Dr. Ajay Popat is currently President, Ion Exchange (India) Ltd. and responsible for Technology, Heavy Industry & Environment Business, Corporate Marketing, Corporate Diversification and Communication.  

Sh. Ajit Kumar Thakur is operating as the Chief Executive Officer of Indradhanush Gas Grid Limited for the implementation of the prestigious North East Gas Grid project for ushering in a Gas-based economy in the North East region of India. With a broad background in energy projects spanning 28+ years and having expertise in managing complex projects and high energy-intensive facilities, Sh. Thakur ensures smooth execution and operation of infrastructure facilities. Sh. Thakur is an Electrical engineer having a vast experience in managing projects, designing, executing, commissioning, and facilities operation for hydrocarbon installations.

Amish Jani, is the CoE Corrosion Engineering – Static Equipment Reliability, at Reliance Industries Limited. A Graduate in Metallurgical Engineering from The MS University Baroda, he has more than 29 years of rich experience in managing the integrity of Static Assets in large to very large Petrochemicals and Refinery complexes. He is passionate about and has deep understanding of Material Selection, Metallurgy, Inspection and Corrosion/degradation mechanisms of Static Equipment in typical Refinery and Petrochemical Plants.  
 
Through his vast experience, he further passionately engages and spearheads development of new and emerging Corrosion Management Solutions, and NDE’s for In-service Inspection of Plant Assets by collaborating with academia, institutes and eminent entities in Hydrocarbon industry viz. Shell, Honeywell/UOP, Fluor, Foster Wheeler, CB&I/McDermott, BVPI and others.  
 
He has presented various technical papers at National and International Conferences on Inspection, Reliability, Corrosion Monitoring and Various Maintenance and Repair strategies. He aspires and sees himself amongst the ‘Best in Class’ - Global expert/specialist in MCI (Materials, Corrosion and Inspection) in the Refinery and Petrochemicals business, in the coming years. 
 
He endeavours towards his vision of "Moving from Damage resolution to Data Driven Pro-active and Predictive Corrosion Risk Management” by embracing Advanced Emerging NDE’s alongwith Digital Analytics and Solutions! 

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Superannuated as Group General Manager and Head of Materials & Corrosion Section, IEOT after 35 years of service in ONGC. He has executed / coordinated / supervised more than 200 projects on various aspects of corrosion, viz. material selection, failure analysis, paint & coating, MIC, CP, corrosion monitoring and corrosion audit etc. He has Published / Presented more than 100 papers, edited three books as main contributor: Internal Corrosion of Pipelines, Published by Narosa Publications, Corrosion Case Studies, Published by NACE International Gateway India Section, Learning from Failure Case Studies, Published by ONGC.  
 
He written a Chapter “Petroleum fluids properties and production schemes: Effect on Corrosion” in book, “Trends In Oil and Gas Corrosion Research and Technologies: Production and Transmission”, published by Elsevier. He has Co-inventor of three patents awarded in the USA and Canada and Five patent applications pending in India. He is Faculty in several corrosion courses in oil and gas industry. He received NIGIS “Meritorious Contribution Award” for the year 2016 and Corrosion Awareness Award” for the year 2000, NCCI Meritorious Contribution Award – 2016.

Graduated as a Petroleum Engineer from University of Alberta, Canada and now working as Director at Allied Engineers, India providing turnkey pipeline integrity solutions. Certified as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) from APEGGA, Canada. Instructed several certified Pipeline Integrity related courses in USA, Canada, Middle East and India for:   

Presently woking as General Manager in Indian Maharatna Company 'IndianOil'. He did his B.Tech (Hons) in Electrical Engineering from NIT Hamirpur and was adjudged ‘Best Student’. After MBA, he did Project Management course from NUS and presently pursuing Ph. D. in Competitive Intelligence.  
 
He is having experience of more than 25 years in Automobile and Oil & Gas sector. His enriched experience includes Design of Electrical and Cathodic Protection of pipeline installations, execution of Cross-Country Pipelines, Operations & Maintenance, Purchase and Contract Management etc. He is renowned in industry as task oriented executive for completing projects within approved costs and timelines.  
 
He joined Indian Territorial Army and commissioned for Petroleum Oil & Gas support to the nation and presently holding rank of Lieutenant Colonel.  
 
Colonel Joshi is President for North Zone of AMPP. He has represented in many international and national symposiums and presented technical papers in the field of Cross Country Pipelines Construction and Cathodic Protection. He has widely travelled across the globe to Latin America, Europe, Gulf and far East Asian countries for technical support and attending conferences.

