Speakers

Shri Sanjay Ubale is a distinguished retired IAS Officer. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Mumbai University, an MBA from Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management, Bombay University and a Master’s degree in development studies from the University of Bath, U.K. He has also completed his Advanced Management Program from Harvard Business School. He is currently the director, partnerships at the India Country office in Delhi. He has earlier served as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Tata Realty and Infrastructure Limited. He had an experience of more than thirty-one years. In this time span, he held many key positions, notable amongst them were: secretary to government for Mumbai’s Development; secretary to the chief minister; joint secretary, Administrative Reforms; managing director of a public-sector undertaking called Maharashtra State Seeds Corporation; collector and district magistrate of Sangli district in Maharashtra; and project director of the World Bank and DfID assisted Water Supply and Environmental Sanitation Project. His areas of interest are Governance, infrastructure, rural & urban development, water & sanitation, and community-based development.

Mr. Sheng Xuefeng is the President of the Shanghai Smart City Development Institute. He also serves as a member of the Shanghai Information Standardization Technical Committee, and is a council member of both the Shanghai Data Merchant Association and the Shanghai Digital Trade Association. Over the years, Mr. Sheng has focused his work on government strategy, policy research, and planning in areas such as smart cities, emerging industries, and digital transformation. He is the author of several books, including Smart City Practice, Bridging the Digital Divide, and Smart City Evaluation.

Ms. Nurina Widagdo is the Executive Director of KEMITRAAN Partnership for Governance Reform, where she leads initiatives to advance transparent, inclusive, and accountable governance in Indonesia and beyond. She holds a Master of Arts in International Studies from the University of Oregon, USA, and a Bachelor's degree in English Teaching from Atma Jaya Catholic University, Jakarta. With over 30 years of experience in international development, Nurina has worked with leading organizations including Oxfam, UNDP, GIZ, the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank, as well as numerous NGOs and foundations across Asia, the Pacific, and the United States. Her expertise spans governance reform, climate finance, democracy, health governance, environmental sustainability, and South-South and Triangular Cooperation. She has played a pivotal role in strengthening accountability mechanisms for multilateral development banks, advancing democratic governance, and promoting climate adaptation and mitigation through effective public policy and institutional partnerships.

Dr. Alaaeldin Sayed Ewase is the Risk Management Director at the Central Administration for Climate Change at the Ministry of Local Development & Environment in the Government of Egypt. As the Vulnerability Manager and the National Focal Point of the Adaptation Fund(AF), he serves as the official focal point of the Egyptian Ministry of Environment for climate change cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Population in Egypt since 2025. He has also been involved with the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA). Dr. Alaeldin holds a Ph.D in Botany from Cairo University, Egypt.

Dr Vishwas Chitale leads the Climate Resilience team at the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW). Vishwas is a Climate Change Adaptation expert with more than 17 years of experience developing and implementing local, sub-national, and national-level adaptation programmes in various South Asian countries. His career focussed primarily on developing and implementing frameworks for vulnerability and risk assessments across different sectors and designing adaptation strategies to address physical risks. Presently his work includes the National Heat Resilience Program, which supports 300 cities from 23 heat wave prone states in India to develop city level heat action plans. Dr Vishwas also serves as the Chair of the WMO-WHO South Asia Heat Health Hub, which is hosted by CEEW in collaboration with the regional partner organisations. The aim of the hub is to strengthen the policy and practice landscape of heat and health in South Asian countries.

Oommen is a physician with specialist training in Internal Medicine, health systems expert with a special interest in health informatics and implementation science. He leads the Health Systems Design portfolio at India Country office of Gates Foundation India country office and supports the strategy on health financing for primary healthcare delivery in the Southeast Asia region. This portfolio supports government stakeholders in the design and implementation of care coordination interventions and innovations aimed at reducing friction in the healthcare seeking journey, improving quality and health outcomes. He is an elected fellow of the International Academy of Health Science Informatics and an associate editor of Oxford Open Digital Health.

