The new chapter in India's growth story Now is the Time

Akshay is an Equity partner with Grant Thornton UK, LLP, leading an international business unit focused on India and Global Indians, with dedicated practice for Indians' global footprint in key jurisdictions.

He also works with large and complex clients in the UK and Europe as they expand their presence in India. Akshay has over 27 years of experience in Professional Services, specializing in Risk Consulting, Business Transformation, and Corporate Finance.

He was previously the Office Managing Partner for KPMG India and the Chief Operating Officer of Clients & Markets for KPMG in India.

Dr. Param Shah is the Director of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) in the UK since 2017, with 20+ years of diverse experience.
He previously served as the Director of FICCI in Gujarat, India.

His accomplishments include representing Indian businesses at local and international levels, participation in prestigious programs like IVLP, faculty roles at Indian universities, and support for startups worldwide.

He holds a PhD in International Marketing and various degrees in commerce, law, and business administration.

Gavin is the Chief Commercial Officer at Hawksford, a leading international provider of Corporate, Private Client and Fund services. Gavin travels regularly to Asia and has in depth experience of the requirements of Indian groups and family offices.

He has spoken at various conferences internationally in relation to South Asian FDI, outward investment and family governance. Gavin's experience extends across a broad range of asset classes, private and regulated investment structures, funds and international capital markets including the London Stock Exchange, AIM, Aquis and Euronext.

Nigel Huddleston was appointed Minister of State at the Department for Business and Trade on 7 February 2023.
He was previously Government Whip (Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury) from 20 September 2022 to 7 February 2023, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for International Trade from 30 October 2022 to 7 February 2023, and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport from 14 February 2020 to September 2022.

Narayan Iyer is a finance partner and one of the Indian market’s leading international lawyers. He is head of the Linklaters India practice, which advises corporates and financial institutions on outbound and inbound investments, projects and financings.

Narayan has a broad finance practice, acting for major banks, financial sponsors and corporates. He has particular expertise in acquisition and structured financings, loan portfolio acquisitions and financings, real estate financings and inbound and outbound transactions. He has significant experience in the energy and infrastructure sectors.

Neha Rawtal is a financial services professional specialising in risk and control functions of banking institutions. Neha currently works at JPMorgan and has previously worked for Lloyds Banking Group, Standard Chartered and Barclays.

Neha launched the IoD City’s South Asia Group in 2019 with the aim to promote business ties between the City of London and South Asia.

She is also a trustee of the London chapter of a global charity called Asha for Education, a charity focussing on children's’ education in India. Neha is a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of International Bankers (WCIB) and is a committee member of the Charities and Education Committee at WCIB.

Professor Sangeeta Khorana is a distinguished international trade expert with over 25 years of experience in academia, management consulting, and government service.

Her expertise lies in international trade policy, specifically in free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations and WTO issues. Prof. Khorana has provided guidance to EU institutions on FTA negotiations, conducted research for various organizations including the UK ESRC, and served on multiple expert committees.

She has also played key roles in Brexit impact assessments, industry advising, and holds board positions at the Institute of Exports and international Trade and Satin Creditcare Limited.

Prof. Khorana's extensive experience spans several countries, and she is multilingual. She is open to supervising PhD research in international trade and public procurement reform.

William Knight , has been actively involved for over 45 years in the financial development and growth of the Indian economy.

Initially, while Managing Director of the Merchant Banking office of the Lloyds Bank group for Asia based in Hong Kong in the early 80's, he was responsible for raising India's first international borrowings for, amongst others, IDBI, ICICI, Ex-Im Bank and Indian Airlines and with the financial structuring and financing arrangements for the creation of the Orissa Aluminium Smelter and the extension of the Paradip Steel complex projects.

During this period, he established close links with the State Bank of India and later advised on the establishment of SBI Capital Markets and on the strategic development of SBI Fund Managers.

He also advised Gujarat Lease finance on it’s considerations for developing an asset management business and Asian Paints on its entry to the Egyptian paint market.
He later served on the boards of the first open-ended investment fund to invest exclusively in Indian companies; the first India-oriented private equity fund of funds and Chairman of the first London listed investment company to invest in and co-invest with Indian private equity funds. He also became the only non-Indian member of the board of the private equity subsidiary of Axis Bank.

He remains a regular visitor to India and is on the look out for Indian companies to list in London.