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Chief Guest
- Smt. Droupadi Murmu Hon'ble President of India
In The August Presence Of
- Shri Mohan Charan Majhi Chief Minister Odisha
- Dr Mukesh Mahaling Minister, Health and Family welfare, Parliamentary Affairs, Electronics & Information Technology Odisha
- Shri Suryabanshi Suraj Minister, Higher Education, Sports & Youth Services, Odia Language Literature & Culture Odisha
Chris Coxon
Chief Communications Officer
Accion
Chris Coxon is the Chief Communications Officer at Accion. In this role, he leads all aspects of brand and strategic communications, including Accion’s executive education program on strategic leadership in inclusive finance at Harvard Business School.
Prior to joining Accion in 2022, Chris led a multi-functional global communications team at Heifer International, managing the organization’s reputation and building its brand in the international development space. He worked across 21 countries, establishing a strong strategic communications function, keeping stakeholders informed throughout the global pandemic.
Previously, as Director of Communications at ActionAid USA, Chris led international communications projects on issues ranging from land and food rights to women’s rights and biofuels, across written, broadcast, and social media channels. He also led communications campaigns for ActionAid while based in Rio de Janeiro and Brussels, and worked with former presidents, prime ministers, and business leaders on a global climate change agreement at the Club of Madrid.
His work has been covered by media outlets around the world, including the BBC, CNN, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Guardian, and in multiple languages.
He has a graduate degree from the College of Europe, Bruges, and an undergraduate degree from Royal Holloway, University of London.
Speaking at
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11:20am–12:00pmThu 5 FebBlack Swan DebatesCentral HallOpenModerator
Delivering Skilling and Employment
Building India's Continuous Learning Infrastructure for an AI-Driven Economy
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Dr. Amar PatnaikLawyer, Former Member of Parliamentary & Former Principle Accountant GeneralFormer Member of Parliament
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Prof. Shreepad KarmalkarDirectorIndian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar
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Aravind AgrawalHigher Education SecretaryOdisha Higher Education Department
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Chris CoxonChief Communications OfficerAccionModerator
About this session
As India positions itself as a global hub for AI-driven innovation, the country faces a critical challenge: building continuous learning infrastructure that can keep pace with rapid technological change. This panel brings together leaders from premier technical education, state policy innovation, financial regulation, legislative experience, and on-ground skills development to examine how India can architect a responsive, inclusive skills ecosystem.
The discussion will explore how leading institutions can redesign curricula to embed lifelong learning pathways; how state governments can catalyze public-private collaboration for reskilling infrastructure; how India's fintech ecosystem enables accessible upskilling financing models; and what legislative and regulatory frameworks can incentivize continuous learning.
Drawing on global best practices and India-specific opportunities, panelists will examine concrete mechanisms: stackable credentials and micro-credentials, industry-academia partnerships for applied learning, digital public infrastructure for skills certification, and innovative financing models that democratize access to professional development - particularly for MSMEs, informal workers, and underserved populations navigating the AI economy. -
