Keynote Speaker
Dr. K. U. Methekar
Joint Director
FSSAI (WR)
Dr. K. U. Methekar is the Joint Director at the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Western Region, where he oversees the implementation and enforcement of food safety and quality standards across the country. With over 24 years of extensive experience spanning food production, regulatory governance and policy formulation, he is one of India's seasoned voices in food safety administration. Dr. Methekar brings a rare multidisciplinary expertise to his role, combining deep knowledge in veterinary science, animal genetics and breeding, and law — a unique combination that enables him to navigate the diverse and complex challenges of food safety regulation with both scientific rigour and legal precision. His core areas of expertise include food auditing, quality management, food import clearance, policy formulation and training coordination. A passionate advocate for consumer health and food safety, Dr. Methekar has been instrumental in strengthening institutional frameworks that enhance public trust and confidence in food products. He has also gained valuable international exposure through a study tour to Singapore, benchmarking India's food safety practices against global standards and bringing back actionable insights to strengthen domestic regulatory systems. Dr. Methekar's career reflects a steadfast commitment to building a safer, more transparent and consumer-centric food ecosystem for India.
Thought Leaders
Arun Om Lal
Industry Chair Professor
NIFTEM (An Institute of National Importance (INI) under Ministry of Food Processing Industries, GOI)
Dr. Adip Roy
Associate VP - Regulatory Affairs | Research and Development
Amway India Enterprises Pvt. Ltd.
Dr. Gaurav Agnihotri
Lead - Regulatory and Policy Strategy
Sanofi Consumer Healthcare India Ltd.
Dr. Jyoti Sagar Gokhale
Program Coordinator, M. Tech. Food Biotechnology & UGC Assistant Professor
Department of Food Engineering and Technology, Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai
Dr. Kejal Joshi
Nutrition Manager
Marico India Ltd.
Dr. Madhavi Marathe
Head of Clinical Nutrition
Sun Pharma Ltd.
Dr. Madhura Janve
Coordinator and Assistant Professor (Nutraceuticals)
S. K. Somaiya College, Somaiya Vidyavihar University
Dr. Nandan Joshi
Head - Medical & Scientific Affairs
Dr. Reddy's and Nestlé Health Science Ltd.
Dr. Nikhil Bangale
Head- Medical Affairs and Safety Sciences
Kenvue (JNTL Consumer Health (India) Pvt. Ltd.)
Dr. Poonam Khanna
Additional Professor of Nutrition | Department of Community Medicine & School of Public Health
Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research
Dr. Prabodh Halde
Head of Global Regulatory, Public Policy and Advocacy
Marico Ltd.
Dr. Rachana M Bhoite
Head- Nutrition Science & Clinical Research - Branded Markets
Dr. Reddy's Laboratories
Dr. Raktim Chattopadhyay
Founder & CEO
Esperer Group
Dr. Sadanand Kulkarni
Head-Medical, Regulatory, Vigilance, Quality (South Asia)
Fresenius Kabi India Pvt. Ltd.
Dr. Soumya Biswas
HOD Research and Development
The Fungamentalists LLP
Dr. Vivek Srivastav
Chief Executive Officer
Multani Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
Dr. Umesh Mishra
Head – Medical & Scientific Affairs
Lupin Ltd.
Kumar Tarun
Head Quality R&D and Regulatory
Bisleri International Pvt. Ltd.
Madhavi Trivedi
Director - Nutrition and Regulatory Affairs
Mars Snacking AMEA (Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa)
Manoj Karwa
Head - Clinical Trials & Pharmacovigilance
Auriga Research Pvt. Ltd.
Mohit Rathod
Co-founder
Truly Desi
Nitin Kattukar
Business Development Head - Packaging Division
Mamata Machinery Ltd
Pranjuli Garg
Co-founder
ProMeat
Rajiv Mitra
Sr. Advisor - Growth & Transformation
Indapur Dairy and Milk Products Ltd.
Samit Gupta
Founder & Chief Formulator
NEULIFE Nutrition
Saurov Kakoti
Chief Product Officer
Plix Life
Sukhada Bhatte
Nutrition Science Specialist- Product Ideation and Clinical Studies (Emerging Markets)
Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd.
Swarn Singh
Director R&D
Kellogg South Asia
Vikas Talwar
Director Regulatory Affairs, India
Kenvue (JNTL Consumer Health (India) Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai)