D2L Connection: New Delhi

Ed Jager

Head of Trade and Investment, Canadian High Commission in India

Ed Jager leads the Canadian Pan-India trade and investment team from the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi. Ed is a Canadian Foreign Service Officer with many years of experience working with Canadian companies to open new markets and expand their presence abroad. After graduating from law school at the University of Western Ontario and being called to the bar in Ontario, he joined Global Affairs Canada in 1999. Since then, Ed has had postings in Indonesia, Peru, Afghanistan, Brazil, Mongolia and Taiwan.

At Global Affairs Canada HQ in Ottawa, he worked on Canada’s membership in APEC, Canada’s air transport agreements, and Canada’s export controls regime. In real life, he is a father of five and grandfather of 12; Ed misses his family, but is proud to serve Canadians abroad.

Dr. Buddha Chandrasekhar

CEO, Anuvadini AI
Chief Coordinating Officer, All India Council for Technical Education Ministry of Education, New Delhi

• Creator of Anuvadini AI
• Creator of Make in India Hyped Messenger and Desi AI Keyboard
• CEO & Director, Anuvadini Foundation (A section 8 Company), Ministry of Education
• Chief Coordinating Officer, AICTE, Ministry of Education
• National Member, National Instructional Media Institute (NIMI), Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship
• National Advisor, Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship  Advisor, NCCT, Ministry of Cooperation
• Creator of Indian Language Translation Tool (Anuvadini).
• National Digital Education Architecture Member (NDEAR)
• National Educational Technology Forum Member (NETF)
• AMRUT 2.0, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, National Coordinator for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
• National High power Committee Member of Indian Languages.
• University Grant Commission Skill Council Member (UGC).  Advisor New Delhi Management Institute
• Worked with Microsoft USA for Centre of Excellence for architecture Design
• Worked for 4 Smart City projects of USA (Washignton DC, Boston, SanFrancisco, San Francisco waste management)
• Started 6 Companies in UK & USA and sold to UK & US Companies
• Technologist & Project Manager proficient in executing complex Business intelligence,
• Artificial intelligence, Machine learning, Deep learning, Cyber security, Blockchain,
• Bigdata, Mobile, Enterprise and Internet of Things projects.
• Hands-on experience in Software, IT, Education, Smart cities, Critical Infrastructure,
• Urban, Finance, Skill development, Healthcare and Telecommunication domains
• Expert in managing advanced technologies, process, cyber security and
  people.
• Leading National Educational Alliance for Technology (NEAT), Ministry of Education Internship Enterprise Portal, Artificial Intelligence Language
  translation project, Social Justice Ministry Scholarship project, Indian Knowledge Systems (IT support), distributed 450 Crore free digital content, resources to Higher Education Students and various student upskilling initiatives
• Advisor, Andhra Pradesh State Skill Development Corporation (APSSDC).
  BoG Member of Board of Practical Training (BoPT), Eastern Region,
  Kolkata
  BoG Member of Board of Apprenticeship Training (BoAT), Chennai
• Technical Advisor for Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme
• Selection Committee Member for NITTTR Chennai
• Member of Expert Review Committee of “Establishment of National
• Additive Manufacturing Centre-West (NAMC-W)” of Ministry of Electronics and IT, GoI

Rajiv Tandon

CEO, BITS Pilani Digital

Rajiv Tandon is a higher education leader and institution builder with about 35 years of experience at the intersection of education, technology, and large scale learning transformation. Over the course of his career, he has witnessed and actively shaped the evolution of teaching technologies from early Linear Video Instruction to today’s advanced asynchronous, synchronous, and AI enabled digital ecosystems. His work spans diverse learner segments including K 12, college learners, and working professionals, and geographies across India, the United States, APAC, Latin America, and Africa. Rajiv’s professional journey uniquely bridges formal higher education, corporate capability building, global learning enterprises, and early stage education startups long before the term edtech became mainstream. He has worked towards building learning solutions for industries as varied as IT and ITES, manufacturing, automotive, energy, pharmaceuticals, and BFSI, helping organizations align education with real world workforce needs. This breadth of exposure shaped his core belief that technology is not merely a delivery channel for learning, but the foundational architecture that enables access, personalization, scale, and measurable outcomes.

Over the years, Rajiv has repeatedly been entrusted with institution building mandates at the highest level, serving as Chief Executive Officer across three distinct education businesses. He first led the online and distance learning division of a leading business school(IMT GZB) pioneering early models of technology enabled professional education. He later served for nearly a decade as CEO of BITS Pilani Work Integrated Learning Programmes, where he architected and scaled one of the world’s most distinctive work integrated higher education models. Built on a trilateral partnership between the university, employers, and working professionals, the model delivered employer contextualized, degree granting programmes in advanced engineering and engineering management domains directly at the workplace. Leveraging sophisticated digital platforms and blended delivery technologies, the division grew into a 45,000+ annual learner ecosystem, enabling enterprises to integrate learning into work while advancing talent acquisition, transformation, and retention at scale.

Today, as CEO of BITS Pilani Digital, Rajiv is spearheading the creation of a cloud born digital university built from first principles. He leads the design of a next generation learning environment that combines asynchronous and live learning, industry grade projects, AI and GPU powered labs, technology enabled student success systems, and automation across admissions, content, and academic operations. The model expands access while maintaining quality and outcomes, enabling learners from diverse geographies and life stages to pursue career transforming education.

Widely respected for his systems thinking, scale execution, and future ready vision, Rajiv continues to redefine how institutions can harness technology not just to digitize education, but to reimagine it.

