About

We’re Luma Institute

At Luma, we’re here to shake things up. Our mission is simple: make hospitality sustainable, exciting, and future-ready.

Why We Exist

The world is changing fast—and so is the way we eat, travel, and celebrate. We believe hospitality pros and students can lead the charge toward a greener planet. That’s why we created our 5-Day Sustainability in Hospitality Program: a high-energy crash course where learning meets action.

What We’re About

🌱 Hands-On Learning: Cook plant-based dishes with pro chefs, transform menus to slash carbon footprints, and join factory & animal-sanctuary field trips.

🚀 Career Power-Ups: Get insider access to internships, global job opportunities, and startup ideas in the booming plant-based scene.

🌍 Big-Picture Impact: Discover how food choices and hotel operations can actually fight climate change and hit the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Our Vibe

Think dynamic workshops, group projects that spark big ideas, and a network of like-minded changemakers who want to build a career with purpose.

Whether you’re a hotel-management student, a young chef, or just someone who loves good food and a cleaner planet, Luma is your launchpad to the sustainable side of hospitality.

People behind Luma

  • Rajeshwar Singh, Director

    Rajeshwar leads Luma Institute with a strong background in premium real estate and sustainable construction. He brings sharp expertise in green building, financial modeling, and large-scale project execution.

    As Non-Executive Director, Rajeshwar guides Luma’s strategy and operations, ensuring our Sustainability in Hospitality program reflects real-world practices in eco-friendly design and future-ready infrastructure.

  • Zac Lovas, Founding Member

    Also the co-founder of VegVoyages and the VegVoyages Foundation, Zac spends his time sharing his passion for animals, traveling, local vegan food and bringing people together by bridging cultural gaps throughout the 8 different countries Vegan Travel Asia by VegVoyages trips go to every year. Originally from America, in 1990 Zac came to work on a film in Asia where he has lived and worked ever since involved in film and media productions and distribution up until co-founding VegVoyages in 2004. Currently based out of Jakarta (Indonesia), Zac spends most of the year living out of his suitcase while coordinating Vegan Travel Asia by VegVoyages cultural exchange groups and promoting vegan activism and community-based programs in Asia, his home for the past 3 decades.

  • Aprajita Ashish, Board Member

    Aprajita Ashish serves as Director at World Vegan Vision and is the Founder & Director of the Animal Climate and Health Save Foundation. A prominent voice in the global vegan movement, she works at the crossroads of climate action, public health, and animal justice. Aprajita is instrumental in building grassroots networks across Asia, leading compassionate community initiatives, and gaining institutional support for plant-based transitions. Her passion for youth-led advocacy and policy change drives her mission to create a just, sustainable future through education and outreach.

  • Narhari Gupta, Program Director

    From cooking in Michelin-starred restaurants to studying sustainability in Copenhagen, Narhari Gupta brings a unique blend of culinary artistry and environmental insight. He has served as Innovation Specialist with the Plant Based Foods Industry Association and now leads the Plant-Based Culinary Transformation Program at the Animal Climate and Health Save Foundation. Narhari’s diverse background in food and sustainable practices makes him an inspiring guide for the next generation of hospitality changemakers.

  • Dr Chaitanya Hoskote, Board Member

    Dr. Chaithanya Hoskote is a celebrated food scientist, educator, and innovator with more than four decades of experience leading food and beverage enterprises. He currently serves as a Visiting Professor at D.Y. Patil College of Bioinformatics & Biotechnology in Navi Mumbai, where he shares his deep expertise with the next generation of food professionals.

    A skilled chocolatier to some of India’s most prominent families, Dr. Hoskote also invented a low-cost machine that produces perfectly crisp chips—showcasing his talent for practical, creative solutions. Widely recognized for his knowledge of food thermal processing and food ergonomics, he blends scientific precision with culinary artistry.

    Dr. Hoskote has also inspired audiences from the TEDx stage with his talk “Mind Over Matter,” exploring the power of innovation and the human mind.

  • Ajay Joe, Mentor

    Founder of Animal Identity Mission, Ajay Joe is a pioneer in new media and emerging technologies with over 30 years of experience.
    He single-handedly developed India’s first UGC award-winning new media graduation program at the Birla Institute of Technology (2004) and has trained thousands of professionals.
    Recognised for his insights in education, Ajay has been featured by Google and NDTV.