Dr. Akkai Padmashali is a pioneering transwoman, social activist, author, and global voice for gender justice and the rights of transgender and sexual minorities. Her life journey is one of extraordinary courage and determination-rising from extreme marginalisation to becoming one of India's most influential LGBTQIA+ rights advocates.

Born male into a middle-class family in Karnataka, Akkai discontinued her education after the 10th grade due to severe gender discrimination. In order to survive, she was forced into begging and sex work. These early experiences of exclusion and violence shaped her lifelong commitment to social justice, dignity, and equality.

In 2012, Akkai became the first male-to-female transgender person in Karnataka to complete the sex reassignment surgery counselling process and undergo gender-affirming surgery, setting a historic precedent for the transgender community. The same year, her legal and judicial advocacy was recognised at the highest levels-she was invited by the Hon’ble President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, and the Hon'ble Governor of Kerala to attend swearing-in ceremonies of Chief Justices of the Supreme Court of India and the Kerala High Court respectively.

In 2013, Akkai was part of the high-level decision-making body constituted by the UPA Government to recommend reforms to sexual assault laws following the Nirbhaya case-marking the first time sexual violence concerns were formally placed before Parliament in this manner.

In 2014, she founded Ondede (meaning Convergence in Kannada), an organisation that brings together feminist thinkers, activists, academics, writers, and philosophers to bridge the movements for children’s rights, women’s rights, and the rights of sexual minorities. Through Ondede, Akkai has led national and international workshops and lectures on gender and sexuality at institutions such as Princeton University, Wellesley College, UC Berkeley, and the National Law School of India University, among many others. She has also conducted sensitisation programmes for judges, bureaucrats, and government officials across India.

Akkai has played a critical role in mobilisation, public discourse, and constitutional advocacy that contributed to landmark judgments in favour of transgender and LGBTQIA+ rights, including the fight against Section 377 of the IPC. She has served on several government-appointed bodies, including the Karnataka Sex Worker Study Status Committee and the Drafting Committee for the Karnataka State Transgender Policy. Her work has been recognised by institutions such as the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), where she has addressed IAS officers on issues of inclusion and marginalised communities.

Internationally, Akkai was the only representative from India invited by the International Bar Association to speak on the legal and social status of sexual minorities in Tokyo (2014). She was later invited by the US Government for the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) on Gender-Based Violence (2016), during which she raised transgender rights issues in Washington, D.C., including a visit to the White House. She was also invited to address a town hall in Delhi with former US President Barack Obama.

Her contributions have earned her numerous honours, including the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award (2015), the Business Line Changemaker of the Year Award (2019), presented by former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, and an Honorary Doctorate from the Indian Virtual University for Peace and Education (2016). She is also the first transwoman globally to receive the Ashoka Fellowship, supported by Tata Trusts.

In her personal life, Akkai made global history by entering into an interfaith marriage with a cisgender man in 2017. She socially and legally adopted a child in 2019 and is now a single parent, continuing her advocacy for family rights and social acceptance. An accomplished artist, Akkai is also a trained singer and recorded “Lakshmi Stuti – Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma” for the album Songs of Caravan, which received a Limca Award.

In 2021, she authored her autobiography "Akkai: Karunegondu Savaalu – A Challenge to Sympathy" (Kannada), later published in English as "A Small Step in a Long Struggle" by Zubaan Publishers in 2022. The book is being translated into multiple Indian languages.

Currently, Dr. Akkai Padmashali serves on several national and state-level advisory and policy bodies, including committees appointed by the Supreme Court of India, the Election Commission of India, and the Government of Karnataka. A socialist and liberal feminist, she continues to fight relentlessly for dignity, voice, sexuality, and equal opportunities for all.

Dr. Bakul Dua is a Clinical Psychologist, Psychotherapist, and researcher whose work sits at the intersection of mental-health practice, capacity-building, and systems change. She currently serves as the Head of Programme Development at the India Mental Health Alliance (IMHA), where she leads the design and scaling of national-level initiatives that strengthen India’s mental-health ecosystem. She also leads Project Rahbar at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), focusing on training and supervision for child and adolescent psychotherapy. With over two decades of clinical and teaching experience, Bakul’s expertise spans:

• Women’s mental health, perinatal care, and gender-responsive therapeutic practice
• Training, supervision, and reflective practice for early-career psychologists, psychiatrists, and allied professionals
• Programme design and workforce development, with a strong commitment to lived-experience integration, epistemic justice, and rights-based mental-health care
• Applied and qualitative research, focusing on psychotherapy supervision, developmental processes, and mental-health systems in India

At IMHA, she plays a key role in shaping India’s first cross-sectoral mental-health alliance, working with more than 200 organisations across geographies to build a participatory, inclusive, and community-anchored ecosystem. Her work emphasises co-production with experts by experience, reflective pedagogy, and strengthening ethical practice.

