Shri Pankaj Jain serves as Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. He has wide-ranging experience in governance as well as design and execution of policy across the National and State Governments. This has encompassed the domains of oil and natural gas, financial services (banking and institutional finance), industries, power, information technology, livelihoods and MSME promotion.

An IAS Officer, Shri Jain is an alumnus of Shri Ram College of Commerce from where he has a Bachelor's degree in Commerce followed by an MBA from FMS Delhi. He is also a qualified Cost Accountant from the Institute of Cost Accountants of India.

Shri Jain has extensive Board experience as Chairman/Director on the Board of companies in the Petroleum and Natural Gas Sector [Petronet LNG Ltd and Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd], Banks [PNB, Canara Bank, IDBI Bank], Development Finance Institutions [National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development, Exim Bank, SIDBI], Insurers [LIC], Non-Banking Finance Companies, Guarantee Company and Regulators/ Supervisors [International Financial Services Centre Authority (IFSCA) and National Housing Bank].

Shri Akshay Kumar Singh is a veteran of the Oil and Gas industry in India. His career spanning 38 years has wide-ranging experiences across design, engineering, planning, execution and O&M of complex pipeline systems and process plants. He has an unblemished track record of delivering challenging, complex and large sized transnational as well as cross-country pipeline projects of national importance.

Mr Singh is the Founder-Chairman of M/s Petronet Energy Limited (PEL) and Petronet LNG Singapore PTE Ltd (PLSPL), wholly owned subsidiaries of Petronet LNG Ltd (PLL). He has played a pivotal role in formation of these companies and marking PLL's presence in International Market. He is also Chairman of Petronet LNG Foundation (PLF). He is Director on the Board of Adani Petronet (Dahej) Port Ltd and India LNG Transport Co (No 4) Pvt Ltd (Joint venture companies of PLL).

Prior to joining Petronet LNG Limited, he was Director - Pipelines in Indian Oil Corporation Limited. Under his leadership, India's first transnational multiproduct hydrocarbon pipeline from India to Nepal (Motihari to Amlekhganj) was completed 8 months before schedule and was appreciated by Hon'ble Prime Ministers of both countries. He also set up the infrastructure (for IOCL) to execute City Gas Distribution projects in 17 Geographical Areas, at an estimated capex of INR 13,873 Crores.

Before joining Indian Oil, Mr. Singh served as Executive Director in GAIL India Limited. In a career journey of over 30 years, he worked across project development, project execution, corporate HSE, R&D and Risk Management. He ensured the completion of the 1000 kms Dhabol - Bengaluru (DBPL) and 700 kms Dahej - Uran / Dhabol - Panvel (DUPL/DPPL) Natural Gas Pipelines in record time of 15 and 11 months, respectively, which was appreciated by the State and Central Governments. He also led a team that derived the formulation of a unified pool tariff model for transportation of Natural Gas across the country, for submission to PNGRB. From 1996 - 2002, he was instrumental in developing Mumbai's City Gas Distribution infrastructure, while working for Mahanagar Gas Limited. In 2015, he was tasked to lead a team that identified opportunities to maximise GAIL's annual profitability, and that continues to deliver substantial impact.

Mr. Singh has also played a pivotal role in the formation, execution and roll-out of key joint-ventures to develop hydrocarbon pipeline networks of national importance; (i) Indradhanush Gas Grid Limited (IGGL), having equity participation of 20% each by IOCL, GAIL, ONGC, NRL and Oil India Ltd, for execution of 9250 kms long natural gas pipeline connecting all state capitals of 8 North East states, having capex of INR 9265 Crores; (ii) IHB Limited, a consortium of IOCL (50%), BPCL (25%) and HPCL (25%) for execution of one of world's longest LPG pipeline (2800 kms) namely Kandla-Gorakhpur (KGPL) having capex of INR 10,888 Crores. He also served as Chairman of IHB Limited and as Director at Talcher Fertilizers Limited as well as Andhra Pradesh Gas Distribution Corporation Ltd.

Mr. Singh is a Mechanical Engineer from MIT, Muzaffarpur and Post Graduate in Turbo Machinery from South Gujarat University.

Shri Akshay Kumar Singh is a veteran of the Oil and Gas industry in India. His career spanning 38 years has wide-ranging experiences across design, engineering, planning, execution and O&M of complex pipeline systems and process plants. He has an unblemished track record of delivering challenging, complex and large sized transnational as well as cross-country pipeline projects of national importance.

