About the Speaker

Aaradhana Dalmia is a Trustee of her family’s philanthropic foundations, including the Dalmia Charitable Trust, where she supports initiatives in education, environment, and community development. She serves as Chairperson of YFLO Delhi, the Young FICCI Ladies Organisation chapter, leading programmes that promote women’s leadership, entrepreneurship, and social impact, while also mentoring young social entrepreneurs. Alongside her philanthropy, Aaradhana’s work and research engage with sustainability, crafts, and the relationship between cities and rivers, informing a cross-disciplinary approach to inclusive and environmentally conscious development.

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Reflections

Day 1 | February 6, 2026

Exchanging thoughts on leadership for future readiness in our public schools

About the Speaker

Aashish Shrivastava is Co-Founder and CEO of Shiksharth, a grassroots organisation working to ensure positive childhood experiences for children growing up in crisis, conflict, and fragile geographies. After an early career in corporate IT with Infosys and NIIT, he joined the first cohort of Teach For India and went on to spend over a decade working in conflict-affected regions of Bastar and Sukma. His work focuses on restoring learning, safety, and belonging in communities where schooling has been disrupted by violence and instability. Aashish brings a deeply collaborative, systems-oriented approach to strengthening classrooms, communities, and local education ecosystems.

Sessions by speaker

Brain Date 4: In Their Shoes: Rethinking Childhood Through Inclusion

Day 2 | February 7, 2026

Through a future readiness lens, examine how education systems can truly enable all children to thrive, highlighting unseen voices, current practices and the systemic shifts needed for real, meaningful inclusion

About the Speaker

Abhi Shah is a seasoned global leader with 20+ years of experience in AI, digital transformation, and corporate governance. He founded Clutch Group, an Inc. 5000-listed AI analytics firm that merged with a BlackRock-backed corporation. A member of the NYSE and NASDAQ Board Centres, Abhi Shah serves on the Boards of five multi-billion companies across fintech, energy, and infrastructure. Recognised as EY Entrepreneur of the Year, Visionary Global Leader and Business Icon of India, he has been featured in a Harvard case study. A Harvard MBA, Abhi Shah chairs Yuva Unstoppable, which has transformed 8,000 municipal schools and impacted 8 million underprivileged children, including providing scholarships to 7,400 students with 575 attending IITs.

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Entrepreneur, CEO, Board Member & Philanthropist

Day 2 | February 7, 2026

Moving from ideas to action: Showcase & celebration of Shikshagraha in action

About the Speaker

Abhishek Surana is an Indian administrative officer committed to public service and governance reform in Rajasthan. As a district-level leader, he drives improvements across health, education, infrastructure, rural development, urban governance, and social welfare through field execution and outcome-driven monitoring. He has led initiatives, including coding and reading competitions for government school students and adolescent-led public spaces projects. Focused on technology-enabled governance, he supports innovations like Code Churu, Digital Sakhi, and Badhta Bachpan for stronger service delivery.

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About the Speaker

Dr Aditya Vishwanath is Co-founder of MakerGhat, a network of makerspaces and innovation labs that enables young people from low-income communities to learn through making, experimentation, and problem-solving. A researcher and technologist who also co-founded the XR learning company Inspirit, he works at the intersection of education, immersive technology, and social entrepreneurship to build 21st-century skills and inform systemic change in how classrooms prepare learners for the future.

Sessions by speaker

Brain Date 1: Technology

Brain Date 1: Growing Questions in STEM and Responsible AI

Day 1 & 2 | February 6 & 7, 2026

Exploring how enabling platforms, infrastructure, and emerging technologies—including AI—can amplify agency and drive system-level change in education. Showcasing innovations powering education equity, and concludes by recognising the hackathon winners turning ideas into action.

About the Speaker

Alex Beard is Senior Director of the Global Learning Lab at Teach For All, where he leads global research, knowledge sharing, and learning partnerships across the network. Beginning his career as a teacher in London, he has dedicated himself to understanding how learning can be transformed for rapidly changing societies. His work focuses on identifying promising, locally rooted innovations and connecting educators and leaders across countries to strengthen collective learning. Alex is also a widely published writer and speaker on the future of learning, leadership in education, and the skills young people need to thrive. He brings a global systems lens to improving education outcomes at scale.

Sessions by speaker

Brain Date 4: From Dialogue to Momentum: Why Intentional Spaces Matter?

Day 1 | February 6, 2026

Exploring how enabling platforms, infrastructure, and emerging technologies—including AI—can amplify agency and drive system-level change in education. Showcasing innovations powering education equity, and concludes by recognising the hackathon winners turning ideas into action.

About the Speaker

Ambika J is Director of Artificial Intelligence at Finastra, where she works on generative AI and advanced client solutions within global financial systems. A distinguished technologist with over two decades of experience, she has led development, quality, and release engineering across large-scale products, delivering more than 300 releases over her career. An Executive MBA graduate from the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, Ambika has contributed to organisations including Yahoo! and Finastra. She is an IEEE Senior Member and leads initiatives such as the IEEE Computer Society Bangalore Chapter’s GirlGeeks programme, reflecting her commitment to inclusive, ethical, and future-ready technology leadership.

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Brain Date 1: Technology

Day 1 | February 6, 2026

Focusing on technology-led innovation in education, from AI-powered solutions to scalable digital platforms. The track brings together experienced voices from the field to share learnings, celebrate breakthrough ideas, and highlight solutions delivering real, system-level change.

About the Speaker

Shri Anandrao V. Patil is the Additional Secretary in the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, Government of India, where he steers key portfolios including PM POSHAN, digital initiatives, and programme management. An Indian Administrative Service officer with extensive experience in education and public administration, he focuses on using data, technology, and centre–state coordination to strengthen school nutrition, improve learning conditions, and advance the goals of the National Education Policy 2020.

