Prof. Ankur Sarin is a faculty in the Public Systems Group and Ravi J Mathai Center for Innovation in Education at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. His past works include investigations of the effects of social and economic inequality on welfare outcomes of children and understanding the influence of technology on the social and economic life of the marginalised. Recently, he has been working on making the Right to Education an instrument not only for increased access to education, but also one that promotes a more inclusive education system as part of the institute’s Right to Education Resource Center (www.rterc.in). He has a Ph. D. in Public Policy from the University of Chicago and prior to joining IIM-Ahmedabad, was a Researcher at Mathematica Policy Research, Princeton.

Ashwin Yardi is the Non-Executive Chairman of Capgemini India. In his previous role, he served as CEO of Capgemini Technology Services India for seven years and was also a member of the Capgemini Group Executive Committee. With over 30 years of experience in consulting and information technology, Ashwin has led large-scale business transformation initiatives across the Americas, Europe, and Asia, helping Fortune 1000 organizations drive growth, innovation, and business impact. His strength is in driving transformational outcomes that create sustainable value and strengthen organizational performance.

Beyond his corporate leadership, Ashwin is actively involved in Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives focused on digital inclusion, diversity, and sustainability, and serves as Co-Chair of YuWaah, UNICEF’s youth empowerment initiative. By qualification, Ashwin is an Engineer, MBA, and CFA.

Chetna Sinha is the Founder and Chairperson of Mann Deshi Bank and Mann Deshi Foundation, and a leading advocate for women’s economic empowerment. In 1997, she founded Mann Deshi Mahila Sahakari Bank, India’s pioneering bank for and by rural women. She subsequently established India’s first business school for rural women and has championed initiatives in financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, healthcare, sports, climate-smart agriculture, and women-led producer organisations. Mann Deshi reached one million women in 2024. A Yale, Ashoka, and Schwab Fellow, Chetna has held leadership roles at the World Economic Forum, W20, G20 EMPOWER, and BRICS Women’s Business Alliance. She received the Nari Shakti Puraskar in 2018 and addressed the UN Commission on the Status of Women in 2024.

Dhruvi Shah is Executive Trustee and CEO of Axis Bank Foundation, which she joined in 2016, becoming CEO in 2020. Under her leadership the Foundation's Sustainable Livelihood Programme has reached 2 million rural households, with a roadmap to scale through Mission 4 Million by 2030. With over 25 years across banking, microfinance and development, she spent 18 years at ABN AMRO / RBS and was part of the team that set up RBS Foundation India. She is curator and author of The Book of Aspiration and advises NGOs and philanthropies on funding design and capacity building.

Dr. R. Balasubramaniam (Dr. Balu) is a Member of NITI Aayog, Government of India, with over four decades of experience in grassroots development, public policy, and governance. A physician by training, he holds a Master in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School. He founded the Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement (SVYM) in 1984, which today reaches over three million people, and the Grassroots Research and Advocacy Movement (GRAAM), a public policy think tank. He previously served on the Capacity Building Commission, Government of India, and currently chairs SEBI’s Social Stock Exchange Advisory Committee. A former Frank H.T. Rhodes Professor at Cornell University, Dr. Balu has taught and advised on adaptive leadership, governance, and public policy in India and internationally.

Raman Wadhwa is a distinguished civil servant whose leadership has been instrumental in transforming India’s rural development landscape. As Deputy Director of the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) in the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, he leads nationwide initiatives that advance rural prosperity and sustainable development.

Under his stewardship at NRLM, Mr. Wadhwa has pioneered interventions that have enhanced the annual earning potential of ten million beneficiaries and facilitated the creation of one crore Lakhpati Didis. His strategic vision has led to the establishment of large-scale producer enterprises, thereby strengthening rural economic frameworks across the country.

Previously, as Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Madhya Pradesh State Rural Livelihoods Mission, he fostered key partnerships with the World Bank, DFID, UNDP, and WHO, earning national recognition for innovative approaches to farm and non-farm livelihoods. His implementation of the SLACC programme demonstrated his expertise in climate change adaptation and sustainable development.

Mr. Wadhwa’s global perspective has been enriched through specialized technical learning visits to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Taiwan, with a focus on soil protection, rehabilitation, and green supply chains. An alumnus of the Institute of Management Technology, Ghaziabad, he holds an MBA in Finance and Marketing, complemented by a postgraduate diploma in Rural Development from IGNOU.

Throughout his seventeen-year career in public service, Mr. Wadhwa has consistently demonstrated excellence in fostering climate resilience, women’s empowerment, and sustainable value chains. His leadership style, characterized by data-driven decision-making and collaborative governance, continues to shape national policies that bridge the urban–rural divide and create a lasting positive impact on communities across India.

Robyn Mildon, PhD, is a global leader in implementation science, evidence synthesis, and evaluation. As the Founding CEO of the Centre for Evidence and Implementation (CEI), she leads a global social purpose organisation with offices in Australia, Singapore, the UK, and Norway, driving impactful work across 20 countries. Robyn’s work has helped to advance the implementation of better evidence in policy and practice settings, improving the quality and effectiveness of health, education, and human services. She has authored or co-authored multiple peer-reviewed publications, commissioned evidence reviews, and book chapters, including the edited book Implementation Science 3.0 (Springer, 2020). A highly sought-after strategic advisor, Robyn has extensive governance experience across government, philanthropy, and the non-profit sector. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO) and The Benevolent Society and is a member of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Evidence Advisory Committee. Additionally, she chairs the Board of Trustees for the Aotearoa Lifecourse Fund and the Research Committee for Systems 2. Robyn is also a frequently invited speaker with extensive experience delivering keynote speeches, facilitating tailored workshops, and chairing global conferences worldwide, focusing on areas such as early childhood development and education. Academically, Robyn is a Visiting Associate Professor at the National University of Singapore (NUS)—where she helped establish the Centre for Holistic Initiatives for Learning and Development (CHILD) and the Behavioural and Implementation Science Interventions (BISI)—and an Adjunct Associate Professor at Monash University. A recipient of the Campbell Collaboration John Westbrook Award (2022) for outstanding contributions to knowledge translation, Robyn also serves as the Chair of the Evidence and Implementation Summit 2025.

Dr Seema Murthy is a physician and a public health professional with over 20 years of experience in clinical medicine, research, teaching and practice of public health. She has worked with CCDC, PHFI and Forus Health prior to her current role as Senior Research Specialist with Aurora Health Innovations, LLP. She has been the Principal Investigator in several studies, has secured few grants and has several publications. She has a bachelor’s degree in medicine from Bangalore University and a master’s degree in public health from the University of Michigan.