Ajay Arora has over 30 years of experience in strategic planning, operations, and enterprise transformation. He has led corporate and growth strategies, investment evaluations, business turnarounds, and M&A initiatives, with deep expertise in lean manufacturing systems including the Toyota Production System.

He currently serves as Senior Vice President – Strategic Planning & Projects at Hero Enterprise, where he drives new business initiatives, value enhancement across core operations, and holds CEO responsibilities for select ventures.

Dr. Naveen Arulselvan leads the full-stack technology for industrial autonomous mobile robots—from 3D-LiDAR perception and navigation to fleet orchestration and safety. He holds an M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Northwestern University, and previously worked on wireless networks at Motorola and Altiostar (now part of Rakuten); he has also served as visiting faculty at IISc’s Center for Cyber-Physical Systems.

Module Xero is a think tank and learning and development venture exploring what responsible leadership looks like in the age of AI.

Sheena argues that most AI failures aren't technical. They're failures of leadership mindset and conscience, a conviction earned at the front line of how technology reshapes institutions. She spent 8+ years at Google leading APAC-wide Google News Initiative programmes, including the GNI Data Labs, Subscription Lab, and Design Accelerator, before founding Module Xero.

Through the Responsible Leadership Initiative, Sheena runs research tracking how leaders navigate the GenAI era, retreats pairing senior leaders with multidisciplinary experts, and a growing community committed to values-led action.

Sheena speaks across conference stages, industry platforms, and university halls, challenging leaders with one core provocation: technological fluency without human and ethical grounding is where leadership fails.

Distinguished Professor Madhu Bhaskaran is a multi-award winning electronics engineer and innovator. She is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering. She co-leads the Functional Materials and Microsystems Research Group at RMIT University which she established in 2010.

She is the Director of the Discovery to Device Medtech Prototyping Facility at RMIT University. Her work on electronic skin and wearable sensors has been patented, and her group now works collaboratively with multiple industry and design partners to commercialise the technology for healthcare and aged care.

She is a passionate advocate for equity and diversity and she proudly co-leads Women in STEMM Australia.

An accomplished engineering leader, Navin oversees the business operations, drives growth, and represents the company externally, having also led Custom ASIC Design for Networking, Processor, Cloud, Automotive, and AI/ML applications.

Previously, Navin worked with IBM, Freescale, Cadence, and TI on automotive, consumer, and custom ASIC designs. He holds a bachelor's degree in Electronics and Communication from NIT Surathkal and has been active contributor in EDA forums, engineering conferences, and industry associations.

Navin is a founding member of ITC India and TTTC India, promoting DFT/Test in the Indian semiconductor ecosystem. He served as General Chair of ITC India for five years and recently chaired VLSID 2025 to boost semiconductor innovation in India.

He has contributed to the Karnataka state skilling as well as startup committee and the India Semiconductor R&D ecosystem committee. He serves on the advisory board for Semiconductor solutions companies in India and US. Navin is also an Executive Council Member, serving as Chairperson of the India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA).

Ankit Bose leads the AI vertical at Nasscom with a clear conviction that 'AI must scale with trust, not hype'. He works at the intersection of policy, innovation, startups, research, and enterprise adoption, thereby helping organisations move from pilots to production-grade AI that businesses can run and engineers can implement. His mission is to turn India’s diversity and scale into a global advantage, shaping the 'Safe, Trusted, and Scalable AI' and unlocking a $500B opportunity through execution.

As head of Nasscom AI, Ankit architects ecosystem programs like the Nasscom GenAI Foundry to connect deep-tech startups with enterprise demand, leads the Nasscom Responsible AI practices around safety and accountability, and guides CXOs through adoption frameworks and maturity benchmarks.

With experience spanning across multiple domains like engineering, consulting, strategy, and operations across the America, Europe, MEA, and APAC, he translates code-level realities into boardroom decisions and back into action.

A 'techno-futurist' at heart, he believes technology’s real success is measured by meaningful impact.

With 23+ years across EMEA and APAC, Amit helps organisations make smarter, evidence-based decisions and deliver complex transformations at scale. He has led global technology transformation programs worth $6B+, guiding enterprises through digital disruption with strategies that turn strategic vision into measurable outcomes. Trusted by executives for my mix of research depth and execution focus he is regarded as the go-to-expert in product turnaround and strategy redesign.

