja - Chairman SAPNA
Currently the Chairman of the South Asian Perspectives Network Association (SAPNA), a South Asian network on governance, development and conflict management, Dr Wignaraja has also served as the Vice Chairman of the Independent South Asian Commission on Poverty Alleviation. He has authored and co-authored several publications which contain pioneering ideas for theory, policy and practice, based on lessons on success cases and best practices in South Asia. A doctorate in International Economics from Yale University, he has served as a Development Adviser in the U.N. System for almost 30years. In 1993, he was awarded the highest National Honour for Distinguished Services to the Sri Lanka nation.

Dr. Pradeep Monga Senior Technical Advisor UNIDO
Pradeep has been working as assistant resident representative dealing with the environment, GEF and Montreal Protocol portfolio at UNDP/India office for almost 5 years. In February he moved to UNIDO, Vienna for a two year assignment as senior technical advisor for environment and energy. Besides leading a team of international experts he will be involved in providing policy advisory and advocacy services to member countries on global issues like climate change, biodiversity, clean energy and [pollution in international waters.

S. Nath, Hon.Chairman & Medical Director SIIHH (Sulabh International Institute of Health & Hygiene)
Dr. S. Nath is a Graduated in Medical Science in 1957 and worked for 32 years in State Medical Services. His last assignment was Deputy Director of Health Service Govt of Bihar. Since about 8 years he is working as Chairman cum Medical Director of Sulabh International Institute of Health & Hygiene. During this period, he has developed Cost effective Method through toilet complexes in urban slum and Rural set up. He has introduced a new concept of total health care concept on Health, Hygiene, Sanitation and Safe drinking water. Along with Medical Care Programme All the four components must be implemented under one umbrella. He is working with NGO; he has developed various Model and Module. He has authored of about 26 books on various topics related to health and hygiene. He has developed technology for SAFE PIT FOR SHARP and also developed model village and model urban slum under the leadership of Dr. Bindeshware Pathak, Founder of Sulabh Sanitation Movement. He has participated in various programme related to Health and hygiene, sanitation and safe drinking water and also in WASH Campaign.

Prof. S. P. Srivastava- Advisor, Sulabh International Social Service Organization.
He is a noted social scientist with over three decades of teaching and research on subjects concerning social development with deep understanding of issues pertaining to water, sanitation environment and sustainable development. He is also the senior Faculty Member and Emeritus Professor in the Department of Social Work, Lucknow University. He has written extensively in all the above areas and has published papers in both Indian and foreign journal. He had been the Fulbright Visiting Professor in the Department of Sociology at Indian University of Pennsylvania, USA. He is extensively travelled and has attended large number of international conferences on water, sanitation and sustainable development. He has authored more than ten dozen articles and seven books on Action Sociology, Social Development, Women's Empowerment and Social Work Education. He is the Executive Editor of Contemporary Social Work - a noted bi-annual journal on Social Work Education in India. He is immesely interested in the issues of Youth Development and has written a good number of articles for popular magazines and journals.

Dr. Shanta Sinha, M. Venkatarangaiya Foundation.
As the Secretary of the foundation, Shanta Sinha, received one of India's highest civilian honors, the Padma Sri from the President of India on the occasion of Republic Day, 1998. In July 1998, she was awarded the Albert Shankar International Award by the Education International, which is headquartered in Brussels and has over 25 million teachers from over 148 countries. She wins 2003 Magsaysay award for community Leadership.

Dr. Sugata Mitra, Chief Scientist Center for Research in Cognitive Sciences NIIT Ltd
Born 1952, completed his Ph.D. in Solid State Physics from IIT, Delhi. He is a scientist of international repute and works in the areas of Cognitive Systems, Information Science and Educational Technology, with special focus on the use of cognitive multimedia in education.

A long time teacher and Head of NIIT's R&D Center for Research in Cognitive Systems, Dr Sugata Mitra has been responsible for technological innovations such as the world's first hyperlinking software, developing an interface for the visually impaired and the Hole in the Wall experiment. His path-breaking Hole-in-the-wall experiment that provides Internet access and uses Minimally Invasive methodology to teach Computers to young children could create a pedagogic breakthrough on how children could use new technologies on their own to learn and have fun too.

