Dr. M K Bhan presently working as Secretary to Government of India, Department of Biotechnology, is an internationally reputed and leading researcher in child health, who has worked tirelessly to find and apply science based solutions to major cases of childhood deaths in the developing countries. His scientific contributions have lead to several interventions, which have received WHO endorsement and have been actually introduced into India and other developing countries for diarrheal disease control programmes. He specialized in vaccine development and has developed a Vi conjugate vaccine, using outer membrane Protein as a carrier, which is awaiting trials.

Dr. Bhan is a recipient of many national and international awards like Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award, National Ranbaxy Award, ST Achar Gold Medal of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics, SS Mishra Award of the National Academy of Medical Sciences, Biotech Product and Process Development and Commercialization Award and Pollins Foundation Research Award for US$ 100,000 (year 2003).

Mr. B P Acharya presently working as Vice Chairman & Managing Director, Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC), Government of Andhra Pradesh and Patron of All India Biotech Association – Southern Chapter (AIBA-SC).

His previous asignments include, Collector and District Magistrate, Warangal, Andhra Pradesh, Commissioner for Relief and EO Secretary to Govt of AP and coordinated relief operations during Krishna floods of October 1998 and cyclone in November 1998, and posted as Managing Director, APDDCF a Cooperative Enterprise of nearly one million farmers with a turnover of over Rs. 7000 million per annum he also worked as Secretary, Industries, Commerce & Biotechnology, Government of Andhra Pradesh. He brought out important publications on Cultural Heritage of Kakatiyas on behalf of INTACH.

Mr. Vivek Singhal, President, Singhal Group of Companies, an Entrepreneur par-excellence, was the pioneer in establishment of computer-related activities in India as early as in 1971 and started his own company “Computronics India”. In 1993, he again pioneered to deal with biotechnology-based products for agriculture and public health sectors, both in the domestic and international markets, through his company “Biotech International Ltd”. Mr. Singhal is the Founder of All India Biotech Association. For his contribution in bringing computer consciousness in India and looking to his outstanding performance in exports, social service and other fields, Mr. Singhal has been bestowed number of prestigious awards from the President of India and the Prime Minister of India. Presently he is President of All India Biotech Association and is associated with several professional organizations.

Dr. Anwar Nasim, Adviser Science, Comstech and Chairman, National Commission on Biotechnology of Pakistan. He has been actively involved in the socio-economic development of Pakistan and other Islamic countries. His main areas of interest are molecular biology, biotechnology and genetic engineering. Dr. Nasim is playing a pivotal role in bringing about a sustainable development in Pakistan through the use of modern techniques in the fields of biotechnology and its allied disciplines. Dr. Nasim has also been an author of 8 quality books, over 100 scientific publications in prestigious international journals to his credit. In recognition of his educational, scientific and administrative achievements, Dr. Nasim has earned a number of awards. Dr. Nasim has worked in close contact with academic institutions. During his stay in Canada, he worked as Adjunct Professor at the University of Ottawa and at Carleton University. He had the honour of working at the Max Planck Institute, Germany and Stanford University. Through his rich experience and helping attitude, he is acting as a genuine mentor for an entire generation of young Pakistani scientists.

Dr. B S Bajaj, Director, Otira Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd and Chairman, All India Biotech Association – Southern Chapter, is also Director of Natco Pharma Ltd, Hyderabad, Pacific Hospitals Pvt Ltd, Hyderabad. He is Member of Biotech Advisory Committee of Andhra Pradesh Government, Project Management Committee (PMC), Biotechnology Incubation Centre (BTIC) Project, Vice Chairman of Export Promotion Forum for Biotechnology, Govt of India. He was engaged in research and development in the field of antibiotics, physiology of fungi and microbial genetics in different institutions. He has a total experience of nearly 50 years in the field of biotechnology, drugs and pharmaceuticals. He managed antibiotic plant of Indian Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Ltd (IDPL), Rishikesh as Chief Executive and was involved in setting up of new biotech plants and expansion of existing plants. His most outstanding achievement was setting up of a large capacity and the state-of-the-art automatic fermentation plant for production of Penicillin G and its derivatives at Vadodara for Torrent Gujarat Biotech Ltd. He was actively involved in transfer of technologies of different antibiotics from European companies to India. He published more than 75 papers in national and international journals. He guided several M Sc and PhD students in different universities. He was on the Board of Management of several companies and Research Advisory Committee of CSIR Laboratories. He was also a Consultant to a multinational group.

Dr. Ashok K Sadhukhan is the Director, Biotech Division, Transgene Biotek Ltd, Hyderabad and Vice Chairman, All India Biotech Association – Southern Chapter (AIBA-SC). He has over 27 years of experience in the field of industrial biotechnology with many reputed pharmaceutical industries, Dr. Sadhukhan is specialized in fermentation technology for both secondary metabolites and r-DNA products, animal cell culture technology, gene cloning and screening of novel drugs. He has been instrumental in several technology transfers to pharma companies from abroad and is also involved in industry-academia interaction involving universities and national laboratories. Dr. Sadhukhan was a research council member of a CSIR Laboratory and is at present associated with a number of professional organizations.