panel of speakers

Arif Mohammed Khan

Governor of Kerala

Arif Mohammad Khan, an Indian politician and former cabinet minister, currently serves as the Governor of Kerala. Born in 1951 in Bulandshahr, Khan began his political journey as a student leader, later becoming the President of Aligarh Muslim University students’ union in 1972-73. He contested the legislative assembly election from Siyana constituency in Bulandshahr but faced defeat.

Earning a seat in the Uttar Pradesh legislative assembly in 1977 at the age of 26, Khan held various portfolios, including energy and civil aviation, during his tenure as a cabinet minister in the Union of India. In 2004, he joined the BharatiyaJanata Party (BJP) and contested the LokSabha election unsuccessfully. Khan later parted ways with the BJP in 2007 but continued to support the NarendraModi-led NDA government from 2005 onward.

Appointed as the Governor of Kerala in 2019, Khan is the second governor appointed by the NarendraModi government for the state. Apart from his political career, he has authored several books, delivered lectures, and is associated with various think tanks.

John Brittas

MP

Dr John Brittas is a Parliamentarian representing Kerala in the RajyaSabha, where his active engagement and contributions earned him the SansadRatna, the best parliamentarian award. Lauded by the then Vice President and Chairman of RajyaSabha, Venkaiah Naidu, Dr Brittas is recognised for his significant role in legislative proceedings.

In addition to his political role, Dr Brittas is a seasoned media professional with over three decades of experience. He serves as a director in the apex body of the broadcasting and digital industry in Kerala, IBDF. He holds key positions in parliamentary committees, including the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications & Information Technology and the consultative committee for the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India. His extensive career includes serving as the business head at Star-Disney India and as an advisor to the Chief Minister of Kerala from 2016 to 2021.

Dr Brittas’s journalistic career includes reporting on pivotal events in India, such as the demolition of Babri Masjid, Gujarat riots, and various general elections. His coverage extended internationally, being the first Indian journalist to reach Baghdad during the US-Iraq conflict which eventually led to the dethronement of Saddam Hussein. His reportage, titled “Baghdad Diary,” gained national attention. He accompanied Indian Prime Ministers on international visits to countries like the US, Russia, Germany, and Switzerland.

A household name in Kerala, Dr Brittas is known for his television shows that have received widespread acclaim. He is an award-winning television anchor, presenter, and author of several widely acclaimed books. Furthermore, he authored several widely acclaimed books.

Passionate about socio-political issues, Dr Brittas contributes regularly to national media and engages in debates. With an impressive academic record, he earned gold medals in both graduation and post-graduation. His pursuit of higher education led him to Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), where he completed his MPhil and PhD, earning a doctorate for his thesis on media trends.

Khushbu Sundar

Politician and actor

KhushbuSundar, an Indian film actress, producer, and television presenter, has a career spanning more than 200 movies, primarily in the South Indian film industry. Renowned for her contributions, she has earned two Tamil Nadu State Film Awards for best actress and a Kerala State Film Award – special mention.

Her journey began as a child artist in the Hindi film “The Burning Train” (1980), featuring in the song “Teri HaiZameenTeraAasman”. Her early years included notable appearances in Hindi films like “Naseeb,” “Laawaris,” “Kaalia,” “DardKaRishta,” and “Bemisal” between 1980 and 1985.

Her foray into South Indian cinema commenced with the Telugu film “KaliyugaPandavulu” (1986), where she starred opposite Venkatesh. Relocating to Chennai, Khushbu concentrated on Tamil and other South Indian film industries, amassing a filmography of over 150 movies.

Beyond her cinematic achievements, Khushbu currently serves as the National Executive Member (NEM) of the BJP.

Prof Gourav Vallabh

National Spokesperson, Indian National Congress

Prof (Dr) GouravVallabh is a Professor of Finance and National Spokesperson (Indian National Congress). He was the former Director of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and a former professor at the Management Development Institute (MDI Gurugram).

Has more than 20 years of industry and academic experience. Published more than 3 dozen research papers in referred academic journals and presented papers at many national and international academic conferences.