Mr Singh is the Founder-Chairman of M/s Petronet Energy Limited (PEL) and Petronet LNG Singapore PTE Ltd (PLSPL), wholly owned subsidiaries of Petronet LNG Ltd (PLL). He has played a pivotal role in formation of these companies and marking PLL's presence in International Market. He is also Chairman of Petronet LNG Foundation (PLF). He is Director on the Board of Adani Petronet (Dahej) Port Ltd and India LNG Transport Co (No 4) Pvt Ltd (Joint venture companies of PLL).

Prior to joining Petronet LNG Limited, he was Director - Pipelines in Indian Oil Corporation Limited. Under his leadership, India's first transnational multiproduct hydrocarbon pipeline from India to Nepal (Motihari to Amlekhganj) was completed 8 months before schedule and was appreciated by Hon'ble Prime Ministers of both countries. He also set up the infrastructure (for IOCL) to execute City Gas Distribution projects in 17 Geographical Areas, at an estimated capex of INR 13,873 Crores.

Before joining Indian Oil, Mr. Singh served as Executive Director in GAIL India Limited. In a career journey of over 30 years, he worked across project development, project execution, corporate HSE, R&D and Risk Management. He ensured the completion of the 1000 kms Dhabol - Bengaluru (DBPL) and 700 kms Dahej - Uran / Dhabol - Panvel (DUPL/DPPL) Natural Gas Pipelines in record time of 15 and 11 months, respectively, which was appreciated by the State and Central Governments. He also led a team that derived the formulation of a unified pool tariff model for transportation of Natural Gas across the country, for submission to PNGRB. From 1996 - 2002, he was instrumental in developing Mumbai's City Gas Distribution infrastructure, while working for Mahanagar Gas Limited. In 2015, he was tasked to lead a team that identified opportunities to maximise GAIL's annual profitability, and that continues to deliver substantial impact.

Mr. Singh has also played a pivotal role in the formation, execution and roll-out of key joint-ventures to develop hydrocarbon pipeline networks of national importance; (i) Indradhanush Gas Grid Limited (IGGL), having equity participation of 20% each by IOCL, GAIL, ONGC, NRL and Oil India Ltd, for execution of 9250 kms long natural gas pipeline connecting all state capitals of 8 North East states, having capex of INR 9265 Crores; (ii) IHB Limited, a consortium of IOCL (50%), BPCL (25%) and HPCL (25%) for execution of one of world's longest LPG pipeline (2800 kms) namely Kandla-Gorakhpur (KGPL) having capex of INR 10,888 Crores. He also served as Chairman of IHB Limited and as Director at Talcher Fertilizers Limited as well as Andhra Pradesh Gas Distribution Corporation Ltd.

Mr. Singh is a Mechanical Engineer from MIT, Muzaffarpur and Post Graduate in Turbo Machinery from South Gujarat University.

Shri Vinod Kumar Mishra has rich experience of about 3 decades in the areas of Corporate Finance, Direct and Indirect taxes, Treasury Management, Natural Gas Marketing and Hedging etc.

He is a Chartered Accountant and also holds degrees in Law and MBA (Finance).

He has worked in GAIL (India) Limited a Maharatna Company, for more than 27 years. In his professional career in GAIL, he has successfully handled Project Financing of GREP Pipeline Project and Construction of two LPG plants and was also involved in handling O&M activities of NCR Region. Through his profound knowledge in Natural Gas Contracts, he has been instrumental in developing various Natural Gas Hedging strategies that resulted in immense economic benefit to the company. He was also involved in Financial Planning & Analysis, Contract Management of Natural Gas & other liquid Hydrocarbons, handling Direct & Indirect Taxation matters, Treasury, Provident Fund, Superannuation Fund, Insurance etc.

He also held the position of Director in GAIL Global USA, INC, Houston (USA), a wholly owned subsidiary company of GAIL(India) Limited, having global footprint in the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) trade.

Shri Pramod Narang is 1984 batch Mechanical Engineer from Karnataka Regional Engineering College (KREC), Surathkal (now NIT, Surathkal). He joined the Pipelines Division of Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. in 1985 as a Graduate Engineer Trainee, thereafter rising to the rank of Executive Director in the company.

