LISTEN TO THE Event Speakers
Tony Fragnito
President, INDA
Tony Fragnito
President, INDA
Fragnito has decades of leadership experience assisting trade and professional organizations in realizing their organizational and operational potential. A certified public accountant, he brings strong financial acumen in addition to extensive information technology, human resource and program management accomplishments from organizations representing a variety of professions and industries.
Bryan Haynes
Kimberly Clark , USA
Bryan Haynes
Kimberly Clark , USA
Bryan Haynes, Ph.D., Senior Technical Director for Global Nonwovens, Kimberly-Clark Corporation – Chair, INDA
Dr. Haynes received his B.S. and M.S. in Aerospace Engineering and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. During his graduate studies Dr. Haynes specialized in the aerodynamics and polymer processing of the meltblowing process which was funded by Exxon Chemical Company. He taught full time in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering prior to joining Kimberly-Clark Corporation as a Research Scientist in 1992. While working at Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Dr. Haynes has held various positions in research and engineering including an assignment at the Lexington Mill in North Carolina serving as the Technical Team Manager. Dr. Haynes has published several papers and has obtained 44 U.S. Patents and 16 Trade Secrets during his Kimberly-Clark career.
He currently holds the position of Senior Technical Director for Global Nonwovens. Prior to his current role he served as the Director of Research and Engineering in Global Nonwovens where his team was responsible for the front-end innovation portfolio and prototyping capabilities including the pilot facilities supporting Kimberly-Clark’s various businesses. Dr. Haynes has received several awards including the Kimberly-Clark Technical Excellence Award, the 2012 Rodney D. Chipp Memorial Award from the Society of Women Engineers, and most recently he received the 2017 INDA Lifetime Technical Achievement Award. He is also an Adjunct Professor at The University of Tennessee in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Biomedical Engineering. He serves on several Industrial Advisory Boards including Materials Science and Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology; Chemical, Materials and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Georgia; and the Nonwovens Institute at N.C. State University. He also serves on the Board of Directors as Secretary for Georgia FIRST which is a non-profit organization that supports STEM programs in Georgia.
Professor Seeram Ramakrishna
National University, Singapore
Professor Seeram Ramakrishna
National University, Singapore
Seeram Ramakrishna, FREng, Everest Chair is a senior professor and world-renowned researcher at the National University of Singapore (https://www.linkedin.com/in/seeram-ramakrishna/; https://blog.nus.edu.sg/seeram/). He is the Editor-in-Chief of the Springer NATURE Journal Materials Circular Economy (https://www.springer.com/journal/42824), Associate Editor-in-Chief of Elsevier Journal Circular Economy (https://www.journals.elsevier.com/circular-economy/editorial-board), and Director of Center for Nanotechnology and Sustainability. He is recognized among the World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds, and Top 1% Highly Cited Researchers in materials science as well as cross-fields categories. He has an H-index of 174 and i10-index of 1,242 with ~144,961 citations for his publications to date. He is a co-author of an award-winning book An Introduction to Circular Economy, and UNESCO Report Knowledge-driven Actions: Transforming Higher Education for Global Sustainability (https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000380519). He is a member of EPR Advisory Committee of Singapore Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE). He Co-Chairs the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Advocacy Group at the Singapore Institute of Directors (www.sid.org.sg). He is a member of ISO technical committee on Circular Economy. He is the Chairman of Climate Change TC at the Institution of Engineers Singapore (IES), and Plastics Recycling Center of Excellence at PRAS (www.pras.org.sg). He advises the IES Green Plan 2030. He is an evaluation panel member for the $3 million Alliance Prize in Circular Solutions for Flexibles, sponsored by the Alliance to End Plastic Waste (https://www.circularsolutions.theallianceprize.org/evaluation). European Commission Director-General for Environment, Excellency Daniel Calleja Crespo said “Professor Seeram Ramakrishna should be praised for his personal engagement leading the reflections on how to develop a more sustainable future for all”. He is a speaker of Asian Leadership Conference (https://alc.chosun.com/2022/speaker/speaker.html?lang=en&year=2022&pn=10#). He is an eminent resource person for universities, companies, governments, individuals, and international organizations. He received PhD from the University of Cambridge, UK; and the GMP training from Harvard University, USA.