Saravanan Annadurai

Official Spokesperson, DMK

Saravanan, DravidaMunnetraKazhagam (DMK) Spokesperson, Tamil Nadu is a lawyer who has been the official spokesperson for the party since 2015. He is the lead partner in SaravananAnd Partners, a boutique law firm based in Chennai that advises on constitutional, civil, criminal, family, and commercial arbitration and mediation matters.

Saravanan was one of the first candidates from Tamil Nadu to attend the Legislative Fellows Program organised by the US State Department in the year 2012 to learn the electoral process of the US. It was the year when Barack Obama contested for his second term. His experience during this programme has allowed him to focus on democracy and development-related activities.

Ever since, Saravanan has worked in many roles that govern the conduct of Tamil Nadu legislative elections. He is a regular at the US Consulate panel discussions and closely works with the cultural team. He has also served as a Public Prosecutor in the office of the Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras between 2006-201. He has handled many sensitive matters for the government. He also writes for some of the leading newspapers on current affairs of the country.

Ruchee Anand

Senior Director - Talent and Learning Solutions, India at LinkedIn

RucheeAnand, the senior director of talent and learning solutions at LinkedIn India, embodies the essence of a visionary leader in the talent and learning landscape. Her transformative journey at LinkedIn includes scaling the talent solutions business and positioning it as a crucial consultancy for India’s top enterprises. With a clear mission, Ruchee aims to revolutionise how companies hire, develop, and engage talent, fostering innovative growth strategies.

Beyond business impact, Ruchee is a passionate advocate for workplace diversity and inclusivity. Her commitment to women’s advancement is evident in her leadership roles within the “Women at LinkedIn” group and the co-founding of the “Women in Sales” community along with People Connect. As a certified coach, she empowers individuals to reach their full potential, fostering a workplace where talent and skills open doors to opportunities.

With over two decades of experience, her expertise in the talent economy is showcased through diverse leadership roles at organisations like Info Edge-Naukri.com, AuthBridge, and GTL Limited. Her unique approach combines strategic business acumen with a people-first philosophy, driving growth while nurturing diverse and dynamic teams.

Ruchee’s influence extends beyond the corporate realm; she actively engages in social causes, particularly in educating and empowering young girls for a successful future. Additionally, as a regional council member (Mumbai) at Nasscom, she contributes to the development of the IT industry in Western India.

In RucheeAnand, we find a strategic thinker, a compassionate leader, and an inspiring change-maker. Her multifaceted contributions make her a true role model for aspiring professionals.

Innocent Divya

MD, Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation

J Innocent Divya completed her Bachelor’s in Fisheries Science and is from the 2009 batch IAS officer of Tamil Nadu cadre. She is regarded as a special officer who has brought the ethos of ultimate work ethics to the administration. An officer with a clean record, she has done tremendous work in preserving the unique biodiversity of Nilgiri. She was made District Collector and District Magistrate of Nilgiri in July 2017 and she held this post for more than four years and became a beacon of hope for the fragile and vibrant Nilgiri. She was transferred only on her request to do the same by the Supreme Court of India.

In 2018, the Supreme Court of India had ordered that the State Government should not transfer Divya out of Nilgiri. This is the first time in the administrative history of Tamil Nadu that such a judgment has come from the highest court of the land. The court wanted her to continue working on protecting the Elephant Corridor. Needless to say, she had justified the trust shown in her. Other than this, Divya has served as the Revenue Divisional Officer Tiruppur, Kallakurichi and Devakottai, Tamil Nadu Assistant Commissioner (General Administration and Personnel) Corporation of Chennai, General Manager, Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women, Chennai. SS to CM and Special Officer Chief Minister’s Special Cell, DS to Government Co-op Food and Consumer Co-op Department, she is currently serving as the Managing Director of Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation (TNSDC).

MJ Shankar Raman

CEO, IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation

Dr Shankar Raman earned his BE degree in Computer Science and Engineering from Sri Venkateswara College of Engineering, University of Madras, followed by an MSc (Engg) from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, and a PhD from IIT Madras. After graduation, he started his career as a Senior Engineer (R&D) at Wipro Infotech Limited. Over the years, he held key positions, including the head of the Department of Computer Science at Sri Sankara College of Arts and Science. Notably, he played a crucial role in establishing the BSCS (Bachelor of Sanskrit and Computer Science Course) at Sri ChandrasekharendraSaraswathiViswaMahaVidyalaya.

