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Dr. Shri Kulkarni

Dr. Shri Kulkarni is Senior Advisor for Defense and Intelligence Affairs to the Governments of the USA and Canada and allied organisations.
For over two decades he has worked across four continents where economic growth and national security meet: industrial control environments, defence supply chains, and classified national assets.
His current work spans cross-border regulatory alignment, cyber intelligence sharing, and coordinated incident response.
His research looks to the horizon, to artificial intelligence, quantum computing, autonomous systems, and space-based infrastructure.
He argues that adversaries plan for the next decade while most defenders budget for this one, and that the answer is not to predict the weapon but to build systems that survive being surprised.
Ph.D. in Cybersecurity for Specialized Military Equipment. Master of Laws in Privacy and Cybersecurity Law. Several military and public patents.

Lt General Rajesh Pant

Lt General (Dr) Rajesh Pant is an internationally recognised Cybersecurity mentor, who has till recently tenanted the prestigious appointment of National Cyber Security Coordinator in the National Security Council Secretariat of India under PMO. In this capacity he was responsible for coordinating all activities across multiple sectors to ensure a secure and resilient cyberspace within the nation. Under his stewardship the nation has risen from 47th to 10th position in the Global Cybersecurity Index of the United Nations.

He holds a PhD degree for his research in the field of Information Security metrics. He is also MTech from IIT Kharagpur, MPhil from Madras University and Master of Management Studies from Osmania University, Hyderabad.
He was the head of the Army’s Cyber Training establishment for three years and served in the Army Signals Corps for 41 years wherein he was awarded three times by the President of India for distinguished service of the highest order. As a Fellow of IETE he was awarded the Baliga Memorial Award in 2013. In Dec 2023, IIT Kharagpur has conferred on him the Distinguished Alumni Award. He was also awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by FSAI in Feb 2024.
He has represented the nation at World Economic Forums Annual Meeting on Cybersecurity, Global Cybersecurity Forum at Riyadh, Bilateral Dialogues with USA and Russia, QUAD Dialogues, Prague 5G Security Conclave, Israel and Singapore Cyber Weeks and led Resilience vertical of Global Counter Ransomware initiative.

With a never-say-die attitude he is presently the Chairman of Cyber Security Association of India, Chairman of India Future Foundation and Global Advisor of CyberPeace Organisation, besides some Advisory roles.

General Pant brings to the table an interesting mix at the intersection of Cyberspace Governance and Security at Global, National, Enterprise and Citizen levels.

Upendra Upadhyay

Upendra Upadhyay is a Digital Strategist, Business Leader, and Trainer with 24+ years of experience in analytics, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, web technologies, and digital marketing. He currently serves as Director – Analytics at MyGov India and COO, Crowdsourcing Analytics, MeitY, where he drives data-led innovation, automation, and digital solutions.
With extensive expertise in Data Analytics & AI, Generative AI, brand strategy, digital marketing, web and app solutions, SEO, SEM, social media, analytics, and LMS platforms, Upendra has a proven track record of translating technology and data into measurable business growth.
He is also actively involved in mentoring emerging business ideas, developing digital solutions, and enabling organisations to leverage AI and analytics for strategic decision-making and innovation.

Srikanta Bhunia

Srikanta Bhunia is a senior technology and cybersecurity leader with more than
two decades of experience leading digital transformation and cyber resilience
programs for critical infrastructure organizations. As Head of IT & CISO at Nabha
Power Limited, he oversees cybersecurity strategy, IT/OT security, governance,
enterprise applications, digital innovation, and operational resilience for one of
India’s efficient thermal power generation facilities.
Holding globally recognized credentials including CISSP, PMP, and ISO 27001 Lead
Auditor, Srikanta brings deep expertise in protecting industrial control systems,
managing cyber risk, implementing governance frameworks, and driving secure
digital transformation. He has successfully delivered large-scale SAP, automation,
cybersecurity, and technology modernization programs while ensuring business
continuity and regulatory compliance.
His areas of interest include critical infrastructure protection, OT cybersecurity,
cyber governance, AI-enabled security, and strengthening organizational
resilience against emerging cyber threats

Saakshar Duggal

Saakshar Duggal is one of India’s leading voices on the legalities &
Governance of Artificial Intelligence, he is a 26 Times TEDx Speaker and has been
a guest speaker at prominent organizations like Indian Parliament, United Nations
main office (UN) , Harvard University’s (HPAIRx), Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO) , All India Institute of Medical Sciences
(AIIMS) , Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi ( IIT) , etc. He is a member of the
Forbes Communications Council and has been invited as a guest in more than
45+ podcasts shows .He is dedicated to promoting awareness of legal issues in
cyberspace and of upcoming technologies like Artificial Intelligence.His goal is to
make India Cyber Resilient

