Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Sep 5: Rachana, the organization of Catholic businessmen, agriculturists, and professionals, announced the names of the Rachana Award winners for 2025 at a press meet held on Friday, September 5.

The awards will be presented at a ceremony on Sunday, October 5, at 6 pm at Milagres Auditorium, Mangaluru. The event will be presided over by Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, bishop of Mangalore. K J George, minister for energy, Government of Karnataka, will be the chief guest.

The awardees are:

• Entrepreneur: Austin Roach, Bengaluru

• Professional: John Richard Lobo KAS, Mangaluru

• Agriculturist: Dr Godwin Rodrigues PhD, Belvai, Mangaluru

• NRI Entrepreneur: Pratap Mendonca, Dubai

• Outstanding Woman: Shobha Mendonca, Dubai

The guests of honour for the event include Ivan D'Souza, MLC, Government of Karnataka; John Sunil, group chief executive officer, Burjeel Holdings UAE; and Dr Cynthia Menezes, dean and director, former acting vice chancellor, Bangalore University.

The press meet was attended by Rachana president John B Monteiro, secretary Vijay V Lobo, treasurer Nelson Monteiro, vice-president Naveen Lobo, and awards coordinator Eulalia D'Souza.

About the awardees

Rachana Entrepreneur Award 2023-2025

Austin Roach, Bengaluru

Austin Roach is a distinguished Bengaluru-based entrepreneur, real estate developer, and hospitality leader with over three decades of industry experience. He is the founder of Roach Lifescapes (formerly RBD Shelters) and a founding member of prominent ventures like United Builders, Ferns Builders & Developers and St Antony's Estate. His influence extends to the hospitality sector, where he serves as Managing Director of Charishma Hotels and owns the Radisson Blu hotel on Bengaluru’s Outer Ring Road. His commitment to sustainable development is reflected in initiatives such as Clover Greens Golfscapes and his advocacy for greener practices in the hotel industry.

Beyond business, Roach is an active angel investor with a focus on innovative startups in sectors like food and agriculture tech and consumer. His notable investments include companies such as FreshWorld and Geist, demonstrating his support for emerging technologies and sustainable ventures. His strategic investments align with his broader vision of fostering growth and innovation within the Indian entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Roach has also played a significant role in industry and community leadership. He served as president of CREDAI Karnataka and was instrumental in unifying Christian associations under the Federation of Christian Associations of Karnataka. His longstanding involvement with the Catholic Club Bengaluru, including terms as vice president and president, highlights his dedication to community service. Additionally, he is a founding member and former chairman of the Federation of Konkani Catholic Associations in Bengaluru.

His contributions have been widely recognized through numerous awards, including the Entrepreneur of the Year 2015 from the Federation of Konkani Catholic Associations, multiple lifetime achievement awards in hospitality, and accolades for leadership in real estate and golf. A passionate golfer, Roach is a member of several prestigious clubs and has won various golf tournaments. His philanthropic efforts include major donations to charitable trusts and community initiatives, underscoring his commitment to social responsibility.

Rachana Professional Award 2023-2025

John Richard Lobo KAS, Mangaluru

Born to teachers Albert and Cecilia, J R Lobo’s academic journey took him from a local church school to a Bachelor of Science from St Philomena College, Puttur. After completing his B.Ed, he secured a top rank in the Karnataka Administrative Service (KAS) in 1977, launching a distinguished career in public service that later included a term as MLA from Mangaluru South.

During his 36-year career in the KAS, Lobo held significant posts including tahsildar in multiple taluks, deputy director of food & civil supplies, and additional district magistrate. A notable achievement was his tenure as commissioner of the Mangaluru City Corporation (1999-2003), where he introduced pioneering concrete roads. He was twice honoured with the President of India Medal for his exemplary service as a National Census Officer.

As project director for an ADB urban initiative, he oversaw major civic upgrades. His defining legacy, however, is creating the 350-acre Pilikula Nisarga Dhama, an integrated science and eco-tourism park, for which he received the Rajyotsava and Karnataka Environmental Awards. Under his visionary leadership, it became a premier centre for conservation, education, and sustainable tourism.

After taking voluntary retirement in 2011, he transitioned to politics and was elected MLA for Mangaluru South in 2013. In the legislature, he held pivotal roles as chairman of the House Committee for Backward Classes & Minorities and vice-chairman of the Christian Development Council. His profound community involvement includes founding organizations like Rachana and the "Plastic Hekkiko" movement.

A successful entrepreneur, he founded leading advertising firm CILA and co-founded banking security firm Albertsons International. His current agro-ventures include Cocoa Rich Agri LLP, a top cocoa exporter, and Whitegrove Agri LLP for vertical mushroom farming. He remains active on government development committees and with the Congress party.

Rachana Agriculturist Award 2023-2025

Dr Godwin Rodrigues PhD, Belvai, Mangaluru

Dr Godwin Rodrigues, based in Murkothpalke, Mangaluru, is a psychologist, educator, and innovative agropreneur. Transitioning from a successful psychology practice to full-time farming, he has revolutionized his approach by integrating scientific research with agricultural practices. His core philosophy is to identify and mend systemic loopholes in traditional farming, creating sustainable and profitable models that empower the farming community.

