Economic Development Advisors Body: Strategic Appointments Signal the Council’s Commitment to Policy Innovation, Digital Transformation, and Global Trade Leadership
- Economic Transformation Council - India
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
Ms Vineeta Hariharan, Mr Venkatesh Ramakrishnan and Ms Driti Mukherjee Pipil Appointed as First Three Members to Economic Development Advisors Board (EDAB)
The Economic Transformation Council (ETC) is pleased to announce the appointment of three distinguished professionals to its newly constituted Economic Development Advisors Board (EDAB). These inaugural appointments mark a defining step in ETC’s journey towards building an inclusive, knowledge-driven, and future-ready developmental framework.
The EDAB will serve as a cornerstone in the Council’s mission by offering high-level strategic guidance, sector-specific expertise, and policy direction across key areas of national importance. The appointment of Ms Vineeta Hariharan, Mr Venkatesh Ramakrishnan, and Ms Dhriti M. Pipil inaugurates a new chapter in ETC’s evolution—one defined by thought leadership, institutional collaboration, and measurable transformation.
About the Economic Development Advisors Board (EDAB)
The Economic Development Advisors Board (EDAB) is envisioned as a high-impact advisory body comprising eminent professionals who hold leadership roles across a wide spectrum of sectors, including public policy, international trade, digital infrastructure, life sciences, and sustainable development.
The EDAB is not merely a consultative forum, but a strategic engine—designed to support the Council in identifying priority sectors, frame working State Level Governance of the Council, structuring new initiatives, revitalising ongoing projects, and mentoring emerging professionals under the Talent Development and Internship Programmes (TDIP), and aligning the Council missions to Sustainable Developmental Goals as defined by the United Nations.
These professionals are distinguished not only by the breadth of their expertise, but also by the spirit in which they engage with the Council. EDAB is composed of individuals who are mission-oriented by principle, and who come forward to contribute their extensive knowledge, strategic vision, and institutional experience for the purpose of national development and global outreach. Their participation is voluntary and entirely selfless—motivated by a shared commitment to transformative impact, rather than personal reward or recognition.
On behalf of the Council, Mr. Mohamed Amjad Padiyath – Managing Director of the Council extended deepest gratitude to every member of EDAB for their generosity of thought, clarity of purpose, and unwavering dedication to the advancement of public good.
The First Three Appointments to EDAB
1. Ms. VINEETA HARIHARAN
Profession : Public Policy Advisor, South Asia – Deloitte
Ms Hariharan brings over 28 years of senior leadership experience in public policy formulation, governance reform, infrastructure planning, and stakeholder engagement. Currently serving as Public Policy Advisor for South Asia at Deloitte, she has previously held significant roles within the Ministry of MSME, Ministry of Rural Development, the World Bank, DFID, and Coca-Cola India.
She was instrumental in conceptualising and executing landmark missions such as the National Rurban Mission, a ₹5,142 crore programme for rural cluster development, and has led the formulation of a ₹3,500 crore MSME cluster development policy in collaboration with multilateral agencies.
At ETC, her expertise will be invaluable in shaping strategies that integrate grassroots development, sustainability, and decentralised economic infrastructure.
2. Mr VENKATESH RAMAKRISHNAN
Profession : Director – IT Strategy, Delivery & Operations, Baxter International Inc.
Mr Venkatesh Ramakrishnan is a seasoned global executive with over 23 years of experience in enterprise IT strategy, digital transformation, and innovation in the life sciences sector. He has led major technology portfolios for organisations including Baxter International, Novartis, Deloitte, Accenture, and Strides Pharma.
His areas of expertise in Life Sciences include Enterprise IT strategy, supply chain, quality and R&D digitalisation, and implementing regulatory adherence solutions in alignment with global compliance standards such as FDA, HIPAA, GDPR, and ICH. As part of EDAB, he will steer the Council’s digital economy and pharma-tech verticals, focusing on building intelligent, compliant, and future-ready ecosystems in healthcare and allied industries.
3. Ms Dhriti M. Pipil
Research Fellow – Global Trade Operations & Logistics, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT)
Ms Dhriti M Pipil is a seasoned economist, trade policy analyst, and financial sector professional with over 15 years of diverse experience spanning international banking, trade regulation, and applied economic research. Currently engaged as a Research Fellow at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), Delhi, she specialises in agricultural export restrictions, global trade operations, and price volatility analysis.
Her professional background includes over a decade in trade finance and cross-border operations with HDFC Bank, Karur Vysya Bank, and fintech ventures, where she managed complex instruments such as letters of credit, export finance, and supply chain funding within the frameworks of RBI and FEMA compliance.
In addition to her academic contributions, Ms Pipil is an active voice in public discourse, having published thought-provoking opinion columns in Down To Earth, Hindu BusinessLine, and other widely read platforms. She has also contributed scholarly articles to reputed journals such as the Economic and Political Weekly (EPW) and The Indian Economic Journal.
At ETC, Ms Pipil will bring valuable insights into international trade dynamics, WTO-aligned export policy, and agri-market risk forecasting, particularly as they relate to India’s global competitiveness and domestic resilience in food systems and export-oriented agriculture.
EDAB’s Strategic Role in Unlocking Navigation Phases
With these inaugural appointments, ETC is entering a key strategic phase—a stage defined by sharper policy articulation, project revitalisation, and the design of next-generation initiatives. The EDAB will serve as a critical pillar in this transformation by:
Diagnosing structural gaps in the economic and developmental landscape
Advising on the prioritisation and execution of new sectoral projects
Offering clarity on national policy shifts and international engagements
Guiding the structure and relaunch of previously stalled or under-supported programmes
Their insight and engagement ensure that the Council’s programmes, including Project Sankofa, are built on solid intellectual foundations and contextual understanding, informed by real-world governance, market, and institutional dynamics.
Looking Forward
The induction of Ms Hariharan, Mr Ramakrishnan, and Ms Pipil signals the emergence of a more robust and integrated governance architecture within the Economic Transformation Council. Their expertise will support ETC not only in its domestic developmental agenda, but also in its ambition to contribute to global dialogues on economic innovation, sustainability, and institutional reform.
Additional appointments to EDAB will be announced in the coming weeks, with a vision to build a diverse and dynamic industrial experts board that reflects cross-disciplinary excellence and global inclusion.
We warmly welcome our newly appointed Advisors and look forward to the transformative impact they will bring to the Council and the communities we serve.
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