Ms Aparna Dutt Sharma is the Secretary General of the Cement Manufacturers Association (CMA), the apex body representing India’s large cement industry. She is the first woman Secretary General of CMA in its almost 63 years history in India.

Ms Sharma has almost 35 years of rich experience in leadership roles in dynamic environments across national, international and corporate institutions of repute. She is Observer Asia for the premier brand journal, The Place Brand Observer.

In her present role, Ms Sharma is engaged in representing policy concerns and interests of the Indian Cement Industry to the Government of India. She has been leading CMA in substantive engagements with various Ministries and stakeholders also on various policy matters.

Formerly, she was the CEO of India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF) a US$ 40 million Trust of the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. She has been a spokesperson for major nation and sectoral campaigns of the Department of Commerce, Government of India. Ms Sharma has led successful nation and sector brand initiatives in over 25 countries globally for the Government of India.

Ms Sharma has been Vice President of World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA comprising investment promotion agencies from more than 150 countries in the world).

Ms Sharma has led branding and investment promotion workshops for UNCTAD. She has also been consulted by Ernst & Young LLP, India, where she supported several state governments in articulating brand positioning strategies and investment promotion campaigns.

Ms Sharma holds a Master’s degree in Political Science from Lady Shri Ram College, University of Delhi. Fluent in Italian, studied Spanish, Ms has been a member of the Swiss Women’s Brain Project. She is passionate about policy advocacy and nation/state/sector branding with a strong interest in mental health and well being.