Mr. Basant Kumar Goswami (Chairman)
Director – GIAS

Mr. B K Goswami is a renowned Tourism Consultant, and was instrumental in formulating the National Tourism Policy. He is also the architect of several innovative schemes in his area of activity.

He is the former Secretary and Director General of Tourism, Government of India. He joined the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in 1960, and since then, he has held various important positions like, Director, Tea Promotion, Sydney, Australia, Chairman, Tea Board of India (for more than 5 years), Chief Secretary, Government of Jammu & Kashmir (1986-1987), Advisor to Government of Uttar Pradesh (1993), Advisor to Governor of Jammu & Kashmir (1994-1996), Director, Taj Kerala Resorts and Hotels (1994), Director, Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (1994).

Mr. Vasudevan Suresh
Retired Chairman and Managing Director, Housing & Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO)

Mr. Vasudevan Suresh has nearly 38 years of service in the field of Human Settlements. He has worked with HUDCO for nearly 24 years and was the Chairman and Managing Director of HUDCO for 6 years.

He passed his Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from College of Engineering, Guindy, Madras with first class. He then participated in an advanced course on Design and Construction of Pre-fabricated Residential and Institutional Buildings, at the Structural Engineering Research Centre, Madras, under the United Nations Development Program in 1974. He took part in ARTEMIS Project Management Program at Singapore in 1985 and, as a member of the National Co-operative Housing Federation sponsored Indian Team, Mr. Suresh participated in a detailed study on co-operative housing in the United Kingdom and Europe in 1987. He also participated in a program on Finance for Chief Executives, Indian Institute of Management in 1998 and 2 weeks International Training Program on ‘Utility Regulation and Strategy’, jointly organized by the World Bank and University of Florida in 1999. Mr. Vasudevan Suresh has also served as Deputy Director, Indian Standards Institution, New Delhi from 1974 - 1979.

Mr. E M Najeeb
Chairman & Managing Director
ATE

Mr. E M Najeeb is one of the most successful entrepreneurs and a strong professional in the travel and tourism industry in Kerala. He is a person of high social stature and has won numerous International and National awards for outstanding achievements in business. His ability to mould Airtravel Enterprises Group into a flourishing business conglomerate speaks volumes of his vision and sense of determination. He holds various positions like

Chairman - South India Chapter of Indian Association of Tour Operators, Indian Chamber of Travel Trade and Air Cargo Association of India, Member of Task Force for development of Tourism in Kerala, Member of the Task Force on Tourism, Member of the Special Task Force for development of Tourism in Kerala, Member of the Planning Committee on Physical Infrastructure of Tourism, Member of the Managing Committee of Trivandrum International Airport Development Society, Member of the Hotel Classification Committee of the Government of India for the Kerala region.

He is a syndicate member of the Cochin University of Science and technology and is the President of Kerala Travel Mart Society, 2002.

Mr. Runeep Sangha

Mr. Runeep S. Sangha is a graduate from Delhi University. He has experience of more than 25 years, with the travel industry. He has worked with various leading travel agencies like Indtravels, Mercury Travels etc and has also worked with Citibank and American Express. He is an expert in Travel Operations, Outbound Tours and Franchise Management. His experience can be of tremendous help to an entrepreneur. Currently Mr. Runeep S. Sangha is heading the American Express Travel Service Network for the Indian sub-continent and Airline relation ships.

Mr. C.M. Manuel
Director – Operations, GIAS

He has worked for more than 25 years in India’s National Air Carrier – Air India. He is currently working at M/s Saj Flight Services as Regional Director.

Mr. C. M. Manuel has a total work experience of more than 33 years and has held various senior positions in India and abroad. He occupied numerous positions of importance like,

· Board Member of Kerala Tourism Development Corporation.
· Country Manager – India, for Qatar Airways.
· Consultant for Air India at Cochin International Airport.

Mr. Rajan Thomas Verghese
Corporate Director – ATE Group
Director – GITC, Chrysalis, GICCR

Mr. Rajan Thomas Verghese has an experience of over 25 years in Travel and Tourism industry and specialises in Tourism Management. He qualifies in Tourism Management from the Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management.

