Speakers

• Ashish Trambadia Conservation Architect, Poonam and Ashish Trambadia
  

  Ashish Trambadia

  Conservation Architect, Poonam and Ashish Trambadia

  Ashish Trambadia completed his tenure as the CEO/Director of the Ahmedabad World Heritage City Trust in March 2024. The Trust primarily focused on urban conservation within the historic walled city, including its buildings, sites, and living heritage. As the designated UNESCO site manager, Ashish was responsible for communications with UNESCO and the Indian State Party, attending the World Heritage Manager’s Forum, and participating in the ICCROM People-Nature-Culture course. He initiated a major documentation project for over 2,000 locally listed heritage houses. The Trust, in collaboration with the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, implemented various restoration, conservation, and area upliftment projects.

  Ashish began his career in 2002 as a Project Associate at IIT Roorkee after completing his degree in Architecture (B.Arch) from MANIT, Bhopal (1997-2002). He later pursued a Master’s in Architectural Conservation (M.Arch) from the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi (2003-2005). Since 2006, he has worked on a diverse range of conservation projects. As a Conservation Architect, he has completed projects in collaboration with notable organizations such as the World Monuments Fund, the Archaeological Survey of India, Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd., the Municipal Corporations of Ahmedabad and Rajkot, the Government of Andhra Pradesh, the Self Employed Women’s Association, and others.

• Gurmeet Rai Director, CRCI India Pvt. Ltd.
  

  Gurmeet Rai

  Director, CRCI India Pvt. Ltd.

  Gurmeet Rai is a renowned Conservation Architect, heritage management expert, and Director of CRCI India Pvt Ltd. With over 30 years of experience, she has led heritage projects for UNESCO, ADB, the World Bank, and government bodies, including plans for Amritsar, Puri, the Red Fort, Golden Temple, Lumbini, and Bagan. She integrates heritage conservation with climate action, sustainability, and urban planning. Recipient of multiple prestigious awards, including UNESCO’s 2023 Award of Excellence and Award for Sustainable Development, her work continues to shape the field. Current projects include research on Sufi heritage sites in Delhi and the Kalka Shimla Mountain Railway Conservation Management Plan.

• Jagan Shah CEO, Infravision Foundation
  

  Jagan Shah

  CEO, Infravision Foundation

  Jagan Shah is CEO of Infravision Foundation, and is an architect and urbanist with extensive experience in urban policy and practice. He was a former Resident Senior Fellow at Artha Global. As Senior Infrastructure Adviser in the UK Government (2019-21), he guided the technical assistance for India’s National Infrastructure Pipeline and support to the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure in establishing a Technical Facility for the Small Island Developing States.

  As Director of India’s National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA, 2013-19), he co-conceived the Smart Cities Mission and expanded its impact. He guided the preparation of the Master Plan for Delhi 2041, and developed policies for land value capture, land pooling and transit-oriented development. He was also a Resident Senior Fellow at the IDFC Institute. He has served as Director of the Sushant School of Art & Architecture (2011-12) and Chief Executive of Urban Space Consultants (2007-10).

  From 1998 to 2006, he taught at the School of Planning and Architecture in New Delhi, with a brief stint at the Jaipur Virasat Foundation (2004-5) leading the revitalization of the walled city of Jaipur, an effort that has borne fruit 15 years later with the recognition of Jaipur as a UNESCO World Heritage City. Since 2016, he has been a Trustee of Clean Air Asia, an international NGO based in Manila. Since 2020, he serves on the technical advisory board for Tuned, an Italy-based initiative for using advanced research on the intersections of neuroscience and architecture for meeting the challenges of post-COVID urbanism.

• Jagdip Mehta Owner, Home Stay Facility
  

  Jagdip Mehta

  Owner, Home Stay Facility

  Jagdip Mehta’s Heritage Home, a 200-year old structure in Moto Suthar Vado, Khadia is a heritage structure. Lovingly restored in 2004 with support from the French Government & Ahmedabad’s Heritage Department, & loan from HUDCO. This haveli showcases a blend of architectural brilliance.

  Its elegant colonial-influenced facade contrasts beautifully with the traditional internal vernacular layers, while the central courtyard brings in natural light and fresh air, just like a typical old Ahmedabad home. With rare 16th-century Italian-style ceiling designs, Belgium glasswork, and vintage furniture, it’s a journey back in time.

  More than just a stay, it’s an experience! The joint family of three generations welcomes you like one of their own.
  In their family they are all artists.

  Recognised as the Best Maintained Heritage Place & Best Homestay in Gujarat, this is truly a home away from home!

• Khushi Shah Conversation Architect
  

  Khushi Shah

  Conversation Architect

  Khushi Shah is a conservation architect with over 20 years of work experience in the field of Architectural and Urban Conservation. She holds a Bachelor in Architecture from the M.S. University of Baroda and Specialisation in Heritage Conservation (DSA-Architecture et Patrimoine) from Centre des Hautes Etudes de Chaillot, Paris (2007).
  Her significant professional engagements include Preparation of World Heritage nomination dossier for the Historic city of Ahmadabad as part of Centre for Conservation Studies, CRDF, CEPT University team and Restoration of traditional pol houses in the historic city of Ahmedabad as part of Indo-French cooperation project for the walled city of Ahmedabad. Khushi served as a visiting faculty member (2010–2017, 2020–2023) and adjunct faculty member (2017 – 2020) in the postgraduate Conservation programme at FA, CEPT University.
  She is currently working with A.R.S Progetti S.P.A. as Senior Conservation architect on-site for the project ‘Monitoring studies and Condition Assessment for the At-Turaif World Heritage Site’, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

• P Gautam Retired IAS Officer Chairman, SRFDCL
  

  P Gautam

  Retired IAS Officer Chairman, SRFDCL

  Retired IAS officer I. P. Gautam serves as the Chairman of the Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation Limited (SRFDCL). With over four decades of experience in public policy, urban governance, financial management, and infrastructure development, he was instrumental in shaping the Sabarmati Riverfront project during his tenure as Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioner (2006-2011). He later held key positions, including Principal Secretary of Urban Development, Housing, Ports, and Transport (2011-2013) and Managing Director of Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation (2013-2019), overseeing major urban infrastructure projects.

  Gautam also served as a member of the Lokpal of India in Delhi for over four years until April 2023. His leadership comes at a pivotal time as the Sabarmati Riverfront expands towards Gandhinagar, with his expertise in project execution, techno-legal frameworks, and large-scale infrastructure management expected to drive its next phase of development.