EMPOWER 2024
Vice Chancellor - DUK and KTU
Dr. Saji Gopinath is the first Vice Chancellor of Kerala University of Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology and also serves as the Vice Chancellor of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University. With a career spanning leadership roles at IIITMK, KSUM, and IIM Kozhikode, Dr. Gopinath has been instrumental in developing Kerala’s startup ecosystem. He holds a Ph.D. in Management from IISc and has won numerous awards, including the National eGovernance Award (2023) and ISTD Transformation Guru Award (2022). He also consults on business strategy and operations, having trained top corporations like Reliance, HUL, and NTPC
Professor - IDC School of Design, IIT Bombay
Prof. Ravi Poovaiah is a senior faculty member at IDC School of Design, IIT Bombay, specializing in Interaction Design, Visual Design, and Product Design. His research focuses on Visual Narratives, Information Visualization, and Collaborative Learning Environments. He co-directs the e-kalpa project, developing open-access design resources for education in India, and Jellow Labs, creating inclusive communication tools for children. Prof. Poovaiah has worked on significant projects like India’s Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) and design initiatives for Microsoft, Bharat Petroleum, and Indian Oil. He also chairs committees for integrating design and innovation in education across Indian schools.
Principal Scientist, Tata Consultancy Services
Dr. Charudatta Jadhav is a Principal Scientist at Tata Consultancy Services, leading the Accessibility Research & Innovation unit. With over 30 years of experience, he has been instrumental in establishing TCS's accessibility practice and has filed 51 global patents, 34 of which have been granted. A former chess champion, Dr. Jadhav has represented India in world championships and Olympiads, serving as coach for medal-winning teams. His contributions to IT, education, and disability sports have earned him numerous accolades, including the National Award for Best Disabled Employee (2006) and Padmashree nomination (2019). He also serves on national and international advisory boards.
Retired Professor and former Dean, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar University
Anita Ghai is a retired professor and former dean at the School of Human Studies, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar University Delhi. Previously, she was an associate professor in psychology at Jesus and Mary College, University of Delhi. Her research focuses on critical disability studies, care, gender, and sexuality, with a feminist and disability theory perspective. She has authored and edited multiple works, including Re-thinking Disability in India (2015). Ghai has also served as President of the Indian Association for Women's Studies and is an editor for several academic journals on disability and gender.
Senior Engineering Manager - Google
Arun Panyappan is an IT professional with 25 years of experience. Despite being 90% blind, he was hired by Google, where he leads the customer support platform team, automating support with Generative AI. He previously built and sold a startup after losing his vision. Arun has mentored several AI startups, including Cogknit Semantics and Rayo. He founded The Karka Nirka Trust, focusing on public school infrastructure and scholarships for blind students. He has spoken at conferences like Disability.in Tokyo and judged accessibility hackathons for organizations like Samarthanam Trust and iSTEM.