< Back Ms Phantitra Ariel Phuphaphantakarn Phantitra Phuphaphantakarn, also known as Ariel Karn, is an OSCE-UNODA Arms Control Scholarship training alumni. She is also a research fellow at Center for Security Analyses and Prevention (based in Prague) specializing in arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation affairs and the Indo-Pacifc security. Phantitra's research interests rest on the area of the Third Nuclear Age and arms control, especially on the Indo-Pacific front. Phantitra is also running an armament and disarmament studies research team at The New Global Order (based in Rome). She is also a member of the EU Non-proliferation and Disarmament Consortium, World Institute for Nuclear Security along with various Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) representative-related exclusive scholar networks. Publications

< Back Pooja Bhatt Dr Pooja Bhatt is the author of Nine-Dash Line: Deciphering the South China Sea Conundrum (Knowledge World 2020). Besides working extensively on maritime issues-particularly Indo-Pacific and the South China Sea, Pooja writes on issues related to defence, and Asian Security Architecture. Dr Bhatt's articles and interviews are frequently published in several acclaimed newspapers both in India and internationally. Previously, she taught as an Assistant Professor in the School of Defence and Strategic Studies at the Rashtriya Raksha University, Gandhinagar. Prior to that, she worked at the Centre for Air Power Studies and the Indian Council of World Affairs. Dr Pooja Bhatt received her doctoral degree from the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi in 2021. She also holds a diploma in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS) from Yeosu Academy, Korea Maritime Institute. She was a UGC NET Senior Research Fellow in Defence and Strategic Studies. Publications

< Back RIVA GANGULY DAS Editor-Foreign Policy Ambassador Das joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1986. She has served as High Commissioner to Bangladesh and Ambassador to Romania, Albania and Moldova and has served as Consul General in Shanghai and New York. She has also done postings in Spain and The Netherlands and has served in various capacities at Headquarters dealing with Nepal, Public Diplomacy, Passport & Consular, and United Nations. She has also served as the Director at the United Nations Economic and Social Affairs Division and participated in environmental negotiations, particularly climate change. She was also the Alternate Permanent Representative of India to the Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons at The Hague. She has also served as Director General, Indian Council for Cultural Relations. Before her retirement she was Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs. rivagangulydas@gmail.com 123-456-7890

< Back Mr Saneet Chakradeo I am a Masters in International Affairs graduate from the LKY School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore. I have multiple years of experience working as a foreign policy analyst and an archival researcher in Delhi on multiple projects focused on historical Indian IR and strategy. I recently completed a stint as a research analyst in the foreign policy team at Brookings India (CSEP). There, I mainly worked on the Sambandh regional connectivity initiative, which focuses on India's connectivity in South Asia. Under the same, I solo authored a Brookings report on India's humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and published opinion pieces in the Hindustan Times, South Asian Voices, and East Asia Forum. I have assisted faculty at Kings College London, NTU Singapore, National University of Singapore, and Boston University, with archival research, documentation, and interviews as part of research projects. Publications

< Back Dr Lina Gong Lina Gong is a Research Fellow with the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Programme at the Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University (NTU). She also received her PhD from NTU, in 2017. Her research interests are in non-traditional security studies in East Asia, humanitarian affairs, China’s foreign policy, and global governance. She has published several book chapters and articles on non-traditional security issues in Asia as well as on China’s foreign policy, in journals such as the Asian Journal of Comparative Politics, China Review, and the Fudan Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences. Publications HADR as a Diplomatic Tool in Southeast Asia-China Relations amid Changing Security Dynamics: https://www.asiawereview.com/southeast-asia/hadr-as-a-diplomatic-tool-in-southeast-asia-china-relations-amid-changing-security-dynamics/ Financing ASEAN Disaster Management and Resilience: https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2021/11/04/financing-asean-disaster-management-and-resilience/ The Rise of China and India’s Remote Humanitarian Aid: https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2021/07/29/the-rise-of-china-and-indias-remote-humanitarian-aid/

< Back Ms Yatharth Kachiar Dr Yatharth Kachiar is an Assistant Professor at Manipal Centre for European Studies. She teaches courses on Research Methodology, Theories of International Relations, Democracy, Human Rights and rule of law in EU. Dr. Yatharth is also the Coordinator for Research Committee at the department. She holds a MA in International Relations (JNU), and an M.Phil and Ph.D. from School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Her area of academic interests include EU's foreign policy, EU in Middle East, and India-EU relations. Publications

< Back Dr Justin Joseph Justin Joseph is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Political Science, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, GITAM (Deemed to be University) Hyderabad. Previously, He was the head of the Department of Political Science, at Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, Chennai. Dr Joseph Obtained his Ph.D. in Politics and International Relations from IIT Madras. He was awarded the ‘General Scholar Fellowship’ by the Ministry of Human Resources and Development, Government of India and the Ministry of Education, Government of the People's Republic of China, for conducting PhD fieldwork in China from September 2017 to July 2018. He was a visiting scholar at Shanghai International Studies University (SISU) and Shanghai University in 2016 and 2017 respectively. He has published his works in journals such as China Report, Environment Development and Sustainability, Risk Hazards and Crisis in Public Policy and Fudan Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences. He serves the scholarly community through his capacity as a reviewer for Oxford University Press, Elsevier, Springer and Wiley journals. He is also a Co-Principal Investigator for an on-going ICSSR-funded research project on the economy-ecology dichotomy in India and China (IIT Madras). Publications Joseph, J., (2023). State, Society and Environmental Security in International Relations Theory. Fudan Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, Springer Nature Publications https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40647-022-00363-9#article-info Joseph, J., & Karackattu, J. T. (2022). Public protests and environmental policy making: Xiamen anti-PX protests in China and civic movement against Kodaikanal Mercury poisoning in India. Risk, Hazards and Crisis in Public Policy, Wiley Publications https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/rhc3.12251 Joseph, J., & Karackattu, J. T. (2022). State actions and the environment: examining the concept of ecological security in China. Environment, Development and Sustainability, Springer Nature Publications https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10668-021-01982-0

