Keynote Speakers
Day 1 – November 5, 2026
9:00 – 9:30, November 5 (Thursday) – Conference Opening and Welcome Addresses
Dr. Rupa Vasudevan
Chancellor
Bharatiya Engineering Science and Technology Innovation University (BEST IU)
Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh
Dr. Rupa Vasudevan is an Educationist, Sociopreneur, Founder and Co-Chairperson of BEST Group (Gatti Valley Educational Institutions). She is the Chancellor of Bharatiya Engineering Science and Technology Innovation University (BEST IU), a State Private University established in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh.
Co-Founder and Director of Evergreen Naturals – EN, a company that focuses on cheaper availability of high-quality agricultural inputs to small and marginal farmers, monitoring growth and farming practices and helping in establishing forward and backward linkages in supply chain management. She is Appointed as one of the ten academicians in the General and Executive Council of Karnataka State Higher Education Council- KSHEC, apex body on education in the State. Regional Co-Chair for ASSOCHAM – Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka State. Founder and Global President of World Forum for Education, an independent non-profit organization working globally to advance sustainable development, humanitarian response and facilitating public good through Knowledge sharing and Education. Trustee of Apna Desh Foundation, a Foundation that spearheads initiatives, finding meaningful ways to make a difference to our farmers while documenting best traditional practices from rural areas of the states of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Honorary Trustee of Disha Bharat, a non-profit social organisation that works in the field of value education. Member, Governing Council of Indic Academy (INDICA) – a non-traditional University for traditional knowledge systems. And Member, Governing Council of India Foundation, New Delhi.
9:30 – 10:00, November 5 (Thursday) – Keynote
Saishyam Narayanan
CEO
IIT Palakkad Technology IHub Foundation (IPTIF)
Saishyam Narayanan is a multi-disciplinary Science & Technology professional with over 15 years of experience across premier R&D institutions, government, and non-government organizations. His expertise spans Biotechnology, MedTech, Life Sciences, Renewable Energy, Cyber-Physical Systems, Entrepreneurship, R&D, and Science & Innovation Management.
Over the past nine years, he has made significant contributions to strengthening India’s Biotech, MedTech, and Deep-Tech innovation ecosystem. His areas of expertise include Healthcare, Agriculture, Biotechnology, Energy, Safety, Automotive, and Sustainability, along with technology program design, business operations, program management, grant management, and organizational strategy.
Currently, as the CEO of IIT Palakkad Technology IHub Foundation (IPTIF), he leads initiatives focused on technology innovation, entrepreneurship, and skill development, particularly in Intelligent Collaborative Systems (ICS). His work focuses on developing indigenous technology and hardware products, supporting faculty-led innovations, entrepreneurs, and startups, while also addressing industry skill gaps through upskilling and expert collaborations.
He also leads efforts to establish facilities for prototyping, testing, skilling, and certification, with the objective of strengthening the technology ecosystem and enabling the development of high-quality technologies and startups in India.
10:00 – 10:30, November 5 (Thursday) – Keynote
Dr. BVK Sastry
Founder Chancellor
Yoga-Samskrutham University, USA
Dr. BVK Sastry is the Founder Chancellor of Yoga-Samskrutham University, USA, with a professional focus on yoga, wellness, education, and Indian cultural traditions.
He is associated with promoting the integration of yoga, traditional knowledge, holistic wellness, and modern education. Through Yoga-Samskrutham University, his work contributes to creating awareness and providing educational opportunities related to yoga, health, spirituality, and Indian knowledge systems.
His leadership reflects a commitment to wellness education, preservation of cultural knowledge, and the global promotion of yoga and holistic living.