Dr Rodrigues pioneered a high-density dragon fruit cultivation system with over 17,000 plants, designed to yield harvest within 14 months and provide income during the traditional off-season (March to November). His model exemplifies integrated farming, combining dragon fruit with seasonal vegetables, pepper, areca nut, mangosteen, and nutmeg. He has established a closed-loop ecosystem that includes paddy cultivation, animal husbandry (goats, cows), and freshwater aquaculture (Katla, Murrells, Pangasius, etc.), where waste is recycled as organic manure.

A true researcher, Dr Rodrigues actively collaborates with government agricultural scientists on experiments concerning pest control, soil health, and manuring techniques. His work extends beyond farming; he is a community leader who generates skilled employment and dedicates himself to social welfare. He teaches daily at two government primary schools, supporting the education of 49 underprivileged children and proactively seeking sponsors for their development.

Continuously evolving, Dr Rodrigues is venturing into new sustainable projects like beekeeping, drumstick cultivation, and Black Soldier Fly (BSF) farming. His journey from psychologist to agropreneur embodies a unique blend of analytical thinking, pedagogical dedication, and a deep commitment to sustainable community development through agriculture.

Rachana NRI Entrepreneur Award 2023-2025

Pratap Mendonca, Dubai

Pratap Mendonca is a distinguished entrepreneur and visionary leader, best known as the co-founder and managing partner of Design Infinity, a premier interior design and fit-out company in the UAE. Under his strategic leadership since its inception in 2012, the firm has grown exponentially into a powerhouse of over 1,200 professionals, delivering a remarkable portfolio of more than 1,000 projects across the Emirates.

His entrepreneurial acumen extends beyond a single venture. As the co-founder and managing partner of Creative Infinity, Grand Infinity Medical Centre Group, and Vibrant Star Building Construction, Mendonca has demonstrated exceptional versatility and a consistent commitment to excellence across the design, healthcare, and construction sectors.

An architect by profession, having earned his degree from Karnataka University, India, Mendonca built a strong foundation through prior roles at renowned organizations like Teknion Furniture Systems, The Total Office, and Dubai Properties Group. His expertise and impact have been formally recognized through accolades such as being named among the Top 10 Successful Entrepreneurs of 2022.

He continues to inspire the industry with his strategic vision, deep passion for design, and an unwavering dedication to operational excellence and quality in every undertaking, solidifying his status as a pivotal figure in the region's business landscape.

Rachana Outstanding Woman Award 2023-2025

Shobha Mendonca, Dubai

Shobha Mendonca hails from Bendore, Mangaluru, and is a graduate in Commerce from St Agnes College. She is the daughter of Celine and the late Gilbert Nazareth.

A formidable business leader, Shobha Mendonca is the founder and managing director of Middle East Factory LLC (est. 1997). She also leads Reliable Fabricators LLC (est. 1988) and its affiliated companies, steering a skilled workforce of nearly 600 professionals in the steel fabrication and engineering sector. Her strategic vision extends to real estate development as a director of Mangalore Internet City Pvt Ltd, a major 75-acre project aimed at boosting Mangaluru's economy.

Deeply committed to community welfare, Mendonca served as president of the Kanara Entrepreneurs – Dubai Chapter and, with her family, established the Mendonca Education Fund to support underprivileged students for 15 years. She has made significant philanthropic contributions towards the construction and renovation of churches, schools, and community halls, and has provided extensive support in education, medical aid, and housing for the needy. She is also a renowned patron of cultural heritage, sponsoring numerous Konkani, Tulu, and Kannada events globally.

Mendonca is an accomplished sportswoman and a pride of the Mangalurean community. She was the undisputed Ladies Table Tennis Champion of the UAE for 15 consecutive years (1983-1998). A multi-sport talent, she has represented Mysore University and Karnataka State at national levels in table tennis. Recently, in 2022, she proudly represented India and led her team to victory in the prestigious Nations Cup in Dubai.

In recognition of her exceptional contributions to business and community development, she was honoured with the "Women Business Achiever Award" in 2014 by the Christian Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Mumbai. Beyond her professional and athletic prowess, she is also trained in Bharatanatyam, piano, and is an accomplished singer, reflecting a well-rounded and inspirational personality dedicated to excellence in all her endeavours.

About Rachana:

It was in the year 1998 that Catholic businessmen, agriculturists and professionals formed Rachana, with an objective of encouraging youth to take up entrepreneurship, for training them in investment and for supporting them with technical backup. In the last 25 years Rachana has worked to achieve its goals and has trained youth through Rachana Entrepreneur Development Cell. Rachana has recognized the successful entrepreneurs, professionals, agriculturists, NRI entrepreneurs and women who have achieved in their distinctive field and brought them into limelight, more so that their example may be emulated by the young and the upcoming.