Professor Padmanabha Ramanujam

Dean of Academic Governance and Student Life, O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU)

Professor Padmanabha Ramanujam is a distinguished legal academic and administrator, currently serving as the Dean of Academic Governance and Student Life at O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU). In this role, he has played a crucial part in shaping academic policies and fostering student engagement across the university’s vast network, which includes 12 interdisciplinary schools, over 15,000 students, and 4,000 faculty members and administrative staff. His leadership has contributed to the development of a dynamic academic environment that balances rigorous governance with student-centered initiatives.

Professor Ramanujam holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Intellectual Property Rights from the University of East Anglia, UK, where he graduated with distinction. His academic excellence has been recognized with numerous scholarships and awards, including the University of East Anglia International Scholarship, the Norwich Law School Scholarship, and the University of East Anglia Best International Applicant Award. Additionally, he was honored with the Distinguished Asia Link Fellowship, a prestigious program sponsored by the European Union, which he undertook at the Hamburg University Institute of Law and Economics, Germany, and the National Law School of India University, Bangalore.

At JGU, Professor Ramanujam began his academic career as a founding faculty member and has since held several key roles, including Associate Professor, Associate Dean (Admissions and Outreach), Director of Admissions and Outreach, and Joint Registrar for Institution Building. These positions allowed him to play a significant role in establishing the university’s governance framework during its formative years. He also served as a Consulting Advisor for the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) in the United States, where he successfully led efforts to increase LSAT India exam registrations and collaborated with numerous educational institutions across India.

Professor Padmanabha Ramanujam at present heads several key offices at JGU, including the Office of Digital Learning and Online Education, the Office of Ranking, Benchmarking, and Institutional Transformation (ORBIT), the Office of Career Services (OCS), the Office of Sustainability, the Office of English and Foreign Languages (OEFL), the Office of Alumni Relations (OAR), the Office of Institutional Advancement and Strategic Global Engagement (IASGE), and the Office of IT Governance & Digital Infrastructure. In addition to his administrative roles, Professor Ramanujam has made substantial contributions to legal scholarship. He authored a book titled The President of India and the Governance of Higher Education Institutions, published by LexisNexis, which explores the governance structures of higher education institutions in India. His areas of specialization include Law and Economics, Intellectual Property Law, Competition Law, and the Economic Analysis of Tort and Contract Law. Prof. Padmanabha was also among the select faculty members worldwide to be shortlisted for the prestigious THE Awards for Best Faculty.

Professor Ramanujam’s visionary leadership at JGU continues to make significant contributions to academic leadership and student engagement, reinforcing his commitment to advancing the governance and academic excellence of higher education institutions.

Dr Ganesh Prasad

Chief Information Officer, MAHE

Dr Ganesh Prasad, Chief Information Officer at MAHE is leading AI powered digital transformation called MAGIC.

With an accomplished career of 26 years in the IT Industry, Dr. Prasad brings in expertise in Digital Transformation, Enterprise Architecture Strategy, AI Innovation and Emerging Technologies. Throughout his career, he has successfully led large-scale projects across multiple industries, working with major clients across USA, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Malaysia, Thailand, and UK in the areas of Enterprise Solutions, AI-powered Transformation, Governance Frameworks, and Stakeholder Management.

Dr. Ganesh has held key leadership roles in globally renowned organizations, driving enterprise strategy and digital transformation. At CGI, he led AI & GenAI development and contributed to Smart City Transformation for Edinburgh. With the Scottish Government (AFRC), he streamlined agricultural funding through digital platforms. As Enterprise Architect at Post Nord, he optimized cross-border postal operations and at AON UK, he has automated reinsurance processes, revolutionizing financial services. He has also led transformational projects for Combined Insurance Australia, KLM Airlines and others, enhancing efficiencies across finance, insurance, logistics and aviation.

Hails from Udupi, Dr. Ganesh holds Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) from the Swiss School of Business and Management, Geneva. He has completed M.Tech from MIT Manipal and Bachelors from the Mangalore University. He has also completed Post Graduate Program (PGP) in AI & Machine Learning from McCombie School, Texas University (USA). Additionally, he holds several industry certifications, including Zachman Enterprise Architecture Framework (EAF), Risk Cost Driven Architecture (RCDA) and Azure Cloud Computing.

Married to Mrs. Katyayini, a homemaker, the couple is blessed with a daughter pursuing her education.

Dr. Gadapa Mallikarjuna

Director of the Centre for Distance and Online Education, Manipal University Jaipur

Dr. G. Mallikarjuna is Professor and Director of the Centre for Distance and Online Education at Manipal University Jaipur. With over 25 years of experience in higher education and 18 years of leadership across Manipal Group universities, he is recognized as an expert in online and distance learning, regulatory compliance, and large-scale examinations. Under his leadership, MUJ has built one of India’s fastest-growing online education ecosystems, enrolling over one lakh learners from more than 60 countries.

Dr. Jaskiran Kaur (MBA & Ph.D)

Director, IMS Ghaziabad

Dr. Jaskiran Kaur, is having more than two decades of experience working  nationally & internationally. She started her career with Singapore Management University and has worked with leading Indian universities , striving for excellence and achieving the highest accreditation.