Bakul is currently pursuing her PhD at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, where her research examines supervision in child and adolescent psychotherapy in India through a constructivist grounded theory lens. She is deeply invested in developing India-centric frameworks for supervision, training, and practice readiness.

Across all her roles, Bakul brings a clinical sensibility rooted in empathy, cultural humility, and developmental thinking. Her work is animated by a long-standing commitment to building mental-health systems that are ethical, collaborative, and accessible — and to nurturing professionals who are thoughtful, reflective, and equipped to meet the complexity of real-world practice.

Dr. Duru Shah is a leading clinician, educationist, and champion of women’s health with over 45 years of expertise. She is the Director of Gynaecworld: The Center for Women’s Health & Fertility, specializing in IVF, PCOS, premature menopause, and complex fertility cases. A senior consultant at Breach Candy and Jaslok Hospitals, she also serves as the Founder President of the PCOS Society of India and Vice President of ASPIRE, representing 45 countries.

A dedicated academic, Dr. Shah has taught at Grant Medical College, chaired the Indian College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists, and currently leads ASPIRE’s Education Committee. She is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists (London).

A respected national and international leader, Dr. Shah has contributed to key health policies for women in India and received numerous honours, including FIGO’s global award, multiple Lifetime Achievement Awards, the International Menopause Society’s Distinguished Service Award, and the prestigious Mahatma Award for her impact on women’s health.

Eamon McCrory is an international leader in the field of adversity and childhood trauma. He is CEO of Anna Freud and Professor of Developmental Neuroscience and Psychopathology at UCL where he co-directs the Developmental Risk and Resilience Unit. He is also adjunct Professor at Yale University. Eamon co-founded the UK Trauma Council which creates and disseminates resources to support those working with children and young people who have experienced trauma.

Eamon’s research uses brain imaging and psychological approaches to investigate the impact of trauma and adversity on children’s mental health. He is particularly interested in how research can help inform the prevention of future mental health problems and how latent vulnerability following adversity may be mediated by altered pathways of brain and social development.

Dr. Harbeen Arora Rai is a globally renowned thought leader, visionary, businesswoman, philanthropist, author, and humanitarian, celebrated among the 100 Most Reputable People on Earth (2019). She is the Founder of five global platforms for women—G100, ALL Ladies League (ALL), Women Economic Forum (WEF), Women’s Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (WICCI), and SHEconomy—collectively empowering over a million women worldwide across 150+ countries. She also serves as Chairwoman of the Board at SHEconomy and is Former Chancellor of Jharkhand Rai University.

A pioneer in women’s empowerment, Dr. Harbeen leads global ecosystems that champion sisterhood, policy advocacy, entrepreneurship, and gender equality. Her signature initiative, G100, brings together 100 global women leaders across 100 sectors, supported by the He-for-She Denim Club, and advances the ELLEGOSSSE gender equality framework presented to G20 and international bodies.

A multifaceted entrepreneur, she helms ventures across wellness (BIOAYURVEDA), e-mobility (GoSporty), hospitality and real estate (The Forestry), renewable energy (CEF), and women-led commerce (SHEconomy). Her philanthropic work includes the Zero Hunger Mission and DreamZ Scholarships supporting underserved young women.

A cultural ambassador and advocate for peace, she promotes arts, heritage, spirituality, and global collaboration. She has authored four books on well-being, values, and leadership, and is a devoted believer in "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – The World is One Family."

Recognised globally, Dr. Harbeen has been honoured by the President of Egypt, Evolutionary Business Council (USA), Indo-American Chamber of Commerce, and others for her transformative impact. She holds degrees from Delhi University, King’s College London, RADA, and a PhD from Sorbonne Nouvelle, Paris. She is fluent in English, Hindi, Punjabi, and French.

Ira has clinical depression since age 18 and was diagnosed in 2019. She is a Suicide Prevention Gatekeeping Instructor and a HAP counsellor and trainer at Agatsu, and regularly conducts sessions on Emotional Hygiene, which is Agatsu’s primary proposal to society. Ira is also a passionate advocate of mental wellbeing in her personal capacity, having done talks, panel discussions and podcasts. The kindness of her heart is rivalled only by the fire of her spirit. She recognises that human beings themselves are humanity’s greatest enemies when they are busying themselves, not being its champions. Agatsu is her invitation to everyone to confront the unknown within and find their own truth.

