Swati Piramal

About

Swati A. Piramal, vice chairperson of the Piramal Group, is one of India’s leading drug research scientists. Piramal, who holds a master’s degree in public health from the Harvard Business School, in addition to a medical degree (M.B.B.S.) from the University of Mumbai, took up drug research as her passion, and spearheaded research and development at the Piramal Group’s pharma businesses for decades. She authored several books on public health and policy papers on topics such as patent protection, intellectual property, and data protection and was a key contributor to shaping India’s healthcare policy and pharmaceuticals industry, besides championing the cause of women’s leadership. She also served as the first woman president of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham). Under her leadership, the Piramal Foundation became one of the largest non-governmental organisations in India, working for the sustainable development of people in backward districts, rural and tribal health and education, and partnering with the central and state governments, as well as institutions such as the NITI Aayog, The Rockefeller Foundation and Gates Foundation. In 2012, Piramal was awarded the Padma Shri, one of the highest civilian honours of India.