Amit holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Nuclear Chemistry from the University of Poona, completed his MBA in Strategy from University of Poona, and was further selected for the Executive Program in Strategy Management from Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.

Kunal’s experience spans financial services, enterprise risk governance, AI, and technology transformation. He specialises in helping organisations connect risk strategy, technology execution, and responsible AI adoption at enterprise scale.

At Standard Chartered Bank, Kunal leads governance and digital transformation initiatives within Group Risk Governance. His work focuses on bridging C-suite vision with practical execution by turning complex risk, control, and technology priorities into scalable governance solutions.

His strategic focus is on helping C-suite risk and technology leaders on AI governance, agentic AI risk, runtime controls, AI-first risk infrastructure, and responsible AI adoption. Kunal is an active thought contributor on enterprise AI governance and the future of AI-native operating models, sharing practitioner perspectives through speaking, writing and industry forums focused on AI governance, enterprise transformation and responsible technology adoption.

Ravi Devulapally works at the intersection of AI, strategy, and execution, enabling the real-world use of AI to turn ambitious ideas into outcomes.

As Head of Business Process and Technology at Bhartiya Group, he leads digital and AI-driven transformation across construction, real estate, and hospitality—positioning AI as a decision-making layer that brings clarity, speed, and predictability to complex operations.

He believes AI is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to unlock exponential impact at company, industry, and societal levels, making it possible to realize large-scale aspirations within a single lifetime.

With over two decades of experience across healthcare, retail, construction, hospitality, agriculture, and education—and exposure to technologies spanning enterprise systems, cloud, AR/VR, IoT, and AI—Ravi specializes in helping leadership teams translate vision into structured, scalable execution.

Sharbani Dhar is the Founder and CEO of DotInfinity, a business advisory focused on human-centric AI led product strategy. Awarded as ISG Digital Titan in 2023, she is recognised for driving customer-led innovation and business transformation for complex organisations. With over 15 years of experience leading high-impact digital initiatives across government, finance, and technology, Sharbani brings deep expertise in strategy, systems thinking, and ethical AI adoption.

A passionate advocate for collaborative innovation, Sharbani builds strategic partnerships between Australian and Indian businesses to drive meaningful cross-border collaboration. Recently appointed as one of only 21 Asian-Australians shaping bilateral dialogue and policy on technology across Australia and the wider APAC region, she brings a unique lens of cultural and strategic insight. Beyond her international work, Sharbani serves as a Consumer Advisor to Monash Health, contributes to multiple advisory boards, and mentors young migrants as they navigate and grow their careers in Australia.

With over 20 years of expertise in software product development and management, Prakhyath has garnered extensive experience in various tech stacks. Throughout his career, he has successfully designed and developed multiple large-scale (300M+) B2C and B2B products across diverse platforms. Additionally, he has played a pivotal role in rapidly expanding the engineering team, emphasising leadership, mentorship and effectively scaling engineering teams to achieve exceptional proficiency.

Damith Herath explores the intersection of human-robot interaction and the arts, working to advance secure robotics frameworks through public science communication and collaborative industry partnerships. He is a Professor of Robotics and Art at the University of Canberra and founding director of the Collaborative Robotics Lab, a transdisciplinary research group for human-centred robotics. Damith also founded Robological, Australia's first collaborative robotics startup and winner of the Most Innovative Young Tech Company award at Tech23. Over the past two decades, he has focused on building a community around the robotic art subdiscipline within robotics, helping to establish its ongoing presence by serving in program chair roles at international conferences, including IEEE ICRA. Deeply committed to interdisciplinary education, he develops foundational curricula and serves as the lead editor for key texts bridging these fields, including Foundations of Robotics and the highly influential Robots and Art – Exploring an Unlikely Symbiosis.

Third Derivative is the world's largest ClimateTech accelerator and an active angel investor in the climate and deeptech more broadly. Alex leads diligence and research on the electricity sector, including clean firm power for data centers, and numerous startups leveraging AI to optimize the grid and integrate renewables. Alex has previously worked in DFIs (IFC and ISA), consulting (BCG) and for a publicly owned integrated utility.