Lt Colonel Nishant Singh

Lt Colonel Nishant Singh (Retd), is an alumnus of IIT Delhi, served in the Indian Army’s Corps of Signals for 21 years. Currently, he is the Chief Operating Officer of Gramax, GMR Group. Before joining GMR, he was carrying out the role of Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for the Ministry of Extearnal Affairs. He has over 25 years of experience in the Cyber Security domain, specializing in Information and Communication Technologies, Operational Technology, and Information Security and Cyber strategies. As a cyber strategist, he offers cybersecurity roadmaps and policies and cyber risk management, Data protection advice to organizations. He has made significant contributions to Operational Technology (OT) security in the aviation sector. Nishant has led cybersecurity operations, risk management, policy compliance, and capacity building for the Ministry of External Affairs, including overseeing the cyber security posture of 200+ Indian embassies and consulates worldwide. Additionally, he has trained cyber warriors in the Cyber wing of the Indian Army and foreign armies and advises several government agencies on various aspects of cyber risk management. He has also effectively contributed to policy-making with the Govt of India. He is recognized as a thought leader, a mentor, and an artist.

S Dipin Nair

S Dipin Nair is CISO & Head of IT at Anadrone Systems, with 18+ years leading
cybersecurity across India’s defence establishment. He currently secures IT and
OT environments supporting drone, arms, and defence electronics manufacturing.
At the Ministry of Defence and Indian Air Force, he built an ISO/IEC 17025-
accredited forensic lab that ran zero case backlog for four consecutive years,
directed ₹800 Cr+ vendor risk and procurement programmes, and led Vayu-Senix,
a secure OS honoured with a Prime Minister’s award. He also directed global SOC/
MDR operations at Grant Thornton. He holds CISA, EnCE, ISO 27001 Lead Auditor,
and Zero Trust certifications

S Dipin Nair

Col Pankaj Verma, is a distinguished leader in the cybersecurity landscape with over three decades of experience spanning critical national defence and global corporate strategy.

Currently a senior advisor at Cisco India, Col Verma is a trusted consultant to CISOs, CIOs, and the Government of India. He plays a pivotal role in shaping national cybersecurity policy, governance, and strategic resilience, effectively bridging the gap between the public and private sectors.

His legacy in national security is profound; Col Verma was instrumental in establishing the Defence CERT, Cyber Forensics Labs, and various Centres of Excellence for cyber security. Today, his influence extends across the industry as he works with global certification bodies to shape future security standards and provides expert guidance to major organizations during high-stakes breach incidents.

A passionate advocate for capacity building, Col Verma is dedicated to closing the cybersecurity skill gap. He works closely with students and professionals, promoting the use of advanced emulation platforms and cyber ranges to prepare the next generation for real-world threats.

S Dipin Nair

an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Sciences (IISc),
Bangalore; IIM, Kolkata and an Indian Army veteran is presently the Chief
Technology Officer (CTO) of Quantum AI Global and QuLabs, both Quantum deep
tech companies. In his previous national level roles, he headed the Directorate of
Systems Applications (DSA) as Director from 2016 to 2020 and then served as
Senior Director Research (INFOSEC & AI/ML) from 2021 to 2024, both under the
Ministry of Defense, India. As Senior Director Research (INFOSEC & AI/ML), he led
the Research team of over 100 research scientists & Engineers. His research
interests are in the domain of Quantum Technology, InfoSec, PQC, AI/ML & QMLs.
Additionally, he is a Visiting Professor in the Computer Science department at
Amrita University, Coimbatore, India and collaborates with the India School of
Business, Hyderabad and IIIT, Hyderabad on deep tech research. He was recently
recognized as one of the top 10 leading deep tech CTOs in India and was featured
on the cover of a prominent business magazine. He is presently a member of the
DRDO Cryptography Research Coordination Committee, the Department of
Telecommunications (DoT) Committee for Standard Cryptography and Quantum
Safe Cryptography, and the National Working Group on Quantum Technology
(NWG-QT), DoT under the Ministry of Communications

Harkamal Sidhu

The line between Cyber and AI has dissolved.

As a former Indian Army officer, I have operated in environments where the cost of a security failure is not a financial penalty—it is a strategic one. That operational mindset now shapes how I approach AI Security, Blockchain-based assurance, and Cross-Domain Cyber solutions for organisations that cannot afford to be caught unprepared.

With a foundation in the Indian Army, where I led Cognitive Electronic Warfare and Cyber Security operations, and over a decade of experience architecting cross-domain solutions across AI Security, Blockchain, and Digital ISR, I work at the intersection of emerging technology, cybersecurity, and strategic resilience.

