Meet Our Team

Staff

Mohammed Saqib CEO

Mohammed Saqib has over 30 years of experience with Government think tanks like Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies (RGICS) and Indian Council for Research in International Economic Relations (ICRIER).

Subrata Bandyopadhyay Director

Subrata holds a Master’s in Economics and an MBA, bringing over two decades of experience in socio- economic research. As a Founder Director of BRIEF Pvt. Ltd., he has significantly influenced the organization's growth trajectory. His rich experience and expertise has benefitted research projects across India, SAARC countries, the Middle East and Malaysia.

Afaq Hussain Director

Afaq has wide experience in the areas of International Trade and Development Policy. He has conducted and supervised a number of studies for government bodies and various institutions including The World Bank, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)

Akhtar Malik Programs Head

Akhtar has an extensive experience of more than 10 years in research, consulting and knowledge management. His work spans across sectors including transportation, infrastructure, logistics, international trade and industry analysis. Prior to joining BRIEF, Akhtar worked with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), India.

Raj Shree Singh Senior Consultant

Raj Shree, a Senior Consultant at BRIEF, brings 15 years of expertise in socio-economic realms, holding academic credentials in psychology, social work and M.Phil. in Public Health from Delhi University and JNU. Her work has touched on various areas such as health, education, women and child development, adolescents, disability, empowerment and leadership, skill and community development.

Samit Chakraborty Project Manager

Samit is a management professional with over 15 years of experience in diverse areas. At BRIEF, he primarily manages economic and policy research projects, with focus on trade facilitation, policy analysis, reform advocacy and impact assessment of government interventions among others.

Anjani Kumar Jha Project Manager

Anjani, a professional with a Master’s degree in Physical/Biological Anthropology from Delhi University, began his career in freelancing. He contributed to a project focused on the Formal and Informal Business Economy in Delhi, involving primary surveys, data analysis and report composition.

Manoj Kumar Project Manager

Manoj Kumar is a highly accomplished professional. With an academic background in history, he boasts of a distinguished 15-year career focused on research and consultancy. His wealth of experience spans various significant roles in esteemed organizations, illustrating his expertise in project management, field operations and research analyses.

Yashpal Rajput Project Manager

Yashpal, with a Master's Degree in Economics and extensive international exposure, brings to the table over 15 years of experience. Being actively engaged in research and consulting projects, Yashpal has collaborated and worked with prestigious organizations and institutions, including the Indian Institute of Public Administration, SLAN Haryana, NCAER (National Council of Applied Economic Research), SIDBI (Small Industries Development Bank of India) and The Asian Development Bank.

Swati Verma Research Associate

Swati, a M.Sc. Economics graduate specializing in International Trade, brings a practical understanding of the international trade regime. During her tenure as a short-term Consultant at The World Bank, she played a key role in the "Corridors for Economic Empowerment" project, focusing on Nepal-Bhutan-Bangladesh North-South Corridor.

Pratik Dake Research Associate

Pratik possesses over four years of extensive experience in the research and consultancy sector. Holding dual post-graduate degrees, a Master's in Business Administration (MBA) and a Master's in Philosophy (M.Phil.), he boasts a strong academic background.

Syed Saquib Research Executive

Saquib, a researcher with over a decade of experience, excels in large-scale surveys, data management and analysis. As a skilled data analyst, Saquib extracts meaningful insights from raw data using statistical methods and analytical techniques.

Lata Kumari Research Analyst

Lata is a Research Analyst at BRIEF, bringing over 8 years of dedicated experience in the field of research and data collection. Holding a degree in Commerce from the University of Delhi and a postgraduate degree from IGNOU, she has augmented her academic foundation with practical skills in Python, Tableau and Power BI through various certificate courses.

Asif Husain Data Analyst

Asif, a Data Analyst with a Graduate Degree in Arts and six years of experience, specializes in market research and surveys across domains such as agriculture, health, industry, roads and transport, social sector and gender assessment. His expertise includes data analysis, validation, cleaning and comprehensive data management. Asif also excels in field supervision, ensuring efficient and effective execution of research projects.

Mahak Ayaz Research Assistant

Mahak is a Research Assistant at BRIEF, specializing in data management, desk research, report writing and communication. With an academic foundation in English Literature from The University of Kashmir, her background includes internships with organizations such as Amnesty International and ActionAid. Mahak's dedication to research extends beyond her professional roles.

Simran Javaid Research Assistant

Simran is a Research Assistant at BRIEF. As an English (Hons.) Graduate from Jamia Millia Islamia, she has endeavoured to foster gender-inclusive development initiatives.

Advisors

Dr. Peer GN Suhail

is a visionary educationist, policy analyst, and former bureaucrat whose extensive contributions have left an indelible mark on the realms of education, policy development, and skill and entrepreneurship enhancement in India. A fellow of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, USA, and the International Poverty Reduction Centre, China, Dr. Peer is currently serving as the Group CEO of the GNK Group of Institutions, India.

Dr. Peer’s extensive career encompasses impactful roles, including serving as a Mission Director and CEO in the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, India. Notably, he founded J&K’s first policy think tank, the Center for Research and Development Policy, and played a pivotal role in establishing the Borderless World Foundation and regional offices for esteemed organizations like Mercy Corps and Indo Global Social Service Society.

His tenure as a senior government official was marked by visionary initiatives, including the establishment of the J&K Skill Development Mission and 22 district nodal skill centres. Under his leadership, significant skill and entrepreneurship development schemes, such as PMKVY, Udaan, SANKALP, NAPS, India Skills and the 1000-Leader Program were launched and successfully implemented, impacting the lives of over 3 lakh trained youth, with over 64 thousand provided placements.