10:30 – 11:00, November 5 (Thursday) –
Dr. P. Balakrishna Shetty
Vice Chancellor
Sri Siddhartha Academy of Higher Education
Dr. Balakrishna Shetty is the Vice-Chancellor of Sri Siddhartha Academy of Higher Education (Deemed to be University). He is recipient of National Merit Scholarship and DGHS Scholarship for Higher studies. He completed his Medical Education (MBBS) (1986) from Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore with Distinction in many subjects. Later he did his Masters degree (MD) in Radio diagnosis (1989) from the prestigious Kasturba Medical College Manipal with highest marks for the University. In July 1995 Dr. Shetty joined as Asst. Professor of Radiology in Sri Siddhartha Medical College, Tumkur to became Professor of Radiology and Director of PG Studies in 1999. He continued to head the department till he became Vice-Chancellor of Sri Siddhartha Academy of Higher Education in January 2012. He is known in the International arena for developing the MR PET technology for early detection and staging of Cancer without Radiation. As an eminent Radiologist, Dr Shetty has worked in many International hospitals and Universities like Yale University Connecticut USA, Texas Children Hospital, MD Anderson Cancer Hospital, St Lukes Episcopal Hospital Houston, Hamad International Hospital, Doha, and Cleveland Clinic, USA. He has many Scientific Publications for his credit. He is very well known for his guest lectures not only in India but also in USA, Malaysia and Middle East.
11:00 – 11:20: Break
11:20 – 11:30:
Dr. Ahad Ali
CEO of IEOM Society, USA
IEOM Student Chapter and Society Activities for the Development of India
11:30 – 12:00, November 5 (Thursday) – Keynote
Sudhakar Rao
Director- Branding
ICFAI Group
Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Sudhakar Rao has been serving as the Director of Branding at the ICFAI Group for over 14 years, where he leads strategic branding and marketing initiatives across 11 universities, 9 business schools, and several other educational institutions.
His work focuses on brand positioning, marketing strategy, corporate relations, and strengthening market visibility across sectors including education, clothing, and food. He is passionate about innovation, design thinking, and brand development, working closely with teams to build and establish brands with strong market potential.
As the official spokesperson for the ICFAI Group, he represents the organization at various national and international platforms, promoting innovation, entrepreneurship, and inclusivity.
12:00 – 12:30, November 5 (Thursday) – Keynote
Lt Gen Arun Kumar Sahni
Former General Officer Commanding In Chief, Indian Army
Present President, Information Security Council Of India
Lt Gen Arun Kumar Sahni is a decorated, scholar – soldier, with 40 years of commissioned service in the Indian Army. In his last assignment, tenanting the second highest rank of the army, he was the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of one of the six operational commands of the army. He was the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of one of the six operational commands of the army.
His experience encompasses command and staff assignments,in India’s most inhospitable and conflict affected areas to battle external and internal security challenges. During his four decades of service, he has assumed many roles and duties. In addition to his Command assignments of leading military formations, his important staff appointments include ‘Chief Operations Officer’ of an Infantry Brigade in Sri Lanka as part of Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF), Colonel General Staff responsible for operations of a Counter Insurgency Force in Jammu & Kashmir, ‘Principal Staff officer’ at Army Headquarters, Delhi, and ‘Director General Information Technology’. He has been an Instructor at various Military Institutions within the country to impart basic & specialized training, not only to own officers, but also those from friendly foreign countries.
He has a record of being a high achiever throughout his career, starting with the ‘Sword of Honour’ and President’s Gold medal on commissioning to the Army, in 1976. Among several awards for his exceptional leadership skills and courage, he has been decorated with the second highest medal for peace time gallantry Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, by the President of India. On Republic Day in 2016, he was conferred the coveted Param Vishist Seva Medal, by the President of India, for sustained meritorious service.