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Brain Dates

Day 1 | February 6, 2026

Thematic open discussions curated by global institutions invoking curiosity, real stories, and meaningful connections

About the Speaker

Smt. Archana Sharma Awasthi is Joint Secretary (SS-I & Adult Education Bureau) in the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, Government of India. She leads portfolios spanning adult education, literacy, gender and equity, adolescent education, and support to voluntary agencies, working to strengthen flagship initiatives such as ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram and make school and adult education more inclusive and effective.

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Painting a Vision for a Billion Futures: Learning’s from the Global South

Day 1 | February 6, 2026

A plenary-led launch, highlighting India’s leadership in shaping education transformation for the Global South

About the Speaker

Bharath Visweswariah is Executive Director, India, at the British Asian Trust, leading the organisation’s work across education, livelihoods, and social finance in India. With over 20 years in development and management consulting from roles at McKinsey, CEB, the University of Chicago Center in Delhi, Antara Foundation, and Omidyar Network—where he directed investments in governance, civic tech, media, and citizen engagement—he co-founded a startup focused on youth employability before joining the Trust in 2023. An IIT Madras engineering graduate and IIM Calcutta MBA alumnus based in Delhi, he drives locally-led solutions that align with India’s ambitions for inclusive growth and resilience.

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Brain Date 3: Beyond Fundraising: Orchestrating Capital Flows for Systems Change

Day 1 | February 6, 2026

Understanding how financial, social, and intellectual capital can fuel movements when anchored in trust and partnership.

About the Speaker

Camila Pereira is CEO of Global School Leaders, an international non-profit that develops and supports school leaders across the Global South to improve teaching and learning for children in under-resourced communities. A social impact leader with extensive experience in education and leadership development, she previously served as Chief Impact Officer at the Lemann Foundation in Brazil, where she led large-scale initiatives to strengthen school leadership and education systems. She continues to champion school leaders as the crucial bridge between policy and classroom practice, shaping strategies, partnerships, and networks that enable them to drive equitable, systemic change in education.

Sessions by speaker

Painting a Vision for a Billion Futures: Learning’s from the Global South

Day 1 | February 6, 2026

A plenary-led launch, highlighting India’s leadership in shaping education transformation for the Global South

About the Speaker

Camille Massey is the President and CEO of Synergos, a global organisation dedicated to solving complex problems through trust-building, collaboration, and systems leadership. With a career spanning human rights, international development, philanthropy, and social innovation, she is known for bringing cross-sector partners together to create equitable and lasting change. Prior to Synergos, she held senior roles at the Council on Foreign Relations, Human Rights First, and the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative. Camille champions “bridging leadership” and community-centred approaches that strengthen social cohesion and unlock collective potential. She is deeply committed to advancing equity, peace, and wellbeing for vulnerable communities around the world.

Sessions by speaker

Painting a Vision for a Billion Futures: Learning’s from the Global South

Day 1 | February 6, 2026

A plenary-led launch, highlighting India’s leadership in shaping education transformation for the Global South

About the Speaker

Chetan Kapoor is CEO of Tech Mahindra Foundation, leading a portfolio of education and skilling initiatives across 11 cities that empower millions of young people from underprivileged backgrounds. With over two decades in the development sector, he conceptualised the Foundation’s flagship SMART (Skills-for-Market Training) programme—one of India’s largest CSR-led urban skilling efforts—and previously led operations at Agrasar, American India Foundation, Bharti Foundation, and Pratham. An MBA from IIFT, he drives the vision of “Empowerment through Education” by blending innovation, scale, and the Mahindra ethos of rising for an equal world.

Sessions by speaker

Brain Date 4: In Their Shoes: Rethinking Childhood Through Inclusion

Day 2 | February 7, 2026

Through a future readiness lens, examine how education systems can truly enable all children to thrive, highlighting unseen voices, current practices and the systemic shifts needed for real, meaningful inclusion

About the Speaker

Cynthia McCaffrey is the UNICEF Representative to India, leading UNICEF’s work to advance the rights and wellbeing of children across the country. With extensive global experience in international development, she has worked across regions on issues of child protection, education, health, and social policy. In India, Cynthia focuses on strengthening systems, partnerships, and evidence-based solutions to ensure every child has the opportunity to survive, thrive, and reach their full potential.

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About the Speaker

Cynthia Rayner is a Senior Researcher and Adjunct Lecturer at the Bertha Centre for Social Innovation at the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business, and a Visiting Fellow at the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. Her research explores how organisations, governments, and communities work collectively to shape social systems, with a focus on practical methods that enable long-term, systemic social change. A former management consultant, she has worked across the corporate and nonprofit sectors, including roles with Generation Ubuntu, mothers2mothers, and the Starfish Greathearts Foundation, bringing strategy and systems thinking to issues of health, education, and child wellbeing in Southern Africa. Cynthia is co-author of “The Systems Work of Social Change” and is recognised internationally for bridging rigorous qualitative research with practitioner insight to strengthen movements for equity and collective leadership.

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Braindate 2 : Evidence in Motion - Collectivising Knowledge for Impact

Day 1 | February 6, 2026

Unbundling how evidence and storytelling shape belief, guide decisions, and sustain long-term systemic change

About the Speaker

Erica Arya is India Head of Project Tech4Dev, a global initiative empowering nonprofits with open-source technology, data tools, and fractional CxO services to drive efficiency, scale, and impact across the social sector. With over two decades of experience as a creator and innovator, she has designed digital transformation solutions for nonprofits, focusing on cost-effectiveness, speed, and quality while building teams and partnerships in India. Through Tech4Dev’s platforms like Glific and Dalgo, cohorts, and sprints, she supports organisations in education, health, and livelihoods to integrate technology that amplifies their missions and reaches underserved communities.

Sessions by speaker

Brain Date 4: Technology and Infrastructure

Day 1 | February 6, 2026

Exploring how enabling platforms, infrastructure, and emerging technologies—including AI—can amplify agency and drive system-level change in education. Showcasing innovations powering education equity, and concludes by recognising the hackathon winners turning ideas into action.

