Ms. Suchitra Ella is the Co-founder and Managing Director of Bharat Biotech International Limited, a company that has delivered over 5 billion vaccine doses to the poorest and most underserved populations in over 123 developing countries including through UNICEF and GAVI. Ms. Ella, acknowledged by Dr. Krishna Ella as the driving force behind the decision of returning to India in 1996 to start Bharat Biotech International Ltd, shared the vision of developing technologies to provide innovative and affordable solutions for neglected diseases in India and for developing world populations. With 433 patents filed and over 145 granted patents, including the world’s first global patents filed for Chikungunya and Zika Virus vaccines, Ms. Ella is instrumental in development of 17 vaccines used in India and around the world.

Ms. Ella provided strategic leadership in the successful development of COVAXIN®, India’s first indigenously developed vaccine against SARS-COV2, that not only saved countless lives but also demonstrated India’s indigenous vaccine development capabilities while catapulting India to a scientific super power in vaccine research and development.

Ms. Ella’s focus has been in building the company from the grassroot level with strong emphasis on, operational systems, processes, quality, HR, corporate governance and heads the Corporate Social Responsibility programme for the organisation.

Born on 15th July 1963, Ms. Ella received her Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Economics, Philosophy from Ethiraj College, Madras University. She also has a Post Graduate Diploma in Patent Law from NALSAR University, Hyderabad. She trained and specialised in marketing and financial services in the USA for over 10 years before returning to India.

Ms. Ella, as a first-generation entrepreneur with experience in customer operations, finance, marketing and business development, is an equal partner to Dr. Krishna Ella’s vision of developing innovation and indigenous vaccines in India. She has led multiple functions in growing the operations of the company during her entrepreneurial journey including those in Accounts & Finance, Business Development, Corporate affairs, Corporate Communications, Corporate Governance, Corporate Social Responsibility, HR & Administration, Legal, Marketing, and Procurement in her 25 years since co-founding Bharat Biotech.

Ms. Suchitra Ella and Dr. Krishna Ella have co-founded and nurtured more than 12 companies to indigenously develop & manufacture cost effective technology-based solutions, services & products in biotechnology, life sciences, biopharmaceuticals, food sciences, veterinary & human health through biotechnology & other cutting-edge technologies for the common man and developing world.

Ms. Ella has served and supported many causes while contributing to organisations in the areas of basic research, trade, society, culture, non-profits, health and CSR related activities.

Ms. Ella is the co-founder of all the group of organisations such as Ella Foundation, Biovet, RCC Labs, Ella Foods, Chiron Behring Vaccines, Innova Agri Park, Conress Labs, and Sapigen and also a director in many of these companies.

She has held various leadership position as Chairperson, Confederation of Indian Industry- Andhra Pradesh State, Founder Chairperson- Indian Women’s Network, Chairperson, CII- Southern Region, Indian School of Business Well Wishers Trust, Hyderabad, Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam, to name a few.

She is the recipient of numerous awards including SAARC Women Award, Colombo, Business Achievers Award – SIMA, Singapore; Best Employee Award UWCU – Madison; ZEE TV – Best Entrepreneur Award, Hyderabad; ALEAP – Best Women Entrepreneur Award, Hyderabad; South Indian Business Achievers Award; FICCI Ladies Organisation Award; GR 8 FLO Award.

For her incomparable contributions to the society and industry, the Republic of India in 2022 conferred her with the Padma Bhushan, the country’s third highest civilian award.