Dr. Seshadri Ramkumar
Texas Tech University, USA
Dr. Seshadri Ramkumar
Texas Tech University, USA
Dr. Seshadri Ramkumar is a tenured full professor of advanced materials and Texas Tech University. His research has resulted in commercial products such as FiberTect decontamination wipe and cotton-based oil absorbent wipes. He is credited with creating Technical Textiles revolution in India, which played a vital in India becoming self-reliant in developing PPE products during this COVID-19. He has received the highest award for research and academic efforts by the world’s largest textile related professional association, Textile Association India with its Honorary Fellowship. He is also a Fellow of the oldest charted association in the field, The Textile Institute, United Kingdom. He has been awarded the Fellowship of Technical Association of Pulp and Paper Industry, USA.
USA-based Technical Association of Pulp and Paper Association has given him the highest technical award in the field of nonwovens, “Mark Hollingworth Prize,” and the Division Leadership Award for his nonwovens work. He has had over 20 years of collaboration with many Indian institutes such as UICT-Mumbai, KCT, Coimbatore, etc. Since early 2000, he has been working on the promotion of technical textiles sector in India. He served as the tutor for USA-INDA’s first ever nonwovens workshop in India in January 2007.
Most recently he has been appointed as an Honorary Distinguished Adjunct Professor of Agile Manufacturing and Management at Chennai-based Grand Alliance of Management Excellence. Currently he is actively involved in research related to face masks and promoting its usefulness in protecting global citizens, via research and outreach.
He publishes an international newsletter called “TexSnips,” which is distributed globally informing researchers, industry, and academics on new developments in the field of fiber to soft materials.
Dr K Selvaraju
SIMA
Dr K Selvaraju
SIMA
Dr K Selvaraju, who is a Doctorate in Textiles, began his humble career with S.Kumars, Mumbai and Madura Coats in Tamilnadu, rose to the position of Secretary General of Coimbatore based The Southern India Mills’ Association. He has more than 41 years of industry experience in total and 36 years of experience in SIMA. He advised more than 1000 mills for improving HR systems and productivity and conducted over 1500 HRD programmes. He represents many Committees of State and Central Governments relating to textiles. He is also a member on Board of Studies of various educational institutions for advising curriculum on textiles.
He is also the Secretary General of SIMA’s sister organization viz., SIMA Cotton Development & Research Association and Secretary for SIMA Textile Processing Centre Limited.
Dr Selvaraju has travelled several countries on his textile mission.
Arunkrishna Srinivasan
Director, Jayalakshmi Textiles
Arunkrishna Srinivasan
Director, Jayalakshmi Textiles
Arunkrishna Srinivasan is the Director of Jayalakshmi mills Pvt Ltd.JAYALAKSHMI TEXTILES is a leading manufacturer of yarn and textile products and serves customers across geographies.
At Jayalakshmi, he is responsible for business strategy and is tasked with augmenting the growth of the business.
He also sits on the board of Theni Guru Krishna textile mills, Pas cotton Mills and Aaa textiles Pvt. Ltd.
He was awarded The Outstanding Young Entrepreneur Award from Junior Chamber International.
As a young entrepreneur from a veteran textile family, he is keen on being instrumental in the overall growth of the industry. He is an active member of various textile associations such as SIMA, TASMA and ITF.
He holds an M.Sc in communication engineering from Bridgeport university , USA and an engineering degree from Sri Venkateshwara College of Engineering, chennai.
Hans-Gerhard Wroblowski
Area Sales Director SEA
Hans-Gerhard Wroblowski
Area Sales Director SEA
Training:
- Textile machine operator Finishing / Dyeing (1977 – 1980)
University/ Studies: - FN Niederrhein Textil finishing
Examination in : Dipl. Ing.Textile Technic Finishing
Career:
- R & D (1989 – 2001)
Warp preparation (Sizing, Warping, Dyeing , Denim
Sucker Müller Hacoba GmbH & Co Textilmaschinen
(Mönchengladbach) - Director R & D (2001 – 2007)
Finishing & Warp Preparation
(Skin preparation, finishing, Wet and Dry Finishing,
Warp preparation (Sizing, Warping, Dyeing , Denim)
Moenus Textilmaschinen GmbH
(Mönchengladbach) - Productmanagement – Sizing and Dyeing (2007 – 2012)
Warp Preparation (Sizing, Warping, Dyeing – Denim)
Karl Mayer Textilmaschinenfabrik GmbH
(Obertshausen) - Area Sales Director SEA & Productmanagement Denim
(2012 – today)
A. Monforts Textilmaschinen GmbH & Co. KG
(Mönchengladbach)
Mr. Mandava Prabhakar Rao
Chairman, Nuziveedu Seeds Limited
Mr. Mandava Prabhakar Rao
Chairman, Nuziveedu Seeds Limited
Mr. Mandava Prabhakar Rao, aged 62 years is from a reputed agricultural family (born to SriM Venkatramaiah and Smt. Rama Devi), hailing from Guntur District in Andhra Pradesh, India. Mr.Prabhakar Rao is an alumnus of Benares Hindu University and stood second in the University in B.Sc (Agriculture) and achieved 1st rank in M.Sc (Agriculture). He is also recipient of Gold Medal and Merit Scholarship in his Post Graduation. He is Chairman of NSL Group of Companies.
