Past Speakers
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
Sharanjit Leyl
MC, Chancellor
Bath Spa University
A familiar face on global screens, Sharanjit Leyl has brought you the news from Asia on BBC World News, Bloomberg Television and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation for a quarter of a century. She spent eighteen years with BBC World News, covering business and politics, anchoring from its Asia bureau and from London's Broadcasting House.
Singaporean by birth, she's produced and presented documentaries on TV and radio about her city on the BBC. Educated in North America with undergraduate degrees in Journalism and a Master of Arts in English, Sharanjit has lived and worked in Tokyo, London, Vancouver, Washington DC, and Singapore, bringing a truly global perspective to her work. She now regularly moderates high-level debates for the United Nations, the ADB and other multilateral and financial institutions while balancing a board career and advising companies and educational institutions on media strategy.
A champion of the Arts, Sharanjit holds leadership roles at the Fashion Museum of Bath where she co-Chairs the Board of Trustees and heads the DEI committee at The Holburne Museum. In Singapore, she serves on the board of The Necessary Stage and is an advisor to The British Theatre Playhouse.
In May 2024, Sharanjit made history as the first Singaporean appointed Chancellor of a UK university — Bath Spa University — succeeding her predecessor Oscar-winner Jeremy Irons. As a result, she divides her time between her homes in Singapore and Bath.
Speaking at
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9:45–10:10amThu 5 FebBlack Swan DebatesCentral HallOpenModerator
Others
Opening of the Black Swan Summit – India Edition
Black Swan DebatesCentral HallOpenModerator
About this session
Welcome to the Black Swan Summit - India Edition
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8:45–9:05amFri 6 FebSummit Stage DialoguesCentral HallOpenModerator
Others
Opening of the Summit Stage Dialogues at the Black Swan Summit – India Series
Summit Stage DialoguesCentral HallOpenModerator
About this session
Welcome to the Black Swan Summit India Edition - The Summit Stage Dialogues.
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9:30–10:00amFri 6 FebSummit Stage DialoguesCentral HallOpenModerator
Others
The Black Swan Moment: Impact of AI on Society and Governance
Summit Stage DialoguesCentral HallOpenModerator
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Shekhar KapurFilm, TV, Theatre Director & Producer, EntreprenuerQuasar Film
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Jawed AshrafChairman, India Trade Promotion Organization; Former High Commissioner of India in Singapore & Ambassador to France & MonacoIndian Foreign Service
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Debjani GhoshDistinguished FellowNITI Aayog
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Sharanjit LeylMC, ChancellorBath Spa UniversityModerator
About this session
A thought-provoking discussion on how artificial intelligence is reshaping society, governance, and the creative industries. This session brings together perspectives from the arts, diplomacy, and governance to examine AI not as a technical tool but as a force transforming how we work, create, govern, and relate to each other. The conversation explores how can we regulate AI without stifling innovation, what the creative industry’s disruption tells us about broader societal impacts, and how India can position itself as an AI leader rather than a follower.
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10:00–10:25amFri 6 FebSummit Stage DialoguesCentral HallOpenModerator
Accelerating Sector Transformation
The Evolving Landscape of Investment and Financial Systems in Emerging Economies
Summit Stage DialoguesCentral HallOpenModerator
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Neil ParekhDeputy Chairman, Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN); Vice Chairman, Asia Pacific, SMBC & Former Nominated Member of Parliament, SingaporeSumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC)
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Dr. Debadatta ChandManaging Director & Chief Executive OfficerBank of Baroda
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Sharanjit LeylMC, ChancellorBath Spa UniversityModerator
About this session
Emerging markets are entering a defining decade for finance. Countries like India are building digital-first financial ecosystems that fuse innovation, inclusion, and investment at scale. With over 10 billion monthly UPI transactions, rapid fintech growth toward the $2 trillion mark, and banks leading AI and tokenization pilots, India has become both a blueprint and a testbed for the future of banking.
This dialogue explores how global investors and leading banks are collaborating to reimagine the financial ecosystem, attract capital, and navigate AI-driven disruptions. How do private banks scale digital models profitably while ensuring inclusion? Where will value creation and jobs emerge as technology reshapes emerging market finance? -