About the Speaker

Garima Bhatia is the Team Lead for Education and Public Engagement at the Nature Conservation Foundation. Her work focuses on building awareness, understanding, and action for conservation through education and community engagement. Garima collaborates with educators, institutions, and civil society to design programmes that make conservation accessible and meaningful. She brings a strong emphasis on communication, learning design, and public participation in environmental stewardship.

Sessions by speaker

Growing Environmental Consciousness Through Collective Action

Day 2 | February 7, 2026

Positioning environmental consciousness at the heart of learning, explore how classrooms and systems can respond to children’s climate realities while fostering values, agency, and collective responsibility

About the Speaker

Dr Harry Bregazzi is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Government Outcomes Lab, Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford. His research examines how governments can design and deliver public services through outcomes-based partnerships, with a particular focus on fragile and conflict-affected settings. He has contributed to global learning on evidence-driven policymaking, public service reform, and innovative financing models. Harry also works with international networks of scholars and practitioners exploring peacebuilding, governance, and public sector capability. With expertise spanning data analysis, social policy, and institutional design, he brings a rigorous academic perspective to understanding what enables effective, accountable, and citizen-centred service delivery.

Sessions by speaker

Brain Date 2 : Evidence in Motion - Collectivising Knowledge for Impact

Day 1 | February 6, 2026

Unbundling how evidence and storytelling shape belief, guide decisions, and sustain long-term systemic change

About the Speaker

Shri Hemsagar Mahananda is a senior education professional serving in the Odisha Education Service, with wide experience in school education administration and system-level leadership. He has worked extensively with block and district education structures, focusing on strengthening governance, improving school leadership, and supporting effective classroom practices. With an academic background that includes an M.A. and B.Ed., he brings a strong understanding of both pedagogy and administration.

Shri Mahananda is known for translating policy into practice by mentoring teachers and headmasters, strengthening institutional processes, and promoting innovation within the public education system. His contributions have been recognised at the national and state levels. He received the National Award for Innovation and Good Practices in Educational Administration in 2019 and was honoured as Best Block Education Officer under the Mukhyamantri Siksha Puraskar by the Government of Odisha in 2024.

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About the Speaker

Jack Sim, aka Mr Toilet, is the Founder of the World Toilet Organization that broke the taboo on the sanitation agenda by creating the UN World Toilet Day, unanimously adopted by 193 countries at the UN General Assembly, and triggered a global movement that brought proper sanitation to 2.5 billion people over the last 25 years. His experience in orchestrating a collaborative ecosystem is valuable for our learning journeys. He has also started the Next Billion Innovation Centre to help other social entrepreneurs and corporations scale up their impact.

Sessions by speaker

Leadership Spotlights

Day 1 | February 6, 2026

Lightning talks showcasing stories of leadership and transformation from across the ecosystem

About the Speaker

Janhvi Maheshwari Kanoria is Executive Director of the Innovation Development Directorate at Education Above All, where she designs and scales innovative solutions to expand quality learning for the world’s most marginalised children across 50+ countries. With experience spanning government policy, higher education, and K–12 schooling, she leads work on digital schools, literacy and numeracy programmes, and future-ready school models, using education as a pathway to social equity and resilience.

Sessions by speaker

Leadership Spotlights &,
Brain Date 3: Nurturing Student Agency and 21st Century Skills in Classroom

Day 1 | February 6, 2026

First session: Understanding how financial, social, and intellectual capital can fuel movements when anchored in trust and partnership.

Second session: Exploring how learning experiences can enable students to drive their own learning, with a focus on practices that develop critical thinking, collaboration, and problem solving, key skills for the 21st century

About the Speaker

Janine Weber-el Meouchy is the Executive Director of Teach For Lebanon, where she leads strategic efforts to strengthen the organisation’s impact in advancing educational equity across Lebanon. She joined Teach For Lebanon in May 2023, bringing two decades of experience with NGOs in the Middle East and a deep commitment to organisational development, governance, and international fundraising. Prior to this role, Janine worked in human rights and humanitarian aid in the German Parliament and led leadership and education programmes for emerging leaders in South-East Asia and the Middle East. Her work focuses on expanding access to quality education and fostering civic leadership among youth.

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About the Speaker

Jayshree Oberoi is Senior Director at The Akanksha Foundation, where she leads the Multiply Initiative, partnering with government systems to scale effective school transformation practices and improve learning outcomes. In this role, she works closely with government officials on advocacy, policy implementation, and building sustainable models for school development. With over three decades of experience, Jayshree brings a diverse background spanning school leadership, socio-emotional learning, environmental conservation, and people development. Prior to Akanksha, she worked with organisations including the Wildlife Institute of India, WWF-India, and the New England Aquarium. A teacher at heart, she is deeply committed to creating joyful, equitable learning spaces and empowering educators to lead change.g, she leads work on digital schools, literacy and numeracy programmes, and future-ready school models, using education as a pathway to social equity and resilience.

Sessions by speaker

Brain Date 3: Nurturing Student Agency and 21st Century Skills in Classroom

Day 2 | February 7, 2026

Exploring how learning experiences can enable students to drive their own learning, with a focus on practices that develop critical thinking, collaboration, and problem solving, key skills for the 21st century

About the Speaker

Jency Jacob is the Managing Editor of BOOM and has worked as a reporter and editor across Zee News, CNN-IBN, NDTV and Business Standard over the last 25 years. At BOOM, he set-up India’s first fact checking newsroom in 2016 and now manages a team of 25 enterprising fact checkers across India, Myanmar and Bangladesh. He also runs a daily business newsletter product called The Core. Jency is also a regular speaker at various national and international conferences, speaking about the importance of battling misinformation and the media’s role in countering them with credible and factual news stories. He has a bachelor’s degree in statistics and a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Bombay College of Journalism

Sessions by speaker

Brain Date 2: Evidence in Motion - Collectivising Knowledge for Impact

Day 1 | February 6, 2026

Unbundling how evidence and storytelling shape belief, guide decisions, and sustain long-term systemic change

About the Speaker

Karishma Galani is Co-Lead of the PraDigi Innovation Centre at Pratham International, where she builds generative AI-based education products and digital learning experiences for children across rural India and the Global South. With a decade in edtech, a Master’s in Education from Harvard University, and experience founding AI-based learning startups, she brings together learning science, product design, and technology to create playful, personalised tools that strengthen foundational skills at scale.