Professor Payyazhi Jayashree is Rector of UNSW Bengaluru and an internationally recognised educator and leadership scholar with more than two decades of experience in transnational higher education and academic leadership. Previously Dean and Professor of Management at the University of Wollongong in Dubai, she led academic strategy, innovation, accreditation and quality assurance across global education environments. Her expertise spans strategic change, business transformation, women in leadership, and the alignment of education with industry and emerging technologies. As founding Rector of UNSW Bengaluru, she is leading the development of UNSW's India campus, with a strong focus on globally benchmarked education, future-ready skills, industry engagement and responsible innovation.

Kedar Joshi brings over 30 years of global experience in internal audit and risk assurance functions with a specialisation in banking and financial services industry.

Prior to joining Axis Bank in June 2025, Kedar worked at Bank of America for over 18 years in India and Hong Kong. In his most recent role, he was the APAC Regional Head of Audit overseeing audit coverage of the bank’s APAC franchise across 12 countries, as well as Global Business Services, which is BofA’s offshore operations. Prior to that, Kedar worked with Scotiabank in Canada in assurance / audit roles, and with KPMG in external audit / consulting roles in UAE / Mumbai. Over the years, Kedar has lived and worked across multiple geographies, including Hong Kong, Canada, the UAE, and India, giving him a truly global perspective on risk, resilience, and governance.

Kedar is a Chartered Accountant (CA) from India and Canada, and a CFA Charter holder from the USA.

Venerable Dr Juewei is Associate Professor and Head of Program for Applied Buddhist Studies and Humanistic Buddhism, and Director of the Humanistic Buddhism Centre at Nan Tien Institute. An ordained monastic in the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist order since 2002, she brings over two decades of experience as a scholar-practitioner applying lived Buddhist wisdom to the challenges of our complex contemporary world. Before ordination, she worked for over a decade in the Singapore government, applying research in artificial intelligence and business process re-engineering to real-world public-sector problems. Currently, her interdisciplinary profile is reflected in her teaching and public engagement on ethics and AI, including invited contributions on the ethical standing of AI from a Buddhist perspective. She contributes a values-informed perspective on governance that foregrounds human wellbeing, social trust, and ethical responsibility in digital systems. Juewei’s scholarship focuses on Humanistic Buddhism, acculturation, and responses to contemporary issues including artificial intelligence, economics, and social crises. She frequently contributes to public discourse on ethics and technology, including speaking on panels and interviews addressing artificial intelligence from Buddhist perspectives.

K. D. Kamble is a distinguished public sector leader, food technologist, and rural development strategist with over four decades of leadership across Government of India institutions. He served as Joint Chief Executive Officer at the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), Ministry of MSME, where he led the nationwide implementation of flagship initiatives including PMEGP and drove large-scale rural industrialisation and livelihood generation.

Throughout his tenure, Mr. Kamble has demonstrated deep expertise in national policy execution, cluster development (including SFURTI and the Honey Mission), and agri-value chain transformation. He has been instrumental in building inclusive growth models, strengthening entrepreneurship ecosystems, and fostering effective public–private partnerships across diverse sectors.

His career spans senior leadership roles across KVIC, MGIRI (Wardha), YASHADA (Pune), and Modern Food Industries Ltd., where he led initiatives in food processing, quality systems, technology transfer, and institutional capacity building. He continues to provide strategic advisory across government and industry, with a focus on rural enterprise development, export promotion, and sustainable economic growth.

Suchindra Kanakanapalya is a strategic advisor, venture capitalist, and transformation leader whose expertise spans 14 industry sectors, including deep tech, healthcare, retail, and telecommunications. His work sits at the intersection of corporate strategy, global investments, and high-impact digital transformations—driven by a passion for scaling businesses and mentoring the next generation of founders.

With over two decades of global experience, Suchindra has architected complex, multi-million-dollar transformations for major enterprises during his tenures at Deloitte, EY, and TCS. Today, he is a General Partner at Eagle10 Ventures and runs a global investment syndicate of 150 investors that has backed 20 promising startups across AI, education, and sustainable mobility. He is also a Strategic Advisor to high-growth ventures such as PieFly, Kriya Quest, and GAFA, guiding their go-to-market and growth roadmaps. An avid ultramarathoner and dedicated community coach, Suchindra brings a unique endurance mindset to solving complex corporate challenges.

