Ravi Panchanadan is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Manipal Global Education Services, Ravi is instrumental in transforming the business of education, facilitating it to adapt to the latest technology trends and best practices. His leading entrepreneurial experience across FMCG, IT/ITES and education have resulted in him pioneering a digital-first future for education, outfitting international campus business and universities with new technologies and operational excellence.

His perceptive leadership is goal-oriented and has been unwavering in that foundational principle focused on creating quality customer experiences. His passion for Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) drive his strategy, including conscious inclusion of diversity, inclusivity, and sustainability in everyday business practices. At Manipal Global, his integrated approach balancing trends with proven processes have developed new growth engines in a competitive global market. He also contributes to several industry platforms as a committee member, focused panel discussions, company boards, and leadership groups with experience backed advisory.

Ravi held several senior leadership positions across IT, supply chain, operations, finance, commercial, and new business development in his professional experience spanning over three decades. At Manipal Global, he has implemented strategies that have helped expand its business and develop new growth engines in the global education market. His business acumen, P&L management, global client engagement, people management, and proven business experience has enabled Manipal Global to achieve valuable campus enterprise success in India and internationally. Before his current role, Ravi managed direct to business and customer-focused ventures at Manipal Global. In his tenure at Manipal, Ravi has also served as the Director & CEO Middle East & Africa Region of Manipal Education (MENA Fz and LLC), Manipal International University, Malaysia, and Chief Executive Officer of MeritTrac Services.

Prior to Manipal, Ravi was with Infosys BPO venture, where he was the SBU Head for the Manufacturing & ECS businesses, contributing to 60% of its BPO venture. He was instrumental in building its Sourcing & Procurement (S&P) Practice from scratch to over $35 Million in three years. This success has garnered him global recognition as a thought leader in the Supply Chain world. Ravi has also worked with Intel between 2003-2008, where, apart from helping put India on the Intel Supplier sourcing map, he was responsible for high-value strategic contracts for the company and successfully setting up and leading global innovation for the materials group. In his prior stint at Hindustan Unilever Ltd. (HUL) group between 1990-2003, Ravi started straight from campus as a management trainee and worked his way up to be the Business Manager (OOH) for Kwality Wall's ice-creams.

A Bachelor of Electrical Engineering (Hons) from Jadavpur University, Kolkata, Ravi also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Management from XLRI, Jamshedpur. Ravi likes to spend quality time with his family, reading, interacting with people, and travelling, which keeps him on top of things.

Balasundaram Athreya (BaSu) is the Sr. Vice President and CDO of Manipal Global Education Services and mentors the digitization pathways for all campus businesses of Manipal Global. He works closely with Manipal Global / Manipal education units to drive digital transformation initiatives that enhance all-around stakeholder experiences. He also leads and supports specific SBUs within Manipal Global.

BaSu’s career experience of thirty-five years has been gained in diverse roles across multiple countries. His core management capabilities include Finance, Projects, Infrastructure, Student Services and Digital Experience Innovation. He has been with Manipal Education since 2009 and has handled various roles across Special Projects, Business Delivery fulfilment, Leadership, People & Team Development and Strategic Planning Support.

Before Manipal Global, BaSu was the Director of Operations & Business Development at Worldtrade FZE, Jebel Ali Free Zone in Dubai. He has also worked as a Senior Business & Operations Analyst at the Sameer Group HQ, Nairobi City, Kenya. BaSu’s previous experience includes entities like the Sanmar Group, Chennai and SKF Bearings, Mumbai.

Balasundaram holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Bangalore University, India. He is also a Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA) and a Cost and Works Accountant (CWA).

Shridhar Hegde joined Manipal Global Education Services in May 2008 and has held various leadership roles in finance in the company.

As an established finance leader, Shridhar has more than 25 years of rich experience in financial accounting, MIS, treasury, cost management, investor relations, business partnering, financial operations, taxations, and financial reporting.

He started his career with Tata Oil Mills Company Limited and later moved to Broke Bond & Hindustan Lever Ltd. Prior to joining Manipal, Shridhar worked in Fosroc Chemicals India Pvt Ltd, Bangalore, as CFO for eight years.

Shridhar has a Bachelor of Commerce and is a Fellow Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India

Niranjan, the Chief International Business Officer and Sr Vice President at Manipal Global Education Services, is responsible for student acquisitions across Manipal Global’s international campuses. He currently is the CEO - Manipal Global Education Services, Middle East, and Africa. With a strong focus on transnational student asset and brand development, in his role, Niranjan is responsible for growing Manipal Global’s international education business.