I help C-suite leaders:

→ Identify invisible vulnerabilities created by AI across existing systems

→ Build cyber-resilient architectures that can evolve as AI scales

→ Translate complex and rapidly evolving threat landscapes into clear, board-level decisions and action plans

Attackers are already leveraging AI to accelerate and scale their operations, while organisations are facing security challenges that traditional IT approaches alone cannot address.

The convergence of AI and Cyber is no longer a future risk—it is today’s operational reality.

My focus is on helping organisations understand this convergence, prepare for what comes next, and build security architectures that are resilient by design.

Vishwameet Chawla

Director Consulting Services
Microsoft

Vishwameet Chawla

Vishwameet Chawla (Vishwa) is a seasoned cybersecurity leader with over 24 years of
experience across product organizations, professional services, and end-customer
environments. He has successfully led global teams in cybersecurity consulting, market
development, solution innovation, practice creation, and business transformation,
helping organizations achieve operational excellence and measurable business
outcomes.
Recognized as a trusted advisor, Vishwa has worked closely with enterprises to shape
cybersecurity strategies, develop go-to-market models, and build high-impact security
services. With more than 30 certifications in Cybersecurity and Privacy, he brings deep
domain expertise and practical insights across risk management, security operations,
privacy, and digital resilience.
His experience spans sales strategy, solution development, services evangelization,
and practice leadership. He has been instrumental in creating new cybersecurity
practices, scaling threat detection and response services, and driving innovative
solutions through technology partnerships and ecosystem collaboration. Vishwa
strongly believes that organizations do not buy products but solutions that address
business risks and strengthen resilience.
A passionate advocate for professional growth and community engagement, he actively
contributes to industry forums, cybersecurity associations, and volunteer initiatives. His
blend of technical expertise, strategic vision, and people-centric leadership makes him
a respected voice on cybersecurity, critical infrastructure protection, and emerging
digital threats, making his participation particularly relevant to the discussions

Pranav Sahai

Analyst, Global Security and AI
Frost & Sullivan

Pranav Sahai

Pranav Sahai is a Security Analyst within Frost & Sullivan’s global security practice, with five years of experience in security technology research, market intelligence, technology assessment, strategic analysis, and competitive benchmarking. He works with global technology providers and security stakeholders to assess emerging technologies, evolving operational requirements, competitive dynamics, and growth opportunities across the security ecosystem.
His domains sits at the convergence of physical security, cybersecurity, identity security, artificial intelligence, and operational technology. His areas of expertise include AI-enabled security operations, command-andcontrol platforms, integrated security operations, video surveillance, biometrics, body-worn cameras, unmanned systems, security robotics, maritime and transportation security, endpoint security, and advanced threat detection.
Pranav closely examines how AI, automation, analytics, cloud and edge architectures, and operational intelligence are transforming security operations—from detecting and prioritizing threats to supporting decisionmaking and enabling increasingly autonomous responses to complex physical and cyber-physical risks. He also
contributes to data-driven security intelligence initiatives, bringing together security domain expertise with practical experience in KPI design, analytics, visualization, and technology product development.
As an industry analyst, Pranav regularly engages with security technology providers and industry stakeholders to evaluate emerging innovations, customer requirements, technology road maps, and competitive positioning. He authors and contributes to global analyst reports, executive briefs, competitive assessments, and technologyfocused insights, translating complex technology developments into actionable perspectives for industry and executive audiences.
Thought Leadership:
• Collaborates closely with top-level executives at leading global organizations.
• Recognized as a respected industry expert in the security technologies domain.
• Author and presenter of research papers and industry briefings.
Expert in AI for Security, automation and industrial transformation, can speak on:
• AI in Security Operations — how AI is reshaping threat detection, decision-making, response, and the future of security operations.
• The Future of Command-and-Control Centers — the evolution toward integrated, intelligent, and increasingly autonomous security operations.
• Physical-Cyber Convergence — how physical security, cybersecurity, identity, and operational technology are converging to address modern risk.
• Autonomous and Unmanned Security Systems — the emerging role of robotics, drones, and autonomous systems in security operations.
• Cloud, Edge, and Platform Transformation — how distributed architectures and operational intelligence arechanging security technology environments.

