Speakers

Dr. Bhaskar Patel is the Director of IIIT (RGUKT) Ongole campus, Andhra Pradesh, with over 37 years of experience in academics. He has served as Director of Krishna Teja Institutes, Principal of several institutions, and a Visiting Research Fellow at the University of the West of England (UWE), Bristol, UK. Dr. Patel holds a Ph.D. and PGCE from UWE, an M.Tech. from IISc Bangalore, and a B.Tech. from S V University, Tirupati. His research interests include operations management, supply chain performance, and mechanical measurements. With 25 research publications and international teaching experience, he has also consulted for Oracle and KPMG. Dr. Patel has received several accolades, including the Ideal Principal Award and Rajiv Gandhi Educational Excellence Award.

Dr. Minal Saxena is the Deputy Director (Academics) and Group Research Coordinator at the Sage Institute of Research and Technology, Bhopal (SAGE GROUP). With a Ph.D. in Electronics and Communication Engineering from MANIT Bhopal, she has mentored over 20 postgraduates and one Ph.D. scholar. Her research focuses on Artificial Intelligence, IoT, Wireless Communication, and VLSI design, with more than 20 national and international publications. Dr. Saxena is currently pursuing a Post-Doctoral fellowship in AI from Linnaeus University, Sweden. With nearly two decades of experience, she has held several administrative roles and is a member of the Board of Studies at multiple universities. She holds six Intellectual Property Rights and is a coordinator for the Smart India Hackathon.

Prof. Pramod K. Verma is the Vice Chancellor of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Vedic Vishwavidyalaya, Jabalpur. He has served as Vice Chancellor of Barkatullah University, Bhopal, and Director General of the Madhya Pradesh Council of Science & Technology. A renowned geologist with post-doctoral research from Heidelberg University, Germany, Prof. Verma has received numerous accolades, including the “Ashutosh Mookerjee Memorial Award” and the “National Geomatics Award.” He is the President of Earth System Sciences at the Indian Science Congress Association and holds leadership roles in various scientific societies. His research and leadership have made significant contributions to geology, geomatics, and remote sensing, earning him fellowships in prestigious academic and professional societies worldwide.

Dr. S. V. Kota Reddy, Vice-Chancellor of VIT–AP, is an accomplished academician with over 32 years of experience in teaching, research, and administration. He holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Bombay and previously served as Academic President at MAHE Dubai, where he secured a 5-star KHDA rating. Renowned for his leadership, he has established numerous Centers of Excellence, student exchange programs, and R&D initiatives. He has filed seven patents and published extensively in international journals. Dr. Reddy has won several awards for excellence in education and R&D, including the National Award for Excellence in HVAC&R and the Outstanding Contribution to Education Award in Dubai. He is also an active member of ISHRAE and ASHRAE.

Dr. Ajay Bhushan, Vice Chancellor of Scope Global Skills University, Bhopal, brings 37 years of experience in academics, research, and skill development. A seasoned expert in skilling, upskilling, and project management, he has contributed significantly to the National Skill Development Mission and established Centres of Excellence in collaboration with leading industries like Bosch, Siemens, and Hero Motors. As former CEO of IASC Sector Skill Council, he led the team to win a Gold Medal in the India Skill competition. Dr. Bhushan has assessed over 200,000 candidates and played a pivotal role in aligning curriculum with NEP 2020. His leadership at SGSU has earned multiple awards, solidifying the university’s role in advancing skill-based education.

Prof. (Dr.) Ankur Saxena is the Pro Vice-Chancellor of S.A.G.E. University, Bhopal, with over 22 years of experience in higher education. A seasoned academic leader, Dr. Saxena specializes in curriculum design, quality assurance, and institutional ranking frameworks. He serves on several academic councils, including APG Shimla University and Venkateshwara Open University, and is an Advisory Board member of JK University. An author of multiple books and articles, he has significantly contributed to academic planning and governance. His qualifications include a Ph.D. in Management, an MBA in Marketing, and UGC-NET certification. Dr. Saxena is also an alumnus of IIM Indore and has presented at over 50 national and international conferences.

Er. B.S. Yadav is the Chancellor of IES University, Bhopal, and Chairman of IES Public Schools in Bhopal and Sehore. An alumnus of UIT, RGPV, Bhopal, and IIM Lucknow, he also serves as Managing Director of IES Consultancy Services. Er. Yadav holds key positions in prominent organizations, including National Vice President of CEGR and Regional Vice Chair for ASSOCHAM. With a strong focus on education and skill development, he is a member of CII WR Task Force on Education and an NSDC Skill Partner. Under his leadership, IES University has been a leader in education since 1999.

Sudhakar Rao, with over 25 years of experience, has built and scaled brands across industries like Textiles, Food, and Education. A Mechanical Engineering graduate with an MBA from IIM Bangalore and Design Thinking specialization from MIT Sloan, he has held leadership roles including SBU Head and Director. Currently, he leads branding at ICFAI, overseeing 11 universities and several business schools. An award-winning marketing leader, Sudhakar has been recognized with accolades like the CK Prahalad Chair Award (2024). A keynote speaker and author of “WiseViews: Lessons from The Game Changers”, he’s also an outdoor enthusiast, completing the Everest Base Camp trek in 2023.