The best and brightest emerging young leaders from India and Australia converge on Melbourne and Sydney this week for a major bilateral dialogue.
The Australia India Youth Dialogue (AIYD) brings together Indians and Australians under the age of 40, all demonstrated leaders in their fields, for a four-day conference aimed at strengthening relations between the two countries (Sydney 20-21 Feb, Melbourne 22-23 Feb).
The conference is being launched tonight in Melbourne by three-time Olympic gold medallist Stephanie Rice OAM, who is carving out a career in media in India and was a delegate to the conference back in 2017.
Delegates this year includes a Grammy Award-winning musician, the global head of public policy at Uber, a Melbourne entrepreneur who is aiming to bring fuel-efficient technology to 2 million rickshaws, leaders in education, agriculture, politics, and more.
Topics under discussion range from using education to foster greater cultural understanding, and boosting economic ties, to looking at how young leaders can drive policy development.
Over four days, they will hear from eminent speakers including Foreign Minister Marise Payne.
Karan Anand, Chair of the AIYD, said:
“The Australian Government’s India Economic Strategy – and the Indian Government’s much anticipated response – point the way towards strengthening the business relationship between the two countries. But we mustn’t forget the importance of the people ties.
“That’s what the Australia India Youth Dialogue is all about: bringing together dynamic young leaders to exchange ideas, and work together solve common challenges. It’s through collaboration at forums such as this that the relationship will flourish and grow.”
AIYD 19 Delegates
| Indian Delegates | Australian Delegates |
| Anand Shriram
Vice President, DCM Shriram Ltd., a business conglomerate with interests in agriculture and AgTech |
Abdullahi Alim
Specialist in social engagement for the World Economic Forum, focusing on the Middle East and Africa. Also runs hackathons to develop solutions to global challenges |
| Charu Pragya
Lawyer and first woman to head the legal committee of the ruling BJP party’s youth wing. Also runs free legal aid centres for women across India |
Amit Singh
Head of Global Public Policy (Future of Work), Uber, and a former adviser to Labor leaders including Kevin Rudd and Bill Shorten |
| Devi Murthy
Founder & CEO of Kamal Kisan, a social enterprise which uses precision farming to improve farm output |
Caitlin Figueiredo
Founder & CEO, Jasiri Australia. An award-winning entrepreneur focused on equality and empowerment |
| Priyanka Khandelwal
Founder and CEO of Abira Creations Private Limited which empowers women through the production of ethical fashion |
Craig Hembrow
Co-Founder, Ayata IQ, developing clean, affordale, battery-less hybrid technology to vehicles |
| Nazia Izuddin
President, World Integrity Center India Dehradun, a privately established socio-cultural community and lifestyle centre near the foothills of the Himalayas |
Daizy Mann
Program Manager for Deakin University’s entrepreneurship initiative, SPARK Deakin |
| Ricky Kej
Grammy® winning composer, Billboard #1 recording artist, conservationist and professor at India’s National Institute of Advanced Studies |
Dr. Shireen Morris
McKenzie Postdoctoral Fellow, Melbourne University Law School |
| Rammohan Paranjape
VP – Surfing Federation of India. Pioneer surfer and accomplished surfing photographer |
Jasmin Craufurd-Hill
Director, Institute for Regional Security/ Arete Assessments |
| Rajat Sethi
Political adviser to the Chief Minister of the north-eastern state of Manipur |
Jaymes Boland-Rudder
Head of Government and Community Relations- National Rugby League and former political advisor |
| Raja Karthikeya Gundu
Political Affairs Officer, UN Secretariat in New York where he works on Middle East peace issues. Has served in UN missions in Afghanistan and Iraq |
Katherine Quigley
Artistic Director and CEO of Backbone Youth Arts |
| Sabika Abbas
Founder, Sar-e-rahguzar: Poetry on the Streets |
Gina Rushton
Buzzfeed News reporter covering issues which affect Australian women including reproductive rights, health, violence, politics, science and crime |
| Sruthijith KK
Editor of ET Magazine, a supplement of the Indian business newspaper The Economic Times |
Michael Safi
The Guardian’s South Asia correspondent based in Delhi |
| Sunaina Kumar
Journalist with a focus on issues of social justice, development, and gender |
Rachel Mason-Nunn
EY consultant specialising in outcome measurement and social development. Former social development specialist at the World Bank |
| Sid Vashist
Tennant Creek-based councillor for the Barkly Regional Council |
|
| Taj Pabari
CEO of youth entrepreneurship provider, Fiftysix Creations |
|
| William Taing
Co-Founder & Director of Beanstalk, a business focused on scaling high growth AgTech companies |