Sessions by speaker

Brain Date 1: Technology

Day 1 | February 6, 2026

Thematic open discussions curated by global institutions invoking curiosity, real stories, and meaningful connections

About the Speaker

Karishma Shanghvi is Director and Founder of Shikha Academy, a scalable school model providing high-quality, future-ready education to students from underserved backgrounds. She also leads Shikha Institute of Education and Shikha Labs, which focus on curriculum design and technology-enabled learning solutions. With academic training from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and advanced research in educational technology, she brings a research-driven lens to education reform. Karishma actively contributes to education and social impact networks and serves on boards advancing access, equity, and innovation in learning.

Sessions by speaker

Brain Date 1: Technology

Day 1 | February 6, 2026

Focusing on technology-led innovation in education, from AI-powered solutions to scalable digital platforms. The track brings together experienced voices from the field to share learnings, celebrate breakthrough ideas, and highlight solutions delivering real, system-level change.

About the Speaker

Kartik Dhar is the Global Chief Technology Officer at Project ECHO, overseeing the organisation’s technology vision and the development of iECHO, a population-scale digital platform that powers knowledge-sharing and capacity-building for healthcare providers in more than 200 countries and areas. Drawing on experience in consulting and startups, he leads the design of federated, microservices-based infrastructure that supports large public-health programmes—from India’s National TB and mental health programmes to global training initiatives—aimed at reaching millions of practitioners.

Sessions by speaker

Brain Date 1: Technology

Day 1 | February 6, 2026

Thematic open discussions curated by global institutions invoking curiosity, real stories, and meaningful connections

About the Speaker

 Kaustubh Srikanth is a Senior Program Manager at Wild Shaale, where he works at the intersection of education, ecology, and community engagement. His work focuses on integrating environmental learning into public education systems and nurturing children’s relationship with nature. Kaustubh collaborates closely with teachers, schools, and government stakeholders to design context-sensitive programmes that promote curiosity, care, and environmental responsibility among young learners.

Sessions by speaker

Growing Environmental Consciousness Through Collective Action

Day 2 | February 7, 2026

Positioning environmental consciousness at the heart of learning, explore how classrooms and systems can respond to children’s climate realities while fostering values, agency, and collective responsibility

About the Speaker

Kumari Shibulal is the Founder and Chairperson of The Shibulal Family Philanthropic Initiatives (SFPI), under which she has led a 25-year journey focused on transforming lives through education, healthcare, organic farming, and social welfare. Anchored in her belief that education is the cornerstone of nation-building, she has nurtured programmes such as Vidyadhan, Ankur, Vidyarakshak, The Samhita Academy, and ShikshaLokam, which expand access to quality learning and leadership development for students and school communities across India. Recognised among India’s most generous women philanthropists, Kumari continues to champion holistic, long-term investments that empower underserved families and build ecosystems of opportunity and dignity.

Sessions by speaker

Shikshagraha Awards

Day 1 | February 6, 2026

Recognising champion leaders who are driving equity and innovations in education ecosystem

About the Speaker

Lakshmi Pattabi Raman is Chief of Fund Orchestration at the Centre for Exponential Change, where she designs collaborative funding ecosystems to support system orchestrators tackling complex social challenges in education, health, livelihoods, equity, and climate at scale. With over two decades in the social sector, including roles at Omidyar Network India and The/Nudge, she bridges philanthropy, impact investing, and innovation to enable long-term, exponential impact for social entrepreneurs navigating interconnected problems. Her work emphasises co-creation, shared leadership, and reducing barriers for transformative journeys, fostering networks that amplify voices and capabilities in the global social innovation space.

Sessions by speaker

Brain Date 3 : Beyond Fundraising: Orchestrating Capital Flows for Systems Change

Day 1 | February 6, 2026

Understanding how financial, social, and intellectual capital can fuel movements when anchored in trust and partnership.

About the Speaker

Mamta Bisht is the Partnerships Manager at Involve, where she focuses on building and nurturing strategic collaborations to strengthen civic engagement and social impact. She works closely with diverse partners across sectors to support programmes that enable youth participation, democratic processes, and community leadership. Mamta brings strong relationship-building skills and a systems perspective, helping organisations work together towards shared social goals.

Sessions by speaker

Brain Date 3 - Nurturing Student Agency and 21st Century Skills in Classroom

Day 2 | February 7, 2026

Exploring how learning experiences can enable students to drive their own learning, with a focus on practices that develop critical thinking, collaboration, and problem solving, key skills for the 21st century

About the Speaker

Manisha Shah Nayyar is Philanthropy Partner (Asia) at Synergos, where she works with philanthropists and family offices to design collaborative, trust-based approaches that address complex social challenges across the region. Drawing on experience across private, nonprofit, and philanthropic sectors, she supports members of the Global Philanthropists Circle to shift from project-based giving to long-term, ecosystem-strengthening investments rooted in local leadership and systems change.

Sessions by speaker

Brain Date 3 : Beyond Fundraising: Orchestrating Capital Flows for Systems Change

Day 1 | February 6, 2026

Understanding how financial, social, and intellectual capital can fuel movements when anchored in trust and partnership.

About the Speaker

Medha Krishnan is Co-Founder and CEO of a STEM learning enterprise that runs Natkhat STEM Labs, creating hands-on, inquiry-based science experiences that help children become problem-solvers and critical thinkers. With a background in public policy and management and experience working at the intersection of education and innovation, she focuses on making high-quality STEM learning accessible to children in under-resourced settings through contextual, activity-based programmes.

