Buests / Speakers

Shri S.N. Tripathi, Director General, IIPA, Govt of India

Shri Surendra Nath Tripathi is a distinguished IAS officer with over 30 years of experience in government. He is a visionary leader and a committed public servant who has made significant contributions to the government’s work in areas such as digitalization, rural development, and public administration. Adept at transforming complex problems into innovative solutions, he has held a variety of important positions in the government, including Secretary of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Director General of the Indian Institute of Public Administration. In these roles, he has helmed the digitization of government processes and information, promoted entrepreneurship and economic development, and streamlined the administrative process. Some of his most notable achievements are:

  • Led the digitization of all government orders and information in Odisha, making it more accessible to the public.
  • Spearheaded wide-ranging reforms in the Tool Room concept, which helped to promote entrepreneurship and economic development.
  • Played a key role in the development of e-Office at IIPA, which has streamlined the administrative process.
  • Reoriented TeamIIPA towards digital and online training during the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring that public servants could continue to learn and develop even during the lockdown.

 

 Smt Anu Garg, Development Commissioner-cum-Addl. Chief Secretary, Government of Odisha

Smt. Anu Garg is currently working as Development Commissioner-cum-Addl. Chief Secretary of the Government of Odisha. She is an Alumnus of LSR and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

 

 

 

 

Smt Usha Padhee, IAS, Principal Secretary, Dept of Skill Development & Technical Education, Govt of Odisha

Smt. Usha Padhee is currently serving as the Principal Secretary, Dept of Skill Development,& Technical Education in the Government of Odisha.

Dr. Muniraju sb, Deputy Adviser, NITI Ayog, Govt. of India

Dr. Muniraju is currently serving as a Deputy Adviser in the NITI Ayog. He is a dedicated & talented professional with 15+ years of experience in Social Research & Administration. He is a committed Social Scientist with vast experience at National and State Governments as well as National and State Level Institutes viz., Institute for Social & Economic Change, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Department of Labour, Govt. of Karnataka, National Commission for Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Labour and Employment and Planning Commission, Govt. of India. He is actively involved in formulation of social & public policy, program management & program implementation for inclusive and sustainable growth. He also headed a State Centre for skill development of disadvantaged. He worked on program management, program execution, monitoring and evaluation of programmes for the most deserving & disadvantaged.

Shri Rajesh Mahapatra, Founder Director, Odisha Dialogues

Shri Rajesh Mahapatra is a seasoned luminary with a diverse professional background that spans business journalism, political analysis, public policy expertise, and editorial leadership. His academic journey, grounded in economics at Delhi University and JNU, has fortified him with a deep understanding of economic transformations. Mr Mahapatra made significant contributions to international publications, including the Associated Press and Bridge News, illuminating India’s economic evolution. Driven by a vision for constructive dialogue, he founded the Forum for Odisha Dialogues, a non-partisan platform dedicated to meaningful discussions on the future of the state. As a keynote speaker at our upcoming conference, Rajesh Mahapatra brings a unique blend of journalistic insight, economic acuity, and transformative leadership experience.

 

Shri Jagadananda, Convener, Odisha Development Initiative & Co-founder, CYSD

Shri Jagadananda is the co-founder and mentor of the Centre for Youth and Social Development (CYSD), an autonomous development organization working with the tribal and rural poor in Odisha. He has served in various government and non-government positions, including as the State Information Commissioner of Odisha, and a Member of the State Planning Board of Odisha. Presently, he is a Member of the Standing Committee (CSOs) at the NITI Aayog on Institutionalizing Partnership between Civil Society and the Government. He has held the offices as Chairperson, Voluntary Action Network India (VANI), the largest national network of social development agencies in India; Chair of Credibility Alliance, a national forum for promotion of accountability norms for Civil Society Organizations and the Chair of Sa-Dhan, a national network of Community Development Micro Finance Institutions with membership spread across the country. He was instrumental in the formation of the National Social Watch, a civil society initiative that monitors the implementation of social development programs in India. As the Convenor of Odisha Development Initiative, he has facilitated organization of three editions of Odisha Vikash Conclave, a multi stakeholder platform in the state. He was offered a senior visiting fellowship at CIVICUS-World Alliance for Citizen Participation, and worked on the issues of legitimacy, transparency and accountability within civil society at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Cambridge, USA. His publication ‘Civil Society Legitimacy and Accountability’ is widely available in French, Spanish, Arabic and English languages.