Dr.Buddhadeb Duari is Director of Lalita Infraprojects Pvt Ltd who are major Manufacturer and Applicator of corrosion resistant organic coatings and linings.  
 
Dr.Buddhadeb Duari has done B. Tech (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering from I.I.T Kharagpur,MBA from Jamnalal Bajaj Institute for Management Studies (JBIMS) and Ph.D (Engg) in Metallurgy & Material Engineering from Jadavpur University. He is a NACE Corrosion Specialist, a NACE Protective Coating Specialist from NACE (National Association of Corrosion Engineers), Houston, USA and SSPC Protective Coating Specialist from SSPC (Society for Protective Coating), Pitsburgh , USA. He is a member of BIS (Bureau of Indian Standard) for CHD 20 (Chemical & Paint Division),CHD 21 (Raw Material for Paints),MTD 24 (Metallurgical Technical Division - Corrosion Protection Group) and MTD 19 (Pipes and Tubes). He has more than 30 years experience on corrosion, coating and Cathodic Protection of Metals, Structure and Concrete. He has published more than forty (40) Technical Papers in reputed journals out of which nine (9) are international ones like MP Materials Performance, JPCL, Coating & Maintenance. Dr. Buddhadeb Duari is also guiding students for doing their Ph.D in Jadavpur University as well as IIT - Guwahati. 

He has over twenty six years of experience in working with the materials related issues of refining industry. He graduated in Metallurgical Engg. from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and obtained his masters degree in Industrial Metallurgy from Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. He is a Doctorate from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. Dr. Kannan has More than thirty five technical publications in Journals &conferences of repute. He has authored more than hundred technical / project reports. He has been conferred with the Petrofed Innovator of the year – Team Award for 2015.

Dr. D. Parvatalu is working as a Domain Expert in Hydrogen Programme of ONGC Energy Centre (OEC) after superannuating from ONGC in 2016. Earlier he worked as a Project Manager- Hydrogen project team. 
 
Dr. Parvatalu is a member of OEC’s Energy Centre Team for more than a decade and involved in Planning / Coordination / successful implementation of various RD&D programme undertaken in serval upcoming alternate energy areas beyond hydrocarbons including the OEC’s prestigious Hydrogen Energy program involving hydrogen generation processes, its storage and applications to develop suitable technologies using indigenous resources.  
 
Currently his main focus is on indigenous development of Green Hydrogen Generation Technologies using Thermochemical water splitting process viz., Iodine-Sulfur and Copper-Chlorine (Cu-Cl) cycles involving a combination of thermochemical and electrochemical reactions in collaboration with various Centers of excellence in India. He is associated with development of materials including corrosion testing facilities for high temperature applications especially for thermochemical cycles. He is a member of Executive committees of CII, NACE India. 
 
Dr. Parvatalu has vast experience of 30+ years in various quality control activities in upstream Oil/Gas production operations in onshore and offshore fields viz., Mumbai Offshore, Assam, Ankleshwar onshore Oil fields, Regional Geo-Science labs and has rich experience in chemical control for oil flow improvement, corrosion / scale prevention measures, water treatment systems, Standard Test Methods development etc. Currently involved with development of standard test method for screening materials in high temperature molten salt environment for which no off the shelf solutions exist 
Dr. Parvatalu chaired the NACE–TG 528 international team recently to develop NACE international standard test method NACE-Id 182 for screening Oil filed Corrosion inhibitors and is currently Vice Chair of NACE Corrosion standards committee SC-14 dealing with upstream oil filed corrosion control. He is also an active member of several other NACE-AMP committees viz., SC-08, 09, 13, 15, 22, SP21466 and SP1467. Recently received NACE achievement award in 2022 for his national and international contribution and services.  
 
Dr. Parvatalu obtained his Ph.D. in chemistry from Mumbai University in 2007.  
 
Dr. Parvatalu has authored / co-authored over 130 publications / presentations in various international / national conferences/journals and 3 international and 10 Indian patents. 
He is a member of several distinguished professional institutions viz., NACE, SAEST, ECSI, HAI

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Academic Qualifications  
Executive MBA from S.P. Jain College, Mumbai, 2020  
Ph.D., Z.H. Engg. College AMU Aligarh, 1998, “Physico-chemical studies on some metallic Corrosion inhibitors”  
 