Sessions by speaker

Brain Date 1: Growing Questions in STEM and Responsible AI

Day 2 | February 7, 2026

Thematic discussions curated by anchor organisations deep-diving into collective priorities and next steps

About the Speaker

Meenakshi Ramesh is CEO Designate of Pratham Education Foundation, one of India’s largest education nonprofits, marking a meaningful return to the organisation where she began her social sector journey as a volunteer 25 years ago. With more than two decades of leadership across education, civic engagement, and media, including co-founding Oorvani Foundation, she brings deep experience in building scalable social impact initiatives that improve learning at population scale. In her new role, she will help steer Pratham’s next phase of innovation and partnerships while upholding its mission of ensuring every child is in school and learning well.

Sessions by speaker

Painting a Vision for a Billion Futures: Learning’s from the Global South

Day 1 | February 6, 2026

A plenary-led launch, highlighting India’s leadership in shaping education transformation for the Global South

About the Speaker

Sessions by speaker

About the Speaker

Mukesh Digani is the Founder of Umang Democratic School, an alternative learning space grounded in democratic values and child-led education. He is deeply committed to rethinking schooling to centre student voice, agency, and holistic development. Through Umang, Mukesh works with children, educators, and families to create learning environments based on trust, freedom, and responsibility. His work challenges conventional models and opens new possibilities for meaningful education.

Sessions by speaker

Brain Date 3 - Nurturing Student Agency and 21st Century Skills in Classroom

Day 2 | February 7, 2026

Exploring how learning experiences can enable students to drive their own learning, with a focus on practices that develop critical thinking, collaboration, and problem solving, key skills for the 21st century

About the Speaker

Nita Aggarwal is the Associate Director – Programs, Asia at Co-Impact, where she works with governments, philanthropies, and civil society organisations to strengthen large-scale systems change across the region. She brings deep experience in designing and managing complex, multi-stakeholder programmes focused on equity, inclusion, and public systems strengthening. Nita has worked across education, health, and social development initiatives, supporting partners to translate evidence and learning into sustained impact. At Co-Impact, she plays a key role in advancing collaborative philanthropy and enabling long-term, locally rooted solutions that improve outcomes for communities across Asia.

Sessions by speaker

Brain Date 3: Beyond Fundraising: Orchestrating Capital Flows for Systems Change

Day 1 | February 6, 2026

Understanding how financial, social, and intellectual capital can fuel movements when anchored in trust and partnership.

About the Speaker

Nikunj Jhaveri is the Chairman and Founder of Systems Plus Group of Companies, which he established over four decades ago with a focus on building enduring, values-driven enterprises. Under his leadership, Systems Plus was an early adopter of the Global Capability Centre (GCC) model for mid-sized global companies, enabling access to India’s talent while preserving agility, culture, and control. He has built long-term partnerships with global enterprises grounded in trust and consistent delivery. Beyond business, Nikunj is committed to social impact through Systems Plus Cares, supporting grassroots work in education, health, and livelihoods, and mentoring young founders and students.

Sessions by speaker

Brain Date 3: Beyond Fundraising: Orchestrating Capital Flows for Systems Change

Day 1 | February 6, 2026

Understanding how financial, social, and intellectual capital can fuel movements when anchored in trust and partnership.

About the Speaker

Radha Ruparell is a global cross-sector leader with expertise in leadership development and personal transformation. She leads the Global Leadership Accelerator at Teach For All, working with social entrepreneurs across a global network of partner organisations to build leadership capacities in service of educational equity. Radha also serves as Chief Learning Officer at the Global Institute for Shaping a Better Future, where her work focuses on inner leadership and systems change. She brings experience working with senior leaders, social entrepreneurs, and grassroots practitioners worldwide. She holds dual master’s degrees from Harvard University and writes on leadership and personal transformation, including Brave Now.

Sessions by speaker

Brain Date 4: From Dialogue to Momentum: Why Intentional Spaces Matter?

Day 1 | February 6, 2026

Exploring need for intentional spaces of dialogue that build trust, align purpose, and turn fragmented efforts into collective momentum

About the Speaker

 Rahul Sunderajan is the State Director for WWF-India’s Karnataka State Office. He has extensive experience in conservation, sustainability, and programme leadership, working closely with communities, government agencies, and partners. Rahul’s work focuses on biodiversity conservation, climate action, and sustainable development, with an emphasis on collaborative and community-led approaches. He is committed to building partnerships that balance ecological protection with social and economic wellbeing.

Sessions by speaker

Growing Environmental Consciousness Through Collective Action

Day 2 | February 7, 2026

Positioning environmental consciousness at the heart of learning, explore how classrooms and systems can respond to children’s climate realities while fostering values, agency, and collective responsibility

About the Speaker

Raj Gilda is Co-Founder and Vice President of Lend A Hand India, a unique organisation integrating vocational education into the secondary school curriculum in partnership with 23 state governments across India. A banker-turned-social entrepreneur who previously worked with Citibank and Deloitte across the USA, UK, and India, he leads government relations, resource mobilisation, and international operations while managing programmes that reach 0.8 million students in 8500+ schools. Appointed to India’s National Skill Development Agency, Raj continues to advocate for policy and execution alignment to transform education and employability for rural youth. , she leads work on digital schools, literacy and numeracy programmes, and future-ready school models, using education as a pathway to social equity and resilience.

Sessions by speaker

Brain Date 3: Nurturing Student Agency and 21st Century Skills in Classroom

Day 2 | February 7, 2026

Exploring how learning experiences can enable students to drive their own learning, with a focus on practices that develop critical thinking, collaboration, and problem solving, key skills for the 21st century

About the Speaker

Ram Kamal is a distinguished mass communication professional, international journalist, and social engineering expert with decades of global experience across leading English newspapers and news agencies. He is the Publisher and Editor of Diversity, a parenting magazine for families of children with different abilities. Since 2010, he has focused on advancing accessibility and inclusive education, contributing to assistive technology design and policy shaping in India and internationally. A co-founder of Chakshumathi (Intuitive Mind), he works closely with global technology leaders to enable digital accessibility. Currently, he serves as Principal Advisor to Samagra Shiksha Andhra Pradesh, leading statewide transformation in inclusive education through digitally accessible pedagogy.