Lt. Gen. Sahni has represented India as a military delegate, at UN Headquarters at Geneva for the international conference debating banning of land mines. He has trained with the British Army for a year and represented the country as a military diplomat for three years at Embassy of India, Moscow, Russia. Presently, he is mentoring start-ups/ new initiatives that are in the domain of Information Security and HR Management. An active speaker at seminars and various think tanks within the country, with specific reference to National Security Issues – External and Internal, International and Regional dynamics impacting India, Issues related to Cyber, Force Multipliers and surveillance, Nuances of Counter Terrorist Operations in the North East and J&K, Dynamics of Integration of North Eastern States, Strategic and Visionary Leadership skills/ nuances and Impact of Tactical Nuclear Weapons on South Asian Deterrence Dynamics.
12:30 – 13:00, November 5 (Thursday) – Keynote
Somjit Amrit
CEO and Director @ IIT Mandi TIH
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Somjit Amrit is an experienced business and technology leader with extensive experience in building and scaling businesses across IT & BPM services, Internet of Things (IoT), SaaS applications, and Data Analytics. He has been involved in incubating businesses and developing them into sustainable and successful ventures.
With over a decade of experience as a P&L leader, he has led and grown business units across the IT and ITeS sectors, covering industries such as Retail, Consumer Goods, Manufacturing, and Healthcare. His experience includes business development, delivery, operations management, and strategic leadership across global markets including the USA, Europe, Australia, and India.
He is recognized for building high-performance teams, fostering a fast-paced organizational culture, and taking on cross-functional responsibilities. His leadership approach combines technology understanding with business strategy, enabling him to identify opportunities, develop strategies, and execute them effectively.
Currently, he serves as CEO and Director at IIT Mandi Technology Innovation Hub, contributing to technology innovation, entrepreneurship, and business development. He is also passionate about social initiatives, literature, blogging, and quizzing, and actively supports the mission of “Save the Girl Child.”
9:00 – 9:30, November 5 (Thursday) – Keynote
Dr. Kamel Ghazouani
Professor of Economics
Institut des Hautes Études Commerciales de Carthage (IHEC)
University of Carthage
Tunis, Tunesia
Dr. Kamel Ghazouani is a Tunisian economist and Professor of Economics at the Institut des Hautes Études Commerciales de Carthage (IHEC), University of Carthage. He has been associated with IHEC since 2012, where he teaches macroeconomic policy and public policy evaluation and previously served as Director of the Department of Economics from 2014 to 2020.
He holds a PhD in Economic Sciences from the University of Tunis El Manar, earned in 2002. Before entering academia, he worked in Tunisia’s public administration, including as Secretary General of the Carthage District from 1993 to 1997.
His academic and research interests include macroeconomics, economic policy, foreign investment, international economic integration, entrepreneurship, and public policy. He has contributed to several books and research publications and has participated in international academic and policy forums.
Day 2 – November 6, 2026
9:00 – 9:30, November 6 (Friday) – Keynote
Purushendra Singh
Indian Geopolitical Analyst
Visiting Fellow at CUTS Global Affairs
Associate Director at CUTS International
Purushendra Singh is an Indian geopolitical analyst and international affairs professional specializing in global economic governance, strategic affairs, and regional security. He has served as a Visiting Fellow at CUTS Global Affairs and previously worked as an Associate Director at CUTS International, with a focus on the Indo-Pacific and international affairs.
He has also worked as an Assistant Professor of International Relations, bringing experience in research, policy writing, teaching, and international policy engagement. His doctoral research focuses on strategic competition in the Indian Ocean Region, particularly minilateralism, maritime security, submarine cables, the Indo-Pacific, and West Asia.
He also serves as an Advisor to the Indian Foreign Policy Project (IFPP), an Editorial Board Member at Indian Aerospace Defence News (IADN), a Senior Warrior US–India Fellow at Warrior Maven: Center for Military Modernisation, and a member of the Greater West Asia Forum of the Embassy of Israel in India (GWAFI).
