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Suresh Narayanan chairman Nestle India to chair IAA IndIAA Awards
Mumbai: The India Chapter of the International Advertising Association (IAA) announced the jury for its annual IndIAA Awards.
IAA president Avinash Pandey said, “We are delighted that Suresh Narayanan Chairman and Managing Director Nestle India will Chair this elite jury for our prestigious awards for creative excellence. These awards are unique. They are judged only by very senior advertisers, and you cannot enter these awards on your own. A select group of senior editors of trade publications who review advertising everyday, prepare a shortlist, thereby ensuring there are no scam ads here.”
The other jury members are:
M R Jyothy (Managing Director, Jyothy Laboratories Ltd.),
Shashank Srivastava (Executive Director, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd),
Geetika Mehta (Managing Director, Hershey India)
Arun Srinivas (Director and Head – Ads Business., Meta) &
Veetika Deoras (Vice President – Brands, Marketing and Data, The Indian Hotels Company Limited)
IndIAA Awards Committee VP IAA & chairperson Abhishek Karnani said, ” In their eighth year now, the IndIAA awards have been recognized as a hallmark of creative excellence in our industry. Since the awards are presented to the co-creators of the work, this event enjoys a very high profile audience of advertisers, creative agencies, media agencies, OOH agencies and PR agencies.
This year, we are pleased to announce that the prestigious four AFAA Changemakers For Good Awards will also be presented at our event, adding a new and meaningful element to our efforts.”
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