Dr. Janhavi Nilekani is a public policy professional working in maternal health. She is a 2018 alumna of Harvard where she completed her PhD in Public Policy, and holds a 2010 BA, cum laude, in Economics and International Studies from Yale. Janhavi’s personal experience with childbirth in India left her feeling disempowered and disappointed. It brought to light the inadequate standard of maternity care in the country, and deeply inspired Janhavi to instigate change. In 2019, she founded Aastrika Foundation, supported by Nilekani Philanthropies. Aastrika Foundation strives for India wide improvements in the quality of maternal healthcare, through capacity building initiatives and professional midwifery training programmes. Janhavi founded Aastrika Midwifery Centre in 2021, an interdisciplinary birth centre in Bangalore. AMC provides ethical, evidence-based, respectful maternity care, and a team that supports mothers through every stage of their journey.

She has worked on innovative, implementation research interventions at-scale on mental health and rights in low-resourced settings. She co-leads the scale-up and evaluation of Atmiyata, a community-led intervention to enable access to mental health and social care. She also works on youth mental health, peer support, recovery, and health systems reform.

Masaba Gupta is a luminary of our times, a virtuoso of design, an award-winning entrepreneur, actor, and the definitive Queen of Prints. She began creating her own label, House of Masaba , at the age of 19, and has since established a distinct identity steeped on culture and modernism. Over the last 16 years, she has transformed traditional Indian motifs into a global fashion language defined by bold prints, playful storytelling, and a design vocabulary that is instantly recognisable.

What began as a quirky resort-wear brand has evolved into a multi-category powerhouse spanning fashion, luxury, fine jewellery, and beauty. House of Masaba’s transition into bridal couture and fine jewellery reflects her ability to expand her creative universe while staying rooted in a signature aesthetic playful, experimental, and consistently ahead of its time. Her beauty label, LoveChild by Masaba, carries forward the same philosophy, crafted especially for Indian and deeper skin tones while speaking to a worldwide audience that values individuality, inclusivity, and high-performing beauty essentials created with empathy at their core.

Masaba seamlessly moves between fashion, beauty, entertainment, and entrepreneurship, even bringing her world to screen through Netflix’s Masaba Masaba, making her the first Indian designer to have a global series chronicling her personal and creative journey. Her bold but rooted aesthetic, distinctive visual storytelling, and unapologetic self-expression have made her a cultural force. These qualities earned her a place on Forbes 30 Under 30 (2017),Vogue Forces of Fashion Award (2023),Fortune 40 Under 40(2023),Fortune India Most Powerful Women (2025) and the ET Awards 40 Under 40(2025) , affirming her position as one of the youngest and most influential voices shaping contemporary Indian design.

With a global presence and an ever-expanding universe, Masaba Gupta continues to redefine what it means to be a modern Indian designer: fearless, culturally grounded, and endlessly original.

Dr. Meghna is a trauma-informed clinical psychologist, couples therapist, and parenting educator with over 15 years of experience in mental health practice, training, and research. She is an RCI-licensed Clinical Psychologist and the Founder of Raising Family Academy (RFA), an education platform dedicated to training mental health professionals in culturally grounded, ethical, and skills-based couple and parenting work.

Her clinical work integrates Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Gottman Method, attachment theory, and a strong understanding of the Indian socio-cultural context. Dr. Meghna specialises in couple relationship conflicts, intimacy concerns, emotional disconnection, and child and adolescent mental health. Alongside clinical practice, she regularly trains and supervises therapists in couples therapy, with a strong emphasis on practical application, trauma awareness, and therapist sustainability.

Dr. Meghna holds a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from NIMHANS and a post-doctoral qualification in parenting from the University of Queensland, Australia. She has facilitated 500+ workshops, delivered 200+ hours of talks, conducted over 5,000 therapy hours, and authored 25+ academic publications. She is also a content creator known as The Therapist Mommy, making mental health accessible, ethical, and deeply human.

Dr. Padmaja Samant is a distinguished academician and women’s health advocate, serving as Professor and Head of Ob-Gyn at KEM Hospital and Seth GS Medical College. She is a member of the MUHS Task Force for Curriculum Implementation and works closely with NGOs such as Prerana, Apnalaya, CEHAT, CSER, SNEHA, and Majlis on women’s and children’s health rights.

A recognised resource person, she contributes to national programmes in Gender Mainstreaming in Medical Education, comprehensive care for sexual assault survivors, and NACO’s STI/RTI and HIV training of trainers. She is also the Founder-Coordinator of the Division of Medical Humanities at KEMH–GSMC.

Her key areas of focus include curriculum development in medical humanities, integrating gender in medical education and healthcare, and advancing palliative care programmes in women’s health.