Dr. Mitra created the revolutionary "Swift Jyoti" program, drawing on the principles of 'androgogy'- the art and science of helping adults learn. He also trained nearly 75 Members of the Indian Parliament inside the Parliament Annex and 150 Members of the State Legislative Assembly of West Bengal on World Computer Literacy Day 2001 and 2002. He received the 2002 "Man for Peace Award" from "Together for Peace Foundation" for deploying technology and for sharing his extraordinary experience in informatics, to a large number of children living in developing countries. Earlier winners of this award include dignitaries like Boutros Boutros Ghali, Yasser Arafat, Desmond Tutu and Aung San Su Kyi. Recently, he was elected Fellow of World Technology Network, USA for his exemplary work in Cognitive Sciences.

Dr Mitra has over 25 inventions and first-time applications to his credit. He has published over 20 research papers, and written extensively, and lectured and presented at conferences all over the world. NIIT Center for Research in Cognitive Sciences holds ten patents to its credit with a few more in the pipeline. He is Advisor to a number of Government and other organizations in India, the USA and Australia. He is Vice President of the All India Association for Educational Technology and President of the Multimedia Association of India.

Dr. Vijitha Mahdevan Eyango - Senior Advisor, Education and Gender USAID.
After graduating from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a PhD in International and Comparative Education, Dr. Eyango served as a professor at UCLA's Graduate School of Education and Chair of UCLA's Institute for the Study of Gender in Africa before taking up her current position with the ANE Bureau. In her current capacity she provides the ANE Bureau with sectoral, policy and programming assistance that promotes the quality, access to and relevance of education and gender in the ANE region within the context of strategic planning, policy and program development. She has served as team leader on several education assessments and provided in-country guidance to the following ANE missions including Sri Lanka, Jordan, Nepal, Indonesia, India, Cambodia, Afghanistan, and Morocco.

Mr. Subramanion Anantha Krishnan Chief, Partners and Youth Section
Policy development, expertise in programme administration, resource mobilisation and evaluation, International Governance, environmental,urban and ecological matters, consumer issues, as well particular competency and networking related to Youth NGOs/Civil society in mobilisation of civil society inputs to UN processes, policy issues related to sustainable development nationally and internationally, human rights related issues including emergency relief services in war torn or civil strife areas of the Third World. Credentials including M.Sc. in Social Analysis, University of Bradford, UK (1985), M..Tech in Civil Engineering (Hydraulics), IIT Bombay, India (1972), Post Graduate.Diploma in International Management, Oslo, Norway (1975). Undertook a water balance study for a small catchment area as a part of my Master's thesis. Familiar with issues related to development and resource management in developing countries. Have worked in cross cultural environment for the past 25 years. Resource mobilisation for activities related to WSSD 2002 (Rio+10) and International Environmental Governance.

Mr. B. Ramalinga Raju, Chairman, Satyam Computers
Founding Satyam a decade ago, he has worked to build it into a global information technology solutions provider with a staff of over 4,000 IT professionals serving customers in over 20 countries and 4 continents, including over 100 Fortune 500 companies. Awarded the title of the 'Global Growth Company' by the World Economic Forum, the key feature of the company are its interpersonal bonds between the employees and the associates.

Mr. Basanta Bikram Timilsina - Chairperson, Bee and Environment Development Co-operative Ltd
Trained in bee rearing, Mr Timilsina is a firm believer that agriculture is the basic sector of any economy. Setting up his own bee farm in Nepal. In a country like Nepal where 88% percent of the manpower is engaged in agriculture, which accounts for about 66% of the total income, Mr Timilsina is an example of how youth can build and maintain sustainable livelihoods in agriculture.

