Dr. Deshmukh is Ph.D. in Water Science and Technology from Indian Agricultural Research Institute. He has worked with Jain Irrigations as Head, Institutional Sales, Chief Coordinator: Sustainability and CSR. Then as a DGM at Deepak Fertilisers And Petrochemicals Corp. Ltd. and also as Senior Counsellor at CII-ITC Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Development. He has been Member of Sustainability and CSR Committee, Bombay Chambers of Commerce and Industries, Mumbai, Member of Environment Committee, Confederation of Indian Industries, New Delhi, Member of Plan Implementation Committee, Industrial Water (Water Resources), Earlstwhile Planning Commission, Government of India. He has been Senior Research Fellow, CSIR. Also Achiever of Jawaharlal Nehru Award for Outstanding Ph.D. Thesis. ICAR, New Delhi. In his career of 16 years, the main focus was on rural development, sustainability, water, and agriculture.

Shri. Thackeray is Development Sector Professional working in the Philanthropy Sector for a long time. He has been honored by President's National Youth Award 2008-09, Government of India at the age of 18 for his work in the social sector. He is also been Indian Youth Ambassador to China- 2010 and recipient of Fellowship of His Holiness The Dalai Lama. He has authored 2 books on Youth Development. He has worked in Government of Maharashtra in various departments like Rural Development, Finance, and Planning, Home, Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development, and Fisheries. He holds expertise in Policy Framework and Action Plan, Effective Execution of Programs at grassroots, Creative Concept Design and Implementation and Administration. He has also worked with Tata Trusts as a Program Manager in Mumbai, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh and Naxalite area of Gadchiroli.