Ideas For India 2025

Bio

Pratik Dattani is Advisor to Bridge India and the Managing Director for boutique economic consulting firm EPG, specialising in economic analysis, strategic communications and market entry assistance with India, with offices in London, Bangalore and East Africa.

He was additionally, until August 2017, UK Director for the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the premier and largest industry body in India. He is also the co-founder of a tech start-up in the CSR space. Previously he worked in Economic Consulting at FTI Consulting and Deloitte in London and Abu Dhabi, with a focus on public policy and arbitration. He was Chairman for a not-for-profit membership organisation with several thousand members for three years.

He studied Economics at Warwick University, where he was awarded the Prize for Excellence, and LMU University of Munich. His dissertation won a prize at an international economics conference at Georgetown University, Washington DC. He has published academic research on behavioural economics and social impact and is a regular commentator on public policy and India across print, TV and online media, featured on BBC News, CBC, CNBC, CNN, NDTV, South China Morning Post and Huffington Post.

Sessions

Bio

Shaunaka Rishi Das serves as the Director of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies (OCHS) since its inception in 1997. A dedicated educator and advocate for interfaith dialogue, Das’s expertise spans education, comparative theology, communication, and leadership. He holds the distinction of being the first Hindu Chaplain at Oxford University, a role he assumed in 2006, marking a historic milestone in the institution’s 800-year history.

In his capacity as Director, Das has been instrumental in fostering partnerships with academic institutions globally, including formal relationships with universities in the US, Europe, India, and China. Under his leadership, the OCHS received formal recognition from Oxford University in 2006, solidifying its position as a leading institution for the study of Hinduism. Additionally, Das has facilitated publishing partnerships with prestigious entities such as Oxford University Press and the Journal of Hindu Studies.

Beyond academia, Das is a prominent voice in media and broadcasting, notably contributing to BBC Radio 4’s ‘Prayer for the Day’ since 2007. He has also lent his expertise to various documentaries on Hindu culture and traditions, alongside serving as a consultant for projects aimed at exploring and understanding Hinduism. Through his multifaceted contributions, Das continues to enrich scholarly discourse and promote a deeper understanding of Hinduism on a global scale.

Sessions

Bio

Lord Karan Bilimoria is a British Indian entrepreneur, life peer in the UK House of Lords, and a university chancellor.

He is well known for founding the popular global beer brand, Cobra Beer and currently operates as the company’s chairman. In addition to his business activity, He is a politically active crossbench member of the House of Lords, and also currently serves as Chancellor of the University of Birmingham.

Sessions