With over 35 years, experience in oil and gas industry, Shri Narang has made immense contributions in various fields like design, detailed engineering and execution of cross-country oil and gas pipeline projects, Operation & Maintenance, Corporate Planning functions, Projects Monitoring, Purchase & Contracts, etc. Construction of large crude oil and petroleum products storage tank farms at Vadinar (Gujarat), Panipat and Paradip; construction of 1300 km Kandla-Bhatinda pipeline, Koyali-Sidhpur products pipeline, Paradip-Haldia crude pipeline, Jaipur-Panipat naphtha pipeline are some of the major projects of national importance, handled by him and completed within schedule. He also played a central role in execution and commissioning of India's first trans-national petroleum products pipeline from Motihari in Bihar to Amlekhganj in Nepal, with an objective of accomplishing uninterrupted supply of High Speed Diesel and Motor Spirit to one of the most important neighbours of the country. This project was also completed in a record time.

During 2019-20, as head of Materials & Contracts function, he steered his team in placing highest-ever works and purchase awards along with achieving a record reduction in the lead time. These contributions played a vital role in strengthening the projects, value chain and had a far-reaching impact on overall projects execution.

Shri Arvinder Singh Sahney, aged 54 years, is a Chemical Engineer from HBTI, Kanpur, with over three decades of expertise in the Refinery and Petrochemical sector. He brings extensive experience from working at five of IndianOil's nine refineries. At IndianOil, he has been instrumental in commissioning and optimizing key refinery units, including the 15 MMTPA Paradip Refinery, which has significantly bolstered India's refining capacity and energy security.

Prior to his appointment as Chairman, he headed IndianOil’s Petrochemical vertical, where he was instrumental in the conceptualization of various petrochemical projects, including the upcoming mega Petrochemical Complex at Paradip, poised to significantly expand IndianOil’s footprint in the sector.

A firm believer in people-centric leadership, Shri Sahney has championed Innovation and Digital transformation as drivers of growth and sustainability. His strategic vision and operational excellence have positioned IndianOil as a global energy major, well-equipped to meet the evolving energy needs of the nation.

Shri Sahney also chairs Terra Clean Limited, a Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WoS) of IndianOil focused on sustainable solutions, and is a Director at IndOil Montney Ltd, Canada, IndianOil’s WoS.

Shri Milind Torawane, IAS, is the Managing Director of Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation Limited. He has done Bachelor of Engineering (Electronics & Telecommunication) and Masters in Public Administration at the Maxwell School of Syracuse University, USA.

He was Commissioner of Rural Development and Secretary to Government (Rural Department), Panchayats, Rural Housing & Rural Development Department. Further, he has also held various important positions in Government of Gujarat (GoG) like Municipal Commissioner-Surat Municipal Corporation, Secretary-Housing & Nirmal Gujarat, Additional Chief Executive-Gujarat Urban Development Mission.

He has vast experience of working in the Finance Department of Government of Gujarat, as the Secretary (Expenditure) and also as the Secretary (Economic Affairs).

He had also served as the Managing Director of Gujarat Alkalies and Chemicals Limited (GACL) and Gujarat State Investment Limited (GSIL). He has also served as Director on the Board of various Companies like Gujarat State Financial Services Ltd (GSFSL), Gujarat State Electricity Corporation Limited (GSECL), Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC), Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL) etc.

Shri Milind Torawane, IAS, was awarded the best District Development Officer [District - Narmada (Rajpipla)] in the year 2004-05. He was also declared the best Collector and District Magistrate in the year 2007-08 and 2009-10 by the Government of Gujarat.

Ambassador Bhaswati Mukherjee (DIN: 07173244), (aged about 71 years) is a postgraduate (First Class) in History from Delhi University and has a Degree (Superior) in French History and Civilization from Sorbonne University, France. Ms. Mukherjee joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1976 and was India’s Ambassador to UNESCO, Paris, from 2004 to 2010 and subsequently, India’s Ambassador to the Netherlands, The Hague from 2010 to 2013.

She completed FICCI’s course on ‘Woman and Corporate Governance’. She successfully cleared with distinction Ministry of Corporate Affairs online proficiency test for Independent Directors in October 2020.

She has served as Independent Director in Sona BLW Precision Forgings Ltd. till August 2019 and Jindal Stainless till July 2013. Apart from Petronet LNG Limited, she is presently an Independent Director in the Boards of Jindal Stainless and JK Laxmi Cement, both listed companies as well as Udaipur Cement. She is also Independent Director on the Board of Jindal ferrous Limited.

Ms. Mukherjee worked successfully on Indentured Labour Route Project for UNESCO and Government of Mauritius. She has been a senior consultant to MGIEP, UNESCO and DFID.

