JURY PANEL - MEDIA

Dr. S.Y. Quraishi, who joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1971 and later served as the seventeenth Chief Election Commissioner of India, is a distinguished figure in Indian governance. He was featured in The Indian Express' list of 100 Most Powerful Indians in 2011 and 2012. Dr. Quraishi introduced several significant electoral reforms during his tenure, including the establishment of a voter education division, an expenditure monitoring division, and the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management. He also initiated the National Voter's Day. In October 2017, he was appointed as the Ambassador of Democracy by International IDEA. Dr. Quraishi is an accomplished author, known for his books, "An Undocumented Wonder: The Making of the Great Indian Election" and "The Population Myth: Islam, Family Planning, and Politics in India." His latest book is "India's Experiment with Democracy: The Life of a Nation Through Its Elections Paperback."

Anil Kumar Saxena, a distinguished professional and accomplished academician, has left an indelible mark on the landscape of information services and public relations. As a triple gold medalist in B.Sc, M.Sc, and M.Phil, his academic journey exemplifies excellence and dedication to scholarly pursuits. Anil Kumar Saxena, a member of the Indian Information Service (IAS Allied 1984 Batch), currently serves as the Senior Advisor at RAILTEL, a CPSE under the Ministry of Railways, Government of India, based in Delhi. His career trajectory reached new heights during his notable 11-year tenure as the Ex-Director General of PR in the Railway Ministry, where he served as the National Spokesperson from 2007 to 2018. In this role, he played a pivotal role in shaping the communication strategy of the Railway Ministry, navigating complex narratives with finesse.

His extensive experience extends to leadership roles in key government bodies, including the Press Information Bureau (PIB), the Bureau of Outreach and Communication (BOC), and the Directorate of Film Festival, all under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. Mr. Saxena also served as Director (PR) to Hon'ble Prime Minister of India (Late Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee). Anil Kumar Saxena's contributions have significantly influenced the communication strategies of these government entities.

In addition to his administrative roles, Anil Kumar Saxena has made significant contributions to education as an Ex-Associate Professor at SRCC College, Delhi University. His commitment to shaping the minds of future leaders reflects his dedication to holistic development.

Mr. Pradeep Kewalramani, with a career spanning over 30 years, is a highly accomplished and prominent figure in the fields of Public Relations, Government Relations, and Corporate Communications. His extensive experience includes collaboration with some of the leading media houses, multinationals and conglomerates, prominent political figures, regulators, and key influencers across the Asia-Pacific region.

Presently, he holds the position of Independent Advisor, a role he assumed following the acquisition of Perfect Relations Group by the Tokyo-based Dentsu Group. Having provided consultation to over 1000 clients, more than half of which are Fortune 500 companies, he is widely recognized for his exceptional proficiency in advising companies on their India growth, market entry and communication strategy. 

His extensive network within the Indian political and corporate landscape position him well to facilitate high-level Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in addition to advocating for policies that are pro-industry and reflective of the dynamically evolving digital economies.

Over the years, Mr. Kewalramani's dedication and expertise have earned him immense recognition as one of the most esteemed and decorated professionals in the field of Public Relations internationally.