With a career in business development and operations that spans over three decades, Niranjan has been associated with Manipal Global Education Services for over sixteen years. His Manipal journey started in 2005 as part of the marketing team, moving on to various roles: sales, branding, fulfilment, HR, and business operations positions. In his current role, Niranjan leads a team focussed on establishing Manipal’s international campuses as the preferred destination for a student aspiring to study abroad.

Niranjan is an alumnus of the Madras University, Chennai, where he did his Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) and MBA. He also holds a certification from MICA on Communication and Branding.

Robin Bhowmik currently leads the business of Manipal Global Education Services BFSI division as Chief Business Officer. Robin spearheads Manipal’s high priority and strategic business initiatives that enable clients to unlock value from continuous skill-based organizational results across financial and Fintech education and training.

With a career spanning over twenty-five years, Robin has led customer value and revenue growth across countries, including North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan, and India. His expert knowledge in developing and implementing profitable revenue strategies has lead to building resilient and innovative businesses, increasing shareholder and market share of voice.

A highly skilled expert on Data Centres, Cloud, and driving business transformation using Digital ecosystems, Robin has built and scaled businesses organically and fronted new entities and structures operating transformational business outcomes. Robin has negotiated multi-million contracts for technology services within industries, including Banking, Telecommunications, and Natural Resources. His prior experience includes change management, consulting, strategic outsourcing, and global delivery across leading companies like Hewlett Packard and CSC. He was also responsible for the Data Centres and Cloud platform business at Sify Technologies.

Robin is an alumnus of the University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business; Robin additionally holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Jadavpur University, an Advanced Diploma from NIIT in Systems management, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Management from Calcutta University.

Dr. S Sudhindra is the Academic President at Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Dubai Campus.

ROLE

Dr. Sudhindra leads a team consisting of permanent and adjunct faculty and supporting academic staff that designs and delivers high-quality graduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs. Among other things, his role includes driving industry and academic collaborations, research, student progression, and development of industry ready programs at MAHE Dubai. He believes that innovation and continuous improvement are absolute necessities to creating value for the key stakeholders.

BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE

Dr. Sudhindra has a Masters in Technology from Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras), and a PhD, also from IIT Madras.
Prior to joining the academic career, he served in the Indian Army in the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering from where he retired as a Colonel. Thereafter, during his academic career, he has held faculty and administrative positions at Christ University, Bengaluru, and at T. A. Pai Management Institute Manipal. Prior to joining the MAHE Dubai team, Dr. Sudhindra was the Dean of T. A. Pai Management Institute, Bengaluru.

Dr Jason Fitzsimmons is the Academic President of Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Dubai Campus. Dr Jason has been part of the Manipal Education team previously as the Chairperson at the School of Business at MAHE Dubai and Dean of Executive Education. His sheer determination and meticulous nature have driven him to be the Academic Head of this prestigious institution.

With a Doctorate in Physics and MBA from the Queensland University of Technology, Dr Jason firmly believes in commitment, teamwork and efficient completion of any task undertaken. He leads several disciplines on to the path of excellence to ensure consistent delivery of quality education. He has been responsible for identifying and establishing student exchange programs through collaborations with various universities across the globe. He also focuses on R&D initiatives, Professional Society activities, Industry collaborations for internships, placements, and research activities at MAHE Dubai.

Dr Jason Fitzsimmons completed his Bachelor of Applied Science in Physics from the Queensland University of Technology in 1992. He then pursued his academic career in Physics and Strategic Management & Entrepreneurship simultaneously at the Queensland University of Technology, achieving great successes in both. He acquired his PhD in Physics in 2000 and his MBA in 2001. After receiving his MBA, Dr Jason went on to teach at the Brisbane Graduate School of Business, the Queensland University of Technology, for eight years. He then moved continents and became the Director, MBA Programs, Alumni Relations Office and Associate Professor at U21Global Graduate School, Singapore, where he worked for four years. In 2012, he moved to Manipal GlobalNxt University in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and finally joined MAHE Dubai in 2015. He has also had significant industry experience and was involved in several successful startup ventures.

Professor Kee obtained his Bachelor of Engineering (Industrial with 1st Class Honours) in 1984 and earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering in 1992 from the University of Melbourne, Australia. He has more than 30 years of experience working in academic and senior management positions with the manufacturing industry and institutions of higher learning in Australia and Malaysia. He has received numerous awards and grants for his research and has published his findings in reputable technical publications, journals and reports locally and internationally. He has also presented numerous technical papers and keynotes papers at local and international conferences. He is the external reviewer and examiner for international journals for advanced manufacturing technology and higher degree research theses for Australian and UK universities. He was awarded the ”Promising Entrepreneur” by the Asia Pacific Young Entrepreneurs Organization in 1998 for his contribution in pioneering and setting up a successful school with almost a thousand students within a private college in Malaysia.