At this year's convening, Suchindra will explore the evolving dynamics of venture capital, the intersection of Education, AI, sustainability and deep tech in scaling start-ups, and how leaders can build resilient, future-ready organisations in an era of rapid disruption.

Raj Kapoor is a globally recognized thought leader in blockchain, AI, and emerging technologies. He is the Founder of the India Blockchain Alliance, Chairman of the India AI Alliance and Global Alliance for Artificial Intelligence and Innovation and serves on the advisory boards of over 80 tech firms worldwide. A certified Bitcoin professional and blockchain architect, Raj has led pioneering projects including e-Notary services for the Government of India and Nigeria's CBDC initiative. He has authored 20+ tech courses, is a four-time TEDx speaker, G20 representative, and regular media contributor. As Global CEO of India's first indigenous blockchain, and a mentor with Techstars and IIMHF, he's committed to tech-driven impact aligned with the UN SDGs. Raj's work bridges innovation, education, governance, and ethical tech adoption globally.

Previously, Dr Kar was the Director Medical Services at Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals Kolkata. He obtained his post graduate MD in Clinical Microbiology (and Infectious Diseases) and is an alumnus of MIT Sloan of Management (EPGM). He is a Certified Six Sigma Master Black Belt (ISI) and member of professional organizations like ACHE, CHIME and SIG – International Hospital Federation. Sujoy is the Co-Director of Centre for Digital Health and Precision Medicine (with The Apollo University and University of Leicester) and the Regional Lead – India for MIT J Clinic.

He is currently associated with IIM Calcutta as Adjunct Faculty for Healthcare Analytics and Management, Apollo University as Adjunct Professor for Health Sciences, and Honorary Professor for College of Health Science, University of Leicester. He has led teams in multiple award-winning AI Innovations, Patient Safety & Process Improvement projects. His current and ongoing research interests are in data and implementation science of Clinical Artificial Intelligence, Time Driven Activity Based Costing, Living Labs, Digital Health Platforms and Design Thinking in Healthcare.

Professor Sarath Kodagoda is a thought leader known for advancing robotic systems. As the inaugural Director of the UTS Robotics Institute, he has driven transformative a growth during the challenging operational period. As former President of the Australian Robotics and Automation Association (ARAA) and Co-Chair of the Robotics Roadmap for Australia, he has been influencing in shaping the nation’s robotics landscape. Recipient of ten research awards, including global water accolades, he is a frequent media voice on robotics and AI.

A dedicated educator, he pioneered innovative mechatronics programs at UTS, earning three teaching awards. He champions human-centred robotics for safer, more efficient, and sustainable operations.

John Ignatius Kujur is the Founder and CEO of GenElek Technologies, a Delhi-based medical robotics company he started in 2018. GenElek designs and manufactures powered robotic exoskeletons entirely in India, spanning clinical lower-limb systems used in rehabilitation for stroke, spinal cord injury and cerebral palsy, and a range of industrial exoskeletons that reduce fatigue and musculoskeletal injury for warehouse and manufacturing workers.

GenElek holds granted patents and a registered design, has run clinical pilots in Indian hospitals, and holds gait and recovery data from above hundred users. GenElek has been supported by a BIRAC BIG grant, incubated at IIT, and the ISB I-Heal accelerator. The team represented India at global stage of CYBATHLON, and the company was recognised among The Economic Times' Top Innovative MSMEs. John's focus is making advanced tele-rehabilitation robotics affordable enough to deploy at scale in emerging markets.

Prabhat Kumar, IRS, is a distinguished officer of the Indian Revenue Service (1994 batch) and currently serves as the Chairman of Pan IIT Alumni India for the 2025–2027 term. An alumnus of IIT Delhi (B.Tech and M.Tech), he has held leadership positions including President of the IIT Delhi Alumni Association and Chairman of the IRS Association’s Mumbai Chapter. He did his Master of Public Administration (MPA)| Maxwell School, Syracuse University, New York, USA in 2011-2012. His journey from a small village in Bihar to the corridors of power embodies the very spirit of the IIT story — resilience, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to nation-building. As Chairman of Pan IIT Alumni India, he leads the apex body representing over 500,000 graduates from 23 IITs worldwide, championing the vision "From Silicon Valley to Indus Valley" — a clarion call to channel the global IIT diaspora into India's growth story.

