THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
Building on the tempo set by the first global digital summit #Future, the High Power IT Committee of Kerala (HPIC) has planned a series of networking sessions titled #Future Global Connect as part of a multi-pronged strategy, involving the state Government and the Kerala diaspora in the technology sector to position the state a digital destination of choice.
The first three sessions of the series will be held in Boston, Seattle and San Francisco on August 6, 7 and 8 respectively. HPIC members Shibulal, Kris Gopalakrishnan, VK Mathews, IT secretary, CEO of IT parks will lead the delegation.
The mission aims at activating a ‘Kerala Conversation’ in technology circles, engaging with those who can contribute to the digital cause of the state, building interest and generating leads for potential investments and expanding and widening the Digital Achievers Network (DAN).. Chief Minister’s Fellows in IT will coordinate and execute the event in each city.
In each city, 40-50 decision makers will attend the meetings. Each meeting will be an Invite only event for senior, widely networked global professionals, mostly of Indian / Kerala origin, who are potential investors and influencers with linkages to investors including senior executives from small and large companies, achievers in the knowledge industry and academicians.
Each session will have an anchor from the region. The format of the event includes context setting by the anchor, delineation of the strategy and approach by HPIC, focused discussions and networking dinner.
The High Power IT Committee of the Government of Kerala (GOK), chaired by former CEO of Infosys S D Shibulal, is constituted to accelerate the IT ecosystem in the state.
Its members are M Sivasankar , Secretary, IT, GoK, Kris Gopalakrishnan, former CEO, Infosys, Anthony Thomas, CIO, NISSAN, V K Mathews, Executive Chairman, IBS Group, Ajit Balakrishnan, founder CEO, Rediff.com, Duleep Sahadevan, Software Associates, Dinesh Thampi, Vice President, TCS, Ashok Pammidi, Regional Director, NASSCOM, Saji Gopinath, CEO, Kerala Startup Mission, Rajesh Nair, Director, Ernst and Young and Hrishikesh R Nair, CEO, IT Parks-Kerala.
The Digital Achievers network consists of global leaders coming together from a multitude of organizations and backgrounds, united in promoting “Digital Kerala”.
They will be playing a key role in making Kerala the digital destination of choice through continued engagement by giving inputs and ideas for developing the technology ecosystem in Kerala, representing the state in global industry and knowledge sharing forums and promoting technology investments in Kerala. They will also champion the cause of Brand Digital Kerala by evangelizing the unique advantages that the state offers, provide advisory and oversight of start-ups and SMEs in their areas of expertise and identify and invite key influencers to be future members of the network.
The Digital Achievers Regional Chapters will be the backbone of the Global Connect Sessions by ensuring quality participation and creating a positive affinity among the members in the region to consider Kerala as their choice for next potential investment or collaboration.
One of the high profile conclaves ever conducted in Kerala, # Future held in Kochi in March this year saw the convergence of achievers, professionals, entrepreneurs, academics, key influencers and stake holders deliberating for two days on how to take forward the state in a fast evolving digital world.