Dr. Peer’s academic pursuits reflect his commitment to knowledge dissemination. He has taught at various academic institutions in India and China, authored three impactful books, numerous academic papers, and reports, and organized over a hundred conferences and workshops on diverse socio-economic and geopolitical issues. His latest book, delving into the complexities of land and water politics, was published by Oxford University Press.

In the realm of corporate advising, Peer has played a pivotal role in establishing new businesses, forging partnerships and mentoring young entrepreneurs. His impact as a development practitioner is evident
through the conceptualization and implementation of diverse projects in youth development, innovation, entrepreneurship, EdTech, negotiation and conflict resolution, mental health, women’s

empowerment, civil society development, health and disaster management.

Peer has an illustrious academic background with a PhD in Management Science, a MPP in International Development, a MA in History, and a Diploma in Negotiation and Conflict Management. With experience in establishing and leading both government and non-governmental organizations, as well as teaching, research and corporate sector experience, he represents the rare embodiment of interfacing academics
and development practice with policy planning and program execution.

Widely recognized for his expertise, Dr. Peer has been featured in various news channels and radio programs, and his insights have been cited and quoted by prestigious news outlets such as The Guardian, BBC, Al Jazeera, The Indian Express, Hindustan Times and many more.

 

Dr. Peer GN Suhail
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NiCK ROBBINS

is the Professor in Practice for Sustainable Finance at Grantham Research Institute. He leads the finance platform for the Place -Based Climate Action Network and is the co-chair of the International Network for Sustainable Finance Policy Insights, Research and Exchange (INSPIRE). He is also the co-founder of Financing the Just Transition Alliance. Prior to joining Grantham University, he was the head of the Climate Change Centre of Excellence at HSBC in London. Nick has co-authored Road to Net Zero Finance for the UK’s Climate Change Committee (December 2020).

ATUL KAUSHIK

is a retired Additional Secretary, Government of India. He steers the Global Development Centre at the Research and Information System for Developing countries (RIS) and is the Vice- President of the Committee for Advanced Trade Research (CATR) of the Trade Promotion Council of India (TPCI). He was India’s negotiator for international trade and climate change, and India’s lawyer to the World Trade Organisation in the Permanent Mission of India in Geneva.

Atul has delivered trade capacity building projects in Africa and an Indo-U.S. Triangular Development Partnership program in New Delhi. His co-edited books include “Reflections from the Frontline: Developing Country Negotiators in the WTO” published by the Academic Foundation, and “Transforming India – Governance for Aatmanirbhar Bharat” by the Government of India, and has contributed chapters in several books and articles in various journals on trade, environment, IPRs, development cooperation and e-governance.

Atul advises BRIEF on international trade and climate change.

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Dennis Pamlin

is an entrepreneur and founder of 21st Century Frontiers. He works with companies, governments and NGOs as a strategic economic, technology and innovation advisor. His background is in engineering, industrial economy and marketing. Pamlin worked as Global Policy Advisor for WWF from 1999 to 2009. During his tenure, Pamlin initiated WWFs Trade and Investment Programme work in the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) and the link to key emerging regions such as the GCC. He also led the work with ICT companies as solution providers. Pamlin is currently an independent consultant as well as Director for the Low Carbon Leaders Project under the UN Global Compact, is a Senior Associate at Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and a visiting research fellow at the Research Center of Journalism and Social Development at Renmin University.

Dr. P D Kaushik

has wide experience of working in the Indian public and private sector, and also exposed to working in multicultural working environment in Europe, South Asia and South East Asia. Dr. Kaushik has a decent record of publications in international and national journals. Additionally, he has been a prolific commentator and writer on variety of contemporary issues. Some of the major research projects independently handled in the past includes- Research project on “Bankruptcy: Laws and Status of SMEs”, for the Federation of Indian Small and Micro-Enterprises. This was part of the larger project on fair competition and competitiveness of SMEs funded by the SIDBI to FISME.

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SHAWAHIQ SIDDIQUI​

works on policy and regulatory issues on environment, energy and climate change. He worked as a principle researcher for drafting the Renewable Energy Law for the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India and is widely quoted in national and international literature for his critical appraisal of the National Solar Mission.

He is currently engaged in developing a model national institutional framework for setting up a National Bureau of Water Use Efficiency in the Ministry of Water Resources.

Shawahiq is an advisor and consultant with BRIEF India Pvt. Limited.

TRIDIVESH SINGH MAINI​

is a New Delhi based Policy Analyst. He is an Assistant Professor with The Jindal School of International Affairs, OP Jindal Global University, Sonepat, Haryana. He is a former SAV Visiting Fellow (Winter 2016) with the Stimson Center, Washington DC. Maini was also an Asia Society India-Pakistan Regional Young Leaders Initiative (IPRYLI) Fellow (2013-2014), and a Public Policy Scholar with The Hindu Centre for Politics and Public Policy, Chennai (November 2013-March 2014). His research interests include; The role of state governments in Indian Foreign Policy, The India-Pakistan-China triangle (specifically in the context of CPEC), India’s Act East Policy and Changing nature of Indian Federalism. Maini is a regular contributor for a number of publications including The Diplomat, South Asia Monitor, IPP Review and Global Times.

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Arun Goyal

is the Director of Academy of Business Studies, a think tank on trade and investment based in New Delhi. With BA (Hons) in Economics, he did his MBA from IIM- Ahmedabad. Some of his key achievements include: