Category: Summit

Mr. Abhishek Pandey
Editor, Urban Update, A Periodical by AIILSG

Abhishek Pandey is a career journalist, who has worked with several reputed Indian publications, including the Hindustan Times, Eastern Media Limited, Orissa Post and Urban Update, covering a wide spectrum of areas including urban development, infrastructure, rural development, sustainable development, education, and energy. 

At present, he is the Editor of Urban Update, the publication published by the All India Institute of Local Self-Government. He has also consulted many national and international civil society organisations in advocacy and planning communication strategies. He has also been part of the editorial boards of a couple of newspapers and magazines. He has also assisted United Cities and Local Governments Asia-Pacific (UCLG ASPAC) in launching a news magazine targeted at readers in Asian and European countries. He has interviewed several Indian and Asian mayors, city leaders, union ministers and urbanists for the magazine. Over the past ten years, he has intimately worked with national and international local government associations and civil society to amplify the voices of local governments.

Ms. Golgani Hari Venkata Kumari
Mayor, Visakhapatnam

Mr. Sunil Kumar Singh
IAS (R), Member Administrative/ Technical Real Estate Appellate Tribunal Bihar

An IAS (Indian Administrative Service) officer of 1983 batch of Bihar Cadre. Mr. Sunil Kumar Singh graduated in Electronics and Communication Engineering from University of Roorkee (Now IIT Roorkee), Joined Indian Administrative Service in 1983 Bihar Cadre. He has experience of nearly 15 years in Urban and Housing Sector in local Government, Provincial Government and National Government. He is recipient of Dubai International Award of Improving Human Settlement. He has served Govt. of India as Joint Secretary, Housing from 2007 to 2012 and was key player in drafting the Real Estate Regulation Bill. Has the distinction of drafting two National Housing Policy, one in the year 1998 known as National Housing and Habitat Policy and Second in the year 2007 known as National Urban Housing and Habitat Policy with agenda as Affordable Housing for all.

As Joint Secretary Housing he could negotiate India being the President of the UN-Habitat. Have been Member of the World Charter on Local Self Govt. which was made by United Nation for introduction of democratic decentralization in Urban Local bodies.

Mr. Singh has also served as Financial Advisor of University Grant Commission, Addl. Secretary & Financial Advisor in Department of Agriculture and Research & Education Has also been Additional Secretary & Financial Advisor in NITI Aayog and Ministry of Statistics Program Implementation. Lastly
superannuated from Govt. of Bihar as Chairman, Board of Revenue. He has extensively travelled within country and outside country in work related to Housing and Urban and other sectors. He has travelled to USA, Mexico, UK, France, Germany, spain, Brusal, Italy, Kenya, South Africa, Mozambique, Islamic Republic of Iran, UAE, Oman, Thailand, Singapore, Nepal, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Philippines, Australia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Russia and other countries.

Prof. Arunava Dasgupta
Professor of Urban Design, School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), Delhi

Mr. Kulwant Singh
CEO, 3R Waste Foundation

Dr. Kulwant Singh, currently the President of KSS-Institute of Spatial Planning and Environment Research (India) and is also serving as the CEO of 3R WASTE Foundation- an organization working in partnership with WASTE Netherlands and serves in the board of FINISH Society. He is also an adviser to various international organizations including UN-Habitat for Waste Wise Cities Programme and BusWorld Foundation based in Belgium. Dr. Singh is also the Founder Trustee of Indian Heritage Cities Network. He is also on the Board of FINISH Society of India. 

Dr. Singh earlier served as the Chief Technical Adviser for the Water, Sanitation and Infrastructure Branch of UN-Habitat, particularly in reference to the urban basic services. In his role as the Chief Technical Adviser, he significantly contributed to policy dialogues in partner countries in Asia and the Pacific and in the design and implementation of a large number of water and sanitation initiatives. Dr. Singh has been a regular visiting faculty at the UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, Delft and the Institute of Housing and Urban Development (IHS), Rotterdam.