The All India Distillers’ Association (AIDA) has appointed Bharati Balaji as its Deputy Director General, bringing on board a highly experienced professional with over 25 years of expertise in legal practice, corporate affairs, and policy advocacy.
Balaji began her career as a legal practitioner at the Supreme Court of India, where she worked for nearly five years before transitioning into corporate roles. Over the years, she has developed strong capabilities in handling complex legal, regulatory, and strategic matters.
Before joining AIDA, she was associated with the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA), where she joined in 2012 as Deputy Head. During her tenure, she played a crucial role in establishing and operationalising ISMA’s bio-energy arm, the Indian Sugar & Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association. She later rose to the position of Director and also served as acting head of ISMA for three months during a leadership transition.
In her leadership role at ISMA, Balaji was responsible for policy formulation, strategic initiatives, and overseeing legal and compliance functions, significantly contributing to the organisation’s policy framework and industry engagement.
Earlier in her career, she worked with The Times of India Group as Manager–Legal, managing a wide range of legal and contractual matters. She later joined Microsoft, where she led the Contract Sourcing and Negotiation team, gaining valuable international exposure in corporate governance and team leadership.
In her new role at AIDA, Balaji is expected to play a key role in strengthening policy advocacy and industry coordination, especially as the distillery sector continues to gain importance in India’s expanding biofuel ecosystem.