He is the Corporate Director of ATE Group of concerns and is also the Director of Great India Tour Company. As the Director - Operations of Great India Tour Company, he was instrumental in tailoring innovative Tourism Products and their Marketing. Presently he is actively involved in the Tourism Industry and is a leading faculty member for various institutions in the Tourism Academic field.

Mr. Priyan Chacko Oomman
Director – Air Travel Enterprises, Chrysalis, Reflections, GITC

He has more than 19 years of wide ranging experience in Advertising, Communication, Travel and Tourism. He was able to revolutionize the advertising field with his innovate ideas and approach. He has been able to provide successful advertising campaigns for many firms and establishments. He has also been able to offer his exceptional expertise in Travel and Tourism and has helped Airtravel Enterprises expand its market share.

Mr. Oomman also served the Indian Airlines for eight years. This experience has helped him tremendously in understanding the Travel and Tourism industry. He has authored a few books and currently heads the Communications Division of the group – Chrysalis Communications Private Limited.

Mr. P.M. Ross Masood
Director – Air Travel Enterprises Group, GIAS, GITC, GIH

Mr. P M Ross Masood has done his Masters in Business Administration, specializing in Marketing. He has 18 years of experience with wide International exposure and contacts. He has been handling ATE Group’s marketing operations. He has made immense contribution for the growth and expansion of Airtravel Enterprises Group. He has also attended several workshops organized by reputed Airline Companies.

He has undergone several special training programmes of Air India and Lufthansa. He is also a member of Malabar International Airport Development Society.

Mr. James Kodianthara
Managing Director
Concord Tours and Travels

Mr. James Kodianthara obtained his bachelors Degree of Arts in History, Economics and Political Science from St Josephs College, Bangalore, with First Class.

His stint with Tata Tea Limited, from 1987 to 1993, earned him wide experience. He was also actively involved in the launch of new products, setting up distribution networks and advertising. After resigning from Tata Tea Limited in 1993, Mr. Kodianthara joined the family Travel Business as Managing Partner. Presently M/s Concord Tours and Travels is one of the leading tour operators in Kerala, with associates, both in India and overseas.

Mr. P. D. Joseph
Managing Director, Pioneer Travels

Mr. P.D. Joseph has a far-reaching experience of more than 50 years. He has around 30 years experience in the hospitality industry, 10 years experience in the tourism industry and another 10 years experience in the Transport and Tourism Industry.

He is a member of various organizations like IATO, TAAI, PATA (India Chapter), SKAL, FHRAI, SIHRA, KTM, FIEO, Indo Italian Chamber of Commerce, Cochin Chamber of Travel and Tourism and the National Geographic Society.

Mr. Balan Nambiar
MD, GI Infologics Private Limited.

Mr. Balan Nambiar is a graduate in Electronics Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai. He is a Fellow Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (USA), and the Institute of Electrical and Telecommunication Engineers. He has also undergone specialized courses in Industrial Engineering from NITIE, Bombay and attended numerous short-term Management Development courses at IIM, Bangalore and Staff Training College, Hyderabad.

He has a total work experience spanning 33 years in public and private sector companies. He has worked with Crompton Greaves Limited, Bombay and Keltron, Thiruvananthapuram.

M/s Vijayakumar and Easwaran
Chartered Accountants

Mr. S. Vijayakumar and Mr. K. Easwara Pillai are fellow members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (FCA), with over 25 years of experience in this profession. They originally started practice in 1977 and converted into a partnership firm in 1982.

Mr. M. Thajudeen, Chartered Accountant
Managing Partner
M/s Thajudeen and Associates

He is a graduate in Physics from the University of Kerala, obtained a Bachelors degree from the same University and secured his Masters in Business Administration, Newport, California, USA. He is a fellow member, Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.

Mr. Thajudeen has more than 15 years of professional experience in various fields like System Analysis and Design, Project Management, Management Consultancy, Project Consultancy, Financial Consultancy, Corporate Law Consultancy, Audit of Public and Private Limited Companies, Legal Matters, Business Administration, Taxation and Finance advice to Government and Quasi-Government bodies.

