On June 20, 2025, the BC-India Business Network (BC-IBN) hosted its highly anticipated annual Education & Skills Summit at Simon Fraser University’s Segal Centre in Vancouver. Emceed by Jatinder Dhir and Anna Mathews, the event commenced with a respectful land acknowledgment recognizing the unceded ancestral territory of the Coast Salish Peoples. The summit brought together an esteemed gathering of education leaders, institutional heads, government officials, academics, students, and stakeholders across sectors.
This year’s theme, “Reimagining the Future of Education,” invited bold conversations around innovation, equity, and transformation in the learning landscape.
Dr. Vivek Savkur, Founder and President Emeritus of BC-IBN, warmly welcomed attendees and was honored with a citation from Hon. Raj Chouhan, Speaker of the BC Legislature. Opening remarks were delivered by Mr. Masakui Rungsung, Consul General of India, followed by a keynote from Dr. James Mandigo, President of the University of the Fraser Valley.
A dynamic panel, moderated by Tina Balachandran, featured Dr. Randall Martin, Ajay Patel, Dr. Philip Laird, and Supriya Devgan. Special highlights included an inspiring address by SFU President Dr. Joy Johnson and a captivating Carnatic music performance by Sharvari Somayaji with pianist Kiran Sunil.
Youth speaker Monisha Mothilal concluded the summit with an empowering keynote, followed by Vive Dhume’s heartfelt vote of thanks.
