Mr. C. Balagopal is the former Chairman of the Board of Federal Bank Ltd. and currently serves as a Trustee of Anaha Trust, a Member of the Governing Council at the Centre for Management Development in Trivandrum, Director on the Board of Edelweiss Finance, and on the Advisory Board of the Fourth Wave Foundation. A former IAS officer, he founded Penpol Ltd. in 1983, pioneering the production of biomedical devices in India. His venture, which later partnered with Japan’s Terumo Corporation, became one of the world’s largest manufacturers of blood bags and high-tech medical devices. Since selling his stake in 2012, Mr. Balagopal has focused on mentoring entrepreneurs, investing in start-ups, and managing a Trust that supports social initiatives in Kerala and Manipur. He is the author of four books (so far!)

Nishi Mehrotra is the Managing Director of Educational Resource Unit (ERU) Consultants, an interdisciplinary consultancy focused on women’s and girls’ empowerment, education, public health, and child development across India, South Asia, and Africa. ERU's work emphasizes gender and social equity, with extensive experience in research, documentation, and training on women’s empowerment programs in both governmental and non-governmental sectors. With multi-sectoral expertise in education, sustainable agriculture, rural development, and women's empowerment, Nishi has consulted for numerous international organizations, including Euro Consult, DHV, and GTZ. She previously served as the State Programme Director of the Mahila Samakhya Programme in Uttar Pradesh, advocating for the rights of marginalized women and children through a participatory, rights-based approach.

Shumsher Sheriff began his career as a lecturer at Delhi University before joining the Indian Administrative Service in 1977. He has held various high-ranking positions within the Indian government, including Secretary to two Vice Presidents of India and Joint Secretary to the President, where he advised on constitutional, legislative, and international affairs. From 2012 to 2017, Shumsher served as Secretary-General of the Rajya Sabha, a role equivalent to Cabinet Secretary. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in history from St. Stephen's College, a law degree from Delhi University, and diplomas from prestigious institutions, including the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva, Harvard's JFK School of Governance, and France's Ecole Nationale d'Administration. In addition to his distinguished career, he has a passion for wildlife, sculpting, and education, and is a sought-after speaker on public and current affairs.