Leadership

Simon Bridges is the CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber, Chair of Waka Kotahi NZTA, and a non-executive chair and director on a number of company boards, working across a range of sectors. He was the National MP for Tauranga and is a former New Zealand Leader of the Opposition and senior Cabinet Minister. His Cabinet portfolios included Energy, Transport, Communications, Economic Development and Leader of the House. Before Parliament, Simon was a litigation lawyer and later a senior Crown Prosecutor in Tauranga.

Dr Ashwin Jaiswal is a global technology leader with over 25 years’ experience driving digital transformation across telecommunications, retail, fintech, healthcare and energy. His career includes work with British Telecom, Reliance Group, Vodafone, Lloyds Bank, Tesco, Swisscom, ECU Worldwide and Spark NZ across more than 15 countries. He has been involved in enterprise-scale GenAI deployments and develops Agentic AI solutions. He is a Global CIO and holds a PhD in Agentic AI.

Mitali Purohit is a New Zealand-based venture capitalist, commercialisation expert and General Partner at Nuance Connected Capital. With 17 years’ experience in deep technology investment and commercialisation across public and private sectors, she serves on boards including Wellumio Ltd, AUT Ventures Ltd and the Angel Association of New Zealand. She advocates for diversity, equity and female participation in venture capital.

Neelu Taore is a New Zealand-based cosmetologist, business entrepreneur and well-being coach in Auckland. She is co-owner and director of Avana Cosmetic & Laser Clinics, a New Zealand aesthetic and skin treatment clinic business dedicated to helping clients achieve healthier, more confident skin through advanced cosmetic solutions.

Dev Dhingra is an award-winning New Zealand financial professional, entrepreneur, and founder and CEO of Fundmaster, an Auckland-based mortgage brokerage firm. Originally from Chandigarh, he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy before moving into business and finance in New Zealand, earning a Graduate Diploma in Business Management from AUT.

Neeraj Lala graduated from Massey University’s Executive MBA as top of his class and served 27 years with Toyota New Zealand, the last four as CEO. His motivation is driven by making a positive social impact on New Zealand society. Mobility and food security for Kiwis sit at the heart of his ambition, and the bilateral relationship between India and New Zealand allows him to serve the country of his birth and contribute to his country of cultural heritage.

Dr Rahul Sen is an academic, researcher and consultant with an 18-year track record in thought leadership, research and policy advice on New Zealand–India trade and economic relations. He has more than 14 years’ experience working with international students from Asia, including India. His research collaborations include Indian institutions such as IIT and IIFT, alongside engagement with government agencies and think tanks in both countries. His expertise includes quantitative trade policy modelling and analysis.

Dr Hanoku Bathula is a Professional Teaching Fellow at the University of Auckland Business School. A former banker and bureaucrat, he brings more than two decades of experience across New Zealand’s higher education and health sectors. His areas of expertise include sustainability, the Sustainable Development Goals and evidence-based business practice. He has coordinated and mentored consultancy-style projects with industry partners and global virtual teams, and is a Senior Fellow of Advance HE and Fellow of the International Society for Quality in Healthcare.

Dr Sandhya Sriram is Chief Executive Officer of Sprout Agritech, a New Zealand-based startup accelerator and early-stage investment firm. A serial entrepreneur, she has raised more than US$40 million for her ventures and successfully completed two mergers and acquisitions. She also serves as a board member and investor in food technology and biotechnology startups internationally. She holds a PhD in stem cell biology and was selected for the 2021 class of Bloomberg New Economy Fellows.

Dr Surinder Tandon is an international textile consultant specialising in process and product innovation, sustainable fibres, including wool, hemp and cotton, and commercialisation. He spent 27 years as a Senior Textile Scientist at WRONZ/AgResearch, collaborating with industry and research partners around the world on textile R&D, technology transfer and innovative product development. A Fellow of the Textile Institute (UK), he has more than 70 publications, received an MNZM for services to textiles and community, and has supported successful New Zealand–India commercial projects.

Sheetol Chawla is an internationally award-winning New Zealand wearable sculpture artist whose practice connects art, culture, storytelling and craftsmanship. Her work has received recognition through the French Fashion Awards, International Design Awards, Miss World Design Award 2025 and Hokonui Fashion Design Award. She explores cultural heritage through museum-quality artistic practice and is committed to building a permanent artistic archive that preserves stories, encourages intercultural dialogue and supports cultural diplomacy. As INZCCI’s Textiles, Fashion & Apparel representative, she champions creative collaboration and exchange between India and New Zealand.

Vinod Kumar is a New Zealand property developer and retail businessman, best known as the founder of Nido, described on INZCCI’s website as New Zealand’s largest furniture and homeware store. He spent decades working across building, construction and hardware. His career also includes serving as an early managing director and pioneer of Mitre 10 MEGA brand sites in Australasia, bringing experience relevant to retail development, distribution and commercial enterprise.

