Lakshmi Kaul has been appointed as the the new Head and Representative of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII-UK) based in London. A service professional with over 15 years of work experience in the non-profit sector; her experience ranges from relationship building, communications, public relations, research, strategy and policy work to creating community networks and building focussed campaigns promoting the interest of India in the UK. She has taken over the role from Shuchita Sonalika, who has moved to the US, to head the CII office there.
Lakshmi’s work in entrepreneurship, adult education and school improvement was recognised by key mentors at European Commission and she was invited to work on a multi-partner and multi-location school improvement programme of Aga Khan Foundation.
Lakshmi has worked across the spectrum of United Nations, Non Profit sector in India and UK, policy and government affairs in the India-UK corridor as well as managed a historic heritage project documenting India’s contribution during the World War 1 as part of the centenary commemoration of The Great War. In her role as the political aide to a UK Member of Parliament, she has been instrumental in establishing a mechanism of focussed briefing for UK parliamentarians from the Indian government as well as launched various platforms for community to engage with their local MPs in addition to supporting the various All Party Parliamentary Groups including the Indian Traditional Sciences, British Hindus, India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
She has mentored a number of women trying to get back to work or wanting to set up entrepreneurial ventures. In 2015 she organised a start ups and small business summit in London for over 300 Indian start up entrepreneurs providing them guidance and information on setting up a business in the UK.
Lakshmi considers her current appointment as a great opportunity to highlight the priorities of the Indian business community. She hopes to bring to the role the insights she has gained from her experience of working the UK Parliament and wishes to leverage existing platforms for Indian companies in the UK as well as UK companies interested in India.
