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Anthony Pratt
Executive Chairman Visy
Anthony Pratt is Executive Chairman of Visy, one of Australia's largest privately owned companies.
Visy employs more than 9,000 people, mainly in Australasia and the USA. Visy's focuses on recycling, paper, packaging and clean energy production. The paper making arm, Visy Paper, is one of Australia's largest manufacturing exporters to China, Southeast Asia, Europe, Africa and the United States. Group sales exceed $4 billion.
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Prior to his return to Australia in April 2009, Anthony was based in the United States where he led the Pratt family's business expansion in the United States. Under Anthony's leadership as Chairman, Pratt Industries USA expanded to more than 50 sites across 20 states and group sales of more than $1 billion. With some 3500 people employed in 'green collar' jobs, Pratt Industries USA now employes more US citizens than any other Australian company.
Anthony is firmly committed to environmental causes. In 2007 he made a commitment at President Clinton's Global initiative in New York City to invest $1 billion in clean energy and recycling infrastructure over the next ten years. He is also a member of the Climate Group, a leading international environmental group founded by former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair.
Anthony sits on the National Board of the Muhammad Ali Museum and Education Center in Louisville, Kentucky, and is active in numerous charity organisations throughout Australia and the United States. |
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Simi Garewal
A highly respected and
popular actress, director,
writer, producer and television host, Simi
Garewal has seen great
success in many fields
across film and television.
Her first acting role was
in the English language
film ‘Tarzan Goes to India’ (1962). In the 1960s and
‘70s she acted for many
Indian and international
directors from Raj Kapoor
to Satyajit Ray to Conrad
Rook’s critically acclaimed
‘Siddhartha’. |
| In the early ‘80s Simi’s attention turned
to writing and direction,
forming her own production
company under which she
made documentaries and
television commercials, for which she won the 1st
Prize at the 1988 Paters
Awards in Australia. She
is most recently known
for anchoring the talk
show ‘Rendezvous with
Simi Garewal’ which was a
trend-setter in the genre. |
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Ronnie Screwvala
An unstoppable force, Ronnie has staked out a powerful position within the Indian broadcasting, internet and production industries. As a producer and founder of leading Indian film studio UTV Group, he helped introduce Indians to cable TV and soap operas and established modern standards of studio efficiency and movie production. Disney, keen to increase their presence in a country with a massively expanding middle class, took notice and Ronnie successfully sold UTV to create Walt Disney Company India, of which he is now Managing Director. |
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Ms. Manika Jain
Consul General of India
Melbourne
Upon completion of her Post Graduation in Law from University of Delhi, Ms. Manika Jain joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1993.
During her diplomatic career, she has served in Indian Missions in Portugal, Myanmar and Indonesia. At Headquarters, she has been on deputation to the |
Ministry of Commerce and worked in Trade Policy Division dealing with matters related to W.T.O. In the Ministry of External Affairs, she has worked in Divisions which look after the relations between India and countries of East Asia and India's Eastern Neighbours. She has also served as Director at Indian Council of World Affairs, and Head of Division at Foreign Service Institute, New Delhi.
Ms. Jain assumed charge as the Consul General of India, Melbourne on 17th October 2013.
Before joining Indian Foreign Service, Ms Jain contributed to various social issues such as unorganized labour, women and health.
Ms. Jain's other interests range from cinema to philosophy and metaphysics. |
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Vikramjit Roy
Producer of ‘The Good Road’ and ‘Lunchbox’, works with National Film Development Corporation of India (NFDC) as their head of production. Prior to working at the NFDC, Roy has worked in many high profile roles in the entertainment industry. Most notably, Mahindra & Mahindra’s entertainment section of Mumbai Mantra as their head of marketing and promotions, and before that he worked for more than a decade with Sony Pictures Entertainment India as head of publicity and talent relationships. |
| Roy has been overseeing the Indian Oscar campaign for ‘The Good Road’, amidst controversy surrounding the film and ‘Lunchbox’. About his new role in the NFDC, Roy has said that it (the NFDC) has given him a wonderful opportunity to synergize with its efforts in developing a rich and diverse portfolio of films from across India, and that he is delighted to be part of such a prestigious institution. |
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From the Premier and Minister
Festival Director
FESTIVAL AMBASSADOR