Her core area of research is Microfinance & Women Empowerment. She has been awarded with the best research on Emotional Intelligence & Women Empowerment by Punjab University, Chandigarh in 2013. She  has 71 research papers (Including both National & International) and 10  patents to her credit, she has been serving as Pro Vice Chancellor in her  last assignment with NIMS University Jaipur, Rajasthan. Managing 19  Colleges with 10K + students from all streams including Medical & Non  Medical. She is an expert on implementing multidisciplinary approach as  per NEP 2020. She has also worked as a corporate consultant. Shepherded  18 National, 9 International Conferences and 8 Faculty Development  programs for more than 300 faculties.

She is an educationist throughout her career and also skilled in  developing a complete academic eco-system along with annual planning,  project management & new College establishments & affiliations with  outcome-based education stipulated under NAAC & NBA accreditation.  She is an active advisory Board member for different Universities of  Punjab & Haryana as a special invitee by Vice Chancellor, parallel to this  she is also an adjunct faculty with LINCON University Malaysia and  Concordia University and an invitee speaker at many National and  International Universities. She launched MBA Business Analytics, Operations Management & industry integrated courses for PTU affiliated  colleges & at NIMS, also worked closely with industry collaborated  academic programs. All together she possesses deep professional acumen and experience.

Abhishek Sharma

Chief Operating Officer, Victoria University India

Abhishek brings over two decades of rich experience leading Educational Institutions, building successful businesses and management consulting. He is passionate about transforming education in India, by making high quality global learning more accessible and inclusive.

As a CEO and Campus Director, Abhishek has led establishment and growth of 7 campuses across three renowned educational chains. In these roles, he handled a full spectrum of institutional functions – new campus setup, strategy, growth, operations and student experience.

Abhishek is a Computer Science Engineer and an MBA. He is an IIT Bombay Alumnus and a published author on Entrepreneurship. In his previous roles, he has served as a management consultant with EY and worked across India, Europe and Asia.

As COO of Victoria University’s India Campus, Abhishek will help bring Victoria University’s globally renowned academic standards as well as its internationally recognised and award-winning VU Block Model to India.

Professor Basuthkar Jagadeeshwar Rao

Vice-Chancellor (Officiating), Pro-Chancellor, SGT University

Current Position

Professor Basuthkar Jagadeeshwar Rao is currently Pro-Chancellor and Officiating Vice-Chancellor, SGT University, Gurugram.

Academic Career

• Former Vice-Chancellor, University of Hyderabad
• Senior Professor, Chair of Biology, and Dean–Faculty, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh
• For about 24 years, he was associated with the Biology Department at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai, where he served as Senior Professor and Chair of the Biology programme, before moving to IISER Tirupati in 2018
• Until March 2025, he additionally held charge as Chairman, Mahatma Gandhi National Council of Rural Education (MGNCRE), and mentored the Sarakka Central Tribal University (SSCTU), Mulugu

Education & Early Career

• National Science Talent Awardee (1st in Andhra Pradesh, 16th rank in India)
• Ph.D., Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru
• Research Scientist, Yale University School of Medicine, USA, prior to joining TIFR, Mumbai

Honours & Fellowships

• Fellow of all three National Academies of India
• Sir J. C. Bose Awardee, Department of Science & Technology
• Honoured by the Governor of Telangana on State Formation Day, at the Telangana Samskruthika Sambaralu, as part of the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programme, in recognition of his contribution to the State’s remarkable progress — June 2, 2025

Research Contributions

Prof. Rao has made fundamental contributions in Genome Biology and Cellular Regulation & Adaptation, with about 160 peer-reviewed international publications of high citation impact. His work spans experimental and theoretical biology, as well as chemistry and physics — reflecting his view of biology as a complex manifestation of the physics and chemistry of a dynamically evolving system, with an emphasis on the underlying design principles of biological systems.

Policy & Committee Roles

Prof. Rao has chaired and served as a member of several national and international committees on policy matters relating to science, technology, and education. He currently serves:

• Member, High-Level Committee constituted by the Ministry of Education to ensure the smooth conduct of examinations through the National Testing Agency (NTA)
• Member, High-Level Committee constituted by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, to celebrate the 200th Birth Anniversary of Maharishi Swami Dayanand Saraswati
• Chairperson, UGC Expert Committee to frame norms for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to enrol foreign students
• Chairman, UGC Draft Regulations Committee — Minimum Standards of Instruction for the Grant of the First Degree and Master’s Degree through Formal Education, Regulations 2003 — aligning with NEP recommendations on “Restructured Degree Programmes”
• Nodal Officer (nominated by UGC), Bharatiya Bhasha Samvardhan Samiti (Telugu), for the development of Telugu-language textbooks in support of mother-tongue education
• Member of several Search-cum-Selection Committees for the selection of Vice-Chancellors and Directors of universities and CSIR institutes

Editorial & Public Engagement

Prof. Rao has served as Chief Editor of the Journal of Biosciences, the flagship journal of the Indian Academy of Sciences published with Springer Nature, and has been instrumental in raising its impact. As a DST-INSPIRE teacher, he has articulated the excitement of contemporary basic biology to undergraduate students across India. He has travelled and lectured widely across the globe, delivering numerous technical and public lectures to varied audiences, and is a strong advocate of knowledge-centric, concept-oriented, interactive learning combined with a “do-it-yourself” critical-thinking model.

Reaching and inspiring young minds has been his abiding passion.

Dr. Pramod Kumar Sharma

Vice Chancellor, Sanskaram University

Profile At A Glance

Prof. (Dr.) Pramod Kumar Sharma

Pro Chancellor | Senior Higher Education Leader | Former Vice Chancellor

Pro Chancellor – Rbb Subharti University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand

32+ Years Of Experience In Higher Education, University Leadership, Governance, Quality, Research, And Innovation.