Jigar Hasmukh Gogri

Deputy General Manager
Schneider Electric

Jigar Hasmukh Gogri

Jigar Hasmukh Gogri is a seasoned engineering and industrial cybersecurity leader currently serving as Deputy General Manager – Engineering at Schneider Electric. Based in Mumbai, he has over 15 years experience in industrial automation, control systems, and operational technology (OT) and OT ICS Cybersecurity domain. He has led the design, engineering, and commissioning of complex OT projects across refineries, oil & gas facilities, coal handling plants, and food & beverage manufacturing environments. Over the past five years, he has focused on OT/ICS cybersecurity, helping critical infrastructure organizations strengthen cyber resilience through secure architecture, network segmentation, and security-by-design principles. Combining hands-on operational experience with cybersecurity expertise, Jigar brings a practitioner’s perspective on securing power systems, industrial control environments, and critical energy infrastructure against evolving cyber threats.

N Ramesh

Deputy Director General (Technology)
Department of Telecommunications

N Ramesh

N Ramesh is a civil servant with wide range of experience in Finance, Export-import, Agriculture and Technology. He is working as Deputy Director General in Department of Telecommunications in Mumbai. He is working on ensuring safe and secure communications environment; develop conducive ecosystem for new and critical technology sectors like data centers, internet services, IoT/M2M; supporting startups, incubators and academia in the area of digital communication technology and licensing, monitoring of telecom/internet operators.

Prior to this assignment, he was the Deputy Managing Director (DMD) and Whole Time Director of Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) which provides foreign currency long term financing for Indian corporates and sovereign nations.

He has served as Executive Director (ED) in the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited (NAFED) and as Director in Department of Commerce, Government of India for three years. He was Director (Marketing) in MPEDA, Ministry of Commerce. He had formulated India’s first Agriculture Export Policy and many other Exporter friendly support schemes as well as liberalisation measures in various agriculture commodities exports.

N Ramesh is an Indian Telecommunications Service (ITS) officer of the 1999 batch. He is an Electronics and Communication Engineering Graduate (BE) from Bangalore University and a Postgraduate in Public Policy and Management from IIM Bangalore.

Sukrit Ghosh

Director
DSCI

Sukrit Ghosh

Sukrit Ghosh is currently working with the Data Security
Council of India (DSCI) as Director, spearheading industry
engagements, key business verticals and professional
trainings. With a core of management and technology, he
brings a rich and relevant work experience in the domains like
cybersecurity & privacy advisory, digital transformation &
analytics, and 360° integrated marketing and
communications. He has trained more than 50K professionals
in cybersecurity and privacy and mentored more than 2000
marketing and communication professionals.
Sukrit possesses over 15+ years of work experience. Prior to
joining DSCI, he had a long stint with DXC Technology, India.
He is an avid learner with a zeal to learn, unlearn and relearn
to stay relevant in today’s dynamic VUCA business world.
With his extensive experience, he brings a good mix of relevant process knowledge across various
organizational functions, strategic foresight and planning backed by research and technology knowhow, and optimized decision-making and analytical thought process.
As a professional, Sukrit is always on the lookout for challenging tasks to innovate/transform positively
and make a difference and grow. He believes that thriving on change will result in success, across all
spheres of involvement.
He invests his free time towards mentoring, networking, adding new skills, listening to music, and
driving

Major General Manjeet Singh (Retd.)

Senior Cybersecurity Strategist
Former Joint Secretary (Cyber) (NSCS)

Major General Manjeet Singh

Major General Manjeet Singh, SM, VSM (Retd) is one of India’s leading experts in cybersecurity strategy, defence communications, and national security. With 36 years of distinguished service in the Indian Army and 7 years of continued contribution at the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), he has played a pivotal role in shaping India’s cyber defence posture at both operational and policy levels.

A technologist and strategist, he holds a B.Tech in Electronics & Telecom (JNU), an MSc in Defence Strategy (University of Madras), and an MPhil in Defence & Management (DAVV, Indore). He is currently pursuing his PhD from Amity University, Noida. He is also a graduate of the Defence Services Staff College and the Higher Command Course of the Indian Army.

Over the course of his military career, he has held key command and staff appointments, including roles in the Military Operations Directorate and as Chief Signal Officer in the Kashmir Valley. He was instrumental in raising the Defence Cyber Agency and the Service Cyber Groups, marking a major milestone in India’s defence cyber capabilities.

In his final uniformed assignment – and continuing after retirement, he served at NSCS, where he held the position of Joint Secretary (Cyber). In this role, he led national cyber policy initiatives, inter-agency coordination, and international engagement, contributing significantly to India’s cyber strategy and global cyber diplomacy.

He has represented India at multiple international cyber forums, including platforms at the United Nations, and is widely recognised for his expertise in cyber governance, digital sovereignty, and the future of conflict.

Major General Manjeet Singh is respected for his ability to bridge operational military experience with high-level policy insight, making him a trusted advisor, speaker, and thought leader in cybersecurity and national security.