< Back Mr Sivendra Michael Sivendra Michael is a Pacific development practitioner with over 10 years’ experience in climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction fields. His skills range from managing, and coordinating regional projects and, providing technical advisory. Publications

Lt. Gen. Hooda (Retd) is a Co-founder and Director of the Centre for Defense and Security of the Council for Strategic and Defense Research. Lt. Gen. Hooda was commissioned into the 4th Battalion of the 4th Gorkha Rifles in 1976 and initially served in Nagaland during the peak of insurgency. < Back Lt. Gen. Hooda (Retd) Lt. Gen. Hooda (Retd) is a Co-founder and Director of the Centre for Defense and Security of the Council for Strategic and Defense Research. Lt. Gen. Hooda was commissioned into the 4th Battalion of the 4th Gorkha Rifles in 1976 and initially served in Nagaland during the peak of insurgency. As a Major General, he was responsible for counter-insurgency operations in Manipur and South Assam. From 2012 to 2016, Lt. Gen. Hooda was stationed in Jammu and Kashmir and retired as the Army Commander of Northern Command in 2016. During this time, he handled numerous strategic challenges that emerged on the borders with Pakistan and China. Lt. Gen. Hooda has been awarded the Vasishta Seva Medal (twice), the Ati Vasishta Seva Medal, the Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal for his exemplary military service. In 2019 Lt. Gen. Hooda authored a comprehensive National Security Strategy document. He is one of India’s foremost commentators on India’s national security

< Back Mr Gazi Hassan Gazi Hassan is a Research Scholar at the Centre for Public Policy Research, Kerala. He holds an MPhil from Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi. He has authored articles for several local newspapers such as Rising Kashmir, Greater Kashmir and Kashmir Reader, and for online media platforms such as The Quint, International Policy Digest, and Foreign Policy News. He has also authored several publications focusing on topics including the conflict in Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan, and India’s foreign policy, for institutions such as the Vivekananda International Foundation and CPPR. Publications Complexities of China-Australia Relations: https://www.cppr.in/articles/complexities-of-china-australia-relations Afghanistan’s Stability Hinges on Regional Consensus on Peace Process: https://www.cppr.in/articles/afghanistans-stability-hinges-on-regional-consensus-on-peace-process India and UAE Need to Strengthen Economic Ties: https://www.cppr.in/articles/india-and-uae-need-to-strengthen-economic-ties

< Back Ms Shereen Sherif Shereen Sherif is currently pursuing her PhD in International Relations with a specialization in Diplomacy and Disarmament, at the Jawaharlal Nehru University. She has formerly served as a Research Associate at the Teresian Centre for Research and Development, Ernakulam, a Senior Research Associate at the Centre for Public Policy Research, and a Research Associate at the National Maritime Foundation, New Delhi. Her research interests include ancient, medieval and modern Indian history, maritime history, national identities, postcolonial theory, oral history, and strategic and security studies. Her work has been published in journals such as International Studies, and the Maritime Affairs Journal. Publications International Fleet Reviews: Showcasing India's Naval Orientation https://maritimeindia.org/international-fleet-reviews-showcasing-indias-naval-orientation/ Local Actors as Force Multipliers: Lessons from Operation Madad in Kerala: https://www.cppr.in/articles/local-actors-as-force-multipliers-lessons-from-operation-madad-in-kerala Vietnam’s Dilemma in Context of South China Sea: United States versus China: https://www.maritimeindia.org/View%20Profile/636027505454881723.pdf

< Back Mr Kunal Mandal "Kunal is a serial entrepreneur who is optimistic and passionate about building businesses, transforming ideas, and life-long learning. He is an engineer by education, game evangelist by profession, creative experimenter by nature and collaborative changemaker at heart. He has worked extensively in the media industry primarily with Reliance Big Synergy Media Ltd. where his primary role was to make content interesting to help individuals and brands grow. He has worked as a content strategist for various TV shows including Kaun Banega Crorepati and has produced content in over 10 different languages. He has also been a consultant to various projects for Govt. of India, where he worked on projects like Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and Artificial intelligence research, analytics and knowledge assimilation platform (AIRAWAT), Khadya Suraksha Abhiyan for FSSAI, Voter education program for Election Commission of India etc. Over various years, he has co-founded Gyaanspace – a gamification company which uses quizzes and other games as a tool for people engagement; Citybytesindia - a travel community which helps travellers discover and book inspiring city experiences provided by local experts and an energy company that specializes in production of green hydrogen from biomass. He studied Production engg. at Jadavpur University, and Gamification at Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania. Kunal is currently on a mission to teach curiosity as a skill, increase awareness about sustainability, make green energy affordable and empower young Indians to be more than they thought they could be. Publications