His industry experience includes working as a Senior Engineer in the area of networking implementing the IPXCP protocol in 1995. Subsequently, he was deputed to the HCL Cisco offshore Development Centre, the first Offshore Development Centre established by Cisco Systems in India, and worked there in the area of Network Management. Later he worked in the area of Network Security. During this period, he published a patent on network security to deflect DDoS attacks (https://patents.google.com/patent/US7854000B2/en ) and published a paper on Software Testing.

In 2009, Dr Raman pursued his PhD at IIT Madras and was selected for the IITM-British Telecom Fellowship, spending three months at BT's R&D centre in Ipswich. Following the submission of his thesis in 2014, he joined the RISE Lab at IIT Madras and later worked at PS-CDISHA, where he contributed to Software SDK for Shakti.

His career trajectory continued to evolve as he took on the role of Chief Manager, Technical at IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation in January 2021. Notably, he assumed the position of CEO in September 2021, showcasing his leadership and managerial capabilities.

Saji Gopinath

Vice-Chancellor, Digital University Kerala

Dr Saji Gopinath is the first Vice Chancellor of the newly formed Kerala University of Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology (Digital University). He is also holding additional charge of Vice Chancellor of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, the largest technology University in Kerala with over 140 colleges affiliated to it. In his career spanning over 35 years, he served industry majors like Larsen& Toubro, ONGC and was associated with IIM Kozhikode for over 17 years as its Dean and Professor of Operations Management. During 2017-2020, Saji Gopinath headed Kerala Startup Mission as its CEO and also served as Director of the Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management Kerala. He was also the Director of TAPMI Manipal and the founding Dean of Bennett University set up by Times of India. He also serves as visiting faculty to a few Universities in Europe and Australasia.

A Gold Medalist in Mechanical Engineering, Dr.Gopinath did his PG and PhD from the Indian Institute of Science. Under his leadership, Kerala Startup Mission has been ranked as the Top Performer Ecosystem in the country by Govt of India consecutively for three years and KSUM was also recognized as World’s#1 Public Business Accelerator by the World Incubation Summit in 2019. He is also instrumental in converting IIITMK into the first Digital University in the country with a focus on addressing the research and talent issues of Industry 4.0. He has several research papers in reputed journals and consults with many leading companies. He is also a recipient of several awards from National and International Bodies. British Council Knowledge Economy Fellowship, ISTD Transformation Guru Award, Government of India State Startup Campion Award, Educational Leadership Award, TiE Ecosystem Enabler Award, KMA Technology Leadership Award, CMA Management Leadership Award, TMA Management Leadership Award, Future Kerala Best CEO Award etc. are some of them. An evangelist of modern technologies, he also serves in several national committees and is a core committee member Kerala Knowledge Economy Mission

Eldho Mathews

Programme Officer (Internationalisation of Higher Education), Kerala State Higher Education Council

Eldho Mathews, Programme Officer (Internationalisation of Higher Education), Kerala State Higher Education Council

Eldho Mathews is a practitioner-researcher, who has rich professional experience in conducting research and providing strategic advice to governments, international organisations and foreign universities on global engagement strategies through higher education. He currently holds the position of Deputy Advisor at the Unit for International Cooperation of the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration in New Delhi. His research papers and articles on the internationalization of Indian higher education, growth of private higher education, student mobility and research partnerships have appeared in International Higher Education, Change, Times Higher Education, Economic and Political Weekly, The Hindu, University World News, etc. The findings of the study conducted by him in 2021 titled “Establishing International Branch Campuses in India: A Survey among Top 200 Universities” received national and international media attention. His past professional activities include serving as a Consultant to the World Bank on internationalization of Indian higher education. Recently he served on an expert panel of the UNESCO IESALC for preparing a policy paper on the “Impact of COVID-19 on Higher Education”. His views on higher education were quoted by Nature, Times Higher Education, International Educator Magazine; University World News, etc., among others. Before joining the NIEPA, Eldho worked with the British Council, the Ministry of Human Resource Development, the Planning Commission and the Kerala State Higher Education Council.

