DR. JOHN PANACKEL

Dr. John Panackel is an outstanding Malayalee personality in the Middle East. His contributions in the professional and social fields are exemplary.Born on 26^th  August 1948 at Kudassanad, John is the only son of Saramma and Mathew George of Panackel. John’s Grandfather Shri Oommen Varghese was a religious elder loved and respected by the community; he was a calm and pious personality who led prayer groups and was in the forefront of the parish activities.

John showed extraordinary learning skills during his school days and passed the SSLC Exam, scoring 6^th rank in the State in 1964. He completed his pre-degree at Pandalam NSS College and joined the Catholicate College Pathanamthitta for B.Sc. (Chemistry). John developed his artistic and oratory talents there and became the Arts Secretary of the College.

He did his M.Sc. in organic chemistry in Kanpur University, passing in first class in 1972. Later, he took M.B.A from the East Texas University (1992) and subsequently obtained PhD from the same university.

He is married to Mary (Lalu) since 1978; they have two children: daughter Sharon and son Silas.

CAREER

• • John began his career as a teacher. Actually, he was teaching his juniors even when he was reading for B.Sc. After post-graduation, he was appointed as a Lecturer in Chemistry at Wilson College, Mumbai and worked there for two years.

  • He visited Qatar to attend an interview in a Petrochemical company in 1975, which ended up in his career with the General Sales Agent of the British Airways as Reservations Officer.

  • After serving them for about two years, he accepted an offer from the Gulf Air in the same capacity. Later he served Gulf Air for 20 years as Reservations & Ticketing Manager in Doha; subsequently as the Training Manager.

  • Currently John is serving as the Consultant of Travel Academy, Bahrain Training Institute at the Ministry of Labour in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

SKILLS

• • John is a recognized speaker; he was first given a stage at the age of 7. He is a good teacher, organizer, writer and social worker. He has written and published several books in English and in Malayalam.

  • He has conducted series of classes in personality and career development as well as on counselling in India and abroad; attended a number of international seminars and meetings.

  • He won the National Dhishana Award (Millennium) for 2000 instituted by the Community Leadership Award Foundation, a foundation of writers in Kerala. He had also won the Award of Prodigy of Travancore for 2001 instituted by The Travancore Association of Saudi Arabia.

ACTIVITIES

John has held a number of senior positions in various organizations such as YMCA, Toast Master’s Club, Holistic Foundation, Indian Cultural Centre Qatar, United Friends Qatar, Pathanamthitta Catholicate College Alumni Doha, Doha Chorus Qatar, and Indian Community Benevolent Fund Qatar.

He is the founder patron of KOSS Global, and currently officiates as its Chief Advisor. He has undertaken various social works, such as:

• • Organised 16 additional Gulf Air flights during Gulf war from Doha to Mumbai.
  • Steered a Charity Programme of Orthodox Community in 1979 to help 100 families in India.

  • Supervised the distribution of about one million rupees to various needy people in Kerala under the charity scheme of United Friends Qatar.

  • Organised eight cultural shows in Doha to promote Indo-Qatar Friendship.

  • Introduced several reformations in Indian Cultural Centre including the affiliation of organizations and membership to the public.