Speakers

• Dr. Himani Baxi Assistant Professor, School of Liberal Arts, PDEU
  

  Dr. Himani Baxi

  Assistant Professor, School of Liberal Arts, PDEU

  Dr. Himani Baxi is an Assistant Professor at the School of Liberal Studies, Pandit Deendayal Energy University (PDEU). A passionate teacher and avid researcher in economics, she hails from Gujarat and holds a Master’s degree from M. S. University, Baroda, and a Ph.D. from Gujarat University. Since 2001, she has been actively engaged in teaching and research.

  Her academic interests include fiscal policy, state and local government finances, and public goods in the context of development agendas. She has contributed significantly to the analysis of Gujarat State finances for the 14th and 15th Central Finance Commissions, Government of India, and the 3rd State Finance Commission, Government of Gujarat. Her teaching areas span macroeconomics, public finance, Indian economic policy, development studies, and urban economics.

  With a commitment to making economics accessible to the public, Dr. Baxi writes the Gujarati column “Arthkaran” in Navgujarat Samay, where she explores contemporary economic issues from both national and international perspectives. Her columns address a wide range of topics including GST, farmer incomes, water crises, trade policy, public goods, economic growth, the socio-economic impacts of the pandemic, and the economic challenges faced by neighboring countries such as Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Bhutan.

• Mahender Jethmalani Public Finance Analyst, Pathey Budget Centre
  

  Mahender Jethmalani

  Public Finance Analyst, Pathey Budget Centre

  Mahender Jethmalani has over 30 years of experience in civil society development, focusing on empowering informal sector workers, disaster relief with a rights-based approach, and building grassroots leadership among disadvantaged rural youth. He currently works as a Public Finance Analyst at Pathey Budget Centre, conducting thematic and sectoral budget analysis at state, national, PRI, and ULB levels across multiple states including Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan.

  He has led trainings on budget analysis, monitoring, and advocacy for CSOs, journalists, elected representatives, and citizens to enhance transparency, participation, and effective public finance use. He initiated the Budget Analysis Training (BAT) program and has produced key knowledge products, including budget guides, SDG-aligned SOPs, thematic studies, and the “Pathey Budget Bulletin” e-newsletter.

• Pravin Laheri Retired Chief Secretary, Government of Gujarat
  

  Pravin Laheri

  Retired Chief Secretary, Government of Gujarat

  Pravin K. Laheri is a distinguished retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 1969 Gujarat cadre, who served as Chief Secretary to the Government of Gujarat until his retirement in 2005. An alumnus of St. Xavier’s College and Government Law College, Mumbai, Laheri’s career spanned over four decades, during which he held pivotal roles including District Development Officer, Collector, Industries Commissioner, and Principal Secretary to five Chief Ministers of Gujarat.
  Omics Online

  Beyond his administrative duties, Laheri contributed to national institutions, notably as Executive Director of the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT). Post-retirement, he led the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited as Chairman and Managing Director.

  In recognition of his service, a felicitation ceremony was held in April 2025 to honor Laheri on his 80th birthday, during which three of his authored books—Gaurav Gujaratnu, Antarang, and Samprat Samayno Padkar—were released.

  Laheri continues to influence public discourse through his writings and active participation in civic and cultural initiatives.

• Prof. Niti Mehta Director, Sadar Patel Institute of Economic & Social Research, Ahmedabad
  

  Prof. Niti Mehta

  Director, Sadar Patel Institute of Economic & Social Research, Ahmedabad

  Niti Mehta is Professor of Economics, directing the Sardar Patel Institute of Economic and Social Research, Ahmedabad. An alumni of Delhi School of Economics, CEPT University, and Gujarat University, her research is focussed on agriculture development, employment, agrarian growth and rural transformation, urbanisation and related areas. Prof Mehta has authored several research papers on these subjects. Her books relate to labour use in agriculture, sources of agricultural growth, human development and rural transformation. Prior to her current position, Prof. Mehta was associated with the Agro-Climatic Regional Planning Project of the Planning Commission, wherein resource based, decentralized agro-climatic plans were formulated for the country.

• Prof. Vidyut Joshi Former V.C., Bhavnagar University and Former Director, ICSSR, Surat
  

  Prof. Vidyut Joshi

  Former V.C., Bhavnagar University and Former Director, ICSSR, Surat

  Dr. Vidyutkumar Anantray Joshi (Vidyut Joshi) is a renowned sociologist and educationist with a distinguished career spanning over five decades. He is the former Vice-Chancellor of M.K. Bhavnagar University and former Director of the Centre for Social Studies (ICSSR), Surat. He currently serves as Adjunct Professor at Gujarat Vidyapith and Emeritus Professor at CPIMR, Ahmedabad.

  A first-rank graduate in Sociology from Gujarat University, Dr. Joshi earned his Ph.D. under Prof. I.P. Desai on the role of Ashram Schools in tribal education. His academic tenure includes positions at several prestigious institutions including South Gujarat University, Mahatma Gandhi Labour Institute, and Nirma University.

  Dr. Joshi has authored over 30 books and 50 research reports, and published more than 100 research articles and 1,100 newspaper columns across major dailies. His work focuses on tribal development, labour, rehabilitation, and social impact assessment. He has advised organizations such as ILO, UNESCO, World Bank, SSNNL, and GERC, and led numerous research studies in Gujarat and beyond.

  He has also represented India at global forums in Canada, Nigeria, Brazil, Malaysia, and Mozambique, and has held leadership roles in various social organizations such as Narmada Abhiyan and Gujarat Sociological Society.

• Yamal Vyas Chief Editor, India Investment Chairman Chairman, 4th Finance Comission of Gujarat
  

  Yamal Vyas

  Chief Editor, India Investment Chairman Chairman, 4th Finance Comission of Gujarat

  Yamal Vyas is a Chartered Accountant – all India Merit Rank holder in CA Final examination and a Company Secretary with more than 38 years of post-qualification experience in Auditing, Corporate Finance, Development Finance, Personal Finance, Capital Market and Corporate Laws.

  He was a Full time Member of Gujarat State Third Finance Commission from 2011 to 2015 and was Government Nominee on the Central Council of The Institute of Company Secretaries of India for two terms. He was also Member, Fee Fixation Committee for B.Ed., M.Ed., B.P Ed., M P Ed Colleges in Gujarat for 10 years and was also a Member of Special Committee on Media of Government of Gujarat.

  He has been an Independent Director on the Boards of Government companies like Gujarat State Financial Services, Gujarat State Seeds Corporation, Gujarat State Investments Ltd. in the last 7 years.

  He is a regular speaker at Seminars/Workshops across India, mainly on the subject of Investor Education and Capital Markets as well as Macro Economic Issues and has also written extensively on economic and financial issues.