AIACA - Governing Body Members

President
Ms. Laila Tyabji - Chairperson, Dastkar
Ms. Laila Tyabji is the Chairperson of Dastkar, a craft-support organization that was set up in 1981 with the objective of helping craftspeople, especially women, to use their traditional craft skills as a means of earning their livelihoods. She is a leading figure in the handicrafts sector in India and has served on various advisory committees of the Office of the Development Commissioner Handicrafts, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.

Vice-President
Mrs. Bimla Nanda Bissell, Development Consultant
Mrs. Bimla Nanda Bissell has extensive experience in the development sector in India. She serves on the Board of Udyogini, an NGO that seeks to promote crafts-based livelihoods for women in India.

Treasurer
Mr. V. K. Madhavan, Executive Director, Central Himalayan Rural Action Group (CHIRAG)
Mr. V.K Madhavan heads CHIRAG and oversees a range of initiatives including natural resource management, community forestry, agriculture, primary health care and primary education. Prior to CHIRAG, Mr. Madhavan worked as Senior Program Officer at the Hunger Project and as Regional Advocacy Officer at ActionAid India. He was also the Founder Secretary and Chief Executive of Urmul Setu Sansthan.

Secretary
Mr. Adarsh Kumar (Executive Director, AIACA)
Adarsh Kumar is the Secretary of AIACA and an ex-officio member of the Governing Body. A post-graduate from Harvard University, his previous work experience includes stints at the World Bank, the Ford Foundation and at Urmul Marusthali Bunkar Vikas Samiti (UMBVS), a handloom weavers society located in Phalodi, Rajasthan.

Members

Mr. William Bissell, Managing Director, FabIndia
Mr. Bissell has overseen FabIndia’s expansion into a leading crafts retail chain with 60 stores across the country. Prior to joining FabIndia he founded and was the Managing Director of Desert Artisans - a cooperative of craftspeople based in Jodhpur - from 1990-99. He also started the Bhadrajun Artisan Trust, which runs schools in the Jodhpur district of Rajasthan.

Ms. Kavita Chandra, Craft Coordinator, Asian Heritage Foundation
Ms. Kavita Chandra has extensive experience in the crafts sector in India. She helped revive the craft of leather working in Jawaja and has also worked with Dastkar. As part of the Asian Heritage Foundation, she was involved in organizing various Festivals of India in other countries to showcase Indian culture and crafts.

Ms. Rathi Vinay Jha, Director General, Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI)
Mrs. Jha retired as the Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Union Government in 2004. Prior to that she has held many positions relating to the crafts sector including helping to found NIFT and serving as its Executive Director from 1987-93, and serving as Managing Director - Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation and CMD - COOPTEX from 1985-87.

Mr. Madhukar Khera, CEO, Bharat Carpet Manufacturers
Mr. Madhukar Khera is the CEO of Bharat Carpet Manufacturers, one of the leading manufacturers of carpets in India.

Mr. Pritam Singh, CEO, Anokhi
Mr. Pritam Singh is the CEO of Anokhi, a leading producer and retailer of hand-block printed fabrics. Anokhi was instrumental in reviving the craft of block-printing by being one of the first to promote it commercially.