9:30 – 10:00, November 6 (Friday) – Keynote
Dr. Tony Prensa
Founder and CEO
TP Global Business Consulting LLC
Orlando, Florida, USA
Director, IEOM Central America and Carribean
Dr. Tony Prensa is the Founder and CEO of TP Global Business Consulting LLC, based in Florida, USA. He is an experienced PMO strategist, business transformation leader, executive advisor, and author with more than 40 years of experience in project, program, portfolio management, information technology, and digital transformation.
His expertise includes PMO transformation, strategy execution, governance, IT implementation, business process improvement, Agile practices, and AI-driven transformation. He works with organizations to align business strategy with execution and improve organizational performance.
Dr. Prensa holds a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership, an MBA, and professional certifications including PMP and PMO-related credentials. He is also an author, keynote speaker, educator, and mentor, and is known for his work in developing modern PMO practices and helping organizations turn strategic objectives into measurable business outcomes.
10:00 – 10:30, November 6 (Friday) – Keynote
Dr. Sharon Ravitz-Wyngaard
Academic Director
Arava International Center for Agricultural Training (AICAT)
Israel
Dr. Sharon Ravitz-Wyngaard is an agriculture, sustainability, and food-security professional associated with the Arava International Center for Agricultural Training (AICAT), Israel, where she has worked since 2006 and currently serves as Academic Director.
She holds a BA in Behavioural Science, an MA in Administration and Public Policy, and a PhD in Sustainability and Food Security from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. Her doctoral research focused on ecology and food security.
Her expertise focuses on sustainable agriculture, food security, desert agriculture, and environmental sustainability. She has also conducted research on the environmental impacts of producing tomatoes, bell peppers, and dates in Israel’s arid Arava region, examining areas such as water, land, materials, energy, waste, and carbon emissions.
At AICAT, she is also involved in teaching and training international students in agricultural and food-security practices, contributing to the centre’s mission of sharing Israel’s agricultural knowledge and technologies with participants from around the world.
10:30 – 11:00, November 6 (Friday) – Keynote
Anand Handa
Chief Strategy Officer (CSO)
C3iHub, IIT Kanpur
Anand Handa is a cybersecurity professional and Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) at C3iHub, IIT Kanpur, with expertise in cyber threat intelligence, malware analysis, memory forensics, and intrusion detection systems (IDS).
He completed his post-doctoral fellowship at C3i, where his work focused on advanced cybersecurity research and the development of security analysis pipelines and DevSecOps-related solutions. He is a Certified Threat Intelligence Analyst and CompTIA Security+ certified professional.
He holds a Ph.D. from Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University, Lucknow, where his research focused on developing multimodal recognition models using biometric features. At C3iHub, he has led multiple cybersecurity projects in collaboration with public and private sector organizations.
In addition to his research and strategic responsibilities, he serves as a cybersecurity instructor through programs conducted by C3i IIT Kanpur in collaboration with organizations including NSE TalentSprint, Simplilearn, and IIT Guwahati–Jaro Education. He has published over 25 research papers, edited two books, and co-authored five book chapters in cybersecurity.
11:00 – 11:30, November 6 (Friday) – Keynote
Suresh Done
Chief AI Officer
AI Authority
Michigan, USA
Suresh Done is an Executive Global Information Technology Leader with over 20 years of experience in enterprise-wide digital transformation, AI strategy, technology architecture, cybersecurity, and IT financial management. He has worked with leading global organizations including General Motors, DaimlerChrysler, Ford, Dow Chemicals, Merck, ERCOT, HP, Shell India, and the General Civil Aviation Authority.
One of his key achievements was developing and implementing the Proactive Infrastructure (PAI) model at DaimlerChrysler, which helped standardize infrastructure across organizations, reduce operational costs by 30–50%, and eliminate redundancies.
His expertise also includes organizational change management, enterprise architecture, AI enablement, systems integration, talent development, and operational efficiency. He has led technology projects using J2EE and web-based platforms and conducted research on AI-driven structural optimization using Genetic Algorithms at the Structural Engineering Research Centre (SERC).