Mr. K. Thomas Jacob, Chartered Accountant
M/s Thomas Jacob and Co.

Mr. Thomas Jacob secured his BSc degree from Kerala University with distinction, in 1973. He passed the examination of chartered accountancy conducted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India in 1978.

He underwent professional training for Chartered Accountancy with M/s RGN Price and Company, Bangalore from 1974 – 1978. He then worked with TATA Engineering and Locomotive Company (TELCO) from 1979 – 1982 as Accounts Manager. He joined M/s Thomas Jacob and Co as Senior Partner in 1982 and is engaged in continuous practice and Consultancy Services during the last 20 years.

The services offered by Mr. Thomas Jacob include, Financial Consultancy, Project Consultancy, Audit of Banks, Statutory Audit of Government Company/Corporation, Audit of Insurance Companies etc. Besides these, professional services like Foreign Direct Investment Consultancy, Formation of Companies, Foreign Exchange Management Act Consultancy, Foreign Control Regulation Act Consultancy, Internal Audit, BOT Projects etc

Mr. Roy I. Varghese, Chartered Accountant
M/S Roy Varghese and Associates

He is a fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, which he secured after his BSc. He is also a member of all India Management Association. He has 22 years of experience in the Finance Industry and Consultancy. The firm M/s Roy Varghese and Associates is one of the firm members of Jeffreys Henry International (JHI) Advantage, an International Association of Charted Accountants and represents JHI in South India.

Mr. Roy I. Varghese provides services in various fields like Management Consultancy, Project Consultancy, Auditing, Taxation and Accounting.

Mr. M.P. Jose, Chartered Accountant
M/s Vishnu Rajendran and Co.

Mr. M.P. Jose is a partner at M/s Vishnu Rajendran and Co, a prestigious group of Chartered Accountants with over 15 years of experience. Mr. M P Jose is a Fellow Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.

The company has an extensive human resource base, which includes Qualified and Semi-qualified Accountants, External Consultants, Articled Clerks, Audit Personnel and other Administrative Assistants. The staff and partners are also experienced in on-line operations. The firm has experience in various fields like,

· Public sector and Financial Institutions
· Private Sector Auditing and Accounting
· Private Sector Consultancy Service

Mr. Krishnakumar G, Chartered Accountant
Senior Manager – Finance

He is a graduate in Law & Mathematics, and a Chartered Accountant. He is currently pursuing his Masters in Business Administration with specialisation in Finance from the Indhira Gandhi National Open University.

He has over 9 years of experience in project analysis and was in charge of the Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences project implementation and system development for accounting. He is in charge of projects & investments of the ATE Group throughout India.

Mr. N. Mahesh
Architect
M/s Iyer and Mahesh
Architects, Engineers, Interior Designers and Approved Valuers

Mr. N. Mahesh is a Gold Medallist in Architecture from the College of Engineering, Thiruvananthapuram and has also specialized in Planning and Terminal Designs from Roorkee University.

His firm Iyer and Mahesh is one of the largest design consultancy firms in South India. Mr. N. Mahesh started his career as a professional Architect in Thiruvananthapuram in 1975 and has been revolutionizing this field with his novel ideas for the past 25 years.

Dr. P.V. Thomas Panicker
Architect

Dr. P.V. Thomas Panicker secured his Bachelors Degree in Architecture from Indian Institute of Technology, Karagpur with First class and Honours in 1961. He has considerable amount of experience in adopting cost effective techniques and innovation, satisfying the limitations and requirements of all income groups.

Mr. G. Shankar
Architect.
Habitat Technology Group

He is a second rank holder in Bachelor of Architecture from University of Kerala. He later secured First rank for MS from School of Architecture, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Mr. M.G.K. Nair & Mr. K.M.K. Sundaram
M/s. Q Team Technologies
Engineering, Projects & Quality Systems Consultants

The directors of Q Team have an experience spanning more than three decades in Organizing, Establishing and Maintaining projects of Global repute. Q Team Technologies is a leading professional consultancy firm offering services in the areas of Project & Quality Management.

