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MEET OUR SPEAKERS
Mr. Kenichiro Toyofuku, also known as the "Champion of Rural Sustainability," is a
distinguished sustainability leader and corporate strategist with over two decades of experience in
sustainable business and community-driven growth. He is the Director of Sustainability at Maruti
Suzuki India Limited who is known for leading initiatives that bridge corporate responsibility with
rural India's untapped potential.
Mr. Kenichiro Toyofuku’s session, “The Hidden Treasure of Rural India,” will highlight the untapped
potential of rural regions, drawing from his experience in India–Japan collaboration, the talk will
explore how long-term partnerships, manufacturing ecosystems and community capabilities can
unlock new pathways for development.
distinguished sustainability leader and corporate strategist with over two decades of experience in
sustainable business and community-driven growth. He is the Director of Sustainability at Maruti
Suzuki India Limited who is known for leading initiatives that bridge corporate responsibility with
rural India's untapped potential.
Mr. Kenichiro Toyofuku’s session, “The Hidden Treasure of Rural India,” will highlight the untapped
potential of rural regions, drawing from his experience in India–Japan collaboration, the talk will
explore how long-term partnerships, manufacturing ecosystems and community capabilities can
unlock new pathways for development.
Mr S. Sivakumar is the Group Head of Agri and IT Businesses at ITC Limited and a
member of its Corporate Management Committee, where he also oversees sustainability and social
investment initiatives. He has played a key role in shaping India’s agri-business landscape. He is
widely recognized as the architect of e-Choupal, a pioneering initiative that has empowered millions
of farmers with access to real-time market information, agricultural knowledge, and improved
market linkages. With decades of leadership at the intersection of business, technology, and rural
development, he continues to drive innovation and sustainable transformation in India’s agricultural
ecosystem.
Mr. S. Sivakumar’s session, “From Mandi to Metamarket: The Journey of ITC e-Choupal,” will trace
how digital innovation transformed traditional agricultural markets into connected ecosystems of
information, trust, and opportunity.
member of its Corporate Management Committee, where he also oversees sustainability and social
investment initiatives. He has played a key role in shaping India’s agri-business landscape. He is
widely recognized as the architect of e-Choupal, a pioneering initiative that has empowered millions
of farmers with access to real-time market information, agricultural knowledge, and improved
market linkages. With decades of leadership at the intersection of business, technology, and rural
development, he continues to drive innovation and sustainable transformation in India’s agricultural
ecosystem.
Mr. S. Sivakumar’s session, “From Mandi to Metamarket: The Journey of ITC e-Choupal,” will trace
how digital innovation transformed traditional agricultural markets into connected ecosystems of
information, trust, and opportunity.
Shirish Chandra Panda is the Business Head of Microfinance at Tata Capital, where he
leads the company’s microfinance business focused on expanding financial services for underserved
communities across India. With over two decades of experience in the microfinance sector, he has
worked extensively on building and scaling operations and improving access to credit in rural and
semi-urban regions.Through his work, he continues to contribute to strengthening financial inclusion
and sustainable microfinance in India.
Mr. Shirish Panda’s session, “The Next Evolution: Designing Future Financial Inclusion,” will examine
how rural finance is evolving beyond credit to build resilient livelihood ecosystems.
leads the company’s microfinance business focused on expanding financial services for underserved
communities across India. With over two decades of experience in the microfinance sector, he has
worked extensively on building and scaling operations and improving access to credit in rural and
semi-urban regions.Through his work, he continues to contribute to strengthening financial inclusion
and sustainable microfinance in India.
Mr. Shirish Panda’s session, “The Next Evolution: Designing Future Financial Inclusion,” will examine
how rural finance is evolving beyond credit to build resilient livelihood ecosystems.
Mr. Rakshit is the founder of Aignosis, an AI-driven startup focused on early autism detection using
computer vision and eye-tracking technology. A B.Tech graduate in Artificial Intelligence from
SVKM's NMIMS .His groundbreaking work in healthcare AI has led to research publications, a patent
filing and national recognization when he secured an investment on Shark Tank India. He has also
been one of the few entrepreneurs to secure Nikhil Kamath's WTFund marking a major milestone in
his journey.