Dr. Noha Mohamed Farag is a climate change expert in the Department of Vulnerability & Adaptation under the Ministry of Environment in the Government of Egypt, focusing on safeguarding natural resources, building climate resilience and advancing sustainable development. She has 18 years of experience in participatory water management, water resource planning, and sustainable agricultural practices. Her experience includes conducting Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA). Dr. Farag holds a Ph.D in Environmental Sciences from Ain Shams University.

Shri Banchhanidhi Pani is an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer and currently serves as the Municipal Commissioner of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC). He brings extensive experience in public administration, urban governance, and municipal service delivery. In his role, he oversees the administration and implementation of key civic initiatives aimed at strengthening urban infrastructure, public health, sanitation, mobility, and citizen-centric services across Ahmedabad. His leadership focuses on improving the efficiency, responsiveness, and sustainability of municipal governance while advancing Ahmedabad's development as a modern and resilient city.

Shri Abhinav Goyal, IAS is the Municipal Commissioner of the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC), where he leads the civic administration of one of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region's fastest-growing urban centres. Under his leadership, the BE COOL initiative for a climate-resilient KDMC was successfully implemented in partnership with the UNEP, while through Mission Harit, Goyal aims to plant 1 lakh+ trees through Miyawaki Method, build roadside plantations, and develop gardens. His key initiatives across the Corporation include at-source and scientific waste processing, fast-tracking Metro, ring road, and flyover projects, expanding EV bus services for cleaner and better connectivity, improving hospitals and school education quality through the NIPUN initiative, and leveraging ICCC, AI and technology for efficient urban management. Goyal is an IIT Kanpur graduate in B.Tech and holds an MA in Public Administration. He has been honoured with the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration in the Health Sector through his leadership as the CEO of the Latur Zilla Parishad.

With over 25 years of experience as an urban planning practitioner, Mr. Andy Simarmata has served in consultancy and advisory from the fields of sustainable urban development to roles in government institutions, the private sector, and international organisations. In the last 10 years, he has been serving as the Co-Founder of Nusantara Urban Advisory, focusing on consultancy of master planning, land development strategies, and infrastructure management. As the Founder of HAS Office, he is dedicated to addressing planning issues through knowledge management, planning tools, and advisory services. His leadership as the President of the Indonesian Association of Urban and Regional Planners and Scientific Committee of ISOCARP in the last five years showcases his commitment to advancing professional development and policy advocacy in the field. In addition, Andy serves as a Senior Lecturer at the University of Indonesia and specializes in teaching urban history, planning theory and methods, planning studio, and digital data under the Department of Interdisciplinary Engineering.

Mr. Praveen Pardeshi is a Retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the think tank Maharashtra Institution for Transformation (MITRA) since July 2023. He has served in various senior executive roles including Additional Secretary to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, the Principal Secretary of Revenue and Forest Department, Maharashtra, and Municipal commissioner of Greater Mumbai. He has worked as a Member (Administration), Capacity Building Commission, Government of India (New Delhi), overseeing the Honorable Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi’s flagship initiative “Mission Karmyogi”. Mr. Pardeshi holds an M.Sc. degree in Social Policy, Participatory Planning, and Economic Development from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

Ms. Bie Bihua serves as Vice President of the Shanghai Smart City Development Institute. With 13 years of professional experience in smart city construction and urban digital transformation, the Shanghai Smart City Development Institute focuses on policy consultation, industrial resource integration and innovation ecosystem development. It leads municipal-level digital transformation projects and metaverse industrial research, and participates in compiling multiple authoritative industry publications. It has chaired and organized the International AI City Forum at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference for eight consecutive years, achieving solid theoretical research outcomes and high-value practical innovations in the digital economy sector.

Ms. Mariana Batista holds an MSc from the University of Oxford, in Sustainable Urban Development and is Senior Manager for the Public Transport Network at C40 Cities, overseeing this theme globally in the organisation. She has a vast knowledge of urban development and more specifically of sustainable mobility. Previously, she worked as the LATAM Manager for TUMI E-Bus Mission and the ZEBRA programme, supporting the deployment of electric buses in Latin America public transport. Before joining C40, Mariana worked for the UK Government in Brazil, and has a MSc in Smart Cities from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, and a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of São Paulo State.