Kumar is the author of IIT: The Story of India's Most Prestigious Educational Ecosystem (HarperCollins India), a landmark book that chronicles the evolution of the IITs from their origins at the Hijli Detention Camp to their current role as global innovation powerhouses. The book blends personal narrative, archival research, and critical introspection — celebrating the ecosystem while honestly examining its challenges. He is also a strong advocate for sovereign AI, frugal innovation, and digital public infrastructure.

Alysha Maria Lobo is a venture investor in robotics, hardware, and physical AI, with a focus on manufacturing and industrial ecosystems across China and India. She brings roughly a decade of operating experience from Microsoft, Universal Robots, and Rapyuta Robotics, and is largely self-taught in robotics and engineering despite an academic background in English Literature. A Third Culture Kid with functional Mandarin, she has spent extensive time on the ground in China's manufacturing hubs — Shenzhen, Suzhou, Shanghai, Chongqing — and in humanoid robotics labs across the region. She writes TechnicalySpeaking, a newsletter on robotics, physical AI, manufacturing, and geopolitics with 1,000+ subscribers, and angel invests in early-stage robotics and hardware startups, with relationships spanning China, India, and the US.

Smita Malipatil is a technology entrepreneur, AI leader and Founder and CEO of Hosa Health, an AI-native health intelligence platform reimagining healthcare for the next generation of children.

With 25+ years of experience building and scaling technology businesses across India, the UK and the US, Smita has spent her career at the intersection of emerging technology and business transformation. She founded Kieon, a pioneering UK digital transformation company that expanded across three markets before a successful exit to a major UK PLC, and subsequently served as CEO of two DeepTech and AI/ML companies.

Today, she is applying that experience to healthcare, building Hosa Health around a simple premise: AI can move healthcare from episodic intervention to continuous, longitudinal health intelligence and prevention. Hosa is designed for Gen Alpha and the generations that follow, creating a longitudinal health layer that grows with a child from childhood through adolescence and beyond.

A Harvard Business School alumna, Smita is an angel investor, startup mentor and founding member of the India-UK Responsible AI Group. She also serves on the Start-up Vision Group, Karnataka, and as a Board and Charter Member of TiE Bangalore.

She speaks and writes on AI, HealthTech, responsible AI, longitudinal health, digital transformation and the future of healthcare.

Irfan Malik is a Sydney-based innovation and business leader with over 30 years of experience in IT, digital transformation, and advanced business solutions. As President of the Australia India Business Council (AIBC) - New South Wales and National Associate Chair, he plays a pivotal role in advancing bilateral innovation, trade, and investment between Australia and India. Irfan is also Co-Founder and Director of inQ Innovation Global, and Founder & CEO of Crescent Info Soft. He has mentored over 100 start-ups worldwide, led numerous Australia-India start-up delegations, and made several seed investments across fintech, clean energy, healthcare, education, and digital media sectors. A Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and Director of Start-up Australia Foundation and Malabar Gold & Diamonds Australia, Irfan is widely recognised for fostering cross-border collaboration, community development, and youth empowerment through innovation-led initiatives and global partnerships.

Rasika Mohan works at the frontier of AI governance, complex systems transformation, and the future of leadership. With over two decades of experience across business and technology transformation, social and environmental risk, and due diligence advisory, she brings rare depth to navigating a BANI world (Brittle, Anxious, Non-linear, Incomprehensible).

Her advisory work spans AI safety and facilitation, business model shifts, and social and environmental risk (human rights, climate/nature risk, circular economy, decarbonisation). Her diverse portfolio of clients includes ANZ Bank, IFM Investors, Macquarie Asset Management, Rio Tinto, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Port of Melbourne, and the Red Cross.

She holds qualifications in software engineering, finance, environment and international development, and strategic foresight, and is currently completing an Advanced Diploma in Systemic Transformation of Organisations — exploring the future of leadership and complex systems transformation in the age of AI. She is an active member of IEEE working groups on AI and robotics ethics (IEEE 2863, P7017 and P7999).

