The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has conferred the CA Women Lifetime Achievement Award 2025 upon CA Neeraj Ghei at the World Forum of Accountants 2026 held at Greater Noida, on February 1, 2026. This prestigious accolade recognizes her extraordinary contributions over a 40-year career as a business leader, industry pioneer, and dedicated philanthropist.
The CA Women Excellence Awards were instituted in 2023 to applaud women leaders who have created a lasting impact within their organizations, the accounting profession, and society at large.
Upon receiving the award, Neeraj Ghei remarked: “I receive this recognition with humility and gratitude. Being a CA has been more than a profession to me—it has been a lifelong journey of learning, responsibility, discipline, attention to detail, and purpose. To be acknowledged by my peers and the profession I hold in the highest regard is truly meaningful. Over the years, the profession has evolved dramatically—laws keep changing, technology is transforming our work, and expectations have grown. Yet the core values of our profession remain constant: integrity, independence, and service to society. To the younger members of our profession, I would say: Skills can be acquired, knowledge can be updated, but integrity, if compromised, is difficult to reclaim. Our profession commands respect because society trusts us; please guard that trust fiercely.”
A Trailblazing Career of Firsts
Neeraj Ghei’s professional journey began at Mohinder Puri & Co. after qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 1985. Her career is defined by a series of landmark achievements across multiple industries:
• Travel & Tourism: During her tenure at SITA World Travel, Neeraj oversaw a period of massive operational expansion, significantly increasing the company’s branch network and market footprint. She continues to be a Director at TRAC Representations (India) Private Limited, a pioneer in National Tourism Organisation representations in India.
• Industry Leadership: In 1997, she became the first female and youngest-ever President of the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI). She was also invited to serve as a member on the Board of Trade constituted by the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India, and was instrumental in securing Export Industry status and recognition by the Government.
• Retail Revolution: She played a pivotal role as a Promoter Director in conceptualizing and launching Select CITYWALK, a revolutionary premier shopping and leisure destination in Delhi.
• Strategic Consolidation: In 2023, she was instrumental in steering the merger of Select CITYWALK with the Blackstone-sponsored Nexus Select Trust REIT, creating India’s first publicly listed Retail Real Estate platform.
• Recognitions: Among others, she has been the recipient of the Outstanding Businesswoman Award from the PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the Indira Gandhi Priyadarshini Award, the IMM Women Entrepreneur Award, and the SRCC Alumni Award for Excellence.
Commitment to Social Impact
Beyond her corporate success, Neeraj has dedicated decades to social causes. She serves as a Trustee for several organizations, including the Ghei Foundation, Florimond Volckaert Benevolent Fund, and the Rotarian Naqshband Institute for Physically Challenged.
Her initiatives range from providing state-of-the-art medical equipment to hospitals to sponsoring education and the Golfing Girl Child Programme, which empowers underprivileged young women through sports, skill development, education, and environmental sustainability.
