Neelam Chhiber

Neelam Chhiber is an Indian social entrepreneur and industrial designer. She co-founded the Industree Foundation and Industree Crafts Pvt. Ltd., which later became Mother Earth.

Neelam Chhiber
Education	National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad
Alma mater	National Institute of Design
Occupations	Social entrepreneur, industrial designer
Years active	1994–present
Known for	Co-founding Industree Foundation and Mother Earth
Board member of	Catalyst 2030; Creative Million; Prestige Group
Awards	Schwab Social Entrepreneur of the Year for India (2011); L'Oréal Paris Femina Women Award (2012); WomenChangeMakers Fellow (2013); FKCCI Outstanding Women Entrepreneur (2015); Entrepreneur of the Year, The Economic Times (2020)

Early life and education

Chhiber studied industrial design at the National Institute of Design (NID) in Ahmedabad, where she completed a professional education programme between 1979 and 1985. Her early work included research into traditional craft practices in Bastar district. She later pursued further executive and educational programmes, including the Global Social Benefit Incubator at Santa Clara University, the Harvard Executive Programme, and the Art and Science of Systems Change programme at the Harvard Kennedy School.

Career

Industree Crafts and Mother Earth

In 1994, Chhiber co-founded Industree Crafts Pvt. Ltd. The organisation worked with artisans and producer communities in India, producing products based on traditional craft and natural materials. It later became Mother Earth, which produced and marketed products made by artisan and producer communities.

Industree Foundation

In 2000, Chhiber co-founded the Industree Foundation, a non-profit organisation working with rural producer communities. She serves as co-founder and managing trustee. The foundation's work has included enterprise development, skills development and market access for producer communities. It has also worked with communities producing goods from materials such as bamboo, banana fibre and other natural and agricultural resources.

Board and advisory roles

Chhiber has held board and governance positions at several organisations. She has served as a board member of Catalyst 2030 and Creative Million, and as an independent director of Prestige Group and CaratLane Trading Pvt. Ltd. She has also participated in initiatives associated with the World Economic Forum and organisations working in social entrepreneurship, economic development and skills development.

Recognition

Chhiber has received several awards and fellowships. In 2011, she was named the Schwab Social Entrepreneur of the Year for India by the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship. She received the L'Oréal Paris Femina Women Award in the Social Impact category in 2012 and was named a WomenChangeMakers Fellow by the Womanity Foundation in 2013. In 2015, she received the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry Outstanding Women Entrepreneur award. In 2020, she was named Entrepreneur of the Year by The Economic Times.

Professional affiliations

Chhiber has been associated with organisations and programmes related to social entrepreneurship, industrial design, rural development and women's economic participation. She has also been an alumna of Social Impact International, the Global Social Benefit Incubator and executive education programmes associated with Harvard University.