Dr. Bernard D' Sami - Migrant Forum
Dr. Bernard D' Sami heads the Migrant Forum, the Chennai-based Indian partner and focal point of CARAM Asia (Coordination of Action Research on AIDS and Mobility). CARAM Asia's mission is to empower migrant workers and their communities through the promotion and protection of their rights and the creation of an enabling environment at all stages of migration to reduce HIV/AIDS vulnerability. With the Migrant Forum, Dr. D'Sami has been involved with the production of information, community based interventions, advocacy and building of broad national networks of organizations concerned with HIV/AIDS and mobility. Dr. D'Sami represented civil society in Geneva in 2001 on the discussion paper that the UN produced at the end of the UNGASS. Dr. D'Sami was a resource person in the 2002 Barcelona Global AIDS Conference satellite symposium on migrants' vulnerability to HIV. He is also the Director of the Student Service Center at Loyola College in Chennai. Dr. D'Sami has a Ph.D. in History from the University of Madras.

Dumisani Nyoni, Coordinator, YES Country Networks
He is studying full time at Cambridge College. He also involved with the Youth Employment Summit, which launched a Global Campaign for Youth Employment at the Alexandria Summit held in September 2002. He is also working to promote the Earth Charter, an International Campaign to promote change in the world through shifting the current ethic to one of sustainability.

Mr. Esteban González - President, Fundacion
In April 1999 Mr. Gonzalez was awarded Entrepreneur of the Year by ITESM for the development of CREDIPAISA. He has served as advisor for the Construction Materials Distribution Association of the National Chamber of Commerce. Esteban is also recipient of the Smurfit J. Center for Entrepreneurial Studies School of Business Administration's North American Collegiate Entrepreneur Award for 1999. In November 1998 he represented Mexico as a young entrepreneur, in the World Summit of Economic Development of the United Nations in Lyon, France. Since 1997 to date Mr. Gonzalez has been a collaborator in the development of the Virtual Enterprise Incubator; in September of 1999 he represented the ITESM at founding of the International Center for Entrepreneurship and Ventures Development of the Enterprise Institute in Madrid, Spain. From 1997 to 1998 he has worked with the Entrepreneur Program as head of strategic planning for the year 2005 for Latin America. Esteban has also contributed to the development of services for the rural community by creating the Entrepreneurial Community Program. He represented the ITESM in the organization of the two national programs for the promotion of the Small and Medium Enterprises, in coordination with the Senate of the Mexican Republic. This Program creates 4200 businesses annually and has impacted over 20,000 families. In 1996, as president of the College Entrepreneur Organization Mr. Gonzalez created the Entrepreneurial Development Seminar and the Children's Entrepreneurial Program. He also coordinated two entrepreneurial expositions, and has organized various projects focused on the development of young entrepreneurs

Mr. Madhur Bajaj - Vice Chairman and Director, Bajaj Auto Ltd
After completing schooling at Doon School, Dehra Dun, in 1969 and obtaining B.Com Degree from Sydenham College, Bombay, in 1973, he did his MBA at International Institute of Management Development (IMD), Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1979. Mr. Bajaj is a Director of Bajaj Auto Limited, Bajaj Electricals Limited and Maharashtra Scooters Limited, amongst others. He is the Past-Chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industry (Western Region) and the present National Council Member of CII. He is Chairman of CII's National Committee on Latin America as well as Primary Education Committee. He is the Vice President of SIAM (Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers) New Delhi. He is also the Vice President of Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA), the apex Industries Association of Pune. He is also a member of the 'Advisory Council' of Department of Management Studies of the University of Pune. He is currently the Vice Chairman of Bajaj Auto Limited - a leader in the motorised 2 and 3 wheeler sector.

Mr. Michael J. Rosati Director of HHD's South East Asia Initiative Bangkok.
Mr. Rosati's prime responsibility is to develop projects in Thailand and East Asia that address public health issues, especially HIV/AIDS and the relationship between HIV/AIDS and intravenous drug use. In the past several years, he has provided consultations to UNICEF (EAPRO and ROSA Regional Offices), the UN Drug Control Programme (UNDCP), and WHO. Mr. Rosati was the lead facilitator for the skill-building sessions on HIV/AIDS and youth employment at the Youth Employment Summit in Egypt. For UNICEF, he has been involved in a series of initiatives to examine the relationship between HIV/AIDS and intravenous drug use. Most recently, he was a facilitator and presenter at the 2002 UNICEF Joint Regional Workshop on Young People, HIV/AIDS, and Substance Use in Asia, held in Katmandu, Nepal. In large- and small-group sessions, his focus was leadership development and national-level action planning. Mr. Rosati has worked in the fields of education and public health for 30 years and has had experience in research and evaluation projects over the years. He is currently the director of a UNDCP project that is researching effective models for drug treatment and their application in South East Asia. Mr. Rosati has a master's degree in mass communications from Emerson College and a master's degree in education from Boston University in counseling psychology.