Current & Senior University Leadership

Pro Chancellor – Rbb Subharti University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand

Current Position Involving Senior-level Institutional Leadership, Governance, And Strategic Academic Responsibilities.

Vice Chancellor – Two University-level Academic And Administrative Leadership Assignments.

Direct Experience In Uttar Pradesh Higher Education

– Vice Chancellor – Swami Vivekanand Subharti University, Meerut
– Pro-vice Chancellor – Galgotias University, Greater Noida

Why My Profile Is Relevant

32+ Years

Extensive Experience In Higher Education Leadership And Administration.

Multi-level University Governance

Experience As Pro Chancellor, Vice Chancellor, And Pro-vice Chancellor.

Uttar Pradesh Experience

Direct Experience In University Governance, Academic Administration, And Institutional Development In Uttar Pradesh.

Public-service-oriented Leadership

Commitment To Merit, Integrity, Transparency, Impartiality, Objectivity, And Rule-based Decision-making.

Academic & Research Credentials

– Top 2% Scientist Listed In 2024 By Stanford University And Elsevier
– 400+ Research Publications
– 180+ Scopus-reported Publications
– 5,500+ Scopus Citations
– 15,400+ Google Scholar Citations
– H-index: 59
– I10-index: 200+
– 72 Patents Granted, Published, Or Filed
– Guided 14 Ph.d. Scholars

Core Governance & Institutional Expertise

University Governance

Academic Council, Board Of Studies, Statutory Processes, Academic Planning, And Institutional Development.

Quality & Regulatory Systems

Naac, NBA, Ugc, Aicte, Pci, Cpcsea, Nep, And Obe.

Human Resource & Academic Administration

Faculty Development, Academic Leadership, Institutional Coordination, Merit-based Systems, And Administrative Decision-making.

Research & Innovation

Research Strategy, Patents, Research Infrastructure, Funding Initiatives, Translational Research, And Industry/Institutional Collaboration.

My Value To The Commission

Experience → Institutional Understanding → Impartial Decision-making

My Professional Journey Combines Current Pro Chancellor-level Institutional Leadership, Two Vice Chancellor Assignments, Pro-vice Chancellor Experience In Uttar Pradesh, Academic Governance, Regulatory Understanding, Quality Assurance, Research Leadership, And Human-resource Management.

This Combination Provides A Practical Understanding Of The Importance Of Selecting Competent Teachers Through A Fair, Transparent, Objective, And Merit-based Process.

Service Commitment

Merit • Integrity • Impartiality • Transparency • Objectivity • Equal Opportunity • Rule-based Process • Public Interest

“If Entrusted With The Responsibility, I Shall Place My Experience In Higher Education Leadership At The Service Of A Fair, Transparent, Merit-based, And Institutionally Credible Selection Process, Guided By Rules And Public Interest.”

Prof. (Dr.) Pramod Kumar Sharma

Pro Chancellor – Rbb Subharti University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand

Former Vice Chancellor – Two Universities

Former Pro-vice Chancellor – Galgotias University, Uttar Pradesh

32+ Years Of Higher Education Leadership

Contact: [email protected] | +91-9899526752 / 9415187002

Parth Kotecha

Associate Vice President, Noble University
Author, International Motivational Speaker

Professional Experience

• Trustee, Noble Group Of Institutions
• President, Junagadh District Cricket Association
• President, Lohana Mahaparishad Youth Wing, Zone 3
• Associate Vice President, Noble University
• International Motivational Speaker And Trainer
• Contributed To The Institution’s Growth Through Innovative Leadership And Strategic Planning.
• Over 15 Years Of Experience In Education And Institutional Leadership.
• Hosted A Seminar At Vibrant Gujarat For 17 Plastic Industries And 19 Defence And Aerospace Companies.
• Conducted Impactful Programs To Empower Students And Educators.
• Conducted Training Programs For Corporate Organizations And The Student Community Across The Globe.
• Delivered Workshops And Seminars, Impacting The Lives Of Over 50,000 Individuals With A Unique And Engaging Style.
• Delivered Guest Lectures At Renowned Management Institutes In India.

Key Achievements

• Author: Wrote A Motivational Book Titled “Let’s Live Before We Leave,” Focusing On Family Values, Life Lessons, And Meaningful Living.
• Award Recipient : Honoured With The Prestigious “Gyan Ratna Award” By Aajkal Media Group For Contributions To Education And Social Welfare.
• National Recognition: Nominated As National Co-convener Of Vishva Gujarati Samaj Youth Wing.
• Leadership In Education: Played A Pivotal Role In Organizing Large-scale Educational Events And Student Development Programs.
• Community Engagement: Actively Participated In Social And Educational Initiatives Such As Saraswati Sanman Samaroh, Modi Parivar Sabha, And Edu Expo.
• Provided Motivation And Guidance To Thousands Of Students And Residents.

Vision For The Role

• Foster Community Development By Addressing Key Areas Such As Education, Healthcare, And Infrastructure.
• Empower Youth Through Skill Development, Entrepreneurship, And Quality Education.
• Ensure Transparency, Accountability, And Inclusive Governance To Improve The Quality Of Life For All Citizens.