Mr. Raksheet Jain’s session, “When Technology Finally Learned to Care,” will explore how artificial
intelligence and digital innovation are beginning to address deeply human challenges in healthcare
and wellbeing. The talk will highlight how compassionate technology can create earlier, more
accessible interventions for conditions that often go unnoticed.
computer vision and eye-tracking technology. A B.Tech graduate in Artificial Intelligence from
SVKM's NMIMS .His groundbreaking work in healthcare AI has led to research publications, a patent
filing and national recognization when he secured an investment on Shark Tank India. He has also
been one of the few entrepreneurs to secure Nikhil Kamath's WTFund marking a major milestone in
his journey.
Mr. Raksheet Jain’s session, “When Technology Finally Learned to Care,” will explore how artificial
intelligence and digital innovation are beginning to address deeply human challenges in healthcare
and wellbeing. The talk will highlight how compassionate technology can create earlier, more
accessible interventions for conditions that often go unnoticed.
Dr. Hippu Salk Kristle Nathan is a Professor at the Institute of Rural Management Anand
(IRMA), Gujarat, and currently serves as the Dean of Academics. He holds an M.Tech from IIT Delhi
and a Ph.D. in Development Studies from IGIDR, Mumbai, combining engineering knowledge with
development economics. His research focuses on sustainable development, energy poverty, human
development, and environmental governance. He has received the Elsevier–NASI Young Scientist
Award in Social Sciences for his contributions. Through his research, teaching, and policy
engagement, Dr. Nathan continues to contribute to discussions on sustainability, energy justice, and
inclusive development.
Mr. Hippu Salk Kristle Nathan’s session, “Perpetual Peace: Piece by Piece,” will reflect on how lasting
peace is built through patient dialogue, empathy, and everyday acts of understanding. The talk will
emphasize how small, consistent efforts toward reconciliation and cooperation can gradually shape
more harmonious societies.
(IRMA), Gujarat, and currently serves as the Dean of Academics. He holds an M.Tech from IIT Delhi
and a Ph.D. in Development Studies from IGIDR, Mumbai, combining engineering knowledge with
development economics. His research focuses on sustainable development, energy poverty, human
development, and environmental governance. He has received the Elsevier–NASI Young Scientist
Award in Social Sciences for his contributions. Through his research, teaching, and policy
engagement, Dr. Nathan continues to contribute to discussions on sustainability, energy justice, and
inclusive development.
Mr. Hippu Salk Kristle Nathan’s session, “Perpetual Peace: Piece by Piece,” will reflect on how lasting
peace is built through patient dialogue, empathy, and everyday acts of understanding. The talk will
emphasize how small, consistent efforts toward reconciliation and cooperation can gradually shape
more harmonious societies.
Prof Soumi Roy Chowdhury is an Assistant Professor at the IRMA school of "Tribhuvan"
Sahkari University in the Area of Social Sciences. She completed her PhD in Economics from the
University of New Mexico, USA . Her dissertation looked at the socio-economic consequences of
cancer in developing countries. She was an Associate Fellow at the National Council of Applied
Economic Research. She is broadly interested in areas like Health Economics, Developmental issues
and Public Policy. Currently she has been working on financial governance of states and local
governments predominantly on areas like tracking the fund flows and expenditures of different
government schemes.
Ms. Soumi Roy Chowdhury’s session, “When Silence Finds a Voice: Women in Local Governance,” will
explore how women stepping into grassroots leadership are reshaping decision-making at the
community level.
Sahkari University in the Area of Social Sciences. She completed her PhD in Economics from the
University of New Mexico, USA . Her dissertation looked at the socio-economic consequences of
cancer in developing countries. She was an Associate Fellow at the National Council of Applied
Economic Research. She is broadly interested in areas like Health Economics, Developmental issues
and Public Policy. Currently she has been working on financial governance of states and local
governments predominantly on areas like tracking the fund flows and expenditures of different
government schemes.
Ms. Soumi Roy Chowdhury’s session, “When Silence Finds a Voice: Women in Local Governance,” will
explore how women stepping into grassroots leadership are reshaping decision-making at the
community level.
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