Amrita Sadarangani

Head, College of Science and Engineering Partnerships, India, University of Edinburgh

Amrita Sadarangani, Head, College of Science and Engineering Partnerships, India, University of Edinburgh

Amrita is an experienced leader, problem solver, facilitator and dot connector in the field of international research and higher education and has successfully led the delivery of significant strategic partnerships across diverse geographies and cultures, most notably showcased in her instrumental role in establishing the Gujarat Biotechnology University (GBU) collaboration.

As Executive Director of the Gujarat Biotechnology University (GBU) – University of Edinburgh (UoE) project, Amrita worked toward her vision of a world-class thematic postgraduate university with a unique culture. The GBU UoE partnership is designed to deliver bespoke curricula, faculty mentorship & training, mobility and overall advisory, placing GBU on a world-class track. Amrita also worked on operationalising GBU as part of the on-ground team. She focuses on industry and external engagement, driving cultural change and other key projects.

With 11 years as the leader of the South Asia Regional Centre, which she established in 2010, she led the University of Edinburgh's engagement and strategy in India/South Asia, fostering joint research, student mobility and strengthening the alumni network. Amrita's diverse background includes roles at Ogilvy Public Relations, the British Deputy High Commission, and GlaxoSmithKline Pharma. Armed with an MSc in Biochemistry, she brings two years of cancer biology research experience from the Cancer Research Institute, Tata Memorial Centre Mumbai.

Debashis Chatterjee

Director, IIM Kozhikode

Professor DebashisChatterjee has taught leadership classes at Harvard University and at the Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) Calcutta, Lucknow and Kozhikode for more than two decades. He has been awarded the prestigious Fulbright Fellowship twice for Pre-Doctoral research and Post-Doctoral work at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. His published works include eighteen books including Karma Sutras, Leading Consciously, (Foreword by Peter M Senge for both the books) and Timeless Leadership (Wiley) which have been translated into several international languages. Recently, he published Leadership Chronicles: My Experiments with Globalizing Indian Thought. He has trained more than fifty thousand managers globally in Fortune 100 Corporations and over twenty-five thousand school principals and teachers.

His book Invincible Arjuna has emerged as a path-breaking book in recent times. He has served as a leadership coach to political leaders and CEOs of major Indian organizations. He has served as the Dean of the SP Jain School of Global Management in Singapore. A pioneer in the field of Asian models in leadership, Professor Chatterjee served as the Director of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Kozhikode for the first term from 2009-2014 and a second term from 2018-2023.

Dean and tenured Professor at IIM Lucknow, Prof. Chatterjee is credited with transforming IIM Kozhikode from an obscure regional school to an institution of national impact and global recognition. He also served as the Director General of IMI Delhi, India’s first corporate-sponsored business school and as an Independent Director on the Boards of several multinational and Indian Companies. Prof. DebashisChatterjee was the Mentor Director of IIM Amritsar from June 2018 to July 2019. He has been reappointed as the Director of IIM Kozhikode for a third five-year term.

VK Tewari, Director

IIT Kharagpur

Recognized as one of the Distinguished Global Scholars, Prof. Virendra Kumar Tewari has revolutionized the face of Agriculture Engineering in India. A renowned IITian known for his dynamic leadership and academic excellence, he is currently serving as the Director of IIT Kharagpur. A recipient of the ISAE Gold Medal in 2019, his exceptional achievements transcend academic boundaries. As a meticulous administrator whose vision is to make IIT Kharagpur among the top ten universities in the world, Prof. Tewari has successfully implemented multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary courses in IIT Kharagpur in accordance with NEP 2020. Under his able directorship, the institute quadrupled in translational research, infrastructural development, global outreach, honorary recognitions and rankings, receiving the most prestigious Governor’s Award of Excellence bestowed by Dr C V Ananda Bose, Governor of West Bengal.