He has also been recognized by CIOReview as “Company of the Month” for his contributions to enterprise architecture, AI, and strategic IT leadership.
11:30 – 12:00, November 6 (Friday) – Keynote
Deeksha Awasthi
Founder, DeekshaLife
Business Mentor, Startup Incubation and Innovation Center, IIT Kanpur
Global Mental Health Ambassador, Global Mental Health Association
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Deeksha Awasthi comes with 15+ years of versatile experience in R&D, strategic planning and market research. An alumna of IIT Kanpur, she is well known for driving growth and profitability with her expertise in delivering technology solutions. She is part of the Advisory Board of organizations working primarily in Ed Tech, Health Tech & Media Tech located in India, the UK, the USA, & Africa. With her experience, she brings a global perspective in conceptualizing, developing and implementing solutions which would enable businesses to better address their needs.
Deeksha is also a Member of the Board at AA IITK & Mentor at FIRST Incubation Centre IITK. She is the National Director of Social Entrepreneurship & Enterprises, a platform which promotes social innovation in India through 500+ enterprises working on various SDGs. She is honored as Global Mental Health Ambassador (GMHA, USA) & Global Impact Ambassador (GIN, USA).
Deeksha has been a seeker since she was 14yrs old, she has received initiation from various spiritual leaders. She is an Akashic Records Reader and Chakra Healer. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she directed her energies toward providing mental health support to people. Utilizing her scientific knowledge and wisdom from her own spiritual awakening, she founded DeekshaLife — a platform where she is exploring the limitless power of Mind and Body. Her quest involves decoding consciousness and cosmic energies. Her strength lies in bridging the wisdom of Spiritual practices with Scientific reasoning for modern intellectual society. She has a unique capability of drawing inferences from both the material and spiritual world, which is also reflected in her works.
She is the recipient of various awards including the Humanitarian Award 2021 by the United Nations, Mental Health Change UK, & Global Mental Health Association, USA.
12:00 – 12:30, November 6 (Friday) – Keynote
Dr. T. Sasilatha
Principal-General Programs
Amet University Chennai
Dr. T. Sasilatha is a highly experienced individual in the field of teaching, research, and administration with a remarkable career spanning 30 years. CMI Level 5 Certificate in Management and Leadership from the UK is a testament to her exceptional leadership qualities. Dr. T. Sasilatha has authored over 200 articles in refereed international journals and conferences and has been the Principal Investigator for several research projects worth around 350 Lakhs sponsored by esteemed Govt organisations such as the MOES, DST, AICTE and TNSCST. Her contributions to research have resulted in the publication of ten patents, three of which have been awarded.
12:30 – 13:00, November 6 (Friday) – Keynote
Dr. Tharamani C. Nagaiah
Professor and Head of the Department of Chemistry
IIT Ropar, India
Dr. Tharamani C. Nagaiah is a Professor and Head of the Department of Chemistry at IIT Ropar, specializing in electrochemistry, nanostructured materials, electrocatalysis, fuel cells, batteries, and biosensors.
She completed her Ph.D. from Bangalore University and pursued postdoctoral research at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada, and Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, including an Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship.
Her research focuses on developing advanced materials for energy conversion and storage, particularly catalysts for fuel cells and batteries, along with electrochemical biosensors for environmental and biological applications. She has contributed extensively to scientific research through numerous publications and patents.
Dr. Nagaiah has received several prestigious recognitions, including the CRSI Bronze Medal, ECSI-Metrohm National Award, and A.V. Rama Rao Prize for Women Scientists. She is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Indian Chemical Society and serves on the editorial boards of leading scientific journals.
Day 3 – November 7, 2026
11:00 am – 11:30 am, November 7, 2026 – Keynote
11:30 am – 12:00 pm, November 7, 2026 – Keynote
12:00 pm – 12:30 pm, November 7, 2026 – Keynote
12:30 pm – 1:00 pm, November 7, 2026 – Keynote