Mr. Rangachari, Former Head, Insurance Regulatory Development Authority
He is the former Founder- Chairman, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA). He was also Chairman, Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the financial advisor for United India Insurance Company Ltd, Chennai or at Indian Space and Research Organisation (ISRO). He has been adorned with the mantle of "supercop" of the Indian insurance industry, this is in the throes of a massive liberalization. Mr. Rangachary is the first insurance regulator to receive the excellence award from the US-based, International Insurance Council-a council of leading insures working to liberalise the closed insurance markets around the world. In all the earlier 18 occasions, the council had awarded only the chief executives of the insurance companies for their professional accomplishments. However, humble that he is, Mr. Rangachary dedicates the award to the people of India. According to him, "It is the people of India who had the vision to agree to board base the insurance industry".

Mr. Nilmadhab Mohanty, Principal Adviser to the Director-General UNIDO
Immediately before joining UNIDO in January 1997, he was Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Industry, serving simultaneously as the Chairman of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board, and Director of the Industrial Development Bank of India. Although most of his career was directly with the Government of India, he also spent five years overseas. First he was seconded to the Government of Papua New Guinea as Assistant Secretary in the Department of Industrial Development. Then (in his first taste of UNIDO) he was Chief Technical Adviser for a project, also in Papua New Guinea. Mr Mohanty has a bachelor's degree in economics and three Masters degrees - in political science, in economics, and public policy and administration. Although a civil servant, Mr. Mohanty has had considerable first-hand experience of corporate industry responsibilities.

Mr. P. Raghuveer, IFS, Additional Secretary, IT & Communications Since May 2003
After completing P.G. from Osmania University (Hyderabad) Joined the Indian forest service in 1984 & then worked in a field of forest department in Adilabad, Nizamabad, Warangal, Ranga Reddy & Karimnagar District, he worked as director (ICDS) Integrated Child Development Services, Project in Women Development & Child Welfare Development managed at state level world Bank Assisted A.P. forestry projects with focus on people participation in forestry.

Mr. P. Rajendran - CEO, NIIT Ltd
An alumnus of IIT Delhi, Rajendran executes to perfection and as Chief Operating Officer, oversees the day-to-day operations as well as the organisation-building function at NIIT Ltd. Rajendran is building NIIT into a world-class organisation by transforming it into an Information-based congenial worknest. He is responsible for conceiving innovative Human Resource practices and structures, which have helped NIIT emerge as one of the most preferred employers in the Indian Industry.

Mr. Pravesh Sharma - World Food Programme
A member of the Indian Administrative Service Mr Sharma is on deputation with the UN World Food Programme Country Office at New Delhi as the Special Senior Adviser (WFP & IFAD Projects). He coordinates all IFAD activities in India under the joint WFP-IFAD partnership in the country. This includes implementation support to IFAD assisted projects, supervision, project formulation, strategic planning and policy dialogue with government. An alumnus of the Delhi University, where he did a Masters degree in History, he has held various development related assignments with the State Govt. of Madhya Pradesh over the past two decades. Mr. Sharma was a Visiting Fellow at Princeton University for one year during 1994-95 and worked on comparative food policy issues during this period.