Prof. Tewari completed his BTech. (Honours) in Agricultural Engineering from IIT Kharagpur in 1979, MTech in Farm Machinery and Power Engineering in 1981 and PhD in Engineering in 1985.he joined the Institute as a faculty member in 1990 where he rose to the rank of Professor in Farm Machinery and Power Engineering in the Dept. of Agricultural and Food Engineering. He was associated with JEE from 2003-2006 and was the All India Organizing Committee Chairman of JEE from 2005-2006. Many of his pioneering initiatives such as the design of question papers and security systems are being followed even now.

Prof. Tewari's core research areas include Tractor system design, Ergonomics and Industrial Safety, Design of Agricultural Machines, Precision Agriculture and Machinery System Management. Among his key research projects, the Centre of Excellence for Digital Farming Solutions for Enhancing Productivity by Robots, Drones and AGVs National Agricultural Higher Education Project (NAHEP) deserves special mention. In addition, currently, he serves on the board of governors of several eminent institutes including IIT Delhi, IIT Bhubaneshwar, NIT Durgapur, IISER Kolkata, AIIMS Kalyani etc.

Prof. Tewari has 14 design patents and one copyright under his name with more than 200 publications. He has supervised more than Rs. 100 crore Sponsored Research Projects and Consultancy Projects. He has edited 04 books, 01 monographs and has guided 30 PhD, 80 M.Tech, 45 B.Tech and 02 MS students. Additionally, he has been conferred with several eminent awards and accolades by various organizations.

Ram Madhav

Author and thinker

Ram Madhav is an Indian politician, social leader, author and thinker. Dr Madhav is the President of India Foundation (IF), a New Delhi-based Think tank. In over a decade of India Foundation’s existence, Dr Madhav has been the curator of major annual global and national multilateral initiatives like the Indian Ocean Conference, the Dharma-Dhamma Conference, ASEAN-India Youth Summit and Counter Terrorism Conference involving heads of nations and leaders of governments besides academics, scholars and public spirited individuals. Most recently, Dr Madhav has been instrumental in ideating the Religon-20 Forum (R20) as part of India’s presidency of the G20. Previously, Dr Madhav has served as the National General Secretary of the BharatiyaJanata Party (BJP) during 2014-20 responsible for handling the political affairs of Jammu & Kashmir, Assam and other North-Eastern states of India.

A renowned author and thinker, Dr Madhav has authored several books in English and Telugu that include “The Hindutva Paradigm – Integral Humanism and the Quest for a Non-Western Worldview” ; “Because India Comes First: Reflections on Nationalism, Identity and Culture” and “Uneasy Neighbours: India and China after 50 years of the war”. His most recent book “Partitioned Freedom” explores the untold history of India’s partition in 1947 and the birth of Pakistan.

He is a regular contributor to platforms like The Indian Express, The Hindustan Times and OPEN Magazine amongst others. He had been the editor of BharatiyaPragna, a monthly magazine in English published by PragnaBharati, and associate editor of Jagriti, a Telugu weekly. Widely regarded for his contributions in the field of strategic thinking, political philosophy and India’s foreign policy, Dr Madhav has travelled widely and addressed forums like the Valdai Discussion Club in Russia, R20 Forum in Indonesia, Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Halifax Security Forum in Canada, Sochi Eurasian Integration Forum in Russia, BRICS Political Forum in China, and the World Peace Conference in Thailand.

Shashi Tharoor

MP

Dr ShashiTharoor, a seasoned politician and a third-term Member of Parliament representing Thiruvananthapuram, has a remarkable career that spans literature, international diplomacy, and governance. With a prolific writing career, he stands as the bestselling author of 25 books, encompassing both fiction and non-fiction genres.

Beyond his literary accomplishments, Dr Tharoor has served in significant roles in international affairs, having been a former Under Secretary-General of the United Nations. In the Government of India, he held the positions of Minister of State for Human Resource Development and for External Affairs. His contributions to literature have garnered him numerous awards, including the prestigious PravasiBharatiyaSamman, a commonwealth writers’ prize, and the Crossword Lifetime Achievement Award.

In 2019, his literary excellence was recognised with the SahityaAkademi Award in the category of ‘English Non-Fiction’ for his impactful work, “An Era of Darkness.” In the parliamentary arena, he currently chairs Parliament’s standing committee on chemicals and fertilisers, showcasing his commitment to addressing crucial issues. Notably, he has previously chaired the standing committee on external affairs and the committee on information technology, demonstrating his versatility in handling diverse responsibilities.

