India is at the vanguard of epoch-making economic and social transformation. A country of glorious heritage and enormous diversity, where a sixth of humanity lives, India is looking to leapfrog on the strength of its unique endowment – a burgeoning and an incredibly huge young population. This demographic dividend, this soft power will drive the nation's trail-blazing journey to global leadership.

The national aspiration is high and the key to leveraging this opportunity hinges on its capacity to harness the power of knowledge. An Indian renaissance is all about knowledge and inclusion. For the young and aspiring Indians to collaborate and compete with the best in the world, education ought to get the primacy and the urgency it deserves.

World-class institutions of learning and youth development with audacious vision and timeless values are imperative for an India in transition. The speaker will share her experiences in building institutions of excellence as well as her vision and values as the nation charts its course towards global leadership.

Speakers

Mrs Nita M. Ambani is the Chairperson of Reliance Foundation, Chairperson of Dhirubhai Ambani International School and Chairperson of IMG-Reliance joint venture. An accomplished education leader and a proponent of social development, for two decades, she has made significant contribution to education, healthcare, environmental protection and sports.

Mrs Ambani provides leadership to 12 schools which educate 15,000 children. She led the ecological transformation of the Jamnagar Refinery site of Reliance Industries Limited and the establishment of a world-class township there. Nita Ambani serves on the Global Board of the World Economic Forum's Global Health Initiative. The architect of the cricket team Mumbai Indians and an exponent of Bharatnatyam, Nita Ambani's other areas of interest and work span architecture, interior designs and corporate identity programs.

In her relentless pursuit of providing world-class educational opportunities in India as well as making a difference to society through multifarious philanthropic initiatives, Nita Ambani is leading the Reliance Foundation and the new world-class university being set up by it. Nita is married to Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director, Reliance Industries Limited.

Professor Lord Nicholas Stern is the first holder of the IG Patel Chair of Economics and Government, Director of the India Observatory and Chairman of the Asia Research Centre.

Professor Lord Meghnad Desai is Professor Emeritus of Economics at the LSE. He is founder of LSE Global Governance. From 1990-1995 he was Director of LSE's Development Studies Institute and has been at the LSE for over 30 years. In 1991, Meghnad Desai was created Lord Desai of St Clement Danes.

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