Dr. Ankit Mundra

Deputy Director, Directorate of Quality & Compliance, Manipal University Jaipur

Dr. Ankit Mundra is a higher education quality assurance professional, academic auditor, and faculty member in the Department of Information Technology at Manipal University Jaipur. He currently serves as Deputy Director, Directorate of Quality & Compliance, where he leads initiatives related to institutional quality assurance, IQAC processes, accreditation, academic and administrative audits, regulatory compliance, and continuous quality improvement. With over 14 years of experience in higher education, he has played a pivotal role in driving accreditation and ranking initiatives including NAAC, NBA, NIRF, QS, and Times Higher Education, while supporting evidence-based governance and institutional excellence. His expertise spans quality systems, audit frameworks, KPI-based performance monitoring, strategic planning, and institutional effectiveness. In addition to his administrative leadership, Dr. Mundra is an accomplished academic with more than 48 research publications and several patents in the fields of cybersecurity and intelligent systems. 

Prof. (Dr.) V.K. Mittal

Vice Chancellor, Swami Vivekananda Subharti University

Prof. (Dr.) Vinay Kumar Mittal, Vice Chancellor, Swami Vivekanand Subhar@ University (SVSU) is a visionary academic leader, prolific researcher, known strategist and well respected mentor. He has diverse experience over 38 years across academia, research, defence and industry – including the Indian Air Force, MicrosoO IDC, leading universi@es/ ins@tutes and IT industry. He possesses a Ph.D. (Speech Signal Processing using AI & ML) from IIIT Hyderabad, M. Tech. (CSE) from IIT Madras, B. Tech. (ECE) from University of Roorkee (now IIT Roorkee), an MBA, and a PG Diploma in Aeronau@cal Engineering. He has performed different senior leadership roles at leading universi@es across India, including Director, Dean, Pro VC and CEO at corporate, playing a pivotal role in strengthening academics and research leading to organisa@onal growth.

As founding Professor of IIIT Chi3oor, Sri City, he established the ‘Centre for Smart Ci5es’ and ‘Design and Innova5on Centre’. He also lead team for seYng-up a ‘Fabrica5on-Lab’ at a leading university. He has introduced many disrup@ve academic paradigms, completed various Research Projects sponsored by Govt. of India and corporate, enabled indigenisa@on and was instrumental in fostering several na@onal and interna@onal collabora@ons with industry and academia. He has been awarded a Commenda5on from the Chief of Air Staff, the Mahalanobis Award at IIT Madras, different awards at MicrosoJ R&D India Pvt Ltd, Hyderabad, Leadership Excellence Award at a leading university and also the scholarship of Na5onal Talent Search Examina5on. He is a passionate and ac@ve researcher in AI, Cyber Security, Robo@cs, IoTs, Cyber Physical Systems, AV-EV, Drones, Humanoids, Speech and Brain-waves domains. He frequently serves as TPC member, reviewer, and Key-Note speaker at global events. He hold 02 patents, interna@onally recognised, published 125 research papers in high-impact journals and conferences.

The Swami Vivekanand Subhar5 University (SVSU), a NAAC cer@fied ‘Grade A’ university established in 2008, is a growing vibrant hub of innova@on and future-ready educa@on. Spread on a vast land, ‘Subhar@puram’, comprises 18 colleges offering 220+ innova@ve programs. Under the leadership of Dr. Mi3al, the SVSU is poised to be a leading university offering programs with curriculum aligned to emerging technologiessuch as AI, Cyber Security, Robo5cs, Drones, IoTs, Smart Ci5es and Cyber Physical Systems. The academic focus at SVSU is on Experien5al Learning and Interdisciplinary programs/courses, with na@onal and interna@onal collabora@ons. The unique emphasis at SVSU is on Samskara [Values] and Desh-Prem [Patrio5sm], apart from Shiksha [Educa5on] and Sewa [Service], as university’s four tenets. Its shining evidences are the Kargil Shaheed Upvan, Netaji Museum, and a Centre for Buddhist Studies. The SVSU also focuses on sustainable development goals, and houses green projects for solar energy and rainwater harves@ng. With collec@ve efforts, SVSU ranks as a renowned university, developing worldwide sought-aOer talent.

“A warm welcome to every dreamer and future leader,” says Prof. (Dr.) V. K. Mi3al. At SVSU, we live Swami Vivekananda’s vision—to build character, challenge intellect, and empower selfreliance. We are commi3ed to foster emerging technologies with simplicity, interdisciplinary research with sustainable goals, and experien@al learning with sound theore@cal depth. Our faculty members promote both professional and human development that is combined with integrity, compassion, and social responsibility. We believe in comprehensive development of our students, i.e., of body, mind, and spirit, so that our students emerge as confident, self-reliant torch-bearers of a new India, the Viksit Bharat by 2047. It should prove be a wonderful journey together towards knowledge, excellence, and brighter future. Jai Hind

Mr. Aman Bansal

Vice President, Dev Bhoomi Uttarakhand University

A prodigy of sorts, Mr. Aman Bansal, Vice President, Dev Bhoomi Uttarakhand University is heralding a new era in academic and business fields. With his exceptional leadership qualities,  business acumen and vision, he is set to etch a new path for the times to come. His academic  strategies have made Dev Bhoomi Uttarakhand University a well known name in every  household; a Higher Education Institution within the reach of masses.

An alumnus of Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Kashipur, Mr. Aman Bansal has taken up  the role and responsibilities bestowed upon him with much elan.

In the role of Vice President of Dev Bhoomi Uttarakhand University – a burgeoning academic  hub in Dehradun, Mr. Aman Bansal has taken the baton to usher the University to greater  heights. His focus remains outcome based education, experiential learning, innovation and  skilling the young generation to be responsible global citizens.

He has been a leading force behind the mega project of 181 room luxury resort and convention  center spread over 110 bigha of land at Bhagwanpur, Roorkee alongwith single handedly  shouldering three housing projects at Dehradun, he has exhibited his exceptional prowess to lead, influence and guide.

With the gift of the gab and passion for excellence, Mr. Aman Bansal is also leading the way for  yet another two educational institutions – Dev Bhoomi Group of Institutions, Saharanpur and  Shri Krishna Institute of Engineering & Technology” in Kurukshetra; two more feathers in his  cap.

A kind hearted soul, soft spoken and team worker, he believes to lead by example and chart his  own destiny with hardwork, perseverance and integrity.

Mr. Devender Saini

Group Chief Operating Officer, Medhavi Skills University

Devender K. Saini is a strategic leader, entrepreneur and institution-builder with over 18 years of experience across entrepreneurship, strategic planning, business transformation and organisational capability building.

He serves as Group Chief Operating Officer at Medhavi Group and Medhavi Skills University (MSU). Within Medhavi he leads strategy, new initiatives, partnerships and the development of industry-integrated education models, and has represented the ecosystem in engagements across industry, government and higher education. He is the founding leadership of MedhaviOne – a new venture under Medhavi Group – an education to employment platform. His work focuses on building education models that are industry-aligned, skills-first and globally relevant, with a strong emphasis on connecting learning with real-world workforce opportunities. This reflects his belief that the competitiveness of Indian higher education will increasingly depend on its ability to combine academic excellence with practical capability, innovation and global employability.

An alumnus of UIET, Kurukshetra University, he has also founded and led ventures including WiseQ Global, IndyWise, EVH Tech, Educon and Lineysha Consulting, with experience across mentoring, education, e-commerce, healthcare and public policy.

His areas of focus include higher education transformation, industry–academia collaboration, workforce readiness, institutional innovation, AI and emerging technologies, and the evolving role of universities in a globally competitive economy.

At D2L Connection, Devender brings the perspective of an institution-builder working to advance a critical question for India: How can Indian universities move beyond producing graduates to building globally competitive talent, institutions and capabilities?

Dr. Sunil Rai

Vice Chancellor, UPES

Dr. Sunil Rai is the Vice Chancellor of UPES and a distinguished academic leader with over four decades of experience spanning academia, defense, and the corporate sector. His professional journey includes 25 years in academics, 21 years in the Indian Navy, and leadership exposure in the corporate domain.

Prior to joining UPES, Dr. Rai served as the Vice Chancellor of MIT Art, Design and Technology University, Pune, and as a Director on the Board of the Maharashtra Information Technology Corporation, Government of Maharashtra.

Widely recognized for driving institutional transformation, Dr. Rai has held senior leadership positions including President, Vice Chancellor, Pro Vice Chancellor, Director, Dean, and Chairperson. He has played a pivotal role in strengthening universities through process-driven governance, faculty development, innovation, and accreditation-led growth.

Dr. Rai holds a PhD in Business Continuity Management from BITS Pilani, an MTech in Computer Science & Engineering from IIT Bombay, an MBA in Human Resources from IGNOU, a Master’s degree in Marine Engineering from the Naval College of Engineering (INS Shivaji), and a B.Sc. (Hons.) degree from Jawaharlal Nehru University.

His research interests focus on technology-enabled, people-centric change management and organizational development. He serves on the Board of Advisors for Outreach Programs at Virginia Tech, USA, and is the Co-Founder of Cambridge Global Partners, Edinburgh, a strategic consulting firm supporting academic and industrial organizations worldwide.

A respected thought leader and accomplished speaker, Dr. Rai has published extensively on Business Continuity and Higher Education and regularly contributes to management and education forums. He is widely known for his insightful perspectives on leadership, innovation, digital transformation, and the future of higher education.

A defense veteran, Dr. Rai served as a commissioned officer in the Indian Navy for 21 years, managing ships and technical establishments, including assignments on INS Vikrant, INS Nilgiri, INS Himgiri, and INS Shakti. These experiences continue to shape his disciplined, resilient, and mission-driven leadership style.

Dr. Jitin Chadha

Pro-Chancellor, University of Design, Innovation and Technology (UDIT)
Founder & CEO, AND Academy

Dr. Jitin Chadha is the Founder and Pro Chancellor of the University of Design, Innovation and Technology (UDIT). He founded and led Indian Institute of Art and Design (IIAD) for over a decade before evolving it into UDIT. Over more than two decades, he has built various institutions in collaboration with leading global universities, as well as established an online skilling platform, AND Academy.

He holds a Ph.D. in Finance from Delhi University, a Master’s in Economics and Finance from the University of Warwick, and an executive education in entrepreneurship from Stanford University, and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, London.

Based in Gurugram, at the heart of one of India’s densest concentrations of global corporations, UDIT is structured around three schools, Design, Management and Technology, that function as three lenses on the same problem rather than three silos. Assessment is portfolio-based: students are evaluated on what they build and defend, not what they recall.

Dr. Chadha’s work is grounded in a conviction that disciplinary fluency, the ability to operate across design, business and technology simultaneously rather than sequentially, is what the next generation of builders will need. He speaks and writes widely on design education, interdisciplinary learning and the future of institution-building in India.

He continues to lead UDIT’s growth, working closely with faculty, industry partners and students to test what a genuinely interdisciplinary university can look like when it is built from first principles rather than adapted from an existing template

Prof. Mukund Kulkarni

Vice Chancellor, Vishwakarma University

Prof. Mukund Kulkarni is an accomplished academic leader and higher education professional with over 25 + years of experience in teaching, research, academic administration, and institutional governance. He has served Vishwakarma University in several key leadership capacities, including Dean, Head of Department, and Chief Officer – Alumni & Outreach, contributing substantially to institutional development, academic excellence, digital transformation, accreditation initiatives, policy implementation, and student-centric reforms. 

His academic and research interests encompass Communication Engineering, Internet of Things (IoT), Machine Learning, and Biomedical Engineering. He has made significant contributions to research through numerous Scopus-indexed publications and a strong portfolio of published and granted patents, reflecting his commitment to innovation, interdisciplinary research, and technology-driven solutions. 

Prof. Kulkarni has also played an important role in strengthening Vishwakarma University’s internationalization and global academic engagement. He has contributed to academic collaborations, institutional interactions, and international partnerships involving institutions and stakeholders across the United States of America, Singapore, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Maldives, and Mauritius. His initiatives in promoting international academic partnerships, student mobility, knowledge exchange, and global exposure have supported the University’s vision of becoming a globally connected and future-ready institution. 

As an academic leader, Prof. Kulkarni actively promotes innovation, digital transformation, outcome-based education, and student-centric academic practices, with a strong emphasis on implementing the principles of NEP 2020. His leadership reflects a commitment to creating an inclusive, technology-enabled, industry-responsive, and globally oriented higher education ecosystem. 

Prof. Kulkarni is also actively associated with leading professional and academic bodies, including the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (IETE), Indian Society for Technical Education (ISTE), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and the Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Innovative Entrepreneurs & Engineers (AMIEE) Association. His continued engagement with these professional communities reinforces his commitment to lifelong learning, professional excellence, research, innovation, and the advancement of higher education. 

Through his academic leadership, research contributions, international engagement, and institutional initiatives, Prof. Mukund Kulkarni continues to contribute to the growth and transformation of Vishwakarma University as an innovative, inclusive, digitally enabled, and globally engaged institution of higher learning. 

Prof. (Dr.) Vivek Kumar

Vice Chancellor, Quantum University, Roorkee, India

Prof. (Dr.) Vivek Kumar is an eminent academic leader, researcher, and professor of Computer Science and Engineering, currently serving as the founding Vice Chancellor of Quantum University in Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India. With a distinguished career spanning over three decades in higher education, Dr. Kumar has established himself as a visionary administrator and a dedicated mentor committed to fostering interdisciplinary learning and academic excellence.

**Academic Leadership & Administration**
Prior to stepping into his current role as Vice Chancellor, Dr. Kumar spent approximately nine years as the Director-Principal of the Delhi College of Technology and Management (DCTM) in the Delhi-NCR region, where he successfully drove institutional growth and quality enhancement. His vast administrative expertise extends to national and international institutional evaluation; he serves as an expert evaluator for the National Board of Accreditation (NBA), the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), and ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology).

**Teaching & Research Contributions**
An passionate educator at heart, Dr. Kumar’s teaching portfolio includes cutting-edge domains such as Artificial Intelligence, Neural Networks, Fuzzy Logic, Distributed Systems, Digital Image Processing, and Theoretical Computer Science.

As a researcher, his work focuses heavily on soft-computing applications, Cloud Computing, Bioinformatics, and Software Engineering. Notably, he has leveraged his computational expertise to contribute to data-driven medical advancements, particularly in cancer research. Over his career, he has guided more than 48 M.Tech projects and successfully supervised numerous Ph.D. scholars into the academic and corporate sectors.

**Professional Affiliations & Recognitions**
Dr. Kumar is an active contributor to the global engineering and computing community. He holds senior memberships in several prestigious professional bodies, including:

• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) – Senior Member
• Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) – Senior Member
• Computer Society of India (CSI) – Senior Member

Through his blend of rigorous academic scholarship, industry-aligned curriculum design, and strategic administrative governance, Dr. Kumar continues to shape Quantum University into a hub for modern, future-ready higher education.

Dr. Girish Desai

Executive Director, Pimpri Chinchwad Education Trust & Pimpri Chinchwad University

For more than three decades, Dr. Girish Desai has demonstrated visionary leadership by successfully integrating academic excellence, industry collaboration, and social responsibility.

Transformative Leadership in Education

Under the leadership of Pimpri Chinchwad Education Trust, Pimpri Chinchwad University, and Nutan Maharashtra Vidya Prasarak Mandal, Dr. Desai has played a pivotal role in building a strong and impactful educational ecosystem that shapes the future of thousands of students every year.

With his visionary approach, PCET has emerged as one of Maharashtra’s dynamic educational groups, providing education to more than 22,000 students from KG to PhD. The institution is widely recognised for its industry-oriented, skill-based, and future-focused education system.

As the Executive Director of Pimpri Chinchwad University, he has established new benchmarks in higher education in Pune. Today, PCU stands as a progressive institution known for modern, experiential, industry-integrated, and innovation-driven learning.

While leading the 113-year-old legacy institution NMVPM, Dr. Desai has successfully preserved its rich educational heritage while introducing modern reforms, making the institution more student-centric and future-ready.

Contribution to Rural Development

Beyond education, Dr. Desai’s contributions to rural development have also been significant. As Secretary of Shankarrao Patil Charitable Trust, he has led impactful initiatives focused on rural development, skill enhancement, livelihood generation, and inclusive community empowerment.

His leadership has strengthened rural institutions, promoted skill development, and created sustainable opportunities for long-term social progress.

Leadership in Governance and Technology

As an Independent Director at Fidel Softech Limited, Dr. Desai has contributed strategically towards technology adoption, digital transformation, governance, and institutional excellence, reflecting the versatility of his leadership across sectors.

