Core Team

Dr. Pushkar
Director

Pushkar is Director, International Centre Goa (ICG), since December 2016. He has lived for long periods in Bhagalpur (where he grew up), New Delhi, Montréal and Goa. A PhD in political science (McGill University), he studied history at St Stephen’s College, Delhi; and politics and international relations at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). His PhD dissertation was on Chilean Christian Democracy and health sector reforms. Pushkar has taught at universities in India and Canada, including BITS Pilani-Goa (2013-2016); McGill University (2006-2011); Concordia University (2003-2006); and Goa University (1992-1996). He is currently a guest faculty at the Vedica Scholars Programme for Women, New Delhi. Pushkar has published journal articles and book chapters on Chilean politics and health sector reforms and on democracy, public goods provision and health in India. He is the co-author (with Madhvi Gupta) of Democracy, Civil Society, and Health in India (Palgrave Macmillan, 2015). Since 2012, he has written more than 100 op-eds and essays on India’s higher education for Asian Scientist, braingainmag.com, Hindustan Times, Indian Express, Rajasthan Patrika (Hindi), Times Higher Education, The Wire and others. His writings and views on India’s higher education have been cited in several newspapers, magazines and journals, including Science and Nature Index. In January 2015, an article in Forbes India listed him as one of India’s 24 thinkers “who best explain a rapidly-changing India to the world (and the world to India)” for his writings on higher education.

Vivek Pathiyan
General Manager – Operations

Vivek Pathiyan took charge as General Manager-Operations in June 2019. A veteran in the hospitality industry, he has more than 30 years of experience in India and abroad in various capacities. He started his career in the mid-1970s in the front desk and as a receptionist with Oberoi Sheraton, Mumbai. He subsequently worked his way up with the Marriott group in Saudi Arabia, Leela Kempinski and the Ramada Group, before taking charge of The Orchid Hotel (Mumbai) as Vice-President and General Manager in the late 1990. Since then, he has worked with the Pride Hotel, Hotel Fidalgo and the Fortune group of hotels. Before joining The International Centre Goa, he was with Chances Resorts and Casino. Over the years, Vivek has been involved in strategy planning, hotel operations, training and development, budgeting, marketing and guest relationship.
He brings to The International Centre Goa great value and promises to make a change with his vast experience in the industry.

Pramod Naik
Assistant General Manager (Accounts)

Mr Naik is a graduate in Commerce from Goa University and a Master’s in Advanced Accountancy and Advanced Secretarial Practice. He has also obtained a Diploma in Financial Management and is currently pursuing a MBA in Finance. He pursued a CA Articleship with a chartered accountant and then joined M/s V.M. Salgaocar & Bros Ltd in 1992 as Accounts Officer. He later worked with M/s Alcon Group of Companies as Accounts Manager and Automobile Corporation of Goa Limited (ACGL) as Dy. Manager-Accounts. He joined ICG as Accounts Manager in October 2007.