Lion M. Meru is a distinguished development and educational management professional with over 50 years of experience in rural development, child rights, and school education. As the Founder Secretary of Rural Institute for Community Education (RICE) and Mathakondapalli Model School, Tamil Nadu, he has played a transformative role in shaping community-centered education. He previously served with organizations such as Oxfam and Terre des Hommes, leading initiatives across South and Southeast Asia. A passionate advocate of AI-driven education, he champions the shift from smart classrooms to intelligent campuses, emphasizing project-based learning, teacher development, and AI-assisted assessment. Through his visionary work, Meru continues to influence the future of education and progressive school transformation in India.