Hardeep Singh Puri

Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs & Petroleum and Natural Gas

Hardeep Singh Puri assumed the office of the ministry of housing and urban affairs in May 2019, overseeing the formulation and administration of rules, regulations, and laws related to housing and urban development in India. Under his leadership, the ministry has spearheaded missions focused on urban infrastructure development, addressing crucial aspects such as water supply, sanitation, and housing for all.

His approach incorporates the use of data, technology, and innovation in city planning and management. These initiatives, designed as part of a comprehensive strategy, aim to fulfil the aspirations of the significant urban population, constituting 40% of India’s residents. Notably, these missions played a vital role in responding to challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

One such mission, the Vande Bharat Mission, personally overseen by Puri, facilitated the repatriation of stranded Indians during the pandemic. The overall agenda for urban rejuvenation encompasses a multi-layered strategy, reflecting a forward-looking vision for India’s urban landscape. Multiple missions are currently underway, reflecting the commitment and dedication of the ministry of housing and urban affairs under his leadership.

M Jagadesh Kumar

Chairman, University Grants Commission

Prof M Jagadesh Kumar obtained his MS (EE) and PhD (EE) degrees from the Department of Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras. He pursued his post-doctoral research at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.

Currently, he is the Chairman of the University Grants Commission and a Professor of Electrical Engineering at IIT Delhi. Before this, he was the 12th Vice-Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi from January 2016 to February 2022. In addition to his leadership roles, he holds the NXP (Philips) Chair Professor, established at IIT Delhi by Philips Semiconductors, Netherlands.

He works in the area of Nanoelectronic Devices, Nanoscale Device modelling and simulation, Innovative Device Design, and Power semiconductor devices. He is a prolific author with three books, four book chapters, and over 250 publications in refereed journals and conferences. Recognised for his excellence in teaching, he received the 2013 Award for Excellence in Teaching (in large class category) from IIT Delhi.

His contributions extend to the editorial realm where he is on the editorial board of several international journals, including the IEEE Journal of the Electron Devices Society, and is Editor-in-Chief of IETE Technical Review. Additionally, he served as the Editor of IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices for nine years.

He is a Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering, The National Academy of Sciences, India, and The Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers, India.

Additionally, he held key positions such as the President of the General Council of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), a member of the University Grants Commission (UGC), and a member (PT) of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). He also served as the Chairman of the Governing Body of the National Council of Science Museums, Ministry of Culture, Government of India.

Sanjeev Sanyal

Member, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister

Jawhar Sircar

MP and Former Secretary, Union Ministry of Culture

JawharSircar is a Member of Parliament in the RajyaSabha from West Bengal who represents the Trinamool Congress. He is a retired civil servant with over four decades of experience and has served as India’s Culture Secretary and thereafter as the CEO of India’s public service broadcaster, PrasarBharati.

Apart from his political engagement, Sircar served as chair of the board of governors of the Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Kolkata, one of India’s premier research and teaching institutes. He has been actively involved in research on the intersection of politics and religion. He is also a regular contributor to leading media publications, where he shares his insights on various subjects.

Nanditha Krishna

Author

A historian, environmentalist and author based in Chennai, Nanditha Krishna has a Ph.D. in Ancient Indian Culture from Bombay University. She has been a Research Guide at CPR Institute of Indological Research, affiliated to the University of Madras, and is the founder of C.P. Art Centre, CPR Institute of Indological Research and CPR Environmental Education Centre in Chennai, and the ShakunthalaJagannathan Museum at Kanchipuram.

As President of the C.P. RamaswamiAiyar Foundation, she has established an ISC school in Chennai, a primary school in Kanchipuram and a free English-medium school in Kumbakonam, besides Saraswathi Kendra, the first learning centre for children with autism, dyslexia and learning disabilities.

She is also the President of the Conjeevaram Hindu Education Society, which runs five schools and a women's college. She has pioneered the documentation of India’s ecological heritage traditions, including Sacred Animals of India, Sacred Trees of India, and Hinduism and Religion.

