Speakers

• Abul Kalam Azad Secretary, Disha, Sundargarh, Odisha
  

  Abul Kalam Azad

  Secretary, Disha, Sundargarh, Odisha

  Abul Kalam Azad is the Secretary of a non-profit DISHA with over 35 years of experience in advancing child rights and sustainable livelihood development among marginalized communities in Sundargarh, Odisha. He holds a postgraduate degree in Rural Development from Xavier Institute of Social Service (XISS), Ranchi, and a postgraduate qualification in Public Relations from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, New Delhi. He is also an alumnus of the Mindanao Peacebuilding Institute, Philippines. His extensive work at the intersection of community development, inclusive livelihoods and grassroots institution-building brings valuable perspectives to discussions on building resilient, inclusive and future-ready urban-industrial ecosystems.

• Ananya Paul Subject Matter Expert, Sports, Collage Design Private Limited
  

  Ananya Paul

  Subject Matter Expert, Sports, Collage Design Private Limited

  Ananya Paul is a sports management professional with over 13 years of experience in strategic planning, sports infrastructure development, and large-scale event operations. He has managed multidisciplinary teams and multi-city operations for organizations including FIFA, FIH, and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). His expertise includes project management, venue planning, stakeholder engagement, and sport-for-development initiatives. He is currently advising on sports infrastructure strategy and international bid readiness for India’s 2036 Olympic Games bid, with international experience in Sierra Leone and the United Kingdom.

• Anushree Dash Founder & Chairperson, ADiBha She Vision
  

  Anushree Dash

  Founder & Chairperson, ADiBha She Vision

  Anushree Dash is a gender equality advocate, human rights activist, social entrepreneur, and Founder & Chairperson of ADiBha She Vision. Widely known as the “Pad Woman of Odisha,” she champions women’s leadership, menstrual health, girls’ education, and inclusive development. A three-time TEDx Speaker, G20 Speaker, and G100 India Country Chair for Equity & Equality, she has represented India at global platforms including the UN and Women Economic Forum. A Karmaveer Chakra Awardee, she continues to drive grassroots action and policy advocacy for gender justice and women’s empowerment.

• Preeti Prada Panigrahi Director, Socratus Foundation
  

  Preeti Prada Panigrahi

  Director, Socratus Foundation

  Preeti Prada Panigrahi is a senior public policy and equity-focused leader with over 17 years of experience driving evidence-based policy and large-scale development programs across India and other low- and middle-income countries. Currently serving as Director, Programs & Partnerships at Socratus Foundation for Collective Wisdom, she specializes in translating research into actionable policy, building strategic partnerships, and leading multi-stakeholder initiatives. Her expertise spans climate resilience, urban systems, and inclusive governance, complemented by academic training from the London School of Economics and Harvard University.

• Siddharth Thyagarajan Senior Program Manager, WRI India
  

  Siddharth Thyagarajan

  Senior Program Manager, WRI India

  Siddharth Thyagarajan is a Senior Program Manager at WRI India, working on people-centric, data-driven urban development with a focus on placemaking and climate resilience. His expertise spans child-friendly cities, nature-based solutions, urban water resilience, and climate-responsive design. With experience across India, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Belgium, and Portugal, he brings a global perspective to sustainable urban planning. Siddharth holds a Master’s in Architecture and Urbanism from KU Leuven, Belgium, and a Bachelor’s in Architecture from Aayojan School of Architecture, Jaipur.