Jestin Pauls is the CEO of Aadhimalai Pazhangudiyinar Producer Company Ltd, an enterprise owned by indigenous farmers and forest-based producers in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. He has deep experience building community-owned businesses with indigenous producers, working across honey and forest-produce value chains including procurement, processing, quality control, and product development. His work focuses on connecting producers to better markets while keeping profits within the community, supporting women-led enterprises and grassroots producer groups, and turning traditional knowledge into practical business models.

He also has experience using appropriate, renewable-energy-based, and climate-friendly production methods, and has been closely involved in mentoring producer groups, writing project proposals, and coordinating with government bodies. His approach is hands-on and field-based, focused on simple, affordable, locally-fit solutions that communities can replicate themselves. Through this work, Jestin brings real-world experience in indigenous honey and livelihood systems, and will support honey practitioners and producer groups in building climate-resilient, value-added, and market-ready honey businesses.