The project management activities comprise of objective oriented project planning/resource planning, project implementation with scientific schedule management as per predetermined milestones by using modern computer aided programs, finance management and development of modern HRD practices. It is equally supported by a well planned quality management system comprising of quality assurance plans with customer focus as the basic objective, continuous improvement by involving all employees by thoroughly motivating them, and organizing effective communication systems. Training and implementation of quality tools presently employed by advanced countries and quality interfacing of organizations for multilevel specialized activities, all form the inherent strengths of consultancy solutions offered by QTeam.

Mr. S.N. Raghuchandran Nair
Managing Director, SI Property (Kerala) Private Limited

Mr. S. N. Raghuchandran Nair holds two Post Graduate Diplomas, one in Journalism and the other in Sales and Marketing. He has also done his LLB.

With 18 years of experience in over 18 projects – completed and on going, Mr. Raghuchandran Nair has completed and handed over 772 units comprising of more than 11,37,259 square feet of built up area, exceeding a turnover of more than 94.96 crores.

In his tenure in the construction Industry from 1984 onwards, Mr. S.N. Raghuchandran Nair has shown unmatched quality, combining the ability to manage, command and execute multi crore and multi specialty projects to the complete satisfaction of his clients. Through his vast experience in the field of Real Estate Development, SI Property has now entered into the field of turnkey projects, a field vastly diversified from the day-to-day activities of the company. Proposals forwarded by clients are executed with maximum perfection and precision to give the final output, as per the client’s precise requirements. After Mr. S. N. Raghuchandran Nair took over as Managing Director, SI Property was chosen as one of the top 4 best-managed small companies by top Institutional Investors, on a survey by Asia Money, a Hong Kong based magazine.

Mr. K.V. Mohammed Zakir
President
Integrated Management Services & Team Plus

He is an engineering graduate in Civil from the University of Kerala. He was initially employed in Saudi Arabia in 1971. Later he went on to start his own contract company based in Dammam.

Mr. Hashim P. M
CEO, Design Difference

Design Difference was set up in 1997 in Cochin to offer varied design services across media, undertake research and development in innovative areas of design and thereby improve the quality of life. We have chosen to remain small in size to make the design process intimate and not to grow beyond the level of losing our joy in designing. Over the few years of our existence, we have been lucky to be associated with the best of the companies in the region, big and small for some fascinating projects in a variety of media.

A few areas of our interest include Type Design, Publication Design, Corporate Identity, Promotional Material Design, Signage Design and Graphical User Interface Design. We are involved in research into Malayalam letterforms and the Cultural traditions of Kerala.

We have pioneered branded souvenirs in Kerala with Maaya: Souvenirs of Kerala designed and developed in association with Pai & Co, Cochin. This range introduced in 2000, includes several products in Stationery, Ceramics, Fabrics with designs based on the cultural heritage of Kerala has been a success story right from the beginning.

Prof.Omkumar Krishnan

After completing his masters in Sociology from Loyola College, Trivandrum in 1993 Omkumar Krishnan joined Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay for M.Phil in Planning & Development.He has been council member at IIT Bombay and was coordinator for national level conferences, seminars and lecture sereis.

His first assignment was as Project officer at Popular Environment Management Services, Cochin working as consultant for World Bank and DFID-UK. Later he joined Drshti Strategic Research Services, Bombay as a Research Executive in 1996. He was engaged in the projects on Brand Differentiation, Brand Awareness, Advertisement tracking, Rural Customer Profiling, Concept testing, etc. The experience with market research aggrandized his interest in the fields of Rural Marketing and Rural Communication. Keeping this approach, he joined IIT Bombay in 1998 for his doctoral research with a scholarship. Throughout his docotoral years he was constatnly associated as consultant with corporate companies like Lowe Lintas, Zietgiest etc.
Apart from presenting a number of conference papers, he has also published three research articles in accredited journals. As an acknolwldegement for his dedicated services, the Indian Sociological Society confered him the Life membership in 2003. He is currently working as Assistant Professor at DC School of Management and Technology, Kerala where he is teaching consumer behaviour and research methodology.