Dr Prahalada Ramarao is a renowned missile and rocket scientist with distinguished tenures at both DRDO and ISRO. An alumnus of Bangalore University and IISc, he holds a Master’s in Aeronautical Engineering with a specialisation in Rockets and Missile Systems, and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad.

Over five decades, Dr Ramarao has led pivotal roles in missile development, aerodynamics, propulsion systems, and aerospace innovation. As Director of DRDL (1997–2005), he led major projects such as the AKASH missile system and the BrahMos joint venture. At DRDO HQ, he was instrumental in strengthening international collaborations, driving technology transfer initiatives, and shaping DRDO’s industry interface.

His numerous honours include the Padma Shri (2015), Scientist of the Year (DRDO), the Eminent Engineers Award by the Institution of Engineers (Delhi), and the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Hyderabad Management Association, among others.

A passionate nation-builder, innovation evangelist, and strategic leader, R. Ramanan has devoted his career to transforming India’s innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology landscape. Currently, Ramanan serves as Mission Governing Board Member - IndiaAI Mission, Chairperson-National Expert Advisory Council (NEAC), DST India, Lifetime Chair–Harvard Business School AMP 187, Chair-New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) Beacheads India, Board Member of leading Incubators & Institutions He is shaping Global Strategy & Innovation for Allied Digital Services Ltd., a global leader in AI-enabled Smart Cities & Technology Management solutions. As the Founding Mission Director of the first National Innovation Mission of India-the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and Additional Secretary at NITI Aayog, Ramanan architected one of India’s largest national movements for innovation and entrepreneurship between 2017-2021. Under his leadership:

🌟 10,000 + Atal Tinkering Labs inspired 6 million students in emerging technologies (3D Printing, AI, IoT, Robotics)

🚀 75 + Atal Incubation Centers nurtured 3,000 + startups – including 650 + women-led ventures

🌍 19 Atal Community Innovation Centers empowered Tier 2 & 3 regions

🏆 56 + ANIC & ARISE Challenge winners built pioneering “Make in India” solutions

🤝 6,000 + AIM Mentors of Change network one of the largest in India and 40 + corporate/global partnerships strengthened India’s innovation ecosystem

Before his public-service tenure, Ramanan served as MD & CEO of CMC Ltd (a TCS/TATA subsidiary) enabling over 2100 % share growth, 1338% profit growth, and a successful amalgamation into TCS. Across his four-decade career (1981–2021) as Senior Vice President at TCS, he was instrumental in TCS’s transformation into a global IT giant. A Harvard Business School alumnus, Cambridge-accredited Sustainability Leader, Honorary Doctorate awardee from GLS University, Ramanan is honoured among the 100 Great Indian IITians (2024) for outstanding national service, and as an IIT Bombay Distinguished Alumnus (2023). His awards include Padmabhushan Dr R. Chidambaram Memorial Award (2025), Outstanding National Public Service Award by Conference of MSME, National Digitalist of the Year by SAP-MINT most Valuable CEO award from BusinessWorld twice, Asia Outstanding CEO Award from CMO Asia. A lifelong learner and bridge-builder between industry, academia, and government, Ramanan champions inclusive innovation, AI-driven transformations and human-centered leadership — inspiring a generation to dream, create and transform the world.

Professor Noel Lindsay is the Dean of Business at Adelaide Business School and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Entrepreneurship) at the Adelaide University, where he also serves as Professor of Entrepreneurship and Commercialisation. He holds a BCom (Hons) and PhD, is a Member of the Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners and Chartered Accountants ANZ, and is a Fellow of CPA Australia.

Prof. Lindsay provides strategic leadership to the Adelaide Business School and the University’s ThincLab Innovation Hubs, driving institutional change toward a more entrepreneurial university culture. He has previously served as Academic Director of the University’s Ngee Ann-Adelaide (NAA) Campus in Singapore, Head of the School of Marketing and Management, and Acting Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion. Internationally experienced, he played a key role in developing an Australian university presence in South Africa with campuses in Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Cape Town. Beyond academia, he has founded and scaled ventures in Australia, Malaysia, and South Africa, with active involvement in venture capital fundraising and investment.

His outreach interests include community engagement through online education, blended learning, and digital platforms like MOOCs and SPOCs. His research focuses on business and social entrepreneurship, emphasizing the empowerment of disadvantaged communities through entrepreneurial activity.

Dr. Anshuman Awasthi is Senior Vice President and Head for Powertrain Engineering at Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India (MBRDI), Bangalore. Additionally, he spearheads the Innovation Program at MBRDI. He earned his Aerospace Engineering degree at IIT Madras and completed his PhD in Mechanical Engineering at RWTH Aachen, Germany on a fellowship from the German Research Foundation (DFG). In 2004, he moved back to India to join National Aerospace Laboratories Bangalore for his post-doctoral research work. Anshuman started his automotive career from General Motors Technical Centre India in thermal management, safety, and comfort. Later he took the development responsibility of air-conditioning and engine cooling systems for all Chevrolet carlines in India. In November 2009, he joined MBRDI where he established and led teams on various functional evaluation topics. He has expertise in mathematical modelling of process, systems as well as functions and has led the development of various first-in-the-industry mathematical models for Mercedes-Benz. As head of the R&D for Powertrain Engineering, Anshuman oversees software, functions, EE, design & development, computational methods, and advanced data analytics & science topics for ICE as well as EVs. As head of Innovation at MBRDI, Anshuman has installed an award-winning industry leading innovation platform “Innovation Engine 4.0” targeted to create impactful innovations from India for the world. Under Anshuman’s innovation leadership, MBRDI has won various innovation awards in the country across categories. Recipient of various national/international fellowships and widely published, Anshuman is a sought-after keynote speaker, drawing from his extensive international R&D experience and unique insights on technology, innovation, and leadership.