Nicholas Opie BE BSc PhD MBA, an NHMRC Research Fellow, is a biomedical engineer and leading expert in neural interfaces who has translated multiple implantable devices from concept to clinic. From 2007–2014, he played an integral role in developing a suprachoroidal retinal prosthesis—a 'bionic eye' implanted in the space behind the retina to stimulate visual pathways and restore functional vision for people with profound sight loss. In 2012, he founded Synchron and led development of the Stentrode, a minimally invasive brain–computer interface that enables people with severe paralysis to control computers and mobile devices using their thoughts. His work spans neurotechnology designed to restore human capability, with 70+ peer-reviewed publications,100+ patents, and 160+ invited orations. He is also an active advisor and mentor to emerging entrepreneurs, and a recipient of major innovation awards (2021–2023).

Based in New Delhi, Ms. Patnaik brings over two decades of experience in the corporate and media sectors and is a specialist in public policy and advocacy, corporate and crisis communications, and reputation management, guiding large companies such as Cargill, Walmart, Meta and Mars Wrigley. Most recently, Ms. Patnaik served as Director, Corporate Affairs with Mars Wrigley, where she was part of the India Leadership Team. Her mandate included public affairs, stakeholder management, advocacy, corporate and brand reputation building, crisis management, and employee engagement.

Ms. Patnaik completed the Advanced Management Program in Public Policy (AMPPP) at the Indian School of Business (ISB), a Certificate Program in Women Leading Purposefully from Harvard Business Publishing, and holds a Chevening Fellowship in Responsible Business from University of Nottingham, UK. Additionally, she holds a Postgraduate Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communications (IIMC).

Ms. Patnaik has been recognized as the Public Affairs Professional Woman of the Year 2023 and THE ECONOMIC TIMES Inspiring Women Leader 2023.

Aruna Pattam is Head of AI Platforms at Zurich Insurance, leading the adoption of GenAI and Agentic AI solutions across Australia and New Zealand. With over 25 years of experience in data, analytics, and emerging technologies, she has held senior leadership roles at two of Australia's big four banks and global consulting firms. Aruna specialises in building enterprise AI platforms, driving innovation, and developing scalable frameworks that deliver measurable business value. She is a recognised thought leader on AI, Agentic AI and its applications in financial services and insurance. Passionate about ethical and responsible AI, Aruna focuses on shaping strategies that balance innovation with trust, ensuring technology enhances both business outcomes and human experiences. As a woman leader in AI, Aruna is passionate about advancing diversity in AI and creating pathways for more women in the field.

Professor Balaraman Ravindran heads the Department of Data Science and AI at IIT Madras. He is also the Founding Head of the Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI (WSAI), Robert Bosch Centre for Data Science and AI (RBCDSAI), and Centre for Responsible AI (CeRAI) at IIT Madras. He has more than three decades of experience working in reinforcement learning, and his research interest spans responsible AI and deep RL. Prof. Ravindran is an elected fellow of the Association for Advancement of AI (AAAI), Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE) and an ACM Distinguished Member. He is serving as the Program Co-Chair of the AAAI-2027 conference, one of the leading venues for AI research. He chaired the committee that drafted the India AI Governance Guidelines to provide a framework for the development and deployment of safe and trustworthy AI systems. He was a member of RBI's FREE-AI Framework, which provided guidelines for safe, ethical AI adoption in India’s financial sector. He serves on the Governing Council of the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC). He is a member of the ITU’s Academic Advisory Group on Emerging Technologies. In 2026, he was appointed to the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence, established by the United Nations to provide rigorous, independent scientific assessment of AI's impact on society. Prof. Ravindran is a member of the Technology and Policy Expert Committee (TPEC), a standing expert advisory body to support the functioning of the AI Governance and Economic Group (AIGEG) established by the Government of India in 2026.

Travis Rice is a creative technologist and founder of OMNI, the International AI Film Festival, where he focuses on how emerging tools can expand cinematic expression and audience engagement. He is positioned in media as a curator and innovation leader who bridges AI, immersive storytelling, and cultural programming. Through OMNI, he has helped build a platform for AI-driven film, international screenings, and discussion around the future of cinema. Coverage of his work emphasises experimentation, collaboration, and the practical use of generative technology in the arts. Rice’s role is increasingly centred on shaping a new creative ecosystem around intelligent filmmaking.

Professor Kiley Seymour is a neuroscientist whose work explores how conscious experience arises and how it is shaped by the world around us. She is the Academic Dean of Nan Tien Institute, where she leads the Institute’s teaching and research strategy.