She was elected President of India Habitat Center in March 2023. A prolific writer, she has authored 4 books. ‘India and EU: an Insider’s View’ commissioned by Indian Council of World Affairs, a leading Indian think tank and published in August 2018 in English and Hindi is a best seller. Her second book, also a best seller was ‘India and EU in a Turbulent World’ was published by Palgrave Macmillion in 2020. Her third book, ‘Bengal and its Partition: an untold Story’ published by Rupa publications and released in March 2021, is a global best seller. Her fourth book is ‘The Indentured and their Route: a Relentless Quest for Identity’ published by Rupa publications has also become best seller world-wide.

She has also published over 100 articles, columns reports and monographs in leading national and international publications.

A natural orator, Ms. Mukherjee is a political commentator on TV on Indian Culture and Civilization, the India EU relationship, Brexit, India’s interests in the Indo Pacific, the Chemical Weapons regime, nuclear issues and the changing contours of India’s Foreign Policy, apart from security issues of concern to India.

Ms. Mukherjee has participated in briefings, seminars, round tables on questions relating to India and the EU, India and its neighbors, the United Nations Human Rights Programme, the human rights of women and the girl child as well as issues relating to UNESCO’s areas of competence, particularly in Education and Culture.

Shri Sanjeev Mitla, 56 years old, is a Chartered Accountant by profession having rich entrepreneurial experience of more than 34 years in Strategic Planning & Management, Financial Planning & Control, Budgeting, Accounts, Auditing, Taxation, Legal & Secretarial Functions and MIS. He also holds Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce (B.Com. Hons.) from Hindu College, Delhi University in 1986.

He is a managing partner of M/s Sharma Goel & Co. LLP and founder promoter of M/s SGC Services Pvt. Ltd., a leading payroll services provider in the country specializing in handling of payroll services, compliances, Retiral Trust Management.

In his vast professional lifespan of over 34 years, he has accumulated extensive experience in almost all field of professional services and industrial sectors with a diverse portfolio of clients. He is having vast knowledge and experience in external and internal audit & systems as well as insurance, banking, manufacturing & social service sector. He is expertise in analysing existing systems and procedures, preparing business continuity plans, designing internal control systems and facilitate effective decision-making. He is also a keen planner, strategist & implementer with demonstrated abilities in managing entire financial operations along with auditing & taxation related matters. He has successfully conducted various Central Statutory audits of major Public Sector Corporations & Public Sector Banks.

He also has experience in advising fortune 500 multinational and large Indian business houses on a wide range of matters relating to FDI policy, business re-organization, cross-border tax structuring and tax controversy across a range of sectors. He performed an imperative role in establishing various International Joint Ventures. He has developed expertise in practice domains ranging from entry level strategy, income tax, indirect taxes, transaction advisory, merger and acquisitions, transfer pricing, regulatory matters and most recently GST.

Shri Sundeep Bhutoria, 49 years old, is a social activist working for over two decades in the field of welfare, international cultural cooperation and the promotion and preservation of Indian arts.

Based out at Kolkata, India, he plays a significant role in preserving and promoting India's rich cultural legacy, and works tirelessly to advocate universal literacy rooted in the nation's literary heritage, through his involvement in various NGOs such as Prabha Khaitan Foundation and Education For All Trust.

He is widely acknowledged as a champion of the fine arts. He has been advising and instrumental in launching a number of CSR projects by various corporates

He serves as a Nominee of the Governor of Rajasthan at Bikaner University, as a member of the Expert Committee of Cultural Function and Production Grant of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, and as a member of the Advisory Committee of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). He has also been nominated as a member of the Hindi Salahakar Samiti of the Ministry of Civil Aviation. He is the Treasurer of the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA), which at present he has taken a leave of absence.

He is the Secretary-General of The Bengal, an NGO that brings together eminent citizens to promote socio-cultural and welfare activities. One of its projects, Pronam - run in collaboration with Kolkata Police - is an outreach program for the welfare of elderly citizens.

In September 2010 he was felicitated at The House of Lords, London, for "Excellence in his chosen field of work".

He holds a Master's Degree in Hindi from India and a Certificate in Corporate Management from Japan. Mr Bhutoria has authored seven books.

Shri Muker Jeet Sharma, Indian Forest Service (1985 Batch), is a Science Graduate from Jammu, Post-graduate in M.Sc. (Geography) from Punjab University, Chandigarh and M.Sc. (Forestry) from F.R.I., Dehradun.