Mr. R. Rajamani Retd Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forestry
He started career as a Bank Officer for 2 yrs before entering the IAS in 1959. Then he Worked in Andhra in State Secretariat in Finance, Planning, Forestry & Rural Development. In Govt. of India worked in 3 spells in finance (banking), Prime Minister office, Cabinet Secretariat. He was closely associated with UNEP, EPTRI & NGO's on several subjects like environment. He served on the board of ICIMOD, Kathamandu & in ICICI Bank. Currently on the board of a Venture Co., Knowledge park & Mutual Fund

Mr. Rohit Kumar, Vice -President , Energy & Utilities, Wipro Technologies. Mr Kumar, also heads the Wipro's Hyderabad development centre.

Mr. Sridhar Venkatapuram Consultant for Health & Human Development Programs, EDC
Sridhar Venkatapuram was born in Hyderabad, Sridhar now lives in New York City and Cambridge, England. The focus of his work and research has been HIV/AIDS, human rights and social justice. He has worked with a variety of organizations including Human Rights Watch, Soros Foundations, the Ford Foundation and Doctors of the World - USA. With EDC, Sridhar has been working with the planning of the HIV/AIDS component of the conference and the YES Academy.

Mr. Subu M. Kota, Chairman/CEO The Boston Group
He has a lengthy and distinguished career in IT sector. Mr. Kota is well suited to lead TBG into the future. Mr. Kota joined TBG in 1992 after spending 17 years at Data General Corporation where he held a number of positions including managing the company's global technical support and quality assurance organizations, and managing strategic partnerships and business alliances. Mr. Kota also co-founded a number of innovative IT service companies that focused on Internet-based on-line education, year 2000 compliance, pen optics and ERP implementation services. Mr. Kota holds a Master Degree in Computer Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology.

Mr. Trideep Bhattacharya Associate Director UBS
He has been associated with UBS, a global financial services giant for more than 4 years now. He specializes in Indian IT Services sector and has been involved in an in-depth analysis of this sector for more than 6 years now. Before joining UBS, he was an analyst with Kotak Securities (joint venture of Goldman Sachs),for about a year. In this role, he has written several industry reports within Indian IT Services and BPO, which focus on identifying future trends within Indian IT Services industry. He has quite a few professional accomplishments to his credit. He has been rated amongst Top three IT Services analysts for the last three years consistently in Institutional Investor (II) and Asiamoney surveys, two of the most widely read industry polls to recognize talent within investment community.

Ms. Raka Rashid - Regional Director Commonwealth Youth Program
Mrs. Raka Rashid, Regional Director, CYP Asia Centre, specialises in youth development, entrepreneurship strategies for poverty reduction, gender, and rural and urban credit issues. Her background combines over twelve years of development work with the United States Agency for International Development(USAID) Mission to Bangladesh and eleven years as a financial and management consultant to donor and private voluntary development organisations/NGO's in various countries of Asia and Africa. Ms. Rashid conceptualised and designed a model for expanding women's participation in business and commerce which is under implementation by several development organisations in Bangladesh. Under her leadership, innovative approaches to reach information technology to disadvantaged young people, and models to enhance entrepreneurship among young Asians, were pioneered.

Ms. Cynthia Alvarez Enriquez - Presidential Staff Officer and Programme Manager of Youth Entrepreneurship Programme
Holding degrees in Masters in Business Management from Wesleyan University of the Philippines and Masters in Public Administration from Centro Escolar University in Manila. At present, she works as Presidential Staff Officer and Program Manager of Youth Entrepreneurship Program, a flagship of the National Youth Commission (NYC), Office of the President. She has been handling that position for the past four years. On the outset of her career in the government, she was the Over-all Secretariat Head of an Integrated Youth Development Program (dubbed as "KABATAAN 2000")of the Philippine government for the year 2000 and beyond covering 16 regions and 76 provinces of the Philippines. In her capacity as Over-all Secretariat Head, she gets involved in youth internship program, work appreciation, environmental protection and preservation, youth coops in school, as well as in plant nursery development. The Program has been institutionalized and has been a continuing program of the government from 1994 to present. She was also the Country Program Coordinator of the Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program (SSEAYP), a cultural exchange program participated by the ASEAN member-countries promoting mutual understanding and brotherhood among the youths of ASEAN. This is an annual program and sponsored by the Japanese government. She conceptualized the NYC entrepreneurship program and drafted the Executive Order which was approved by the President of the Philippines. She, likewise, drafted the Memorandum Order appropriating 100 Million credit fund for young entrepreneurs which was also approved by the President. She is responsible for credit facilitation and accreditation of fund conduit under the Youth Entreprneurship Financing Facilty Program. As Program Manager, she represents the National Youth Commission in national and regional forum on youth development programs, specifically on entrepreneurship and employment, youth participation and empowerment. She is in charge of the implementation of entrepreneurship training and skills development and other related activities. She co-drafted the Manila Declaration on Strengthening Participation in Sustainable Employment for the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Youth hosted by the Phillipine government. Ms. Enriquez also serves as Executive Director of Young Christian Business Executives, an NGO, which promotes youth employment and empowerment. She is a human right activist and peace advocate.

