Cochin Shipyard independent director Dr Vani Ahluwalia has been appointed to the company’s board for a three-year term from August 17, 2026, or until further orders, whichever is earlier, the public sector shipbuilder said in a BSE filing on Monday.

The appointment was made by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways through a letter dated August 17. Cochin Shipyard disclosed the change in its directorate under Regulation 30 of the SEBI Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements Regulations, 2015.

Who is Dr Vani Ahluwalia?

Dr Vani Ahluwalia, 54, is a medical professional, public health administrator and social-sector leader based in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. She has more than 25 years of professional experience and currently serves as Senior Medical Officer at the ART Plus Centre, NSCB Medical College, Jabalpur, under the Madhya Pradesh State AIDS Society.

Her academic qualifications span medicine, public health, human rights and law. She holds an MBBS from Dr Panjabrao Alias Bhausaheb Deshmukh Memorial Medical College, Amravati; a postgraduate diploma in HIV and Family Education from IGNOU; a postgraduate diploma in International Human Rights from the University of Delhi; and an LLB from Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya, Jabalpur.

She has also enrolled in specialised University of Washington courses covering non-communicable diseases in global health and leadership and management in health in India. Her earlier professional assignments include roles at the Tropical Forest Research Institute and J.K. Hospital in Jabalpur. She also serves as managing partner of JK Celebration and Ahluwalia Hospitality LLP.

Governance and disclosure details

The filing lists her areas of experience as healthcare management, medical administration, public health programme delivery, legal and regulatory matters, organisational governance, strategic planning, stakeholder engagement and community development. It also notes her contributions to rural healthcare, telemedicine and COVID-19 response initiatives.

  • Her Director Identification Number is 11754971.
  • She is not related to any existing director of Cochin Shipyard.
  • She is not debarred from holding a directorship by SEBI or another authority.
  • She is not disqualified under Section 164 of the Companies Act, 2013.

The disclosure was submitted to both BSE and the National Stock Exchange, where the company trades under scrip code 540678 and symbol COCHINSHIP, respectively.

Source: BSE corporate announcement.