About
Board of Trustees
IHCN-F has a Board of Trustees which works intensively to shape its structure and operational framework. IHCN-F has the following Trustees:
Ms. Rathi Vinay Jha ( I.A.S Retd.), Former Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India
Ms Rathi Vinay Jha, joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1967 and was assigned to work in the State of Tamil Nadu. She retired in 2004 as Secretary of Ministry of Tourism. During her long tenure in the Administrative Service, she took up and implemented many pioneering initiatives such as: setting up of National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) and CSR in association with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), besides working in many Departments in varied sectors. As the Secretary of Tourism Ministry, she undertook the planning and development of tourism destinations on a sustainable scale, such as at Hampi, Ajanta-Ellora, Bodhgaya, and the Buddhist circuit among others. She continues to work for a number of voluntary/ not-for-profit organisations, and a few educational institutions.
Ms Rathi Vinay Jha, joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1967 and was assigned to work in the State of Tamil Nadu. She retired in 2004 as Secretary of Ministry of Tourism. During her long tenure in the Administrative Service, she took up and implemented many pioneering initiatives such as: setting up of National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) and CSR in association with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), besides working in many Departments in varied sectors. As the Secretary of Tourism Ministry, she undertook the planning and development of tourism destinations on a sustainable scale, such as at Hampi, Ajanta-Ellora, Bodhgaya, and the Buddhist circuit among others. She continues to work for a number of voluntary/ not-for-profit organisations, and a few educational institutions.
Prof. K T Ravindran, President, Institute of Urban Designers
Prof. Ravindran is the founder President of the Institute of Urban Designers, India, a professional association of qualified urban designers. He was Professor and Head of Urban Design at School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi since 1982. He is a member of the academic boards of number of universities in India and has been teaching Urban Morphology and Humanizing Cities apart from the Urban Design Studio. His practice includes design of greenfield cities, cultural buildings and Memorials, as well as Urban Conservation.
Prof. Ravindran is the founder President of the Institute of Urban Designers, India, a professional association of qualified urban designers. He was Professor and Head of Urban Design at School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi since 1982. He is a member of the academic boards of number of universities in India and has been teaching Urban Morphology and Humanizing Cities apart from the Urban Design Studio. His practice includes design of greenfield cities, cultural buildings and Memorials, as well as Urban Conservation.
"Dr. Kulwant Singh is the Regional Advisor, Urban Basic Services Branch, United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT). Dr Singh was also Director Association of Municipalities and Development Authorities (AMDA). He was also Executive Director of Human Settlements Management Institute of India for twelve years. He has been a visiting faculty of the UNESCO-IHE Institute, the Netherlands and TERI University New Delhi. His teaching, training, capacity building and research interests are very wide. Dr Singh has several books to his credit in the field of Infrastructure Development and Urban Management and has published widely in international refereed journals in the area of Water, Sanitation and urban management issues."
Prof. Chetan Vaidya, Director, School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi
Prof. Chetan Vaidya is the Director of School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), New Delhi. Prior to this, he was Director of National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) since February 2008. An architect-urban planner with over 30 years of experience in urban planning, finance and management, Prof. Vaidya has played key roles in formulation of various City Development Plans and in implementation of reforms under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).
Prof. Chetan Vaidya is the Director of School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), New Delhi. Prior to this, he was Director of National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) since February 2008. An architect-urban planner with over 30 years of experience in urban planning, finance and management, Prof. Vaidya has played key roles in formulation of various City Development Plans and in implementation of reforms under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).
Mr. Saleem Beg, Director, National Monuments Authority, Government of India
After retiring as the Director General Tourism (Government of J&K) in 2006, Mr Beg took over the responsibilities of INTACH J&K chapter as its Convenor. He is a recipient of 2009 INTACH-Satte National Award for heritage conservation.
After retiring as the Director General Tourism (Government of J&K) in 2006, Mr Beg took over the responsibilities of INTACH J&K chapter as its Convenor. He is a recipient of 2009 INTACH-Satte National Award for heritage conservation.
