Advisory Council
Our Advisory Council embodies this spirit of collaboration and excellence. Composed of eminent thinkers, industry leaders, creative practitioners, and advocates for the arts, the Council provides strategic guidance, expert insight, and visionary leadership to help steer the Trust’s initiatives. By drawing on the collective experience of its members, the Advisory Council ensures that The Comic Book Trust Of India remains responsive to the evolving needs of the comic arts community and positioned to advance both artistic innovation and sustainable growth at a national scale.
Together, the Advisory Council champions the Trust’s mission to cultivate a thriving, professional, and inclusive comic culture in India — one that honours creative expression, expands creative opportunities, and enriches the cultural fabric of the nation.
Our Members
Ashish Kulkarni
Ashish Kulkarni is a pioneering force in India’s animation and VFX industry, serving as a Director at The Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT) and former Chairman of the AVGC-XR Forum at FICCI. Founder of Punnaryug Artvision Pvt Ltd and ScreenYug Creations, he facilitated transformative outsourcing partnerships with global giants Disney, Warner Bros., Sony, and DreamWorks, establishing India as a premier animation outsourcing destination.
His leadership as former CEO of Reliance Animation & Reliance AIMS resulted in iconic characters, including Little Krishna, Krishna Aur Kans, Big Bees, and Shaktimaan. His policy advocacy expertise enabled successful AVGC policy implementation across multiple states. He has designed AVGC curricula for over 17 universities, and is serving on the governing council of Media and Entertainment Skills Council. Recognized as “Creative Entrepreneur of the Year” by Entrepreneur Magazine, he is developing The Green Butterfly Art Village at Lonavala, creating an ecosystem for creative education and traditional Indian art form preservation.
Akshat Rathee
Akshat Rathee, a serial entrepreneur and ardent gamer, has transformed his lifelong passion into a pioneering venture in esports. As the Co-founder and Managing Director of NODWIN Gaming, Akshat has steered the company into a global leadership position since its inception in 2014, shaping it into one of the world’s leading youth entertainment and esports organizations. Under his leadership, NODWIN Gaming has become a key player in new-age youth entertainment, creating immersive and engaging experiences that resonate with younger audiences; including acquiring IP’s such as Comic Con India & NH7 Weekender.
With a vision to redefine the future of gaming and youth entertainment in India and beyond, Akshat has been instrumental in building NODWIN Gaming into a powerhouse in the global esports and entertainment landscape.
Manoj Satti
In his current role, Manoj Satti oversees the entire sales, product and marketing portfolio, including local and international markets. With over 19 years at Penguin, he brings a wealth of experience across product management, sales, and marketing. Previously, Manoj managed the business portfolio of PRH Group companies (PRHUK & PRHUS), and other International Publishers distributed by Penguin into Indian sub-continent markets. During the merger of Random House and Penguin in 2013, he played an important role in integrating both companies exhibiting leadership skills. Manoj believes one must dream big and work hard, to accomplish goals. His vision and growth strategies are data-driven and backed by research and insights.
Mayank Shekhar
Mayank Shekhar is a film critic, writer and the head of entertainment at Mid-Day. He’s the first film critic to win the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award. His last book, Name Place Animal Thing, was a critically-acclaimed Amazon top title. His ongoing podcast Sit With Hitlist has won multiple prizes. Mayank was part of the founding leadership team of Mumbai Mirror and was national culture editor of Hindustan Times.