Dr. Abid Hussain is an Independent Director on the GVKPIL Board. He is a retired IAS officer and also a former Ambassador of India to the USA. He has been associated with the GVK Group since its inception. He is a member of several prestigious organizations, including the Nehru Memorial Fund; the Population Foundation of India: Foundation for Academic Excellence & Access; Administrative Staff College, Hyderabad; and the Governing Council of Ranbaxy Science Foundation. He has been a member of the Indian Administrative Service and served in various capacities at the Centre. He was Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries, Commerce Secretary, Government of India and Chairman, IIFT. He became Member, Planning Commission in 1985. Later on, he became India's Ambassador to the United States of America. In the year 1988, he was honoured with Padma Bhushan award for meritorious services. Thereafter, he became Vice Chairman, Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, New Delhi, and was also the Chancellor of Central University, Hyderabad. He is at present the Chancellor of the Rai University at Raipur Chhattisgarh. Dr. Hussain was a Special Rapporteur to the UN on Freedom of Opinion and Expression and a member of the Constitution Review Commission set up by Government of India. He is now the member of Asia Society, New York.