Experience in the area of Corrosion & Research  
Corrosion failure analysis  
Pipeline internal corrosion  
Development & Commercialization of cost effective corrosion inhibitors and additives  
Corrosion due to oxygenates used fuels on automotive parts  
Processing high tan crudes using corrosion inhibitors  
Rust preventive/corrosion protective coatings/paints  
Developing innovative techniques to monitor corrosion in non-aqueous media  
Microbiological corrosion  
Coatings and paints for industrial usage  
Heat exchangers fouling studies  
Water corrosion studies  
Corrosion and fouling related issues with crude compatibility  
Fouling in heat exchangers, industrial problems remediation  
 
Publications & Patents: 95 in International and national Journal and book chapters, 12 patents granted and 3 filed  
Member of NACE/AMPP  
Reviewer of many research journals of Elsevier Publications, guided Ph.D. and M. Tech students, Delivered talks at various conferences, institutes and National/International Forums, Received prestigious award of Best Ph.D. Best Paper and Excellence in Corrosion Science, Best Lab award from NACE, Best paper awards from NCCI, Petrotech award for Best Innovator, Frost & Sullivan awards for research projects etc. Coordinated research based industrial projects with IIT Madras, ICT Mumbai, IICT Hyderabad, M.S. University Vadodara, Osmania Agricultural University Odisha, BITS Plani, Goa Campus and other PSUs like EIL R&D for various research developmental projects

K B Singh: +30 Years’ experience in Consultancy, Construction, Project Management, Technical Marketing, Design &Engineering of Products &Services in Power, Oil, Gas & Water Sector in India and abroad.  
 
He has published several Technical Papers on Coatings &Cathodic Protection in various Indian &International Journals. Specialization in the following fields: External and internal pipeline coatings, field joint coatings &plant piping coating for oil, gas and water transmission and distribution on-shore and off-shore pipelines. Cathodic Protection for Tanks (Internal/External), Buried / Above ground plant piping, Cross Country Pipelines Skin Effect Heat Tracing of high viscous crude and sulfur cross country insulated pipelines.

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE 
 
AMPP International – Protective Coating Specialist & CIP Instructor 
AMPP ( NACE International –PCS. # 21914 Certified Protective Coating Specialist 
AMPP ( NACE International – Certified Coating Inspector Level – 3 # 15945 
AMPP ( SSPC –PCS #2011-049-332 Certified Protective Coating Specialist 
STEM Expert Corrosion in Oil & Gas Industry  
Opinion Leader - IVLP 2015 International Visitor Leadership Program arranged by Department of States United State for Adoption of Corrosion Standards 2015. 
 
An MBA, Surface Coating Technologist & NACE-Certified Protective Coatings Specialist with & more than 26 years’ experience in the wide field of Surface Coating Technology & Specialized in Industrial & Automotive Coatings & High Performance Protective Coatings. 
 
In-depth knowledge & Proficient in resolving problems / bottlenecks in development processes & towards optimizing production operations & applications of Protective Coatings / Industrial Finishing. Hands on Experience in Pipe lining, Tank linings . 
 
Cellulosic as well as Hydrocarbon/Jet Fire Intumescent Passive Fire Proofing Expert.  
NACE Gateway India Section – Coatings & Lining Technical Committee member since 2010. 
 
Won ASK Foundation Award for 2019 Best R & D in Industry. 
 
Visiting Faculty: Institute of Chemical Technology – Mumbai.

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Mr. Pankaj Panchal, the Founder and Director of CORPS (Corrosion Protection Specialist Pvt. Ltd.) has more than 25 years of experience in cathodic protection and corrosion control systems. He is the technical and business leader of Corrosion Control Industries.  
 
He leads the management of CORPS and has successful execution of hundreds of mega projects for corrosion control industries through out India and the middle east.  
 
Mr. Panchal has an experience of corrosion and cathodic protection systems, project management, site survey, design, engineering, Materials specifications, installations, testing, commissioning, maintenance and post commissioning surveys.  
 
He has designed more than 4,500 single and multiple well casings while working in Saudi Arabia and UAE. On top of that he has also designed more then 6,000 KM cross country pipelines on multiple pipeline corridor with AC/DC interference mitigation work combined in both India and Saudi Arabia.  
 
Moreover, he invented the concept of multiple well casing (3 to 15) protection with a single power source in the year 2002. This concept was developed with Saudi Aramco, Consulting Service Department.