Sessions by speaker

In Their Shoes: Rethinking Childhood Through Inclusion

Day 2 | February 7, 2026

Through a future readiness lens, examine how education systems can truly enable all children to thrive, highlighting unseen voices, current practices and the systemic shifts needed for real, meaningful inclusion

About the Speaker

Regila Marinus is Co-Founder and CEO of Vidhya Vidhai Foundation, a social enterprise dedicated to transforming school leadership and fostering child-centred education in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Hyderabad. A social worker with an MA in Education specialising in School Organisation, Leadership, and Management from Azim Premji University, she leads efforts to bridge resourced and under-resourced schools by empowering headmasters, educators, and communities through sustainable capacity-building, school excellence models, and humanity-centred design approaches. Starting with two schools in 2017, Vidhya Vidhai now impacts 2 million students via 30,000 educational leaders, prototyping innovations and scaling systemic change for inclusive, real-life connected learning.

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About the Speaker

Rucha Pande is the Founder of CoLab Global, a learning and collaboration space that brings together education practitioners, researchers, and system leaders to explore how complex change happens in public education systems. Through her experience as Chief Operating Officer at Mantra4Change, she has helped build programmes and partnerships across multiple states, strengthening leadership development, collective action, and ecosystem collaborations such as the Punjab Education Collective. With a decade of work in the education sector and an MA in Education from Azim Premji University, she specialises in designing for scale, nurturing communities of practice, and translating field insights into practical tools for systems change.

Sessions by speaker

Brain Date 2 : Evidence in Motion - Collectivising Knowledge for Impact

Day 1 | February 6, 2026

Unbundling how evidence and storytelling shape belief, guide decisions, and sustain long-term systemic change

About the Speaker

Sagarika Ray is a social development leader with over 18 years of experience working across public education systems, gender equity, and community-led change. She currently serves as Head of Programs at Odisha Rising Foundation, where she leads multi-district education and livelihood initiatives across Odisha. Her work focuses on strengthening school and district systems through STEM education, teacher and school leadership development, and evidence-based improvement practices.

Sagarika has worked closely with government departments, civil society organisations, and CSR partners to design and scale programs that connect grassroots realities with policy priorities. Her experience spans multilingual education, education governance, adolescent empowerment, and gender-responsive programming.

Prior to her current role, she held leadership and advisory positions with Breakthrough, Oxfam India, and Sikshasandhan, supporting large-scale implementation, advocacy, and institutional strengthening. She holds an M.Phil in Sociology from Utkal University and a Master’s degree in Sociology from the Delhi School of Economics.

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About the Speaker

Saleem Khan is the India Managing Director at Code.org, the global non-profit expanding access to computer science and AI education in schools worldwide. He leads strategic partnerships, government engagement, and programme expansion across India to bring equitable CS learning opportunities to students of all backgrounds. Previously, Saleem held senior leadership roles in philanthropy and social impact, including Executive Director of the British Asian Trust in India, where he launched major development impact bonds and a $50 million Child Opportunity Fund, and Director of Philanthropy at The Bridgespan Group. He has also served as CEO of United Way India, scaling partnerships with governments, philanthropists and corporations to drive systems change.

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About the Speaker

Shri Sanjay Kumar is Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, Government of India, leading the implementation of the National Education Policy 2020 across the school system. A senior Indian Administrative Service officer, he brings decades of experience in governance and education, overseeing large-scale initiatives such as Samagra Shiksha, PM SHRI, and national efforts in foundational learning, digital education, and inclusion.

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Reflections

Day 1 | February 6, 2026

About the Speaker

Sanjay Purohit is the CEO and Chief Curator of the Centre for Exponential Change, where he advances “Societal Thinking” as an open approach to solving complex challenges at a population scale. With over three decades of experience across corporate and development sectors, he has worked with hundreds of change leaders in more than 20 countries on areas such as education, climate action, healthcare, gender equity, and livelihoods, helping them design for speed, scale, and sustainability. His work, captured in his “Think Books” and related writings, focuses on curating ideas, networks, and technology platforms that enable collaborative problem-solving, while he also mentors mission-driven organisations and co-founded apurva.ai to amplify collective wisdom through AI.

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Shikshagraha Utsav : Opening

Day 2 | February 7, 2026

Moving from ideas to action: Showcase & celebration of Shikshagraha in action

About the Speaker

Dr Santhosh Mathew is the India Country Lead for Public Policy and Finance at the Gates Foundation, where he leads work on state capacity, public finance, health systems design, and philanthropic partnerships. A political economist and former Indian Administrative Service officer of the Bihar cadre, he served for over three decades in senior roles including Additional Chief Secretary, Chair of the National Council for Teacher Education, and Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Rural Development. His work has spanned rural development, skills and employment, and education reform, combining policy design with on-the-ground implementation across Indian states. Dr Mathew continues to contribute to national and global development debates through board roles and advisory positions, advancing evidence-informed governance and investments that improve outcomes for low-income communities.

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About the Speaker

S. D. Shibulal is Co-founder of Infosys and one of India’s most respected technology and business leaders. After serving as CEO and MD of Infosys, he expanded his focus to entrepreneurship, impact-driven investments, and philanthropy. As Founder of ShikshaLokam, he is committed to strengthening India’s public education system through leadership development and collective action. His work spans digital public goods, systems transformation, and enabling millions of education leaders to drive micro-improvements within schools. Through initiatives under the Shibulal Family Philanthropic Investments, he supports large-scale programmes in learning, skilling, and societal development. He continues to champion technology-enabled solutions for inclusive and equitable growth.

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Welcome Address

Day 1 | February 6, 2026

Setting the stage for two-day dialogue towards strengtheing leadership for a billion learners

About the Speaker

Setu Modawal is the Partnerships Lead at Pravah, a youth leadership and education organisation working across India to build the agency of young people to make informed decisions, while also strengthening ecosystems that engage with young people. A corporate crossover with an early career in retail banking, she brings in over 15 years of hybrid experience that bridges corporate and social sector ways of thinking. Her work sits at the intersection of partnerships, fundraising, and strategic communications. Setu brings a systems lens to conversations on education and leadership, and is deeply interested in how learning spaces can nurture purpose, resilience, and collective responsibility.

