Patrons

In a diplomatic career spanning about three decades, Mr. Sudhir has done seven overseas postings. He served as High Commissioner of India to the Maldives from 2019 to 2021. Prior to this, he headed the International Cooperation Division at the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas headingin New Delhi (2015-19). He was Consul General of India in Sydney (2014-15); Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of India to the World Trade Organisation, Geneva (2007-11) where he dealt with IPRs, RTAs and Trade and Development. He also served in various capacities at the Indian High Commission, Colombo (2004-07), Indian Embassy, Damascus (1997-2000) and Indian Embassy, Cairo (1995-97).His postings at Head Quarters include Chief of Staff to External Affairs Minister (2012-14).

Mr. Sudhir holds degree of Bachelor of Technology from the Indian Institute of Technology – New Delhi and has pursued Diplomatic Studiesat Oxford University (UK). In International Trade, Mr. Sudhir has studied TRIPS Agreement and Public Health, WTO Law and Jurisprudence, and WTO Dispute Settlement.In the field of Energy, he has been Director on the Boards of ONGC Videsh Ltd, Oil India Ltd and Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd. He is currently an Associate Editor on the Editorial Board of OPEC Energy Review.

Dr. Aman Puri assumed charge as Consul General of India, Dubai in July, 2020. He is a member of the Indian Foreign Service, having joined in 2003. His overseas assignments include serving as the Consul General of India, Birmingham (U.K), and at the Indian Mission to the European Union, Belgium and Luxembourg, based at Brussels. At the headquarters, he has held the office of Deputy Chief of the Protocol which involved handling the foreign visits of Prime Minster of India & similar incoming visits. He also served as the Regional Passport Officer, New Delhi. Dr. Puri, (born 1976) did his schooling from St. John’s High School, Chandigarh, and qualified as a Dentist before joining the Indian Foreign Service.

H.E. Dr. Ahmed Abdul Rahman AlBanna is the UAE Ambassador to India and non-resident Ambassador to Bhutan.Before that he was the Director of the African Affairs department in the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs looking after bilateral relations between the UAE and the different African countries. He also served as a Director of the Department of Economic Affairs in the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.Prior to joining the diplomacy work, he held some major positions in the field of economic, trade promotion & negotiations, Quality and business excellences. H.E. Dr. AlBanna was the Deputy Director General of Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry. He was the general coordinator of the meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in Dubai in 2003. Also he served as Advisor to ‘Dubai EXPO 2020’, Chairman of Dubai Quality Group and a Member of the Dubai Rent Committee.

H.E. Dr. Ahmed AlBanna graduated from American University, Washington, U.S.A., BS & BA in 1981 and in 1995 he received his master degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Hull University. He completed his PhD degree in 2003 from Hull University. H.E. Dr. Ahmed AlBanna also represented UAE in various key diplomatic and international conferences and seminars. He speaks Arabic and English fluently.