Chandigarh, Feb 20: SVKM’s NMIMS Chandigarh successfully hosted HR Conclave 2.0 – Future of Work, a flagship Industry–Academia interface that brought together eminent HR leaders, legal experts, corporate professionals, academicians, and students for a day of insightful deliberations on the rapidly evolving world of work. The conclave commenced at 9:30 AM at the NMIMS Chandigarh campus and witnessed enthusiastic participation, thought-provoking discussions, and meaningful networking throughout the day.
The event witnessed the virtual presence of Dr. Meena Chintamaneni, Pro Vice Chancellor. The inaugural lamp lighting ceremony was led by Prof. (Dr.) Jyotsna Singh, Campus Director, and Mr. Abhinav Kaushik, Deputy Registrar, NMIMS Chandigarh Campus, along with the Guest of Honour, Dr. Ravinder Singh Zandu; Dr. Parul Grover Mahajan, Program Chair, School of Commerce; Prof. Dr. Rashmi Khorana Nagpal, Associate Dean, School of Law; Mr. Abhishek Mehta, Assistant Director – Placements; Mr. Gurpreet Singh, Coordinator- Placements; and HR delegates.
The conclave was honoured by the presence of Dr. Ravinder Singh Zandu, Head of Digital & Systems, Cabinet Office – Government Campus for Skills, UK Civil Services, as the Guest of Honour. The event was meticulously organised by Mr. Abhishek Mehta, Assistant Director – Placements, and Mr. Gurpreet Singh, Coordinator – Placements, whose dedicated efforts brought distinguished leaders from industry and the legal fraternity onto a common platform for dialogue and collaboration.
In her address, Dr. Meena Chintamaneni said,
“We believe we are in the noble profession of educating the youth, but if they are not useful to society and industry, it has no meaning, which is why industry stakeholder feedback helps us know whether we are on the right track. For nearly a decade, we have focused on outcome-based, learner-centric education through experiential learning, project-based learning, and internships aligned with real industry needs. Our ultimate goal is that students become truly employable, prepared from day one with the skills, critical thinking, and digital readiness required by the industry.”
Prof. (Dr.) Jyotsna Singh highlighted,
“At SVKM’s NMIMS, we carry forward a legacy of value-based quality education, and through this HR Conclave, we are creating an ecosystem that strengthens the vital bridge between academia and industry. In today’s AI-driven era, it is not just about how AI is shaping industries, but how the entire industry landscape is changing across domains. As an institution of higher education, our responsibility goes beyond imparting knowledge; we must ensure our curriculum and learning remain aligned with real-world needs, because while we provide degrees, it is students’ skills, adaptability, and ability to apply knowledge that will define their future.”
Dr. Ravinder Singh Zandu spoke,
“ This conclave brings together academia and industry to reflect on whether we are on the right track in preparing students for real world needs. Data is the crux for any AI system to work rightly, and unless you have the right, varied, and truly representative data, the outcomes will always be wrong. That is why transparency, fairness, ethics, and explainable AI are essential to build systems that people can truly trust.”
Sharing his thoughts on the success of the conclave, Mr. Abhishek Mehta said:
“HR Conclave 2.0 was envisioned as a knowledge-sharing platform where students could directly engage with industry stalwarts and legal experts. The overwhelming participation and depth of discussions reaffirm the importance of such initiatives in bridging the gap between classroom learning and corporate expectations.”
The conclave served as a dynamic forum for exchanging ideas on key themes including HR transformation, digital disruption, talent management, leadership strategies, organisational agility, and the legal dimensions of modern workplaces. The interactive panel discussions offered rich industry insights and practical perspectives, enabling students to develop a deeper understanding of contemporary HR and legal challenges while fostering meaningful dialogue and professional networking.
Distinguished Panel Speakers included:
Deepti Mehta – CHRO, Interface Microsystems
Ruhi Ranjan – Senior Managing Director (Ex-Accenture)
Yamini Khanna – HR Head, Grazitti Interactive
Sanjeev Kumar Pathania – VP HR & Country Manager, Basware
Jalaj Sharma – Associate Director of People, Watermark
Chandan Bhambhwani – Director – People, EXO Edge
Samit Mhatre – Chief People Officer, EXO Edge Advantage India Pvt. Ltd.
Dhiraj Kumar – Head HRBP & TA, Fibe India
Parmod Lamba – CHRO, Tynor Orthotics
Amrit Lal – Chief People Officer, Trident Group
Gaurav Kapoor – Assistant Vice President, Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd.
Khushboo Raipal – Manager HR – Talent Acquisition, HPCL
Kulwinder Singh – Practicing Advocate (High Court) & VP, Tri City Consumer Courts Bar Association
Vikram Sharma – Regional Legal Officer, AU Small Finance Bank
Abhinav Jaiswal – Sr. Manager – Practice Development, SKV Law Offices
Dr. S. S. Kanwar – DPIIT IPR Chair Professor, Panjab University, Chandigarh
The event concluded on a high note with a shared commitment to further strengthening the industry–academia partnership and continuing collaborative efforts towards developing agile, skilled, and future-ready professionals.