Ms. Hafsat Abiola - Director, Kudirat Initiative for Democracy
A young human rights and democracy activist from Nigeria, Hafsat Abiola has founded and directs an organization called the Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND). Honours received include the Youth Peace and Justice Award from the Cambridge Peace Commission in 1997, the State of the World Forum Changemaker Award in 1998, the Association for Women in Development's "Woman to Watch for" Award in 1999, a and the World Economic Forum's Global Leader of Tomorrow in 2000. She has been chosen as a Fetzer Fellow for 1998-2001, also a member of the State of the World Forum's Emerging Leaders Program and serves on the Board of the International Development Conference and the Global Youth Connect.

Ms. Janet Whitla, President and CEO, Education Development Center, Inc. She has been President and Chief Executive Officer of Education Development Center, Inc., and a member of its Board of Trustees since 1981. EDC is one of the nation's leading non-profit research and development organizations operating at approximately 80 million dollars of activity a year and working around the world. Ms. Whitla has played a significant role in shaping EDC's philosophy and work in education, health promotion, and social services and has been instrumental in bringing EDC programs to national and international attention. In recent years, she has been engaged in leading EDC's world-wide efforts to increase opportunities for sustainable livelihoods for young people and to address the range of development issues related to this global challenge. Ms. Whitla has written and contributed to numerous books and articles on a wide variety of educational topics, especially focused on the contextual and social factors that promote active learning across the life span. In addition to her activities at EDC, she has held an appointment as Associate in Education at Harvard University Graduate School of Education, and has served as a consultant to school systems, universities, hospitals, and many educational and other non-profit organizations. In the 1990s, Ms. Whitla served a three-year term as president of the U.S. Coalition for Education for All, and is a founding Board member of the Coalition for Basic Education. She is also a member of the Steering Committee for ATLAS Communities, a New American Schools Reform Program, and of the Advisory Board for the Adult Literacy Media Alliance. As part of her community service, Ms. Whitla currently is President of the Board of Governors of the Handel and Haydn Society, Chair of the South Coast Learning Center, and serves on the boards of various other national and local organizations including the New Bedford Whaling Museum and Young Audiences of Massachusetts.

Ms. Jennifer Corriero - Co-Founder and Director, TakingITGlobal
Co-founder of TakingITGlobal, a non-profit organization with the aim of using communication, collaboration and community to allow youth from around the world to realize the potential of technology, Jennifer was recently selected by the World Economic Forum as one of the Global Leaders of Tomorrow for 2002. She has recently spent some time advising Microsoft on the various aspects of the next generation of workers (often referred to as the "Net Generation") and has shared her perspectives with thousands of people at several conferences, including "Digital Dimensions of Time" (Vanguard), "Anytime, Anytime Learning" (Microsoft), the Expanding Learning Horizons conference in Australia, the State of the World Forum in New York, the Youth Empowerment Event.

Ms. Naina Lal Kidwai - Investment Banking Guru, HSBC
The first Indian woman to graduate from Harvard Business School in 1982, Naina Lal Kidwai is recognised as one of India's best bankers; a shrewd negotiator with a talent for anticipating new sectors of growth. Making a name for herself in the banking circles at Morgan Stanley, she engineered a joint venture with investment bank JM Financials, making the resulting firm one of the largest in that industry in India. She has also aggressively pursued opportunities in technology, nabbing the accounts of Wipro and Infosys, among others and brokered a joint venture between AT&T and two conglomerates, owned by the Birla and Tata families, to create a telecom company offering cellular service throughout India.

