Samrat Chowdhery

Strategic Communications | Ex-Senior Editorial (TOI, HT) | Public Affairs & Advocacy

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

About

I'm a strategic communications consultant and writer with over 20 years of experience across journalism, corporate communications and advocacy. I help organisations build influence. And I do it by thinking like a journalist and executing like a strategist. I am consulting a top Indian law firm on building a novel practice. Before that, at a leading PR agency, I turned around relationships with major corporations and secured critical mandates. We relied on deep research, precise media mapping and direct C-suite advisory to manage reputations and position brands. I also bring leadership experience from the nonprofit sector. I founded Asia's oldest risk reduction nonprofit and a consultancy, and served as pro bono board president for a global charity comprising 40 national organisations. In these roles, I drove strategy, drafted policy and ran global campaigns that shaped dialogue with governments, research institutes and the WHO. My foundation is in hard news. I spent nearly two decades directing operations for India's leading dailies across city, national and international desks. That deep editorial rigor now fuels my consulting work. I believe effective and evidence-based communication is the strongest tool for driving informed decisions and shaping a better society. If you need clear, strategic direction for your organisation's narrative, let's talk. Contact: +91-9920076599

Experience

  • Communications Consultant at Trilegal
    2026 - Present · 7 mos

  • Senior Growth Strategist at Concept PR India Ltd
    Nov 2024 - Aug 2025 · 10 mos

    Drove agency growth by leading PR strategy and content, communications, new business development and ensuring quality execution for high-profile clients across sectors.

  • Director at Harm Reduction Policy & Research
    Apr 2020 - 2025 · 4 yrs 10 mos

    HRPR is a consultancy that brings clarity to harm reduction interventions by drafting policy frameworks, funding research and creating awareness opportunities. It builds resources for policymakers, medical professionals, legal personnel and the general public on the merits of harm reduction strategies and provides guidance on their implementation.

  • Director at Council for Harm Reduced Alternatives
    Aug 2016 - 2025 · 8 yrs 6 mos

    The nonprofit develops and implements effective strategies to address India's tobacco crisis, including conducting research, liaising with government, launching public-facing awareness campaigns, judicial outreach, writing white papers and developing policy proposals.

  • President of the Board at INNCO
    Jun 2019 - Jun 2021 · 2 yrs 1 mo

    The International Network of Nicotine Consumer Organisations is a global consumer advocacy nonprofit representing over 40 national groups across four continents that advocates for pragmatic and humane tobacco policies.