He is also Senior National Clinical Adviser for NHS England on Children and Young People’s Mental Health. Peter was Chief Executive of Anna Freud for over 20 years.

His clinical and research interests lie in early attachment relationships, social cognition, borderline personality disorder and violence. A central focus has been an innovative research-based psychodynamic therapeutic approach, mentalization-based treatment, which was developed in collaboration with a number of clinical sites in the UK and USA. Publishing over 700 scientific papers and 23 books.

Rohini Nilekani is an author and philanthropist and has been a strong influence in the Indian social sector over the past three decades. Currently, she is the Chairperson of Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies and a Co-founder and Director of EkStep, a nonprofit education platform. She founded Arghyam, a foundation for sustainable water & sanitation, and co-founded Pratham Books, a nonprofit children’s book publisher.

Recognised as the ‘most generous woman in India’ for the fifth consecutive year in 2025 by the Hurun India Philanthropy Report, Rohini Nilekani is also a signatory of the Giving Pledge along with her husband, Nandan Nilekani. A former journalist, Rohini regularly writes for leading media publications, and her latest book is titled 'Samaaj, Sarkaar, Bazaar - A Citizen-first Approach'. She has written 18 books for young children, including the famous Sringeri Srinivas series.

Dr. Ruksheda Syeda is a Mumbai-based psychiatrist and psychotherapist with 25 years, of experience, specializing in working with emerging and young adults, women, and families. She owns a private practice at Trellis Family Centre, Lokhandwala. She holds an MBBS from Sion Hospital and a Psychiatry degree from KEM, with a WHO fellowship in Psycho-Social Rehab from South Korea.

Dr. Ruksheda is the Vice President of the Indian Association of Biological Psychiatry, Chairs the Women’s Mental Health Section of the Indian Psychiatric Society and has coordinated 9 National Symposiums on Women and Mental Health. As past President of Bombay Psychiatric Society, she promotes evidence based mental health literacy and improving Psychiatric Care in the city.

Dr. Ruksheda also provides affordable care as an honorary psychiatrist at Millat Nursing Home.

In her capacity as Chair of Confederation of Indian Industry, Women Network (CII IWN, Maha Chapter) she works for empowerment of women across industries. The 7th Edition of She Matters, the flagship event on 3rd Dec 2025, was a grand success under her leadership.

She is on the management committee of Hindustani Prachar Sabha and advisor to the LedBy Foundation and Family First Guidance Centre.

A TEDx speaker, Dr. Ruksheda has authored original and review journal articles and text book chapters, and is a media expert on mental health.

She loves to laugh, Cant sing, won't cook, & Doesn't understand why people run.

Ms. Saloni Suri works with individuals, groups, and organisations to help them unlock their potential. She applies neuroscience-based models of change to rewire mindsets and drive meaningful transformation. A certified Energy Medicine and Mindfulness teacher, she blends science-backed practices with deep intuitive insight.

With over 30 years of experience as a communications professional, Saloni is known for her signature 4C programs that focus on Clarity, Communication, Change, and Culture. She has trained 5,000+ individuals through 500+ workshops across industries in eight cities across India and Dubai.

Smt. Sarah Fathima, IPS (2014 Batch) is a senior Indian Police Service officer currently serving as Deputy Commissioner of Police, Southeast Division, Bengaluru City. She brings over a decade of diverse policing experience across law & order, crime, traffic management, and administration.

She has held key positions including Deputy Superintendent of Police in Uttara Kannada and Bengaluru City, Assistant Inspector General of Police (Crime) at the Karnataka Police Headquarters, Superintendent of Police with the CID and Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement, and DCP, Traffic North Division, handling VIP and VVIP bandobast duties.

Academically, she holds a BBA, PGDBA in HR, and specialized diplomas in Cyber Law & Digital Forensics and Anti-Human Trafficking (IGNOU), along with a Six Sigma Black Belt.

She has been honoured with the Hon’ble Chief Minister’s Medal (2014) and the DG & IGP Commendation Disc (2024–25) for her distinguished service.

Dr. Shyam Bhat, founder of the Nirvikalpa Foundation, is a pioneer in holistic psychiatry in India. He is the only doctor in India with American Board certifications in two specialities-Internal Medicine and Psychiatry-along with an additional board certification in the subspecialty of Psychosomatic Medicine. Combining his medical expertise with an in-depth understanding of Eastern healing practices, he has developed the integrative psychotherapeutic method "Integral Self Therapy". This innovative approach blends perennial insights from non-duality philosophy and practices with contemporary neuroscience and therapeutic techniques.