Dr. Radhakrishna G. Pillai is an associate professor in the Dept. of Civil Engg. at IIT Madras. He earned BE degree in civil engg. from the M N Regional Engg. College (now MNNIT), Allahabad. Then, he earned MS and PhD in civil engg. at Texas A&M University (TAMU), USA and got passionate to combat corrosion of steel in reinforced and prestressed concrete structures. The rigorous training at TAMU and Oregon State University helped him realize his dream of becoming a part of the IIT system. In September 2010, he joined IIT Madras and has been teaching in the areas of construction materials, concrete technology, and repair of concrete structures and engaged in the development and activities of the Construction Materials Research Laboratory (CMRL). He is running various projects focusing on steel corrosion and its impact on the durability and service life of concrete structures. In particular, he focuses on developing corrosion test methods, database, and tools for practicing engineers to promote service life-based design of concrete structures. Recently, he has been extending his research to cathodic protection and extension of the residual service life of concrete structures. He has co-authored 40+ journal papers and 60+ conference papers. Most of his projects contribute to face practical challenges and modify standards and specifications. He is also active in ICI, NACE, and RILEM and has been recognized for his contributions. He invests in motivating students and young faculty towards higher studies and better career paths; and in developing corrosion/durability related laboratories in other engg. colleges. He advises students to provide adequate importance to teaching, research, and service (co- & extra- curricular) activities and in enhancing technical writing/presentation skills. He believes all these are important to become future leaders in their chosen profession. He also believes that graduate study is just a stepping-stone to the long career ahead and should transform, if needed, and enable students to define suitable career goals and achieve them. If you can commit and dedicate your career to 'combating steel corrosion and extending the service life of concrete structures' and interested in joining his group, please feel free to contact him and explore possible research opportunities. Saving Structures from Corrosion  
 
AWARDS AND HONOURS  
 
Excellence in Corrosion Science & Technology Award, NIGIS Corrosion Awareness Awards, 2019  
Excellent Public Sector Laboratory (as part of the group of corrosion laboratories in IIT Madras), NIGIS Corrosion Awareness Awards, 2019  
ICI Ultratech Award for Outstanding Young Concrete Engineer, Indian Concrete Institute, Tamil Nadu Chennai Centre, 2016  
Former Students Association Scholarship, TAMU, Spring, 2009  
Richard Gehle Memorial Scholarship, Zachry Dept. of Civil Engg., TAMU, Fall, 2006  
Departmental Merit Scholarship, Zachry Dept. of Civil Engg., TAMU, Spring, 2006

"Prof. Smrutiranjan Parida currently serving as a professor at Department of Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India. Prof. Parida earned his Ph.D. from University of Saarland, Saarbruecken, Germany, and M.Tech. degree in Materials Science & Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, India. Prof. Parida was awarded the esteemed DAAD fellowship from Germany. He is a recipient of the prestigious “S.K. Seshadri Memorial MASCOT National Award– 2021” for outstanding contribution in the field of corrosion.  
 
His research interest includes alloy development in corrosion, nanomaterials in corrosion, anticorrosion coatings, and electrochemical energy and sensors. He teaches postgraduate and undergraduate courses on corrosion science and electrochemistry at IIT Bombay since 2011.”

Dr. S S Gupta is a Ph. D in Petroleum Engineering and bachelor in metallurgical engineering. He has served Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., (IOCL) for 37 years and superannuated as Executive Director (Maintenance & Inspection) in 2022. Currently he is with Centre for High Technology (CHT), Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas as an Adviser (Technical) 
While in IOCL, he was responsible for introduction of various new technologies like IIoT based pipeline operation. Software based Pipelines network integrity management. Asset life extension for both on-shore and off-shore assets of IOCL etc.  
 
He has published more than 50 articles and technical papers in national and internal journals and presented at World Petroleum Congress, Pipeline Technology Conference, Berlin, Petrotech India etc. Dr. Gupta also represented Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. in European Pipeline Operators Forum (POF),  
His current area of work includes Production, Transportation and Utilisation of Green Hydrogen. He is also associated with development of Engineering Standards on Hydrogen, establishment of a Hydrogen test loop to assess impact of Hydrogen in pipelines transportation, storage vessels, end users’ equipment and safe handling of Hydrogen. 
 

Having experience of more than 27+ years in field related to Corrosion, Cathodic Protection, Coating, Integrity, Project Management, Multi Product Pipeline Operations, Auditing etc. and worked for more than 75 different projects.  
 
Qualified with NACE CP level – II, B.E. Electrical, Diploma in Management, have electrical Inspector license and Qualified ISO 9001 Lead Auditor.  
Member of several Technical and organizing Committees for Codes, Standards, Regulations, Conference and training committees including Reliance Pipelines, NACE, ASME PSD and ASME 31.8 Committees, BIS MTD 24, Oil Industry Safety Directorate (OISD), PNGRB etc.  
 