Dr. Shikha Jain, Director, Development and Research Organisation for Nature, Arts and Heritage (DRONAH)
Dr. Shikha Jain is the Director of DRONAH. An experienced conservation architect, she has headed many urban conservation projects for the Government of Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Punjab and have been involved in conservation works funded by many renowned international organizations. A PhD in Indian Architecture from De Montfort University, Leicester, U.K. (2002), Dr Jain has contributed a number of papers and articles on the built heritage of India in national and international journals and conferences and authored books such as ‘Havelis: A Living Tradition of Rajasthan’ and 'Princely Terrain: Amber, Jaipur and Shekhawati'.
Dr. Shikha Jain is the Director of DRONAH. An experienced conservation architect, she has headed many urban conservation projects for the Government of Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Punjab and have been involved in conservation works funded by many renowned international organizations. A PhD in Indian Architecture from De Montfort University, Leicester, U.K. (2002), Dr Jain has contributed a number of papers and articles on the built heritage of India in national and international journals and conferences and authored books such as ‘Havelis: A Living Tradition of Rajasthan’ and 'Princely Terrain: Amber, Jaipur and Shekhawati'.
Mr. Anil Thakur, Chartered Accountant, Thakur Vaidyanath Aiyar & Co.
Mr. Anil Thakur is a Chartered Accountant and Managing Partner of Thakur, Vaidyanath Aiyar & Co. He is an Expert on Advisory Services in connection with New Projects, Mergers, Acquisitions, and Green Field Projects and on matter relating to Direct Tax Compliance requirements. Mr. Thakur is Associated with large number of Charities including Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund, The Red Cross, The Leprosy Mission, The Blind Relief Association, The Nehru Trust for Cambridge University, Vishwa Yuvak Kendra, various Gandhian and other Prominent Institutions. He is also Advisor to several International Organization on matters relating to Charities, FCRA, Tax Exemptions etc
Mr. Anil Thakur is a Chartered Accountant and Managing Partner of Thakur, Vaidyanath Aiyar & Co. He is an Expert on Advisory Services in connection with New Projects, Mergers, Acquisitions, and Green Field Projects and on matter relating to Direct Tax Compliance requirements. Mr. Thakur is Associated with large number of Charities including Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund, The Red Cross, The Leprosy Mission, The Blind Relief Association, The Nehru Trust for Cambridge University, Vishwa Yuvak Kendra, various Gandhian and other Prominent Institutions. He is also Advisor to several International Organization on matters relating to Charities, FCRA, Tax Exemptions etc
Mr. Rajen Varada, CEO, Open Knowledge Community, UNESCO New Delhi
Mr Rajen Varada was previously CEO of Labour Net–Development Services. He has over 15 years of experience in the social development sector, to which he brings a mix of technology awareness and practical applications for rural and urban marginalized communities. Prior to this, he was the resource person and moderator for the United Nations Solution Exchange ICTD community. He is the founding director of Technology for the People (TFTP), a non-governmental organisation working towards providing livelihood options for deprived communities by upgrading traditional skills to match modern market requirements.
Mr Rajen Varada was previously CEO of Labour Net–Development Services. He has over 15 years of experience in the social development sector, to which he brings a mix of technology awareness and practical applications for rural and urban marginalized communities. Prior to this, he was the resource person and moderator for the United Nations Solution Exchange ICTD community. He is the founding director of Technology for the People (TFTP), a non-governmental organisation working towards providing livelihood options for deprived communities by upgrading traditional skills to match modern market requirements.
Dr. Ajay Khare, Professor, School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal
Dr. Ajay Khare is Professor in School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal. He has over 20 years of experience in teaching Architecture and Conservation and has been conferred various fellowships such as Fellowship from Charles Wallace India Trust, London. He has recently completed his tenure as Director. School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal.