Enabling joy to help others achieve their finish line.” Sunita Wazir is a Mumbai-based Human Resources and Leadership Development professional with nearly three decades of experience in driving people transformation across diverse industries. Currently, as the Head of Transformation for Global Health & Wellbeing at Unilever, Sunita leads initiatives that help employees thrive through holistic health and wellbeing, inclusion, and psychological safety. With over 14 years at Unilever, she has been instrumental in designing and delivering large-scale change programs that embed wellbeing and resilience into the fabric of the organisation.

Her prior leadership roles at Delta Air Lines and Tata Sons reflect her ability to drive culture transformation and build purpose-led, high-performing teams across geographies. Sunita is a passionate advocate for mental health, equity, and inclusive leadership- championing workplaces where everyone feels safe, valued, and empowered. She has led impactful initiatives focused on women’s empowerment, the LGBTQI+ community, and Persons with Disabilities, fostering a culture of belonging and psychological safety. A trained mindfulness coach and mental health champion, Sunita is also The Fearless Organization accredited, and a Korn Ferry certified coach for leaders.

In 2024, she completed the Aspire for Her - Women on Boards program, expanding her influence as a thought leader on gender equity and wellbeing governance. Grounded in her purpose of enabling joy to help others achieve their finish line, Sunita continues to inspire transformation by helping people become the best version of themselves—personally and professionally.

Ms. Seema’s understanding of mental health and well-being is rooted not in theory but in lived experience. She has never hesitated to take bold decisions that spark meaningful change. In 2015, she ventured into entrepreneurship with her own media company, 90CAPS Media. With passion sharpened by wisdom, she co-founded The Mind Diaries, the first of its kind magazine in India on mental health and well-being. Now three years old, the platform continues to grow — and Seema is delighted to see it touch and inspire more lives each day.

From starting out as an office assistant to finding her calling in publishing and then journalism, Seema Kumar’s career is a testament to grit and growth. Over 44 years, she has worked with the Patriot, the Sunday Mail, and spent nearly three decades at the Hindustan Times, where she rose to Senior Assistant Editor. Today, she brings that vast editorial experience to her consultancy roles with NCERT, Vigyan Prasar, and the National Research Development Corporation.

Ms. Shobha plays a pivotal role in shaping the organisation’s people strategy, culture, and leadership capability across one of India’s largest fashion houses. She began her journey with the Aditya Birla Group in 2008 in Group Human Resources, where she spent six years crafting the Group’s talent and leadership development architecture. She was instrumental in defining the Talent Philosophy, leadership frameworks, and several flagship accelerated leadership programs that continue to shape the Group’s leadership pipeline. She later moved to Aditya Birla Capital as part of her career development, taking on the role of Head HR & Training for the Life Insurance business.

Under her leadership, the organisation scaled aggressively—expanding distribution channels, strengthening partnerships, and bringing attrition down to industry-leading levels. Her impact is visible across productivity, culture, talent quality, and business outcomes. Recognised for her ability to lead beyond functional boundaries, Shobha also served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Life Insurance business for four years. In this role, she led all post-acquisition customer processes, including onboarding, underwriting, service, renewals, persistency, grievances, and claims—driving transformation across the value chain with a strong focus on customer experience, operational excellence, and process discipline.

Before joining the Aditya Birla Group, Shobha spent over 12 years with Unilever- eleven years at Hindustan Unilever in India, followed by a stint at Unilever UK. She holds a degree in Civil Engineering from NIT Calicut and a Master’s in Human Resources from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences. Shobha is widely regarded as a strategic and collaborative leader who brings high energy, clarity, and purpose to every mandate she handles. Known for her integrity, decisiveness, and a deep commitment to building talent and culture, she inspires teams to dream big, challenge boundaries, and deliver exceptional results.

Ms. Shweta Punj is an award-winning Indian journalist, author, and social entrepreneur with over two decades of experience in reporting on business, policy, and political economy in India and the United States. She has held senior editorial positions at prominent media organizations and is also a Young Global Leader recognized by the World Economic Forum. She is currently the economic policy editor with Moneycontrol and was with India Today for 12 years. Her journalistic work has earned her several accolades. A two-part series she authored on outsourcing was nominated for the "Best Business Story Award – North America". In 2015, the World Economic Forum recognized her as a Young Global Leader for her contributions to journalism. She also received the Laadli Media and Advertising Award for Gender Sensitivity for her investigative series on child sex slaves.

Punj is the author of the bestselling book Why I Failed: Lessons from Leaders, first published in 2013.

The book, which has been translated into four languages, chronicles the experiences of prominent figures from various fields who discuss how they learned from failure.

She also hosts a podcast called Political Economy with Shweta Punj.