Bhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar Chapter of the Eastern India Regional Council (ERIC) of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) has achieved a milestone by electing CS Sasmita Agarwalla Panda as its first woman chairperson for the year 2025. This marks a significant moment as the chapter, since its inception the ICSI had never been led by a woman. Her chairpersonship symbolises progress and sets an inspiring precedent for women in the company secretary profession in Odisha.
Sasmita’s team includes Srimanta Baboo as Vice Chairman, Nilakantha Samal as Secretary, Jyotirmaya Panigrahi as Treasurer, Soumya Sujit Mishra as ex-Officio member (also past cairman of EIRC & of Bhubaneswar Chapter), and Rudra Madhab Sahoo, Bimal Prasad Pattnaik, and Jitendriya Mohanty as other management committee members. Together, they aim to build on the legacy of their predecessors, with a focus on holistic development of the chapter. Her vision emphasises student-centric initiatives, promoting awareness about the company secretary profession, and fostering greater engagement of learned members in fulfilling the professional body’s mission.
Expressing her gratitude, Sasmita thanked Rudramadhab Sahoo, Immediate past chairman of the chapter for his exemplary and humble leadership throughout the previous year, the senior members Priyadarshi Nayak (past chairman EIRC & Bhubaneswar Chapter) and Jyotirmoy Mishra (past chairman Bhubaneswar Chapter) for always being there for guidance and support, the office bearers’ team of Bhubaneswar Chapter, for the camaraderie in the working environment, and her colleagues and fraternity members and students for their trust and faith in her leadership.
With Sasmita’s roots in a small town of Odisha, she has become an inspiration, demonstrating that big dreams can indeed be achieved.
The Bhubaneswar Chapter continues its commitment to organizing academic and professional development programmes for members and students. It also conducts awareness campaigns to promote the company secretary profession among aspiring students. Currently, the chapter serves large number of professional Company secretaries in practice and in employment and large number of spread throughout Odisha, reinforcing its role as a pillar of growth and learning in the region.