Shri Sharma has rich experience of more than 40 years in administration, soil & water conservation, global warming, pollution control, climate change, ecology & environment protection, business strategy, consultancy and project management. He has served State Forest Service from 1978 to 1985 and thereafter, he was in Indian Forest Service from 1985 until 2014. He retired as Addl. Principle Chief Conservator of Forest, Indian Forest Services, after serving the Indian Government for over 36 years. During his tenure, he undertook and led numerous initiatives to promote the conservation and protection of forests in J&K (cadre-state) and community forestry. His efforts were recognized by way of the Indira Priyadarshini Vriksha Mitra Award presented to the Forest Department. He is also the Founder and serving as President of J&K Amateur Fencing Association.

Shri Raian Nogi Karanjawala (DIN: 02438943) (aged about 69 years) is having more than 41 years of rich experience and is well known for his keen legal strategy, solution-oriented approach, and his farsighted and practical advice to clients. He is an alumnus of St Columba's School, Shri Ram College of Commerce (of which he was both the Captain of the College Debating team and College Union President) and Government Law College, Mumbai. He was also conferred an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws (L.L.B.) Honoris Causa from Amity University, U.P. in 2014.

Known as the 'big picture guy' to his clients and one India's "50 most influential people" according to the India Today Magazine of 2004, Shri Raian Karanjawala is the co-founder of Karanjawala & Company, one of India's leading law firms, based in New Delhi, with close to 100 lawyers, offering top-notch legal advice and services to governments, corporate houses and who's who in the world of politics, business and films.

In recent times Shri Karanjawala’s Firm has been instrumental in:

• Appearing for Aryan Khan, S/o Shah Rukh Khan in the Bombay High Court along with Counsel and ensuring that he got bail.
• Appearing for the Tata Group throughout in the Tata-Mistry battle and ensuring that the Tata Group was successful.
• Appearing for Lakshmi Mittal’s company ArcelorMittal in the takeover of Essar Steel and ensuring that the takeover was successful.
• Appearing for the Tata Group in the takeover of Bhushan Steel and ensuring that the takeover was successful.
• Being the lead Firm before the five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court in the Same-Sex Marriage matter.

A go-to litigator and strategist for complex litigation as well as notable causes, Shri Karanjawala and his Firm have been consistently rated as a “Band 1 lawyer” and a “Tier 1”’ Dispute Resolution Firm, New Delhi, respectively by accrediting agency Chambers and Partners (Asia) for outstanding service in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020. Karanjawala & Company has also been recognized at ETLegalWorld Awards 2023 as the Law Firm of the Year, Excellence in Litigation (other than Arbitration), Excellence in Arbitration and Dispute Resolution. Some of his other notable awards and achievements include:

• India Business Law Journal consistently recognized Shri Raian Karanjawala for his excellence, including acknowledgments as a Legal Icon among the A-list of India's Top 100 Lawyers and 50 Legal Icons for the year 2020, among the Top 50 Legal Icons for the year 2022, and as a Legal Icon among the A-list of India's Top 100 Lawyers for the year 2017.
• Chambers and Partners Asia-Pacific acknowledged Shri Raian Karanjawala as an Eminent Practitioner in Dispute Resolution: New Delhi based and White Collar Crime and Corporate Investigations in its 2023 Guide. He has also been recognised in the area of White-Collar Crime and Dispute Resolution for his outstanding service for the years 2015, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 & 2023 and was acknowledged as an Eminent Practitioner for "White Collar Crime" practice for the years 2020 and 2021.
• Legal Era – Legal Media Group honoured Shri Raian Karanjawala amongst "Leading Lawyer Legends" for Dispute Resolution: Arbitration and Litigation and White Collar Crime for the year 2022.
• Asialaw Profiles acknowledged Shri Raian Karanjawala in their 2022 edition and as 'Elite Practitioner' for the year 2020 & 2021. They also recognised him amongst the leading lawyers in India for the year 2020.
• Asialaw Leading Lawyers awards recognized Shri Raian Karanjwala as an Elite Practitioner for Dispute Resolution Practice area for the year 2022 and as a Market-Leading Lawyer' for the years 2017 and 2018.
• Forbes Legal Powerlist enlisted Shri Raian Karanjawala as the "Top Managing Partner – Above 10 Years Experience" for the year 2021 and as the “Top Managing Partners of the Country” award for the year 2020.
• BW Global Leaders Awards awarded Shri Raian Karanjawala as "Managing Partner of the Year" for the year 2021.
• Benchmark Litigation recognized Shri Raian Karanjawala in the area of Commercial and Transaction practice as a 'Litigation Star' for the year 2020 and a 'Dispute Resolution Star' for the year 2019.
• Asia leading lawyers recognized Shri Raian Karanjawala as an 'Elite Practitioner' for the year 2020.