Ms. Nalini Gangadharan Executive Director, Dr. Reddy's Foundation
of the Foundation said Teen Channel was a unique experimentation of integrating the Child and Police (CAP) and Livelihood Advancement Business Scheme (LABS) projects. It aimed at connecting the learning and livelihood to address the quality of life and future of high school dropouts. The success of the Livelihood Advancement Business School, a project of Dr. Reddy's Foundation for Human and Social Development to provide sustainable livelihood opportunities to the under privileged youngsters and women, was there for one to see. She has also co-authored and presented a paper on Hyderabad District Initiative towards Elimination of Child Labour. A Documentation of the Baljyothi Project (draft report), UNICEF, Hyderabad.

Ms. Nasha Fitter -Chief Program Officer for Digital Partners
She works with such initiatives such as Drishtee, an organization focusing on ICT Kiosks offering e-government, e-commerce, e-health and e-education services in rural villages over northern India. Recently, she has been organizing a national technology based competition for 9th and 10th standard students from lower-income schools. Prior to Digital Partners, Nasha was working in the Investment Banking division of Societe Generale in New York. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from the University of Southern California.

Ms. Poonam Ahluwalia - Executive Director, YES Campaign
She is seen as the torch bearer of hope by the unemployed youth of over 60 countries! The California Legislature and the Indian-American Trade and Commerce Council have honoured Ahluwalia for her work as "an outstanding youth community leader." The real highlight of YES is that it provides a unique opportunity for youth -- who constituted 60 percent of the delegates -- to work collaboratively with policymakers and researchers. "YES believes in the involvement of youth as proactive planners and partners, not beneficiaries." India, which has a massive, youth unemployment problem, is high on Ahluwalia's agenda. Under Ahluwalia's stewardship, in addition to working towards attaining its primary objective of creating productive employment, YES is actively pursuing its objective of mainstreaming the world's youth by creating opportunities for them to become "architects of their own future". Young people the world over have an able ambassador to champion their cause.

Ms. Wendy Santis Research Associate, HHD, EDC Inc
is the lead author of "HIV and Employment: Protecting Young People and Involving Them in Work-Related Solutions," a publication written for the December 2003 Hyderabad YES Regional Forum and one of the key developers of the 2003 HIV/AIDS panel and skill-building sessions at the Hyderabad YES Regional Forum. A senior research associate in the division of Health and Human Development Programs (www.hhd.org) at EDC, she has more than 15 years of professional experience in public health, including HIV prevention, health promotion, evaluation, training and curriculum development. Ms. Santis was also the lead developer of the HIV/AIDS panel at the 2002 Youth Employment Summit in Egypt and created HIV/AIDS skill-building activities for day-long workshops for young people. She has co-authored a briefing package on skills-based health education on behalf of WHO and UNICEF. Ms. Santis has a master's degree in health policy and management with a concentration in international health from the Harvard School of Public Health. Ms. Santis is fluent in English and Spanish.

Ms. Yohani Yusof, President -Project Manager, Representing Ministry of Youth And Sports Malaysia.
She has more than 15 years experience in a wide field at ICT projects, from business development to marketing and sales.

Prof. M.S. Swaminathan - World Food Prize Laureate
Acclaimed by TIME magazine as one of the twenty most influential Asians of the 20th century and one of the only three from India, the other two being Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore. He has been described by the United Nations Environment Programme as "the Father of Economic Ecology" and by Javier Perez de Cuellar, Secretary General of the United Nations, as "a living legend who will go into the annals of history as a world scientist of rare distinction". He was Chairman of the UN Science Advisory Committee set up in 1980 to take follow-up action on the Vienna Plan of Action. He has also served as Independent Chairman of the FAO Council and President of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.