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About the Speaker

Shruti Shibulal is Executive Vice Chair of Tamara Leisure Experiences, a hospitality group known for its commitment to responsible tourism and sustainable luxury. She has helped shape Tamara’s portfolio of resorts and hotels in India and Europe, embedding environmental stewardship, renewable energy use, and local employment into the core business model. A strong advocate for inclusive growth, Shruti launched SAATHIYA, a hospitality skilling initiative that equips young people from disadvantaged backgrounds with industry-relevant skills and career pathways in hotels and restaurants. She also serves as a Trustee of the Advaith Foundation, SD Foundation, and ATREE, where she supports programmes in education, healthcare, and ecological conservation that enable communities to thrive alongside thriving enterprises.

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Shikshagraha Utsav : Opening

Day 2 | February 7, 2026

Moving from ideas to action: Showcase & celebration of Shikshagraha in action

About the Speaker

Sonali Saini is Founder and Executive Director of Sol’s ARC (Sol’s Assessment and Remedial Centre), a nonprofit advancing inclusive education and better learning outcomes for children and youth from marginalised and vulnerable communities. A special educator and social entrepreneur, she has developed inclusive curricula, assessment tools, and technology-enabled models that support diverse learners, including children with disabilities, and partners with governments and NGOs to embed these approaches into mainstream education and skilling systems.

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Brain Date 4: In Their Shoes: Rethinking Childhood Through Inclusion

Day 2 | February 7, 2026

Thematic invite-only discussions curated by anchor organisations deep-diving into collective priorities and next steps

About the Speaker

Sophia Otoo is Programme and Community Lead at the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, part of the World Economic Forum, where she curates a global community of leading social innovators and their partners. Her work centres on designing programmes, peer-learning spaces, and platforms for collaboration that enable social entrepreneurs, public leaders, and businesses to co-create solutions and scale impact on systemic challenges worldwide.

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Brain Date 4: From Dialogue to Momentum: Why Intentional Spaces Matter?

Day 1 | February 6, 2026

Thematic open discussions curated by global institutions invoking curiosity, real stories, and meaningful connections

About the Speaker

Samuel Isaiah is the Executive Director of PEMIMPIN, an organisation committed to nurturing ethical, values-driven leadership. With a strong background in leadership development and youth engagement, Samuel works closely with educators, institutions, and communities to build reflective and responsible leaders. His work emphasises character, service, and collective growth. Samuel is known for his facilitative leadership style and his ability to create spaces for dialogue, learning, and personal transformation.

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Brain Date 4: From Dialogue to Momentum: Why Intentional Spaces Matter?

Day 1 | February 6, 2026

Exploring need for intentional spaces of dialogue that build trust, align purpose, and turn fragmented efforts into collective momentum

About the Speaker

Srikanth Gopalakrishnan is Chief Technology Officer at the Center for Open Societal Systems (COSS), where he works on leveraging technology to create societal impact across education, agriculture, digital identity, and language-based inclusion. With over two decades of experience, he has led large-scale technology initiatives across the US and India, spanning enterprise platforms at global firms including SAP, Industry 4.0 solutions using IoT and machine learning, and senior technology leadership roles at Deutsche Bank overseeing enterprise systems and India operations. He brings a background in engineering and technology leadership, with a focus on creating societal impact by applying digital solutions to broad developmental challenges.

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Brain Date 1: Impact Ignited- AI Powered Ideas in Action

Day 1 | February 6, 2026

Focusing on technology-led innovation in education, from AI-powered solutions to scalable digital platforms. The track brings together experienced voices from the field to share learnings, celebrate breakthrough ideas, and highlight solutions delivering real, system-level change.

About the Speaker

Dr Subramanian “Subi” Rangan is Professor of Strategy and Management at INSEAD, where he also holds the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Court Endowed Chair in Societal Progress. His work explores how leaders and institutions can integrate economic performance with social purpose, reimagining capitalism for an era of systemic challenges. A widely respected thinker, he founded the Society for Progress, a global community of scholars and practitioners examining the moral foundations of markets. His teaching and research span global strategy, sustainable development, and the evolution of leadership from transactional outcomes to transformational outlook. Dr Rangan is known for shaping conversations on responsible business and societal progress.

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Shikshagraha Awards

Day 1 | February 6, 2026

Recognising champion leaders who are driving equity and innovations in education ecosystem

About the Speaker

Sudarshan Poondi is a retired Partner from Deloitte India, with decades of experience in leadership, strategy, and organisational transformation. During his career, he worked closely with boards and senior leadership teams across sectors, helping organisations navigate growth, governance, and change. Post retirement, Sudarshan continues to engage with the social sector, mentoring leaders and supporting initiatives focused on education, leadership development, and systemic impact. He brings a practitioner’s perspective, deep strategic insight, and a strong commitment to purpose-driven work.

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Brain Date 3: Beyond Fundraising: Orchestrating Capital Flows for Systems Change

Day 1 | February 6, 2026

Understanding how financial, social, and intellectual capital can fuel movements when anchored in trust and partnership.

About the Speaker

Dr Urvashi Sahni is an educationist, social entrepreneur, and a leading voice in girls’ rights and feminist pedagogy in India. She is the President and CEO of the Study Hall Educational Foundation (SHEF), which delivers quality, rights-based education to thousands of girls from marginalised communities. As Co-founder of Catalyst 2030, she also helps convene global social innovators to accelerate systems change. Over four decades, her work has influenced national education policy, strengthened government partnerships, and advanced community-driven models of schooling. She is recognised internationally for developing scalable approaches that nurture agency, critical thinking, and leadership among girls, transforming both classrooms and communities.