Achievements of past few years:  
 
Trainer on subject for internal RIL and external trainings.  
Published 20 technical papers in difference conferences.  
“Excellence in Corrosion Technology award” 2010 by NACE India Section.  
Finalist in MP Corrosion Innovation award for innovative CP Design 2011.  
Alumina of International Visitor Leadership progremme (IVLP) – 2015 with theme of “Adoption of American Anti-Corrosion Standards” -by United States Department of State and Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.  
Committee member Excellence Award for ASME IOGPC -2017 conference.  
Gujarat “Brahma Gaurav Award” by Brahmin Community – 2018-19.  
“Meritorious Contribution in field of corrosion science and technology, Industry” award by NIGIS in 2019.

Currently with International Certification Services Pvt Ltd a Conformity Assessment Body as a Country Manager responsible for the growth and development of Management of Certification and Inspection Services of the organisation.

Dr. Supratik Roychowdhury is working as scientific officer in Materials Processing & Corrosion Engineering Division, BARC since 1998. He completed B.E. (Metallurgical Engg.) from REC, Rourkela (presently NIT, Rourkela), M.Tech. (Materials Science) and PhD (Corrosion Science & Engineering) from IIT Bombay. He was awarded the Marie Curie research grant (COFUND scheme) for pursuing post-doctoral research in Paul Scherrer institute (PSI), Switzerland (2013-2015).   

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Prof. Toleti Subba Rao is currently the Professor of Biological Sciences, as well as the Director of the Centre for Research, Innovation, Collaboration & Policy at Sai University, OMR, Chennai, Tamil Nadu-603104. Before joining Sai University in 2022, Prof. Rao had served at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Government of India for 34 years from 1988 to 2022, as Scientist – H, & Head – Biology Group, as well as Professor at Homi Bhabha National Institute, DAE, Mumbai. 
Prof. Subba Rao is an internationally acclaimed academician and researcher who is listed in the top 2% of the world’s influential researchers, according to a study published by Stanford University, USA. As a researcher with over 210 research papers and 2 patents, he has accomplished many targets for Department of Atomic Energy. Prof. Rao is a co-investigator in many joint research projects with Anna University, Alagappa University, and the University of Madras. Besides, in education, he has the highest academic degree D.Sc. from Periyar University, Salem, Tamil Nadu. Prof. Rao is also well known for establishing a major national coordinated research program on Thermal Ecology in the country. For his accomplishments, Dr. Rao has been elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences, Chennai, and a Fellow of the Applied Biotechnology Society of India. Nine Ph.D., scholars have graduated so far under his supervision and are working in academic institutions, and industries in India and abroad. 
Prof. Subba Rao's research and leadership contributions have been recognized with over 6 awards and honours in the country and abroad. Prof. Rao serves on the Editorial Advisory Boards of a few journals and as a reviewer for many international journals. Dr. Rao has delivered over 60 Plenary, Keynote, and Invited lectures all over the world. Besides his regular teaching and research activities at Sai University, Prof. Subba Rao serves as a member of multiple committees related to Education, Research, and Innovation programs.

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PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY: 
 
As a Cathodic Protection Consultant with 6+ years of experience, I have built a successful career 
centred around corrosion control and cathodic Protection systems. My extensive knowledge and 
hands‐on experience have allowed me to assist a wide range of clients, of various oil and gas 
companies in India, in preserving their assets from soil side corrosion. 
 
Key Skills and Competencies: 
 
Design & Engineering: Proficient in “Front End Design Engineering” (FEED) of coatings & 
cathodic protection systems tailored to specific assets and environments, ensuring 
effective corrosion protection . 
 
Project Management: Skilled in overseeing CP projects from inception to completion, 
including budgeting, scheduling, and coordination of resources. 
 
Technical Reports and Documentation: Proficiency in preparing detailed technical 
reports, corrosion risk assessments, and mitigation plans for end clients. 
 
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: 
M/s K.B Singh & Associates, Noida , UP (India) 
Consultant – Coatings & Cathodic Protection [June, 2017 – Present] 
 Lead cathodic protection projects, managing a team of few engineers and technicians. 
 Lead Engineer in preparing front end design engineering (FEED) of coatings & cathodic 
protection of cross‐country pipeline, city gas distribution network, plant piping, above 
ground storage tanks & mounded storage vessels. 
 Conduct on‐site inspections, monitor CP system performance, and generate detailed 
technical comprehensive reports. 
 Preparing tender documents for end clients like HPCL, BPCL, GAIL. 
 Expertise in reviewing post commissioning survey reports of AC/DC interference survey, 
CIPL, CAT, DCVG & Coating Conductance Surveys)