Taking over the family owned seed company Nuziveedu Seeds Limited in 1982, with rapid growth, despite stiff competition from MNCs, led the company to become the largest seed company in India. Developed several superior Cotton Hybrids and many leading Hybrids in Rice, Corn and Vegetables which are most popular amongst the farmers. About half the cotton produced in India will have genetics of lines developed by him. He has been working through his company for cotton productivity improvement through High Density Planting for increasing farmer profitability. The company promoted direct sowing in rice as part of its CSR activitywhich benefitted the farmers in reducing the water requirement and increasing the profitability in the Krishna River Delta region. He made pioneer efforts in making new technologies available to the farmers at affordable price. Particularly, because of his singular efforts Bt cotton seed prices came down drastically and became affordable to the farmers. He has been instrumental in bridging the gap, recently, between the technology developers and seed companies, which is considered to be a great service to Indian agriculture.
Spread of proprietary rice varieties throughout India first time by an Indian private seed company viz Nuziveedu Seeds Limited is his landmark achievement. He has developed favourable policy framework for domestic seed companies in particular for MSME companies. He worked on seed production technology to enhance yields and profits to seed growers. His contribution to R&D in cotton and seed technology is immense. Apart from managing diversified businesses, Mr. Rao has a very active participation in various Industry Bodies.
To name a few,
Founder Member - National Seed Association of India (NSAI)
President - NSAI 2007-09 & From 2013 – Till Date
Member - ICAR National Agricultural Education Accreditation Board (NAEAB) (From 2020 for a period 3 years)
Chairman - FICCI – Andhra Pradesh State Council (2016-2019)
Member - Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Authority (PPVFR Authority) (2016-2019)
Chairman - Committee on Agriculture, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) (2015)
Member - Cotton Advisory Board, Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India (2007 to 2013)
Member - Textiles Committee, Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India (2012-13)
Member - Central Seed Committee, Ministry of Agriculture, Govt of India (2010-12)
Member - Board of International Seed Federation representing India (2010-12)
Board Member - Acharya N.G Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad (2007-11)
Member - Central Seed Certification Board, Govt. of India (1995-1997 & 2003-2005)
President - Andhra Pradesh Seedsmen Association (2001-2003)
Past President - CEO Clubs India, Hyderabad Chapter (Presently, He is a member)
A widely travelled person. As a member of Indian Seed Team, sponsored by USAID, toured several developed countries in Europe, USA and Japan to study the seed industry for adopting improved technologies in the domestic seed industry.
Participated in several international and national conferences on seeds held in India and abroad. Presented several papers both in national and international fora.
He has received many awards from National and International establishments such as best In-house R & D National award from DSIR 2002, Best Wind Farm award in 2007, Bio-Agri Company of the year 2008, Agriculture leadership award 2009 and International CEO Club award 2009.
In order to honour the Indian Agricultural Scientists for their outstanding achievements, he had sponsored Prof. M.S.Swaminathan Award through Retired ICAR Employees Association.
In addition to his contribution to the seed industry, he has also contributed for substantial industrialization by making combined investments of about Rs. 10,000 Crores (USD 2 Billion) in Power, Textiles, Integrated Sugar Factories, IT Infrastructure in the form of IT Parks, IT SEZs etc. The Group employs about 20,000 people directly.
He has been pioneering work on enhancing of farm productivity in the crops of cotton, sugar cane, paddy and maize through introduction of new agronomic techniques throughout India to make agriculture environmentally sustainable and economically viable.
He is at the forefront of discharging Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives and has established a charitable trust, Mandava Foundation that plays a key role in the development of Rural India by contributing in the sectors of Education, Health Care, and agricultural productivity initiatives etc.
He is the President of The Swarna Bharat Trust (SBT) Vijayawada Chapter which organizes many social activities like skill Development courses for unemployed youth, vocational training to rural women, computer courses to rural boys and girls. agricultural training to local farmers on the recent technologies with special reference to natural farming. This Trust is also rendering medical services to the rural people at their door steps.