Mr. Arseniy Karyakin has served as the Head of the International Relations Department of the Kazan City Council since 2024, where he leads the city's global engagement and international cooperation initiatives. In this role, he is responsible for strengthening Kazan's partnerships with cities, governments, and international organizations, while promoting collaboration in urban development, economic cooperation, culture, education, innovation, and sustainable development. From 2020-2024, Mr. Karyakin, served as the First Deputy Head of the International Relations Department and played a key role in coordinating Kazan's participation in international forums, city networks, and bilateral partnerships, advancing the city's position as a globally connected and forward-looking urban centre. He works closely with municipal authorities, diplomatic missions, academic institutions, and international stakeholders to foster knowledge exchange and promote best practices in local governance. Previously, he has served as a member of the Executive Directorate of the XXVII Summer Universiade, a member of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Local Organizing Committee and is currently also the Secretary General of the BRICS+ Association of Cities and Municipalities.

Shri Sanjay Mukherjee, IAS is the Metropolitan Commissioner of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), where he leads the planning and implementation of strategic infrastructure and regional development projects across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. A senior Indian Administrative Service officer, he has held several key leadership positions in the Government of Maharashtra, bringing extensive experience in urban governance, infrastructure development, public administration, and policy implementation. As Metropolitan Commissioner, he oversees major initiatives in metro rail, transport, housing, economic development, and regional planning, with a focus on improving connectivity, fostering sustainable urban growth, and enhancing the quality of life for millions of residents. Under his leadership, MMRDA continues to advance transformative infrastructure projects that strengthen Mumbai's position as a global economic hub. Shri Mukherjee is committed to promoting integrated regional planning, climate-resilient infrastructure, and innovative governance, while fostering collaboration among government agencies, industry, and development partners to build a more connected and future-ready metropolitan region.

Dr. Nitin Goyal is a qualified Civil Engineer and an accomplished Environmental Scientist who holds a Doctorate degree from the prestigious IIT Bombay. With over 25 years of rich professional experience, including fifteen years dedicated to academia and research in Environmental Engineering, he has made significant contributions to air quality management and environmental protection. His core research focus is the measurement and chemical characterization of atmospheric aerosols and particulate matter. A true innovator, Dr. Goyal designed and developed an indigenous, low-cost sampling instrument for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in ambient air, making advanced environmental monitoring far more accessible. Beyond his laboratory research, Dr. Goyal's work spans across South-East Asia, where he has spearheaded critical environmental and social impact assessments, sustainable development projects, and source apportionment studies. Currently, he works alongside state pollution control boards, urban local bodies, industry, and academia on pressing environmental projects. He also serves as an invited technical expert on several state and national committees, advising policy and action on environmental issues.

Mr. Mohit Beotra co-founded Air Pollution Action Group (A-PAG) in 2019. A-PAG is a not-for-profit organisation focused on supporting the Government to reduce air pollution. Earlier, in a career spanning 28 years, he held various advertising and marketing roles in leading organisations. In his most recent role, he was Chief Brand Officer of Airtel before deciding to branch off on his own. He is now keen to make an impact in a way that can genuinely improve the lives of millions of people. Mohit is an alumnus of IIM-Kolkata.

Mr. Zhuang Ziwei serves as the Deputy Director of the Atmospheric Environment Division at the Beijing Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau, where he plays a key role in shaping and implementing the city's air quality management policies. His division is responsible for developing, coordinating, and enforcing strategies to reduce air pollution, with a focus on lowering PM2.5 concentrations, controlling vehicle emissions, and regulating industrial discharge. Mr. Zhuang oversees air quality monitoring initiatives and the implementation of measures to address seasonal smog and improve environmental performance across the capital. He also supports inter-regional collaboration with neighboring Hebei Province and Tianjin Municipality to strengthen coordinated responses to cross-boundary air pollution. In addition, he promotes data-driven environmental governance by integrating public feedback and citizen reports into municipal monitoring and enforcement efforts. Through his leadership, Mr. Zhuang contributes to advancing cleaner air, sustainable urban development, and more effective environmental governance in one of the world's largest metropolitan regions.