She is the author of 23 books on Indian art, culture, religion and environment, besides research papers and popular articles, and is the recipient of several awards, including the Devi Award, Nari Shakti Puraskar, StreeRatna and Outstanding Woman of Asia, and a D. Litt. fromVidyasagar University, West Bengal. She has recently been awarded the National Fellowship by the Indian Council of Historical Research.

She was responsible for the revival of Kurumba painting, Kota pottery, and traditional drawing and painting in Mamallapuram; and for the introduction of Tamil folk art forms in schools. She has restored the Varahishwara Temple in Damal and a 450-year-old house in Kanchipuram.

Srimathi Shivashankar

Corporate Vice-President and Global Head, HCL EdTech Business

SrimathiShivashankar is at the forefront of EdTech Services, steering talent transformation through innovative learning, assessments, and solutions. Previously, as the Director of the New Vistas program, she strategically established HCLTech delivery centers in global talent hubs. Her leadership extended to architecting diversity and sustainability practices, including initiatives for HCL Foundation and HCL Grant.

Armed with a bachelor’s degree in computer science and engineering from the National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli, she earned accolades with the distinguished alumna award. She furthered her education with an MBA in international business management from Ohio University. Notably, in 2021, she received the WeQual Award in the Business Transformation category and was recognised among the top 25 women leaders in consulting for 2022 by the consulting report.

Her influence extends beyond her roles at HCLTech; she has been a distinguished speaker at various international forums, including the United Nations (UN) World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), World Investment Forum, World Economic Forum (WEF), National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM), and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

Dr Anil Rana

Director, MIT, Manipal

Dr Anil Rana, currently the director at Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal, brings over 30 years of combined experience in the Indian Navy and academics. During his naval career, he served as a commander in the engineering branch, contributing to the Arihant project, the country’s first nuclear submarine.

He holds a PhD in reliability engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay and an MTech from IIT-Delhi. Post his naval service, he transitioned into academia, serving as associate dean (research) and professor (mechanical engineering) at Fiji National University in Fiji Islands, for five years. Subsequently, he assumed roles as dean (academics) and professor at Symbiosis Skills and Open University, Pune.

Before becoming the vice chancellor of Oriental University, Indore, he served as the dean of faculty of manufacturing skills and dean (academics) in BSDU, Jaipur. His research interests span reliability engineering, maintenance engineering management, stochastic petri nets, machine learning, and applications of fuzzy and neuro-fuzzy in maintenance engineering. He has a substantial body of work, with numerous publications in international and national journals, including contributions to various book chapters in Springer publications.

Kalpathi S Suresh

Executive Director and Chairman, Veranda Learning Solutions

Kalpathi S Suresh serves as the executive director and chairman of Veranda Learning Solutions, a listed company specialising in comprehensive education solutions. At Veranda, he showcases his versatile role as an entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and angel investor.

Suresh embarked on his entrepreneurial journey in 1991 by founding SSI, a global education, consulting, and software provider in the IT training domain along with his two brothers. By the mid-1990s, under his leadership, SSI became a publicly listed company, entered a joint venture with NASDAQ, and acquired Albion Orion Company LLC. Notably, by 2004, SSI successfully acquired Aptech and merged its education arm with Aptech, transforming into a formidable 1,000-location organisation in just a decade.

His software career commenced in 1987 as a part of the research and development team at HCL, where he was one of the first software engineers for HCL in the US.

He is a sought-after speaker at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-M), various societies, and large corporations, sharing insights on entrepreneurship. As a former IIT Alumni Club president, he is also a member of the Young Presidents’ Organisation, a global leadership community of chief executives. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electronics and computer engineering from the IIT-M and a master’s from Clemson University, South Carolina.

Anil Sahasrabudhe

Chairperson, National Educational Technology Forum

Anil Sahasrabudhe currently serves as the Chairman of the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). Throughout his career, he has held significant academic, research, and administrative roles, contributing to the development of technical education in India.

He has been associated with institutions such as the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Tata Consulting Engineers, North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST) in Itanagar, and Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati (IIT-G). His diverse experiences include serving as the director of the College of Engineering, Pune (CoEP) on deputation from IIT-G.

