Our Leadership
CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE
Mr Pradip Burman
Sustainability drives us, here, at The Mobius Foundation.
An ecosystem, a lifestyle, or a community which is sustainable, is one which supports itself and its surroundings. Sustainability itself can be defined by three core elements, each of which must be considered in relation to the others: Environmental Protection, Social Development and Economic Development.
The Mobius Foundation is focused on sustainability. We must renew, re-use and replace the finite treasures of the only planet we have. Schools should include environmental education, since the next generation will bear the brunt of the rape of our beautiful Earth. For thousands of years, there were no air-conditioners, no cars, no planes. Humans survived. There were no power-stations and factories spewing smoke into the air just so we can use electric fans, lights and synthetic fabrics. Our grandparents did not have refrigerators or air-conditions. They survived quite comfortably. People travelled, slowly, but what was the rush? Fields around the cities sent wheat, rice, pulses and vegetables on bullock carts. Earthen pots kept drinking water cool. This century is all about having everything and doing everything fast!!
Mr Pradip Burman is the Chairman of the Mobius Foundation and promoter director on the Board of Aviva Life Insurance Co. Ltd. After a career spanning decades, he is now giving back to society by devoting himself to the cause of environmental sustainability. Read more about his contribution to the society and environment here.
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
“Nature has created a canvas adorned with a masterpiece, where every species is meticulously placed in perfect balance. Even the disappearance of the smallest species can disrupt this masterpiece, showcasing the interconnectedness and fragility of our natural world”
More than 3 decades of public service in the Indian Administrative Service (I.A.S.) (1988, Madhya Pradesh cadre). He has 35+ years of work experience across various domains in the Indian government.
More than 8 years with the Government of India in departments such as the Ministry of Law and Justice, Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change.
Chairman and Managing Director of Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited (SPMCIL) in 2016-17 during the country’s remonetisation.
More than 25 years of service in the State Government of Madhya Pradesh (MP) holding posts such as District Magistrate ( Sidhi, Satna, Khandwa & Jabalpur), Secretary (Finance), Commissioner (Institutional Finance), MD, MP State Industrial Development Corporation Limited, and MD, MP Trade and Investment Facilitation Corporation Limited, Revenue Commissioner (Bhopal Division), among others Practiced as a Chartered Accountant and served in the Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS) (prior to joining the administrative services)
Government Nominee Director on the Boards of Air India Limited, Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI Bank), Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI)& Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited
As Special Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change he served as a member of the Board of Governors Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Bhopal, Indian Plywood Industries Research & Training Institute (IPIRTI), Bangalore, Indian Council of Forestry Research & Education (ICFRE) Dehradun, Member of the Board of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi, Member of the Board of Governors Indian Council of Forestry Research & Education (ICFRE), Dehradun, Member of the National Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), Central Zoo Authority, New Delhi, Indian National Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Committee, Member of the Governing Body of G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment & Development, Almora, Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun Member of the Administrative Committee of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
Member of the Governing Council of the National Institute of Solar Energy, National Institute of Wind Energy, National Institute of Bioenergy and Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), Coimbatore
Chairman, India-USA Financial Regulatory Dialogue 2015-18, Chairman, India-Japan Financial Dialogue 2015-18, Member on Delegation for Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to attend Plenary and Working Group meetings 2017-18
Having Executive Education in Leadership & Strategic Thinking, Cambridge University, U.K. (July, 2015), Leadership for 21st Century: Chaos Conflict and Courage, Harvard Kennedy School, USA (September 2017), besides others.
Presently, Government Nominee Member, Appellate Authority (Under CA, CS &CMA Laws) (Feb 2022 onwards); Senior Advisor-ESG & Climate Change National Productivity Council (NPC) India (July 2022 onwards); Independent Director in LIC Mutual Funds AMC (April 2023 onwards).
CEO'S MESSAGE
Dr Ram Boojh
We are delighted to have Dr Ram Boojh as the CEO of Mobius Foundation. With his rich and diverse professional experience of working with the United Nations, Government, academic and development organizations, he is surely bringing forward a new dimension and vision to the environment and sustainability programmes of the Foundation. Before taking over as CEO, Dr Boojh was associated with Mobius Foundation for the successful organization of the landmark International Conference on Sustainability Education (ICSE 2019) held on 9-10 September 2019 in New Delhi.
Dr Boojh has made outstanding contribution in the field of ecology, biodiversity, climate change, environment education and education for sustainable development for over three decades in India and abroad. He served the UNESCO South Asia Cluster Office in New Delhi and was Secretary to the South & Central Asia MAB Network (SACAM) for more than a decade. He has worked as Regional Director of the Centre for Environment Education and Assistant Director of the Environment Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh. He is associated with many national and international organizations and associations related to environment and sustainable development.
He is the co- founder and Board Member of the World Ocean Network, France and Executive Board member of the Conservation for the Oceans Foundation, USA. He has chaired the World Ocean Passport project of the World Ocean Network. He has successfully coordinated a large number of programmes during his 30 years career of working with the academic institutions, voluntary sector, Government and international organizations. He has published over 100 research/ technical papers/ popular articles and 15 books. He has to his credit many honours, awards and recognitions including the prestigious Science Academy Medal for Young Scientist by Mrs Indira Gandhi, then Prime Minister of India in 1984.
TRUSTEES
Ms. Indira Burman
Ms. Indira Burman, the wife of Late Shri Siddharth Burman, is a devoted caregiver to people suffering from various diseases while her stay in the United Kingdom. Post her husband’s demise, Ms. Burman moved back to India and continued her social endeavours. She has since, helped several medical clinics of Delhi to extend their services to the underprivileged sections of society and has also facilitated various medical researches across the world.
Mr Ashish Bahugana
Mr Pradeep Wig
Mr Abhay Kumar Agarwal
A practising Chartered Accountant, Mr Abhay Kumar Agarwal is well versed in the areas of accounting, finance, management and corporate advisory services. His credentials include serving on the Audit Committee, the Shareholders’ Committee and on the board of directors of various companies for over 10 years.
Dr Gautam Vohra
Dr Vohra was an editor with The Times of India and the founder of The Development Research and Action Group [DRAG], an organization focused on poverty alleviation. Through DRAG, Dr Vohra has worked for the upliftment of tribes of Maharashtra and the Gujjars of Haryana for the last 30 years.
Universal Trustees
‘Universal Trustees’ is a Professional Estate Planning, Trusteeship and Executor Company offering its Services in India to resident and non-resident families, corporates and charities. ‘Universal Trustees’ objective is to assist families in preservation of wealth, addressing the needs of the special members, protecting and sheltering wealth from unfortunate events, orderly intergenerational succession and inheritance of assets and family businesses, and meeting similar other objectives. ‘Universal Trustees’ is backed by individuals and institutions of impeccable reputation, provides global reach and global best practices through a corporate entity in a customized and confidential environment.