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*Translations are unofficial and provided by Google translate
UN Women 2021 Asia-Pacific WEPs Awards:
Meet the Regional Judges
Chandrajit Banerjee (CB)
Director General, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
Chandrajit Banerjee (CB) is the Director General of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), India’s top industry organization supporting competitiveness across 300,000 enterprises. With over 35 years at CII, he oversees operations and policy dialogues at national and international levels. CB has served on numerous government advisory bodies and held key leadership positions, shaping sectors like manufacturing, services, and SMEs. He is also a board member and trustee for institutions including Invest India and CII Foundation. A recognized economist, CB has been honored globally, including awards from China, Spain, and Italy for his contributions to international relations.
Mr. Franck VIAULT
Head of Cooperation, The EU Delegation to India and Bhutan
Mr. Franck Viault has served as Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to India and Bhutan since September 2022. With over 30 years in development cooperation at the European Commission, he previously led the Sahel sector in the Directorate-General for International Partnerships. He has held roles as Head of Cooperation in Cambodia, Indonesia (including ASEAN representation), and head of sectors for Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific. His EU career began in Thailand in 1988, with assignments in Guinea, Madagascar, Mauritius, Indonesia, and Cambodia. Mr. Viault holds degrees in agricultural engineering, rural engineering, water management, forestry, and specialized business administration.
Mr Hari Menon
Country Director – India & Lead, South & South-East Asia
Hari Menon is the Director of the India Country Office for the foundation, leading initiatives across family health, nutrition, sanitation, digital financial inclusion, agriculture, and women’s economic empowerment. In this role, he collaborates with India's central and state governments, nonprofits, community groups, researchers, and the private sector to support India's health and development goals.
Since 2017, he has also overseen the foundation’s efforts in South and Southeast Asia, working with teams to advance objectives in countries like Indonesia and Bangladesh. Hari joined the foundation in 2004, with a brief tenure outside between 2011 and 2013, and has previous experience in the consumer goods and IT sectors with companies like Colgate Palmolive and Infosys Technologies. He holds a graduate degree in business management and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.
Manisha Kapoor
CEO and Secretary-General, The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI).
Manisha is the CEO and Secretary-General of The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) and serves as one of four global vice presidents on the International Council for Ad Self-Regulation's (ICAS) executive committee. With over 25 years in brand building and marketing, Manisha’s experience spans roles at Hindustan Unilever, Johnson & Johnson, and as a brand strategy consultant across diverse sectors including aviation, banking, and consumer goods. She also brings a strong background in the development sector. At ASCI, Manisha has led efforts to make the organization future-ready, fostering collaborations with stakeholders to safeguard consumer rights. She actively participates in consultations on advertising policies with regulators, contributing to the advancement of advertising self-regulation in response to the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Ratnesh
Executive Director, UN Global Compact Network India (UN GCNI)
Ratnesh hasover 30 years of experience in designing, financing, implementing, and evaluating development initiatives across India at the national, state, and district levels. His expertise includes financial inclusion, enterprise development, poverty alleviation, women’s empowerment, and inclusive growth. He has provided technical assistance to India’s Ministry of Finance, Ministry of MSME, Ministry of Rural Development, NITI Aayog, and UN social sector programs. Known for building multi-stakeholder platforms, he has advanced policies on financial inclusion, microfinance, and public finance with institutions like SIDBI and UNDP. Previously a Senior Fellow at the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, Ratnesh joined UN GCNI in July 2022. He holds master’s degrees in Development Finance from the University of Manchester and Sociology (M.A. and M.Phil.) from the University of Delhi, with a background in Economics and Mathematics from Delhi University.
Reshma Anand
Regional Director for the Ford Foundation Office for India, Nepal and Sri Lanka
Reshma Anand is the Regional Director for the Ford Foundation in India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, bringing over 25 years of leadership experience in development, philanthropy, and social ventures. She directs initiatives to improve farmers' well-being, enhance women’s safety in public spaces, and foster a supportive philanthropic environment. Before joining the Ford Foundation, Reshma was the CEO of a corporate foundation focused on water conservation and sustainable governance in India’s farming sector. She founded a social impact advisory firm and an accelerator for rural micro-entrepreneurs and has collaborated with numerous non-profits and global donors to shape impactful strategies. Reshma also leads a reflective leadership program for young women leaders across sectors. She holds an MBA from IIM Bangalore.
Soumya Kapoor Mehta
Senior Social Specialist with the World Bank and leads the India Gender and Inclusion Platform.
Soumya Kapoor Mehta is a Senior Social Specialist with the World Bank and leads the India Gender and Inclusion Platform. She has interest and analytic skills in the areas of gender, poverty reduction strategies, and social inclusion challenges. She has worked on several of the Bank’s flagship reports and has two books to her credit. Prior to joining the World Bank, Soumya worked for UNICEF, the Government of India, the Centre for Policy Research, the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) and was a Visiting Fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. She holds a master’s in economics from the University of Cambridge.
2020 Judges
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