Kiley completed her PhD in Psychology at the University of Sydney and has built an international research career spanning Australia and Germany, including fellowships at the Max Planck Institute and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin. Her research combines brain imaging and AI-based models to investigate consciousness, altered states of awareness, and the cognitive and ethical implications of emerging technologies.

Kiley serves on the Australian Academy of Science National Committee for Brain and Mind and the Executive Council of the Australian and New Zealand Institute for Neurotechnology and Law, advising organisations including the Australian Human Rights Commission, the United Nations, and Interpol. Her research has attracted competitive funding from leading national and international agencies, including the Australian Research Council, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, and the EU Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions program.

Dr Singh's interdisciplinary research bridges artificial intelligence, cognitive neuroscience, and mixed reality to develop real-world neuroadaptive brain-computer interface (BCI) systems and contributes to the IEEE Standards Committee on Brain-Computer Interfaces. He specialises in developing neurotechnology that enables direct non-invasive communication with the brain to interact with the surrounding environment. He is passionate about how he can apply AI technologies on neuroscience to create robust brain-computer interfaces, resulting in enabler for nonverbal and/or non-ambulatory individuals for communication and interaction.

His recent projects include human sensory augmentation, thoughts reconstruction and neuroadaptive brain-computer interfaces. Dr Singh also serves as an expert advisor to UNICEF and the Centre for Neurotechnology and Law in the UK. In 2021, he received the Google TensorFlow Faculty Award for his contributions to BCI research. As the founder of the India Future Society, a futurist think tank, he actively advocates for transhumanism. Dr. Singh earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science from UTS in 2019, collaborating with institutions such as the Technical University of Berlin, the University of California San Diego, and the US Army Research Lab..

Prashant Singh is an award-winning Cyber Security Executive, Strategic ICT Leader, and Digital Transformation Specialist with over two decades of experience delivering secure, resilient, and future-ready technology solutions across government in Australia. He has held a CISO-level leadership role at the WA Police Force, where he led Cyber Security Operations, Enterprise Security Uplift Programs, and Security Awareness Initiatives to strengthen organisational resilience across mission-critical law enforcement systems. His leadership has driven significant improvements in threat detection and response, vulnerability management, and the development of a strong security culture in high-risk environments.

Prashant currently provides strategic cyber security leadership within the Department of Education, supporting one of the largest and most distributed digital ecosystems in the state. He leads large-scale, multi-million-dollar initiatives across Identity and Access Management (IAM), Cyber Security Uplift, and alignment to key frameworks including Essential Eight and Zero Trust, ensuring secure, scalable, and sustainable digital services. The Founder of the Indian Australian Technology Forum and a Board Member and Director at ISACA Perth, Prashant is widely recognised for his ability to engage executive leadership, influence strategic decision-making, and deliver measurable business and security outcomes.

Rupa Singh is the Founder and CEO of AI-Beehive and a globally recognised AI ethicist, ranked among the Top 20 Global AI Ethics Leaders. She hosts the podcast Beyond Binary and has authored three influential books-AI Ethics with a Buddhist Perspective, Global AI Governance and Geopolitics, and Operationalizing AI Ethics: From Principles to Practices. A TEDx speaker, Rupa has delivered 150+ talks worldwide, including at the BRICS AI Ethics Forum, Columbia University, and Dell Technologies' Experience Design Summit. She serves on advisory boards for international organisations and is a member of the Scientific Association of AI Ethicists led by Yale's Luciano Floridi. Through global initiatives like Tamkine International Talks, she advances a vision of ethical AI that upholds human dignity. A trailblazer in AI innovation and design thinking, Rupa's mission is to empower over one million people to engage with AI responsibly and humanely.

Dr. Upmith Singh is a strategic leader with over 18 years of experience driving large-scale digital transformation and governance initiatives across the public and corporate sectors. He currently serves as the Principal Advisor for Policy and AI at the Capacity Building Commission, Government of India. At the forefront of India’s digital evolution, Dr. Singh previously served as Chief Operating Officer at SSC Nasscom. There, he spearheaded FutureSkills Prime—an industry-backed platform integrating AI and emerging technologies into nationwide workforce development. His earlier career features pivotal roles at the Government e-Marketplace (GeM), where he led program management and marketplace health, and at MeitY, where he conceptualized high-impact initiatives like the Digital Village project. An alumnus of NIT Allahabad and IIM Lucknow, Dr. Singh holds a PhD from the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, with specialized research in e-governance. He is a recognized expert in building sustainable technology ecosystems and advancing policy advocacy to shape a future-ready digital economy.