As an academician and researcher at NERIST and IIT-G, he has been involved in various initiatives aimed at enhancing academic, curricular, and co-curricular activities. His leadership at CoEP has seen the implementation of innovative measures in entrepreneurship, research, and governance.

Dr Amar Patnaik

MP

Dr Amar Patnaik, a Member of Parliament in the RajyaSabha from Odisha, is a prominent figure in the political landscape. Representing the BijuJanata Dal, he serves as the party’s national spokesperson and heads the information technology wing. Additionally, he holds key positions in various Parliamentary standing committees, including finance, public undertaking, and subordinate legislation.

Before entering politics, he had a distinguished career in the Indian Civil Services, notably as a former Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IA&AS) officer under the Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG) of India. He also served as the principal accountant general (PAG) in several states, including Sikkim, Odisha, West Bengal, and Kerala. Beyond national borders, he contributed to global external audit assignments with the United Nations and the World Bank, leading India’s External Audit Mission to multiple countries.

His academic journey is marked by excellence, with a bachelor’s degree in physics from St Stephens College, Delhi University, a Master of Business Administration in finance and systems from Xavier’s Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar (XIMB), and a master’s program in public management from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Singapore, and the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. He further expanded his knowledge as a British CheveningGurukul Scholar in 2013 at the London School of Economics. He capped his academic achievements with a PhD from XIMB.

His areas of expertise and interest encompass a wide range of issues, including power dynamics in rural India, technology with a focus on privacy and data protection, corporate and government affairs, and environmental and climate concerns.

Gopalkrishna Gandhi

former Governor, West Bengal

Born in 1945, Gopalkrishna Gandhi is a Distinguished Professor of History at Ashoka University, Sonepat, Haryana. Throughout his illustrious career, he has contributed significantly to public administration, diplomacy, and the exercise of constitutional responsibility.

His literary endeavours include a novel, Refuge (Ravi Dayal,1991), an English play verse titled “DaraShukoh (Banyan,1993)”, a translation of Vikram Seth’s novel A Suitable Boy into Hindustani (VaniPrakashan, 1997), The Oxford India Gandhi (ed., 2007), The Tirukkural – a rendering in contemporary English verse of G.U.Pope’s translation of the Tamil classic (Aleph, 2015), Abolishing the Death Penalty (Aleph, 2016), Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi: Restless as Mercury (Aleph, ed., 2021), I am an Ordinary Man: Gandhi (1914-1948) (ed., Aleph, 2023).

Yogesh Singh

VC, Delhi University & Chairperson, NCTE

Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul

Former Supreme Court Judge

Annapurni Subramaniam

, Director, Indian Institute of Astrophysics

Priya Abraham

, Professor, Clinical Virology, CMC Vellore

Srimathy Kesan

Founder and CEO, Space Kidz India

Govindan Rangarajan

, Director, IISc Bangalore

V Kamakoti

, Director, IIT Madras

AiyshwaryaMahadev

, National Media Panellist, Indian National Congress

Dharanidharan Selvam

National Spokesperson, DMK

KovaiSathyan

, Official Spokesperson, AIADMK

Narayanan Thirupathy

, Vice-President, BJP Tamil Nadu

Dr SoumitraPathare

, Director, Centre For Mental Health Law and Policy, Pune

Dr Saras Bhaskar

, Counselling psychologist

Dr M Malaiappan

, Director, Institute of Mental Health

Aruna Sairam

Vocalist

Dr Sharad Kumar Agarwal

National President, Indian Medical Association

Dr S Sacchidanand

Former Vice-Chancellor, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences

Dr SudhaSeshayyan

Director, SASTRA University

Alok Ranjan

Former IAS and author

Alby John

MD, Metropolitan Transport Corporation

Manuj Jindal

CEO, Zilla Parishad Thane

Nilakantan RS

Data Scientist

AR Venkatachalapathy

Indian historian and author

V Anantha Nageswaran

Chief Economic Advisor, Government of India

Siddharth

Actor

Atishi

Education Minister, Delhi

Swami Mitrananda

Spiritual Teacher, Chinmaya Chennai