Manish Thakkar is a Hamilton-based New Zealand supermarket owner, retail entrepreneur, property developer and community advocate. His retail experience includes ownership of SuperValue Parkwood in northern Hamilton and Gordonton Superette. He is also a co-owner of FIFO (Fresh In Fresh Out), which opened in May 2024 and is described on INZCCI’s website as New Zealand’s largest independent supermarket. His background spans supermarket operations, retail growth and community-facing business.

Kiran Reddy Balasani is an Auckland-based entrepreneur and senior business professional with more than 20 years of cross-sector experience across retail, FMCG, logistics and technology in India and the Asia-Pacific. He founded Home Cuisine Limited, a food compliance advisory aligned with the Food Act 2014 and MPI guidelines, and Nourvia.life, a platform connecting New Zealand and Australia with India’s professional AYUSH wellness ecosystem. He is an AUT alumnus and completed the Executive Programme at IIM Kolkata.

Sanjay Kumar Pandey is a qualified Chartered Accountant with more than 25 years of experience across banking, financial services, capital markets and commercial finance in New Zealand, the United States and India. His expertise includes financial management, financial planning and analysis, budgeting, forecasting, management reporting, controllership, audit and process transformation. He has partnered with senior stakeholders, led finance teams and delivered process improvements through technology and automation.

Uttam Seth holds qualifications in Chartered Accountancy and Company Secretaryship, as well as a Bachelor of Law. He brings 38 years of professional experience and has served as a Chief Financial Officer across Pacific nations and New Zealand. His work has connected him with supermarkets, five- and seven-star hotels, large development and construction companies, and international auditing firms, including service as a senior auditor. He also played a role in supporting the New Zealand Government during COVID-19 and has contributed to election and census operations.

Sunil Das is a Global Technical Product Specialist with more than 30 years of industry experience and a strong technical background in appliances. His work and international connections span the Middle East and India. Alongside his product expertise, he brings relationships and experience relevant to timber supply, wellbeing tourism and broader trade initiatives between India and New Zealand. His profile supports INZCCI’s engagement across technical products, supply chains and cross-border commercial opportunities.

Pritesh Raniga is Managing Director of Forum Films NZ Ltd and has 27 years of experience bringing Indian cinema to audiences in New Zealand. With a strong entertainment legacy and a sustained focus on distribution, he contributes experience across film production and the wider entertainment sector. His work has helped shape how audiences in New Zealand access and experience Indian cinema, connecting cultural content with commercial distribution and audience engagement.

Manu Lambai is Country Head of Operations for Malabar Gold & Diamonds in New Zealand, overseeing the brand’s retail presence following its launch in late 2025. Malabar Gold & Diamonds is an international jewellery retailer known for hallmarked gold, certified diamonds and traditional Indian craftsmanship. The company’s global footprint spans more than 400 showrooms across 14 countries. Manu’s role connects retail operations, jewellery and the wider India–New Zealand commercial relationship.

Ron Chauhan is a New Zealand entrepreneur and business leader focused on building scalable, sustainable businesses and identifying opportunities for long-term value creation. He is Director of ITAD NZ, which specialises in IT asset recovery, data security, reverse logistics and circular economy solutions. Ron has led businesses across technology, telecommunications, e-commerce, retail, franchising and sustainability. His hands-on leadership and commercial experience inform his commitment to innovation, entrepreneurship and stronger business and investment ties between India and New Zealand.

Ghanshyam Sharma is a strategic people leader and licensed financial adviser with more than a decade of New Zealand leadership experience across major public and private organisations. He is Founder and Principal Adviser at IndoKiwi Finance NZ, where he specialises in navigating complex banking environments and improving finance and procurement systems. He has led nationwide digital payment and e-invoicing initiatives, strengthened contract and procurement performance in public services, and delivered large-scale sustainability initiatives in New Zealand’s energy sector.

Suresh Krishnan is an international trade strategist with a track record of developing market penetration across India, Dubai, South Africa, Russia and China. A specialist in forestry and timber, he has directed the commercialisation of New Zealand pine for diverse global industries and advised Indian timber enterprises establishing operations in New Zealand. He also brings recent experience in the New Zealand construction sector, combining cross-cultural perspective and local market knowledge to develop international joint ventures and support global supply chains.

Jimmy Singh is a timber and forestry professional with more than 15 years of experience in New Zealand’s forestry sector, specialising in international trade and export market development across Asia. He holds a Bachelor of Business in Finance from Auckland University of Technology and has a banking background encompassing business lending, credit and risk management. Jimmy is committed to strengthening New Zealand–India business relationships and advancing trade and investment in forestry, timber, manufacturing and sustainable supply chains.

Bhrigu Bhaskar is a dairy and food professional with 22 years of experience across leading global organisations, including Cadbury, PepsiCo, Nestlé, Danone, Yashili and the a2 Milk Company. His career spans research and development, manufacturing operations, supplier quality and project management. This combination of technical, operational and quality experience across major food and dairy businesses informs his contribution to INZCCI’s sector engagement and the development of commercial connections between India and New Zealand.