Mr. Phathutshedzo Raphalalani serves as the Senior Manager for Pollution Control with over 13 years of experience in air quality management and environmental compliance. He is a proven strategic leader skilled in managing technical teams, developing policies, and executing business strategies. His expertise ranges from corporate governance, risk management, and project management, seeking new challenges to leverage extensive knowledge and leadership skills. Phathutshedzo holds a master's degree in Nature Conservation.

Mr. Praween Jha is a Director with KPMG India in the Urban Transformation practice, with over 19 years of experience leading large-scale urban reform and infrastructure-led programs across India. He specializes in driving mission-critical government initiatives, enabling cities to adopt integrated, technology-led and outcome-driven development models. He has a strong track record of originating and delivering high-impact engagements, working closely with senior government leadership to translate policy vision into scalable, citizen-centric solutions. His work spans strategy, governance, and digital transformation, with a focus on improving service delivery and strengthening institutional capacity. In his leadership role, Praween combines deep domain expertise with commercial acumen - driving revenue growth through strategic pursuits, solution development, and long-term client partnerships. He plays a key role in expanding the firm’s urban transformation portfolio while building enduring executive-level relationships across the public sector.

Shri Sanjeev Jaiswal, IAS is the Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA), where he leads the state's premier housing agency in advancing affordable housing, urban renewal, and sustainable community development. A senior Indian Administrative Service officer of the Maharashtra cadre, he has held several key leadership positions, including in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Thane Municipal Corporation, gaining extensive experience in urban governance, infrastructure development, and public administration. At MHADA, Shri Jaiswal oversees the planning and implementation of housing projects, redevelopment initiatives, and policies aimed at improving housing accessibility and urban infrastructure across Maharashtra. His work focuses on promoting inclusive growth, enhancing the quality of urban living, and strengthening resilient communities through innovative planning and effective governance.

Mr. Affendi Rajini Kanth is a distinguished Malaysian civil servant and the President of the Perlis State Municipal Council, the principal local authority responsible for governance and municipal administration across Kangar, Arau, Padang Besar, and Kuala Perlis. In this role, he oversees urban planning, public infrastructure, and civic enforcement, driving initiatives that strengthen local governance and improve public service delivery. He also places strong emphasis on provisioning Perlis with affordable public housing programmes such as RPA, PAKR, and PPR units that target lower- and middle-income residents to own homes. Committed to sustainable urban development, he has championed environmental initiatives promoting a cleaner and greener Perlis, including strengthened anti-littering regulations and municipal enforcement measures in the region.

Dr. Ali Saleharimi is a Legal Expert and Advisor at the National Water & Wastewater Engineering Company of Iran. With extensive expertise across legal offices, Dr. Ali continues to work towards providing and monitoring guidance to subsidiary legal affairs offices in Provinces across the country. His experience in legal and judicial affairs within both governmental and non-governmental sectors in Iran is noted in his extensive portfolio across the Ministry of Industry, Department of Environment, and the Tehran Municipality. Dr. Ali is an alumnus of the Islamic Azad University in Tehran and submitted his Ph.D thesis in Environmental Law and Management.

Mr. Emani Kumar is the Deputy Secretary General of ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability and the Executive Director of ICLEI South Asia, where he leads initiatives to advance sustainable, climate-resilient, and inclusive urban development across the region. With over three decades of experience in urban governance, climate action, and sustainable development, he has worked extensively with national and local governments, multilateral agencies, and development partners to strengthen city-level resilience and environmental sustainability. Mr. Kumar has been instrumental in promoting low-carbon development, climate adaptation, circular economy practices, biodiversity conservation, and resource-efficient urban planning. Under his leadership, ICLEI South Asia has supported numerous cities in developing climate action plans, improving municipal governance, and implementing innovative sustainability initiatives. A respected thought leader in urban sustainability, he has contributed to global policy dialogues and international partnerships aimed at accelerating local climate action. His work continues to empower cities across South Asia to build resilient, equitable, and future-ready communities.

