Master's in Development Studies, University of Bath, UK; PhD in Physics, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. Formerly, Researcher in Nuclear Physics, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. 1982, joined Indian Administrative Service (IAS); has occupied various senior positions in the state of Maharashtra, mostly linked to the field of Agriculture & Cooperation, including 7 years as Agriculture Commissioner; 6 years as Commissioner and Secretary, Cooperatives; Director-General, special project tackling suicide among farmers, Vidarbha; Principal Secretary and then Additional Chief Secretary of Agriculture, responsible for attracting an investment of US$ 1 billion a year in the State of Maharashtra in the field of integrated value chains. Extensive experience working on various projects funded by the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and International Fund for Agriculture Development. Interests: establishing a public-private partnership framework for integrated value chains. Retired in July 2015, working as freelance consultant thereafter. Director on the Board of more than 14 agribusiness companies.

Master's in Arts and PhD in Economics from Utkal University, Bhubaneshwar, Odisha. A distinguished IAS officer and retired Secretary of GoI is the Chairman of the Coalition of Food and Nutrition Security and Member of Executive Committee of Poshan Abhiyaan. Dr. Panda has occupied various senior positions in the state of Tamil Nadu, Odisha and in the Central Government, linked to diverse fields ranging from Agriculture & Cooperation, rural development, planning, water and sanitation etc. Dr. Panda has provided thought leadership to India’s Jal Jeevan Mission, Clean India Mission and Total Sanitation Campaigns. He has an extensive experience of steering Dairy and Oil seeds Co-operatives movement and social business model under the ageis of National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and has been conferred with Bharat Gourab Samman for his contribution in Social Business Cooperative in dairy and vegetable oil sector. As Former Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises and Member, Central Administrative Tribunal, he has championed corporate governance and CSR Models in social development sector. He has authored various research articles and publications.Dr. Panda is highly committed to the cause of Sustainable Food and Nutrition Security for all and possesses great depth of knowledge and understanding related to government systems and its working.

A seasoned professional with Master’s in Agriculture and 40+ years of experience in Banking and Insurance Sector. Worked in India. Nepal and Middle East Region for multiple PSU's and Private Sector Organizations. Key Areas of Expertise are Crop Insurance and Loss Assessment; Rural and Micro Finance; Research and Analysis; Insurance Advisory (General Insurance); Regulatory Advisory for Insurance Sector; Capacity Building; Strategic Sourcing and Business Development. He has 6 years of experience in banking with Agricultural Credit Portfolio in State Bank of India and India Overseas Bank. 20 years of working experience in Crop Insurance in G.I.C of India and A.I.C of India Limited, 10 years of academic experience in National Insurance Academy, Pune, VAMNICOM, Pune and Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, 4 years of Consultancy in Crop Insurance to Oman Reinsurance Company, Muscat and General Insurance Company in Nepal. A recognized trainer on Agriculture insurance for RBI, Various banks and Govt. officials of State Government and Central Government.

Sairam Iyer graduated in Metallurgical Engineering from the College of Engineering, Pune, India. In a career spanning over 40 years he has had extensive experience in the Engineering Export, Finance and Insurance sectors.
During the last over 20 years he has been engaged as an Insurance and Reinsurance Broker providing Risk Management Services to leading Corporates in India. He is also actively involved in technology used in Agriculture. His hobbies include reading, music and travel.