Over the years, Dr. Desai has earned recognition as an educationist, administrator, advocate for rural development, and thought leader in governance. His unwavering commitment to societal progress continues to positively impact thousands of lives.

Prof. (Dr.) Anil Kumar Saini

Vice Chancellor, KR Mangalam University, Haryana

Prof. (Dr.) Anil Kumar Saini is a distinguished academician, researcher, and institution builder with over 42 years of experience across higher education, research, administration, and policy.

At Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, where he served for more than 21 years, he held senior leadership roles, including Dean of the School of Management Studies, Dean of the School of Mass Communication, Director of the East Delhi Campus, Director of Distance & Online Education, and Director of Development & IQAC — driving academic innovation, governance reform, and quality assurance initiatives that strengthened the university’s institutional standing and national rankings.

An alumnus of the Faculty of Management Studies, University of Delhi, and Kurukshetra University, he holds postgraduate qualifications in physics, computer science, and management, with a doctorate in information systems. His scholarly output includes 24 books, 121+ research papers, and 21 doctoral scholars supervised to completion. He has taught in Europe and contributed to national policy through several professional organisations and sector skill councils.

Prof. Saini’s work sits at the intersection of academic rigour and institutional pragmatism — shaping future-ready and globally aligned higher education ecosystems in India.

Mullai Balakrishnan

Head of Information Technology, BITS Pilani Digital

Mullai Balakrishnan is the Head of Information Technology at BITS Pilani Digital, with over two decades of experience in IT leadership and technology management. She has previously held leadership roles at Wells Fargo, IBM, and Monsanto, where she focused on technology strategy, digital transformation, and building scalable and resilient technology ecosystems aligned with organizational growth. 

Her expertise spans enterprise architecture, IT governance, compliance and controls, infrastructure, service delivery, and operational excellence. She is also AI/ML certified from IIT Kanpur, bringing a strong perspective on leveraging emerging technologies to drive business value and innovation. 

Haindavi Reddy Karumuri

Head of Digital Content, BITS Pilani Digital

Haindavi lead Digital Learning initiatives at BITS Pilani Digital, with a focus on designing high-quality, scalable learning experiences for higher education. Her work brings together learning design, digital content, faculty enablement, quality, and technology-led delivery to translate academic intent into meaningful learner experiences at scale. She is particularly interested in how innovative pedagogy, personalization, AI, and learning platforms can be used thoughtfully to make learning more engaging, effective, and relevant.

N Admin

Product Designer, CivicDataLab

N Admin is a Product Designer at CivicDataLab, working across product strategy, user experience, and interface design. With experience across enterprise software, open-source platforms, and digital products, he works across the product lifecycle, from defining problems and shaping strategy to designing and delivering user experiences.

Lee Poteck

Chief Revenue Officer, D2L

Lee Poteck is Chief Revenue Officer of D2L and Chief Executive Officer of D2L India Private Ltd. As global CRO, he leads D2L’s worldwide go-to-market strategy across Sales, Customer Success, Partnerships, and Revenue Operations, driving scalable growth, customer retention, and long-term value creation across corporate and education markets. As CEO of D2L India, he oversees strategic direction and operational leadership in one of the company’s key international regions.

With more than a decade of leadership at D2L, Lee has held progressively senior roles, including Senior Vice President of Sales & Customer Success, Vice President of Education Sales, and Vice President of Client Sales. He has played a central role in scaling D2L’s organization globally, strengthening customer value as a strategic growth engine, and expanding the company’s partner ecosystem worldwide.

Prior to joining D2L in 2012, Lee worked at BlackBerry (formerly Research In Motion), building foundational experience in enterprise technology.

Lee holds an Honors Bachelor of Science degree from Western University, a Master’s of Business Entrepreneurship & Technology from the University of Waterloo, and multiple Executive Education Certificates from Queen’s University Smith School of Business.

Lee resides in Ontario, Canada with his wife, two daughters, and standard poodle.

Brian Finnerty

Chief Marketing Officer, D2L

Brian is a dynamic marketing leader with extensive experience building successful go-to-market teams. He believes in the transformative power of marketing, leveraging a potent combination of brand strength, targeted demand generation, tight sales alignment, and compelling customer stories.

Prior to D2L, Brian has held pivotal leadership roles at high growth companies including Udacity, Demandbase, Marin Software, and Skillsoft. He has been a driving force behind aligning sales and marketing around a bold and compelling message – resulting in quality pipeline generation, increased bookings, and strong customer retention.

Brian has an unshakable belief that marketing offers one of the most enjoyable and rewarding careers available. He lives in San Francisco with his wife, three boys, and two very friendly chocolate labradors.

Stewart Watts

Senior Vice President, APAC & EMEA, D2L

Stewart Watts is Senior Vice President, EMEA & APAC Sales, at D2L. He leads the company’s commercial activities east of the Americas—across the Asia-Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa regions.

A graduate of The University of Nottingham, Stewart holds an MA (Hons) in Hispanic Studies and has worked in the software industry within education and learning since 2011. Stewart moved to D2L in January 2016 having previously spent close to five years at software and services firm Blackbaud Inc., where he ran commercial operations within the European division.

Stewart was brought up in Bolton, Greater Manchester, in the north of England and now lives in Surrey with his wife and two children. Stewart describes himself as a “spare bedroom musician,” a “wannabe Tiger Woods,” and a “long-suffering Manchester United fan,” with his passions for music, golf and football taking up the majority of his free time.