Our speakers

Shobana Chawla, ED (Sustainable Finance), Standard Chartered Bank

Shobana Kamineni, Executive Chairperson, Apollo Health Co.

Shobana has spearheaded significant initiatives, including the development of three of the largest verticals within the Apollo Group and the leadership of India’slargest integrated digital healthcare platform, Apollo 24|7. She oversees Apollo Pharmacy, comprising  over 6250+ stores nationwide, and was the founder and chairperson of Apollo Munich Health Insurance (divested to HDFC Ergo).  Notably, she pioneered the establishment of a “Biobank,” recognized by Time Magazine among the top 10 ideas of the decade in Life Sciences.

As the first female President of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in over a century, Shobana made history. Committed to  global public health enhancement, she has previously served on the board and audit committee of the Foundation for Innovative  New Diagnostics (FIND), focusing on diagnostic test development for poverty-related diseases. She also founded ‘Billion Hearts  Beating,’ an NGO promoting heart disease prevention in India.

Additionally, Shobana holdsroles at the World Economic Forum (WEF), advocating for India’s workforce preparation for the Fourth  Industrial Revolution and digital inclusion in healthcare.

Her achievements have earned her prestigious awards, including the Women Economic Forum’s ‘Businesswoman of the Decade’  and honorary doctorates from Bryant University, USA, and BML Munjal University, India.

A keen sportsperson,she has played national-levelsquash, enjoyslong-distance cycling, and adventure sports.

Shobhini Mukerji, Executive Director, Jameel Poverty Action Lab, South Asia

Shobhini Mukerji is the Executive Director at J-PAL's South Asia regional center, where she leads a team of 200 full-time staff and engages with policymakers, civil society partners, and research institutions to promote evidence-based policymaking and scale-up successful social programs in India and the South Asian region. An experienced development professional with over twenty years of research and evaluation expertise, Shobhini advises multilaterals and donors on effective spending of policy interventions with the potential to bring transformational change in the lives of people living in poverty. Shobhini's co-authorship of large-scale randomized evaluations on foundational literacy interventions in India, and her advisory roles for Facebook's Vaccine Hesitancy Fund and MIT Solve's Challenge for Equitable Healthcare Systems, demonstrate her commitment to promoting equitable access to healthcare and education. Shobhini’s previous work with Pratham, association with CARE India and Community Jameel as an advisory committee member, highlights her commitment to various non-profit organizations dedicated to empowering women and girls through health, education, and livelihood programs. With a Master's degree in Social Research Methods from the London School of Economics, Shobhini has extensive experience in designing and managing large-scale data collection and analysis, and providing research design and evaluation advice to organizations and governments.

Shouvik Das, Assistant Editor, Mint

Shraeyansh Thakur, Principal, Sequoia Capital

Shraman Jha, CEO, HUL Foundation, Co-Chair, FICCI Water Mission

Shri Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology

Shri Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa, Government of India

Shri B.B. Swain, Secretary, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India

Shri B.B. Swain joined the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in 1988 in Gujarat cadre. Presently, he is holding the charge of Secretary in the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.

In his 33 years of service, Shri Swain has served in the Gujarat State as well as the Central Government in New Delhi.

He has a Master’s degree in Political Science from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi  and  a Masters in Public Policy & Management from The Institute of Social Studies, The Hague, Netherlands. 

Shri Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma, Minister of State, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, GOI

Shri Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma has assumed the charge as Minister of State for  Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in July, 2021.  Under this role, Shri Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma, MoS-MSME is at the fore of designing and framing the MSME policies, and promote entrepreneurship in various sectors of MSME industries.

Before his present position, he was the Member of Municipal Board, Konch, Uttar Pradesh in the year 1988-1993.  From 1991-1992, he was the Member of Legislative Assembly, (Uttar Pradesh) and Member of Committee on Questions and References in Vidhan Sabha. In the year 1996-1997, he elected for the biggest legislative house of National Parliament. He was the Member of Standing Committee on Petroleum and Chemicals, Consultative Committee of Privileges. From 1998-1999 he was the Member of Standing Committee on Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs. In the year 2004-2009 he was the Member of Standing Committee on Chemicals and Fertilizers, Committee on Provision of computers to MPs, offices of Parties, Officers of Lok Sabha Secretariat and other dignified committees.

In the year 2011, Shri Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma has elected President of Bhartiya Janta Party, Scheduled Caste Morcha, Uttar Pradesh. From 2014 onwards he was the Member of Standing Committee on Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Member of Standing Committee on Energy, and Information Technology and from 2019 till joining this office he was the Member of Consultative Committee of Ministry of Defence.  

He has worked for welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and especially for SC/ST women. He was the pioneer in framing of rules for egovernance. His advocacy helps MSME to establish TCs, Clusters in rural backward areas.