Aryeh Sternberg is a generative content creator and co-founder of the OMNI AI Film Festival, a global platform for AI-generated cinema that has grown to 30,000+ followers, 1,000+ film entries per call, and sold-out live events. He is developing the OMNI Masterclass program, bringing creators from 10 countries to teach generative filmmaking and production online. His own creative work includes Taipei Nights Country Edition, one of his first generative music and video productions, which has received local and international critical acclaim. He works across AI video, music generation, and storytelling, exploring what generative tools make possible for independent creators.

Professor Tambe and his team have developed innovative AI and multi-agent reasoning systems that have been successfully deployed to deliver real-world impact in public health, public safety, and wildlife conservation. He is the recipient of the AAAI Award for Artificial Intelligence for the Benefit of Humanity, the AAAI Feigenbaum Prize, the IJCAI John McCarthy Award, the AAAI Robert S. Engelmore Memorial Lecture Award, and the AAMAS ACM/SIGAI Autonomous Agents Research Award. He is a fellow of AAAI and ACM. His contributions in Operations Research and public safety have also been recognized with the INFORMS Wagner Prize for excellence in Operations Research practice, Military Operations Research Society Rist Prize, the Columbus Fellowship Foundation Homeland security award, and commendations and certificates of appreciation from the US Coast Guard, the Federal Air Marshals Service, and airport police at the city of Los Angeles.

Amit Tiwary is a visionary enterprise architect, author, and strategist shaping the future of AI-enabled public systems and smart societies. With over 40 years of leadership across critical government institutions — including Victoria Police, Fire Rescue Victoria, Greater Western Water, and 000 Victoria, he has been at the forefront of designing resilient, citizen-centric, and sustainable digital ecosystems that support high-stakes decision-making and societal outcomes.

Amit’s work bridges architecture, governance, and emerging technologies to move organisations from intent to execution—transforming how governments adopt AI responsibly at scale. As co-author of The Blueprint for AI Adoption and Societal Transformation (2025), and author of Outcome-Driven Business Architecture (2018) and Driving Efficiency in Local Government (2017), he brings a unique blend of practical frameworks and future-focused thinking.

He is currently advancing new ideas at the intersection of AI, smart cities, and sustainability—reimagining how technology can enable inclusive, adaptive, and human-centric societies.

Dheeren Vélu is Co-Inventor and Chief AI Officer of Monarrch, the company behind the world's first Artist Style Fingerprint, a system that captures an artist's creative DNA and enables real-time royalty payments whenever AI generates music in their style. The technology underpins Monarrch's US launch in Tennessee and its role in the ELVIS Act, and in 2026 won Victorian AI Technology of the Year at the iAwards.

Dheeren is also one of Australia's most visible and trusted AI thought leaders, with a career spanning more than two decades at the frontier of Artificial Intelligence. As Head of Innovation and Frontier AI Lead for Capgemini Australia and New Zealand, he guides enterprise executives on frontier AI strategy, go-to-market, and global ecosystem partnerships across the region.A TEDx speaker and holder of multiple AI patents spanning language processing and generative music, Dheeren chairs the AI Industry Advisory Board at RMIT University and was named the Australian Computer Society's IT Professional of the Year in 2019.

A digital innovation and customer experience leader with 20 years of experience across banking, retail, telecommunications, and SaaS, Avi specialises in product strategy, human-centred design, and organisational transformation. He is also a recognised voice on AI ethics, workforce transition, and education, speaking regularly on innovation, leadership, and emerging technologies.

Toby Walsh is a strong advocate for limits to ensure AI is used to improve our lives, having spoken at the UN, and to heads of state, parliamentary bodies, company boards, and many others on this topic. A Fellow of the Australia Academy of Science, Toby has also been named on the international 'Who's Who in AI' list of influencers, and written five books on AI for a general audience, the most recent being 'The Shortest History of AI: six ideas are all you need to know'.