Shri Aseem Gupta, IAS is the Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of Maharashtra, with over three decades of distinguished experience in public administration, governance, and policy development. A senior Indian Administrative Service officer, he has held several key leadership positions across the Government of Maharashtra, contributing to finance, urban development, infrastructure, industry, and institutional reforms. Throughout his career, he has played a significant role in shaping policies that strengthen governance, improve public service delivery, and promote sustainable economic growth. As Additional Chief Secretary, Shri Gupta provides strategic leadership in policy formulation, inter-departmental coordination, and the implementation of key government initiatives. His work focuses on enhancing administrative efficiency, fostering innovation in governance, and supporting inclusive and sustainable development across the state. Widely respected for his administrative acumen and collaborative approach, Shri Gupta continues to drive evidence-based policymaking and institutional excellence, contributing to Maharashtra's long-term development and strengthening governance frameworks that improve the lives of its citizens.

Mr. Dmitry Ontoev is the Advisor to the Head of the Department of Information Technologies of Moscow at the Government of Moscow, where he oversees the Department’s work on national and international digital policies, as well as its collaboration with Russian regions and leading IT companies. Dimitry plays a key role in advancing the implementation of major Presidential Decrees of the Russian Federation related to digital transformation. His responsibilities include supporting Moscow’s achievement of critical performance indicators for regional executive leadership, guiding the rollout of the city’s regional initiatives under the national project ‘Data Economics and Digital Transformation of the State’, and coordinating Moscow’s participation in national smart city and digital economy rankings and award programs. Dimitry leads efforts to enhance Moscow’s global engagement on smart city issues, including strengthening international partnerships, enhancing the city’s participation in global rankings and awards, and promoting its role in the development of digital technologies. He also represents Moscow at major Russian and international conferences on digitalization and smart cities.

Mr. Abhishek Verma is a Partner and Lead for Digital Government Advisory at KPMG India, with over two decades of consulting experience and a distinguished career in the Indian Armed Forces. He works closely with central and state governments, advising on large-scale digital transformation initiatives across areas including mobility, smart cities, aerospace and defence, social welfare, and homeland security. His expertise spans digital governance, technology-led transformation, public-sector innovation, and the strategic use of emerging technologies to strengthen government systems and citizen services. Mr. Verma has been actively engaged in national policy conversations on emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, digital sovereignty, and technology-enabled governance. He has participated in high-level forums and policy dialogues on India's digital transformation and the role of technology in strengthening institutional capacity, public service delivery, and national development. Through his work, he continues to support governments and public institutions in leveraging technology and innovation to build more efficient, resilient, secure, and future-ready systems.

Dr. Sameer Sharma is a seasoned professional and his career spans leadership roles at the cutting edge of governance, including administrative assignments across coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh and key positions in the offices of the Chief Minister and the Union Commerce Minister in the 1990s. With a background in economics and a PhD in Development Studies, Dr. Sharma brings a blend of academic expertise and practical insight to his role.

An expert in urban policy and planning, Dr. Sharma brings over 17 years of experience in shaping and implementing urban development initiatives. He holds a doctorate in metropolitan planning from the United States and has served as Municipal Commissioner of Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, and Hyderabad. At the policy level, he served as Principal Secretary for Municipal Administration and Urban Development in Andhra Pradesh and later as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India.

Dr. Sharma has significantly contributed to thought leadership in urban governance. He is the author of Hourglass Leadership Pathway, Smart Cities Unbundled and A Textbook on Urban Planning and Geography, and has written extensively on leadership, planning, sustainability, and public policy. During 2026 he has contributed chapters in the MoHUA publications: Vision for an urban India: Building sustainable and future-ready cities. His work reflects a strong focus on adapting global frameworks to Indian contexts, particularly in integrating sustainability with local governance systems. Dr. Sharma also served as Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh (2021–22), where he drove wide-ranging administrative reforms.