A plant geneticist by training, Professor Swaminathan's contributions to the agricultural renaissance of India have led to his being widely referred to as the scientific leader of the green revolution movement. His advocacy of sustainable agriculture leading to an ever-green revolution makes him an acknowledged world leader in the field of sustainable food security. The International Association of Women and Development conferred on him the first international award for significant contributions to promoting the knowledge, skill, and technological empowerment of women in agriculture and for his pioneering role in mainstreaming gender considerations in agriculture and rural development. Professor Swaminathan was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership in 1971, the Albert Einstein World Science Award in 1986, and the first World Food Prize in 1987.

Professor Swaminathan is a Fellow of many of the leading scientific academies of India and the world, including the Royal Society of London and the U S National Academy of Sciences. He has received 45 honorary doctorate degrees from universities around the world. He currently holds the UNESCO Chair in Ecotechnology at the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation in Chennai (Madras), India and Chairman of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs

Ms. Nancy Ames – Vice-President and Director, Center for Family, School and Community, EDC Inc.
A leader in education reform and youth development, Ms Ames has nearly 40 years of experience in program design and management, policy development, research and evaluation and training and technical assistance. Most of her work has focused on promoting equal opportunity for all, especially those young people who are at risk of educational failure and unemployment due to poverty, gender, disability or racial/ethnic/religious prejudice. Ms. Ames also helped launch Learning in Deed, a four-year service-learning initiative funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to promote service-learning in K-12 schools throughout the United States. She is the founder of the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform, a unique alliance of middle-grades leaders dedicated to improving academic and developmental outcomes for all students. She co-authored Changing Middle Schools: How to Make Schools Work for Young Adolescents and School Reform Behind the Scenes: How ATLAS is shaping the future of education.

Nomito Kamdar Regional Representative, Ashoka Innovators, South India
She co founded The Adventurers as a part of the original team in the early eighties. In the enthusiasm to make adventure and the out doors accessible for all, she worked with all cross sections of people, women, youth, tribal people, disabled children, juvenile delinquents, street children. The fervor to use the outdoors as an effective medium led to the emergence of various concepts, Outbound training programs, outdoor youth leadership programs, Adventure therapy - to build self confidence and self esteem amongst various cross sections of people. She played a key role in establishing the Indian Institute for Adventure Applications -- a training center for outdoor learning and eco tourism in the Western Ghats rainforests. She has been in the forefront of the 'Western Ghats Restoration Project', a grass root level initiative to restore the bio-cultural diversity of the Western Ghats.

Since 2001, Nomito Represents Ashoka: Innovators for the public, a global non profit organisation developing the profession of social entrepreneurship around the world. Nomito Identifies social entrepreneurs in south India and is particularly keen on bringing lesser-known individuals from rural area into the Fellowship. She helps them access a range of services from Ashoka and Ashoka partners to enhance the impact of their work.

Mr. G. David Miller - Director, International Development Programs, Southern New Hampshire University.
A development practitioner for over thirty-five years, Miller has lived in countries like Afghanistan, Israel, Morocco and Tunisia. Starting with a number of administrative positions in the Ministry of Health in Israel, the United States Peace Corps, United States Agency for International Development and Save the Children Federation, Miller written and lectured extensively on development issues, particularly focusing on the questions of post-colonialism and the growth of civil society. As a Visiting Fellow at the Thomas J. Watson Jr. Institute for International Studies at Brown University, he has conducted research on the growth and influence of non-governmental organizations in building civil society. In an effort to strengthen this network, Mr. Miller is currently engaged in forming partnerships between the New Hampshire College CED Program and parallel institutions in other regions.

Ms. Astrid Hollander
Astrid Hollander has been working for the UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre since January 2003, first as an intern, and since September 2003 as an Associate Expert. Astrid undertook studies in social anthropology and has a Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) from the University of Waikato, New Zealand, and a Master’s degree from the University of Muenster, Germany. Before joining the UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre, Astrid worke as a volunteer for the Latin American Media and Communication Project of the German Friedrich-Ebert-Foundation in Quito, Ecuador, for the Education Sector of the UNESCO Office for the Pacific in Apia, Samoa, and for a German Association that promotes the learning and teaching of intercultural competence in schools and adult education.