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Shikshagraha Awards

Day 1 | February 6, 2026

Recognising champion leaders who are driving equity and innovations in education ecosystem

About the Speaker

Vyjayanthi Mala is Chief of the Open Learning Network at the Centre for Exponential Change, where she works on making “Societal Thinking” practices accessible to change leaders through open resources, communities, and learning experiences. A climate action enthusiast with a background in community building and communications, she curates stories, tools, and peer spaces that help practitioners across sectors design for scale, resilience, and shared ownership in their work.

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Brain Date 2 : Evidence in Motion - Collectivising Knowledge for Impact

Day 1 | February 6, 2026

Unbundling how evidence and storytelling shape belief, guide decisions, and sustain long-term systemic change

About the Speaker

Wendy Kopp is the CEO and Co-founder of Teach For All, a global network of independent organisations working to expand educational opportunity in over 60 countries. She founded Teach For America in 1990, catalysing a new generation of leaders committed to addressing educational inequity in the United States. With Teach For All, she has extended this mission globally by supporting locally led organisations and cultivating a worldwide community of educators, social entrepreneurs, and systems leaders. Wendy’s work has shaped education reform for over three decades, emphasising collective leadership, community partnership, and long-term systemic change to ensure every child can fulfil their potential.

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Fireside Chat: Leadership in the New Age

Day 1 | February 6, 2026

Exploring evolving models of leadership and collaboration from across the globe

About the Speaker

Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar is an elected member of parliament, representing the Mysore constituency in Karnataka and the 27th Custodian of the Royal House of Mysore, a lineage that has played a central role in Karnataka’s cultural, educational, and social development for centuries. Educated in economics and English literature in the United States, he combines heritage stewardship with a modern, community-oriented outlook. He is actively involved in philanthropic initiatives, cultural preservation, youth engagement, and public outreach on issues of regional and national significance. Yaduveer continues to champion Mysuru’s rich traditions while promoting progressive development rooted in social responsibility, sustainability, and public service.

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Shikshagraha Utsav : Opening

Day 2 | February 7, 2026

Moving from ideas to action: Showcase & celebration of Shikshagraha in action

About the Speaker

Saidevi (Sai) Sanjeeviraja is the Founder and CEO of Thicket Tales, a nature-based education initiative that reconnects children, families, and communities with the natural world through experiential, place-based learning. Growing up in the foothills of the Western Ghats shaped her belief that curiosity and inquiry are best nurtured through direct engagement with nature. Through programmes such as Learn Around Nature and Backyard Study Retreats, Thicket Tales has created immersive learning experiences for children across Bengaluru, integrating science, geography, and civic responsibility. Her work is grounded in inclusion, partnering with schools, communities, and public institutions to make nature-based learning accessible in urban contexts.

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Brain Date 2: Growing Environmental Consciousness Through Collective Action

Day 2 | February 7, 2026

Positioning environmental consciousness at the heart of learning, explore how classrooms and systems can respond to children’s climate realities while fostering values, agency, and collective responsibility

About the Speaker

Shabnam Sinha is an Independent Director on the Board of Airtel Payments Bank, where she chairs the Special Committee on Monitoring Frauds and serves on the Risk Management and IT Committees. With over three decades of experience, she has demonstrated leadership across development banking, investment and blended finance, public policy, and impact measurement. A former senior professional at the World Bank, she worked on governance, risk management, and results-based financing across South Asia, East Asia, and Africa. Her career spans senior roles in multilateral institutions, government, and the private sector, with sectoral expertise in MSMEs, skills and jobs, entrepreneurship, and technology-enabled education.

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Shikshagraha Awards

Day 1 | February 6, 2026

Recognising champion leaders who are driving equity and innovations in education ecosystem

About the Speaker

Vena Kapoor is the Founder and Lead of Nature Classrooms, an initiative that reimagines learning through nature-based education. With a strong belief that nature is a powerful teacher, she works with educators and schools to design learning experiences that foster curiosity, wellbeing, and ecological awareness. Vena’s work bridges education, sustainability, and child development, helping learners build deeper connections with the natural world while developing essential life skills.

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About the Speaker

Vidhya Meenambal is Director of the School Leadership Development Programme at Vidhya Vidhai Foundation, where she leads work to strengthen leadership, organisational capacity, and school culture in K–12 schools. The SLDP initiative partners with educators and school leaders to embed child-centred practices and sustained organisational improvement across diverse learning environments. A seasoned educationist and advocate for equitable learning systems, Vidhya brings deep experience in facilitating change, professional learning, and collaborative practice within school communities. She engages with practitioners, leaders, and sector partners to scale effective leadership models that support improved outcomes for children and their school ecosystems.rt diverse learners, including children with disabilities, and partners with governments and NGOs to embed these approaches into mainstream education and skilling systems.

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Brain Date 4: Inclusion

Day 2 | February 7, 2026

Through a future readiness lens, examine how education systems can truly enable all children to thrive, highlighting unseen voices, current practices and the systemic shifts needed for real, meaningful inclusion

About the Speaker

Vijayalaxmi Aramani is a 17-year-old Grade 11 student of The Samhita Academy, Bangalore, currently pursuing the PCMB stream and preparing for NEET. With a strong interest in understanding the human body, she aspires to become a paediatrician and contribute to the healthy growth and well-being of children. Coming from a humble background, she has developed discipline, resilience, and gratitude, which are reflected in her academic commitment and leadership roles. She has served as class prefect for two academic years, as Floor Captain at the boarding facility, and has actively volunteered for an anti-bullying campaign at her school.

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Fireside Chat: Leadership in the New Age

Day 1 | February 6, 2026

Exploring evolving models of leadership and collaboration from across the globe

About the Speaker

Vikram Bhat is the Chief Executive Officer of Scale Foundation, an organisation that enables funders, nonprofits and government to collectively create systemic impact. He brings a diverse blend of nonprofit and corporate experience across education, government, technology, and finance. Most recently, Vikram served as Director of the Bangalore International Centre. Earlier, he was part of the Education Task Force with the Government of Delhi, contributing to the transformation of Delhi’s government schools. He has also held leadership roles at Dream a Dream and Teach For India, and began his career in finance at Sanford Bernstein & Co.

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