Dr. Ajay Khare is Professor in School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal. He has over 20 years of experience in teaching Architecture and Conservation and has been conferred various fellowships such as Fellowship from Charles Wallace India Trust, London. He has recently completed his tenure as Director. School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal.
"Mr Vikas Dilawari, Principal Architect, Vikas Dilawari Conservation Architects, Mumbai
Mr Vikas Dilawari is practicing conservation architect with more than two and half decades of experience ranging from urban to architecture conservation. He was Head of the Department of Conservation at Kamla Raheja Vidyanidhi Institute for Architecture and Environmental Studies (KRVIA), Mumbai. His projects have received several national and international recognition such as UNESCO Asia Pacific Award for Excellence, 2005 and UNESCO Asia Pacific Award of Distinction, 2012 and 2013."
Mr Harshavardhan Neotia, Chairman of the Ambuja Neotia Group
Mr. Harshavardhan Neotia is the founder of one of the first joint sector companies in India, “Bengal Ambuja Housing Development Limited” in partnership with the government of West Bengal. Under his guidance, Ambuja Reality Group has developed many properties across India. Harshavardhana Neotia's maiden project, “Udayan” was declared a ‘Model Housing Project’ by the union government. He is member of Board of Trade, Government of India, Member of Rajasthan Foundation and Nathdwara Temple Board and also Member of Heritage Commission, Government of West Bengal. He was conferred the Padmashri in the year 1999 for his outstanding initiative in the field of social housing. He has been awarded with Young Presidents Organization YPO Legacy of Honor Award and works as the Honorary Consul of Israel in West Bengal.
Mr. Harshavardhan Neotia is the founder of one of the first joint sector companies in India, “Bengal Ambuja Housing Development Limited” in partnership with the government of West Bengal. Under his guidance, Ambuja Reality Group has developed many properties across India. Harshavardhana Neotia's maiden project, “Udayan” was declared a ‘Model Housing Project’ by the union government. He is member of Board of Trade, Government of India, Member of Rajasthan Foundation and Nathdwara Temple Board and also Member of Heritage Commission, Government of West Bengal. He was conferred the Padmashri in the year 1999 for his outstanding initiative in the field of social housing. He has been awarded with Young Presidents Organization YPO Legacy of Honor Award and works as the Honorary Consul of Israel in West Bengal.
Dr M. Ramachandran, (I.A.S. Retd.), Former Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India
Dr Ramachandran has 38 years of cross sector apex level policy making experience and field level implementation exposure in India. As Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development, Dr Ramachandran spearheaded the country's urban sector policies, reforms and initiatives. He proactively steered the implementation of India's urban flagship programme titled 'Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. He was earlier Chief Secretary, Uttarakhand.' and 'Author of seven books on Infrastructure, he writes regularly in economic newspapers on urban issues and guides urban deliberations at seminars, conferences and workshops'
Dr Ramachandran has 38 years of cross sector apex level policy making experience and field level implementation exposure in India. As Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development, Dr Ramachandran spearheaded the country's urban sector policies, reforms and initiatives. He proactively steered the implementation of India's urban flagship programme titled 'Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. He was earlier Chief Secretary, Uttarakhand.' and 'Author of seven books on Infrastructure, he writes regularly in economic newspapers on urban issues and guides urban deliberations at seminars, conferences and workshops'
"Mr Subir Hari Singh Former Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Karnataka. Has
held various positions in Government of Karnataka including Additional Chief Secretary Urban Development Department, Chairman Bangalore Development Authority, Chairman Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development & Finance Corporation, Principal Secretary, Kannada and Culture, Commissioner Bangalore Metropolitan Regional Development Authority, etc.Has keen interest in Culture and heritage."
held various positions in Government of Karnataka including Additional Chief Secretary Urban Development Department, Chairman Bangalore Development Authority, Chairman Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development & Finance Corporation, Principal Secretary, Kannada and Culture, Commissioner Bangalore Metropolitan Regional Development Authority, etc.Has keen interest in Culture and heritage."