Hemant S. Sonawala

Mumbai, India

Professional Practice:
Mr. Sonawala, a leading Indian industrialist and entrepreneur, has been a leader in the introduction and development of high-technology products in India, in many fields including information technology, electronics, instrumentation, telecommunications components and sub-systems. In 1966, he founded the Hinditron Group of Companies (www.hinditron.com) , which is engaged in the manufacturing, design, development and engineering as well as marketing, sales and support of high performance computing equipment, computer products, tools and services, electronic instrumentation analytical equipment, telecommunication products including switching, transmission, broadband communication sub-systems and test equipment, fiber optics, test equipment, optical communication, data networks design, computer software for the Indian and international markets, information technology and medical electronics as well as information technology services.

Under Mr. Sonawala's leadership, Hinditron Group has developed an exceptional range of joint ventures, strategic business alliances, and technical collaborations with U.S. and European companies including but not limited to Digital Equipment Corporation, Tektronix, Inc., Cray Inc., Varian Associates, Applied Dynamics Inc., SeaChange International, Physio-Control Corporation, Schiller AG of Switzerland Technical collaboration with John Fluke Manufacturing Co., and M/s. Fotec, Inc.

Mr. Sonawala regularly lectures in the fields of electronics, telecommunication and information technology, travels frequently to the United States and Europe, is a regular invitee to the Indo-U.S. Joint Business Council, and on many occasions has represented Indian industry as leader and member of business delegations.

Professional and Civic Activities:
Mr. Sonawala is a founder, Patron Member, Past President, and currently member of the Corporate Board of Advisors of the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (IACC) as well as other civic and business organizations. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunications Engineers, the Institution of Engineers, and of the Computer Society of India. He is a Lifetime Senior Member of IEEE-USA and a Life Member of Indian Science Congress Association.

Honors:
Mr. Sonawala is the recipient of numerous awards including:

• Presidential Award conferred by Wisitex Foundation, 1990.
• Permanent Invitee, Asian ICT Confederation (AIC) Governing Council.
• The Udyog Rattan Award, Institute of Economic Studies.
• IEEE Millennium Medal. Honorary Citizen of the State of Washington conferred by Secretary of State Sam Reed.
• 2005 Life Time Achievement Award for IT awarded by Dataquest /Cybermedia.
• Distinguished Alumnus conferred on March 31, 2007 by the University of Washington.

Education:
M.S.E.E. from University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.