patrons

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Dr. M. Venkatachalam, a distinguished officer of the Indian Foreign Service (2005 batch), has held numerous prominent roles in India’s diplomatic missions abroad and at the Ministry of External Affairs headquarters in New Delhi. His overseas assignments include serving as Head of Chancery and Second/First Secretary at the Indian Embassy in Tokyo (2007-2012), Charge d'Affaires at the Indian Embassy in Prague, and later as Ambassador to the Czech Republic.

In New Delhi, he has held roles as Under Secretary (Bhutan), Deputy Secretary (Gulf), Director (External Publicity), and Director (COVID Cell). During the COVID-19 pandemic, he also served as Director (East and Southern Africa). In 2021, he was transferred to Chennai as Head of the Branch Secretariat and Protector of Emigrants.

Dr. Venkatachalam holds a Ph.D. in Economics, with a focus on food security, awarded by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute.

Andy Street was the former Mayor of the West Midlands in May 2021, with primary responsibilities as Chair of the West Midlands Combined Authority, overseeing transport, housing, skills, and jobs. Previously, he built a successful career at John Lewis and served as Chair of the Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (2011-2016), fostering regional economic growth. His national roles include lead non-executive director for the Department for Communities and Local Government and membership on the Prime Minister’s Business Advisory Group. An arts enthusiast, Andy was awarded a CBE in June 2015 for his services to the national economy.

He was the former Lord lieutenant of the West Midlands. He was awarded an OBE in 1995 for services to urban regeneration and a CBE in 2004 for contributions to business and education in the West Midlands, he has been recognized widely, including the Lunar Society Medal for public service. With honorary doctorates from Aston University, Birmingham City University, and the University of Birmingham, he was the first non-white Lord-Lieutenant in 2007, a role he held until 2015. In 2017, Her Majesty the Queen honored him with the Commander of the Royal Victorian Order for his exceptional service. He also serves as Patron of the British Carnatic Choir and ShruthiUK.

 Amish is a diplomat, author and columnist. He has taken over as the Director of The Nehru Centre in London in October 2019. Amish has been listed among the 50 most powerful Indians by India Today magazine in 2019. Forbes India has regularly ranked Amish among the top 100 most influential celebrities in India. Amish was also selected as an Eisenhower Fellow, a prestigious American programme for outstanding leaders from around the world, in 2014. Amish published his first book in 2010, and has written 8 books till date. His books have sold 5.5 million copies, and have been translated into 10 Indian and 9 international languages. Amish is an alumnus of the prestigious Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Calcutta. He worked for 14 years in the financial services industry before turning to writing. 

  Dr Shashank Vikram, Consul General of India, Birmingham is Diplomat from the 2004 Batch of Indian Foreign Service (IFS). Dr Vikram is a medical graduate. Before assuming the charge of CG, Birmingham, he has served in various capacities in Government of India, in Indian embassies abroad and in the State Government of Uttar Pradesh. He has worked in Embassy of India, Lisbon, Embassy of India, Brasilia and also as Consul General of India, Durban, South Africa. In Ministry of External Affairs he has served in PAI and OIA Divisions. In Uttar Pradesh, Dr Vikram has served as Special Secretary (Health & Family Welfare) & Additional Mission Director for National Urban Health Mission and as Special Secretary(Tourism) & Managing Director, UP State Tourism Development Corporation (UPSTDC). Dr Vikram is the Chief Patron of the World Music Conference, with the aim of promoting Music and Mental Health.

Dr. Pallavi Vedantam is a passionate immunologist with a deep rooted interest in music, culinary sciences and theology. 

Prof. Raja is a passionate educator, entrepreneur, researcher, and mentor with 15+ years of experience. He is one of the judges in QS Reimagine Awards 2020 (the Oscars of Education) and was a shortlist judges in QS Reimagine Awards - 2018. He co-founded multiple UK businesses and has mentored many successful start-ups in the past. He was also the part of the Trade missions led by ex-British Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Theresa May and Sir Malcolm Grant, Chairman of NHS. He is currently working as Professor & Director - Research & Consultancy, GITAM University, India, where his main responsibility is to build sustainable research and innovation ecosystem. 

Professor Quinto is a Brazilian pianist and writer, he is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a UN Ambassador. He serves as Full Professor at University Anhembi Morumbi and is an artist with South America’s largest piano manufacturer, Fritz Dobbert. Founder of the Samuel Quinto Academy of Music, he also directs music at Igreja Batista Nações Unidas in São Paulo. His academic credentials include specializations in Neuroscience Applied to Education, Psychopathology, an MBA in Educational Management, a Master’s in Public Health, and ongoing doctoral research in Digital Media Art.

Ramya Palacholla is a Primary Care Physician and a faculty member of the Harvard Medical School. She is the co-author of one of the first books to be written for clinicians on novel treatment methods for the management of Military Sexual Trauma in war veterans. She was also honored with the "Woman of the Year" award in 2019 by the INE News for her contributions to health care innovation in the U.S and was featured as one of the “Women to Watch in Health IT” by Beckers Hospital Review.

Brian, MA, MT-BC is an Associate Professor in the Music Therapy department at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. He has been active as a clinician, practicum site supervisor, course instructor, and researcher for over 25 years. Brian recently presented on music and health at Berklee Abu Dhabi, the Creative Care Summit (Montreal), the International Association for Music and Medicine (IAMM) conference, Expressive Therapies Summit, and a global nursing webinar for SIGMA/ANPD. Brian is the former Assembly Speaker for the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA), Past President of the New England Region of AMTA, and the New England Region Representative for the Association's Internship Approval Committee.

Dr. Shantala Hegde is an Additional Professor and Consultant at NIMHANS, Bengaluru, specializing in Clinical Neuropsychology and neuropsychological rehabilitation. She is a Wellcome Trust UK-DBT Intermediate Fellow, collaborating with renowned experts in neurology and psychiatry. As the founder of the Music Cognition Lab at NIMHANS, India’s first, her research focuses on music perception, cognition, and music-based interventions in rehabilitation. Dr. Hegde holds multiple international fellowships and awards, and she continues to study Hindustani Classical Music, combining her dual passions for neuroscience and music.

The Lord Mayor is a Science Graduate from the Punjab University. He came to England in 1969 and settled in Birmingham with his wife Tazeem.He was very much interested in community work and joined the Labour Party in 1970 and became very active politically in his community. A passionate believer in education, the Councillor was the Chair of the Governing Body of Anglesey Primary School for over 30 years. He was also the Director of Birmingham Settlement a major Birmingham charity offering a wide range of services to Birmingham’s residents to help people gain the skills and confidence they need to overcome life’s challenges and bring about positive change

He has been awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award for public services by former Secretary of State of Foreign Affairs, David Miliband in recognition of everything he has done for the City.

He was also awarded the Community Service Award by the Right Reverend Jessie Jackson (American Senator) for his long services to the community in Birmingham.

Cllr Muhammed Afzal is one of the esteemed patrons of the bBitish Carnatic Choir.