Prof. Gaurav Verma is a Professor at the Dr. S. S. Bhatnagar University Institute of Chemical Engineering and Technology (UICET), Panjab University, where he leads research at the intersection of nanotechnology, advanced materials, and sustainable engineering.

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With over two decades of academic and research experience, his work focuses on polymer nanocomposite coatings, thin films, and interfacial engineering for applications spanning energy systems, automotive materials, and agriculture. He holds a Ph.D. in Engineering & Technology from Panjab University, an M.Tech in Polymer Science and Engineering from IIT Delhi, and a B.E. in Materials Science from Punjab Technical University.

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Prof. Verma has published extensively in leading journals, with over 1,500 citations, and his research continues to advance the field of functional materials and nanocomposite innovations. His work bridges laboratory science with real-world applications, strengthening the link between academic research and industrial sustainability.

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Geeta Gurnani is a distinguished leader in the technology industry, boasting a 25+ year career of which 22 years in IBM that spans various domains, from technical pre-sales to leadership roles in business strategy and development with Telecom being her primary industry.

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She currently serves as the Chief Technology Officer and Technical Pre-Sales Country head at IBM Technology for India and South Asia.Prior to this, she served as Country Head for Modern Work at Microsoft India.

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Besides her professional accomplishments, Gurnani is dedicated to women’s empowerment, acting as a mentor at “Aspire For Her” startup in India.

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As the Managing Director & Chief Policy Officer, Harish leads Cisco’s strategic engagement with National and State Governments of India on wide range of public policy issues that concerns Cisco in India - as an investor, globalization hub, business unit and as a corporate citizen. Harish leads Corporate Social Responsibility efforts at Cisco India in his capacity as the executive sponsor and Board member, operating at the intersection of India’s societal needs and Cisco’s domain expertise. Harish is based in New Delhi, India and is with Cisco since May 2007. 

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An industry veteran of more than 30 years, Harish actively participates in public policy forums in India. He is a member of the Governing Council of MAIT; he was also the Vice president of MAIT for 5 years, Chairman of Corporate Social Responsibility committee of American Chamber of Commerce in India (AMCHAM), a member of CII’s National Committee on Telecom and member of US India Strategic Partnership Forum’s India Advisory Board. He is also the co-founder of Public Affairs Forum of India (PAFI). 

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From 2003 to 2007, Harish was an Executive in the Governmental Program function of IBM specially focused providing leadership to IBM’s policy engagement with the Government of India on Innovation, Global Resourcing & HR issues. 

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Prior to joining IBM, Harish worked for over 11 years with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) – India’s Premier Industry organization in a variety of roles. In his last role as CII’s Director for Information Technology, Harish worked with top CEOs of corporate India on issues affecting the IT& BPO industry.

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Ian heads Responsible Business for BT Group in India, leading the company’s manifesto objectives to accelerate social impact through technology and digital skills in partnership with the British Asian Trust.

 Originally from the UK and settled in India, Ian has worked with various organisations focussed on skill development and gender equity; training in government schools and later leading strategic partnerships, program design and management.

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Jayant Rastogi is a globally recognised leader in the social development sector, a seasoned strategist, and a champion of systemic change. As the Global CEO of Magic Bus India Foundation,Jayant has spearheaded transformative initiatives that empower young people from underserved communities to break free from the cycle of poverty. Under his leadership, Magic Bus has grown to impact over 2.75 million young people annually across India, focusing on holistic interventions in life skills education, and employability skilling.

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At Magic Bus, Jayant has been instrumental in fostering pivotal partnerships with governments,corporates, and society to drive systemic impact. Jayant's dedication to innovation has elevated Magic Bus’ reputation, making it renowned for its robust automation, strong financial health,cutting-edge technology, and successful acquisition of a Development Impact Bond, all while upholding ethical standards.

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Jayant began his career in the corporate sector, holding leadership positions in organisations such as Motorola, where he was the CEO, as well as Godrej, HCL, and Novell. These experiences provided him with deep expertise in business strategy, operations, and team development. His corporate journey shaped his commitment to combining business acumen with social impact, enabling him to transition into the development sector with a vision of creating scalable, sustainable solutions for social change.

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Jessica Jensen is Chief Marketing & Strategy Officer at LinkedIn, where she leads the company’s global Marketing & Strategy organization, overseeing brand, corporate strategy, and marketing initiatives worldwide. She brings extensive experience in driving growth and innovation across digital platforms, helping organizations scale their marketing and business strategies globally.

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Prior to LinkedIn, Ms. Jensen served as Chief Marketing Officer at Indeed, OpenTable, and Senior Vice President of Marketing for Kayak, all part of Booking Holdings. She has also held leadership roles in B2B marketing and strategy at Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger, as well as consumer marketing at Apple for iAd, and was Vice President and General Manager of Yahoo! Shine and Yahoo! Health. Her career reflects a deep expertise in brand strategy, digital marketing, and global business growth.

Jyoti Sharma is the Chief Executive Officer of Nasscom Foundation, bringing over 20 years of experience in driving social impact and leading program development, resource mobilization, and stakeholder engagement. As CEO, she focuses on strengthening the foundation’s TechForGood initiatives, leveraging technology and social innovation to advance digital equity and inclusive growth in India.

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An alumnus of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Jyoti has previously held leadership roles at the Organic Cotton Accelerator, the European Commission, the World Resources Institute, Magic Bus India Foundation, ActionAid, and Save the Children.

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