A.H.Tobaccowala - Chairman, Impact India Foundation since its inception

He is one of India’s best known and respected Corporate Executives, deeply involved in public service through numerous Foundations and Trusts. His public activities are: Chairman of the Impact India Foundation, a part of the worldwide movement against avoidable disability supported by UNDP, UNICEF and WHO. Vice President for India of the International Federation of Multiple Sclerosis Society and Member of its Executive and International Development Committees. Founder of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of India, now its President (Emeritus). Remains an active Executive Committee Member of the Council for Fair Business Practices of which he was President for four years.

He is also active in many other Foundations and Charities.

Is considered an Industrial leader in India. He was on the Board of the Holding Company of the Tata Group (comprising 88 operating companies) which is by far the largest industrial aggregate in India. Was the Executive Chairman of  Voltas Limited, a major Indian diversified Company and a part of the Tata Group. 

Born in Mumbai, he received his Bachelor and Masters Degrees in Economics and Law from the Bombay University and then his M.B.A. from the University of Chicago. Headed Tata Incorporated, the Tata Group representative organisation in North America.

Zelma Lazarus - Chief Executive Officer, Impact India Foundation

Zelma Lazarus is the Chief Executive Officer of Impact, a United Nations’ Inter-Agency Initiative, in association with the governments of each participating country. As General Manager Corporate Relations of Voltas Limited, a large Private Sector enterprise in India, she has had substantial experience in all aspects of public affairs. Her work experience is over 30 years.

She was World President of the International Public Relations Association (IPRA) for the year 1998; the first Asian Woman to head this prestigious organisation. IPRA constitutes the most genuinely international group of Public Relations Practitioners in 90 countries.

The basic prerequisite of Impact, which she leads successfully, is awareness. A nationwide communications package for India was therefore designed by her for a wide and diverse audience, from the slum dweller who is the potential beneficiary, to the industrialist who will financially support the programme.

She was invited by the Government of India to become a member of the Planning Commissions Working Group on Health, Education and Communications for the preparation of the Seventh and Eighth Five-Year Plans for the country.

She was commissioned by the Government of India to serve on the Film Censor Board.

She has been on the world speakers’ circuit, delivering lectures at United Nations Headquarters, at various international seminars, universities and public platforms. She has appeared on many live programmes on Television channels in many countries and several hundred articles have appeared about her in international dailies and journals including Newsweek, Chicago Tribune, Elle, The Times (London)...

She has completed a Senior Management Course on “Leadership” at the Ashridge Management College, U.K., and has edited several publications worldwide.

She is a winner of several awards:

• The United Nations Award for Excellence in Public Service for the “Lifeline Project”
• The “Woman of the Year” Award from Zonta International
• The Rotary Club Public Award for Leadership in creating India’s first mobile Hospital Train
• The Distinguished Golden World Trophy for Excellence in Internal Communications from IPRA in London; IPRA’s Golden World Trophies for Excellence in Consumer Affairs and again, for Excellence in Public Service worldwide.
• The prestigious Silver Bell Trophy at the PR World Congress for “The most outstanding PR Campaign in the country”
• The Bombay Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Good Corporate Citizen Award
• Lifetime Achievement Award for Public Relations and Corporate Social Responsibilities by Association of Business Communicators of India (ABCI) in 2005.

Inducted into Impact with effect from 1st May 2007, Raj brings with him almost four decades of rich and extensive experience in varied fields such as Finance, Administration & Controls, Supply Chain Management, Customer Service, Global Support Operations and Marketing & Sales in Philips Electronics India Limited.

Raj has travelled widely on business in the Asia-Pacific Region and has interacted with multi-cultural people across the globe.

A Post Graduate in Commerce from Bombay University, Raj has augmented his wealth of knowledge through various trainings, seminars and workshops conducted within India and abroad.

Formally trained in ISO 9000, he was the Management Representative in his earlier assignment and is now working towards getting Impact India certified to this Quality Management System.

He has been associated with various local social organizations in philanthropic activities.

Joined Impact India Foundation from 1 March, 2001. Neelam brings to the position a wealth of experience that will help us in our work for the prevention of disablement. She has worked in various capacities in the fields of social communications, research, education and training mainly with Doordarshan, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) and the Aga Khan Education Service, India.

Neelam is a Trustee of the Process Work Institute of India (psychotherapy and social action) and an activist with Action for good Governance and Networking in India (AGNI), mobilizing citizens from all classes towards civic action. 

Neelam has traveled abroad on various scholarships and has attended several seminars on the many aspects of social development. 

Her interests include organizing workshops, conflict resolution, yoga , meditation, integrating dreams and a growing interest in “ageing”.