Board evaluations are more than a compliance exercise — they are a catalyst for stronger governance, sharper decision-making, and higher boardroom effectiveness. The impact, however, depends on who guides the process, and how it is conducted.
That’s where independent external facilitators make the difference. Free from internal dynamics, they create a safe space for candid conversations, ensure objectivity in feedback, and transform evaluations into actionable insights for growth. With their support, boards gain not only regulatory alignment but also the clarity to continuously enhance their performance.
Panel of Facilitators
Prof. Ashok N Korwar
Advisor & Mentor
Prof. Ashok N. Korwar is a distinguished management thinker and practitioner with expertise in finance, strategy, and organizational development. He holds a B.Tech from IIT Bombay and a Ph.D. in Management from UCLA, and is widely recognized for his seminal research, including the highly cited paper “Seasoned Equity Issues” in the Journal of Financial Economics. He has authored influential books such as Creating Markets Across the Globe, Finance at Work, and The Consultant and the Client.
He has served as Professor at IIM Ahmedabad, chairing the PGP (MBA) program and coordinating Senior Management and MEP programs, and as adjunct faculty at IIM Indore. He has advised companies including Persistent, Suzlon, Tech Mahindra, Sanofi Aventis, Deepak Fertilizers, Opus, and Credila on strategy, organizational design, and capability building. He regularly conducts programs on scaling businesses, leadership development, and strategic visioning for organizations like NASSCOM, TIE, JITO, and Exim Bank.
He is also a co-founder of The School of Design Thinking in Chennai, promoting design thinking as a practical mindset for innovation. Currently, his work focuses on helping companies and leaders achieve the next level of growth through strategic planning, mentoring, and organizational transformation. He continues to engage with senior executives and boards on long-term value creation and organizational capability building.
Prof. Samir Barua
Independent Director & Board Advisor
Prof. Samir K. Barua is an eminent academic and corporate leader with over three decades of experience shaping corporate governance, finance, and public policy in India. A former Director of the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (2007–2013), he spent more than 35 years on its faculty, teaching and researching across capital markets, corporate strategy, governance, operations, and decision sciences. He has also been a visiting professor in the USA, the Netherlands, and Singapore, and has led numerous executive education programs globally.
He has served on over 25 leading boards, including Fortune 500 companies such as Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum (BPCL), and ONGC, as well as Axis Bank, Coal India, BSE, Torrent Power, and Tata Projects. A trusted advisor to the Government of India, the RBI, and SEBI, he has contributed to committees on capital market reforms, petroleum pricing, and corporate governance, and has participated in selecting top leadership for institutions like TRAI and RBI.
An alumnus of IIT Kanpur (M.Tech.) and IIM Ahmedabad (Ph.D.), Prof. Barua has authored more than 200 papers, 70+ management case studies, and two acclaimed books — Portfolio Management and The Great Indian Scam. He continues to advise corporations and remains an active voice in shaping corporate policy and executive development in India.
Devdutta B. (Sunil) Modak
Chairman & Co-founder – Axar Digital Services
Devdutta B. (Sunil) Modak is a serial entrepreneur and governance expert with a Chartered Accountancy qualification (1981) and a PGDBM from IIM Ahmedabad (1984). He pioneered software products for legal information and compliance, establishing India’s first law information database and access service, serving professionals across law, corporate, and government sectors, and improving accessibility and efficiency in legal research and compliance.
As Chairman of Axar Digital Services Pvt. Ltd., he focuses on governance, compliance, and board effectiveness. Since 2020, he has conducted over 20 webinars on SEBI PIT compliance and advises mid-sized corporations on continuous board governance and performance evaluations through Axar’s BoardEye and BoardGauge solutions. He also assists companies in building structured compliance frameworks, and embedding a culture of accountability and transparency.
Sunil is a frequent writer and speaker on governance, technology, healthcare, water resources, and futuristics. He combines entrepreneurial insights with practical guidance, helping organizations enhance governance, drive performance, implement sustainable growth strategies, and navigate complex regulatory and business challenges effectively. He is also actively engaged in mentoring emerging startups and advising companies on leveraging technology for governance and compliance excellence.
Nripjit Singh (Noni) Chawla
Executive Advisor & Educator
Nripjit Singh (Noni) Chawla is a seasoned corporate leader with expertise in tourism, hospitality, healthcare, and executive search. An alumnus of IIM Calcutta, he began his career at India Tourism Development Corporation, later spending 21 years at ITC in Hotels and International Business, culminating in leadership of marketing, personnel, and project development, and gaining extensive experience in strategic planning and cross-functional leadership.
He served as Country Head of Korn/Ferry International India and launched the healthcare business of Max India Limited as Managing Director. Noni has also consulted for organizations including the World Bank, African Development Bank, and UNICEF (India & Afghanistan), and conducted leadership and strategy training programs for public and private sector clients, helping them build organizational capacity and drive sustainable growth.
Noni is a visiting faculty member at ISB Hyderabad, MDI Gurgaon, IIM Ahmedabad, and other top business schools. He continues to mentor executives, guide organizations on strategic growth, leadership, and corporate governance, and speaks at conferences on management, tourism, and organizational development, combining practical experience with thought leadership. He also advises companies on building resilient teams and effective corporate culture, helping them navigate complex business challenges successfully.
General (Dr) Manoj Mukund Naravane (Retd)
Former Chief of the Army Staff, Indian Army | Strategic Advisor | Independent Director
General (Dr) Manoj Mukund Naravane (Retd) is one of India’s most respected leadership figures, having served over four decades in the Indian Army and culminating his career as the 28th Chief of the Army Staff. His experience spans strategic command, national security decision-making, defence diplomacy, institutional reform, and leadership under extreme uncertainty.
During his tenure, he led the Indian Army through a period of heightened geopolitical tension, including decisive leadership along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), safeguarding national interests through firm, ethical, and measured action. He played a key role in accelerating ‘Make in India’ defence procurement initiatives, overseeing indigenous capital acquisitions exceeding ₹11,000 crore, and was instrumental in landmark reforms such as the induction of women cadets into the National Defence Academy.
Beyond operational leadership, General Naravane brings strong academic and governance depth. He has served as faculty at the Army War College, mentored senior officers on strategic research, and regularly engages with global think tanks and policy forums including Raisina Dialogue, RUSI (London), RSIS (Singapore), and USIP (Washington). His international experience includes serving as Defence Adviser in Myanmar and leading military delegations across multiple countries.
In the corporate and institutional space, he serves as an Independent Director and strategic advisor, supporting boards on leadership effectiveness, crisis management, risk oversight, ethics, and governance culture. He is also the founder of Amalisha Management and Consultancy Services LLP and a member of advisory boards spanning defence, aviation, and public-private collaboration.
As a facilitator, General Naravane brings a governance-first, values-driven perspective—to help him actively listen to directors as they candidly express themselves, sharing their wisdom truly and fully. This will help directors increase their learning within the board, thereby increasing the effectiveness of the board they serve on.
“By 2026, our aim is to help at least one-third of NSE 1000 companies adopt our Good Governance solutions and enable 100+ MSMEs to strengthen their compliance frameworks for growth and sustainability.“
-Mr. Devdutta Modak