Young Thinkers’ Conference to bring experts together

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 12

The British Deputy High Commission and Indian School of Business will host the Young Thinkers’ Conference on October 13-14 on the ISB’s Mohali campus.

The conference is the British High Commission’s flagship foreign and security policy conference, which brings together the best and brightest experts and young thinkers to discuss a range of issues. Already well established in Delhi, where it has been held for the past six years, this is the first time the conference is being held outside the capital. It is structured as four panels, each covering a thematic topic and moderated by a senior journalist.

British Deputy High Commissioner, Chandigarh, David Lelliott, said: “I’m really looking forward to the conference. It brings together great speakers and experts, discussing an incredibly wide range of subjects. There really is something for everyone with an interest in foreign or security policy. We hope it will help to build understanding of a range of issues that shape the region and world in which we live. It is also an important element of our engagement with younger Indians – both those who already have expertise in the subjects we are discussing and those who are simply curious and want to learn more. We are pleased to have been able to partner with the ISB to bring a discussion of this calibre to the Chandigarh region.”

The two-day conference will see discussions on topics like “What is the impact of growing involvement of women in foreign policy,” “How should peacekeeping adapt to evolving challenges”, “India-UK: New Opportunities” and “Are economic considerations adequately reflected in foreign policy.”

The conference will see an impressive line up of speakers and panellists, including Gaurav Gogoi (MP, Kaliabor, Assam), ambassador Meera Shankar, ambassador Veena Sikri, Manjeet Kripalani (executive director, Gateway House), Asa Torkelsson (deputy country head, UN Women), Lt-Gen Abhijit Guha (retd), Lt-Gen JS Lidder (retd), Jyoti Kamal (CNN IBN), Gowhar Geelani, Mani Shankar Aiyar (former minister), Shaban Khalid (president, Commonwealth Association of Young Entrepreneurs) and Praveen Swami (Indian Express).

British High Commissioner Sir Dominic Asquith will deliver the keynote address on October 14.