India Diversity Conclave 2026
Equity in Action: From Policy to Practice
Transforming Intent into Measurable Impact
Event Starts In
Meet Our Speakers
Learn from thought leaders and pioneers who are shaping the future of diversity and inclusion in India's corporate landscape
Distinguished Speakers
Avinash Gupta
MD & CEO - India
Dun and Bradstreet
Vishakha R M
Former MD & CEO
IndiaFirst Life
Avinash Joshi
Executive Managing Director, India
NTT DATA
Deepak Thakur
MD & CEO
Hinduja Renewables
Nilesh Ghunge
CEO
Westren Capital Advisors
Satish Rao
Advisory Board Member
India Diversity Forum
Nimisha Rana Pathak
CHRO
Alvarez & Marsal India Pvt. Ltd
Tanvi Choksi
Chief People Officer APAC
Savills Asia Pacific
TL George
Co-founder and CEO
Hiresolv
Richa Chatterjee
Chief Human Resources Officer
ManipalCigna Health Insurance
Sonali Jain
AVP
Genpact
Apeksha Matto
Partner
Trilegal
Sandeep Dadia
CEO & Country Head
Lockton
Priti Kataria
Chief Human Resources Officer
Birlasoft
Pintu K Singh
Partner
Deloitte
Praful Baweja
Founder
6 Degrees Diversity Counsel Pvt Ltd.
Elsie Gabriel
Inclusion Strategist
Tejaswi Subramanian
Editorial & DEI Specialist
Gaysi Family
Prince Manvendra
MD & C0-Founder
Manvendra Foundation
Deepa Sethi
India Training & Knowledge Management Lead
Airbnb
Kaushal Shah
Senior Manager – Sales & Territory Business Lead
Dormakaba
Sunita Bhuyan
Leadership Practitioner
India's Premier DEI Platform
The India Diversity Conclave (IDC) 2026, now in its 6th edition, returns as India's most definitive platform for advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) from aspiration to execution.
As organisations move beyond intent and statements, the focus in 2026 is clear: How do we translate policies, commitments, and values into everyday practices that create measurable, lasting impact?
IDC 2026 brings together CEOs, CHROs, DEI leaders, policymakers, and community voices to explore what equity in action truly looks like—inside boardrooms, across people processes, and within workplace culture.
"IDC 2026 is not about conversations alone—it is about accountability, action, and outcomes."
Action-Oriented
Move beyond intent to measurable implementation
Cross-Sector
Leaders from diverse industries and backgrounds
Data-Driven
Real metrics and frameworks that work
Industry Leading
6 years of pioneering DEI conversations
Key Highlights
Immersive sessions designed to transform how you think about and implement DEI
Opening Address – India Diversity Forum
Why Equity & Action Matter for Business Growth in 2026
Setting the context for the conclave, this session outlines why equity is no longer optional—and how organisations must embed action into strategy.
Chief Guest Address
The Future Workforce: Why DEI is Business Strategy
A forward-looking perspective on talent, competitiveness, and the evolving expectations of the workforce.
CEO Panel
Leadership Dilemma: Psychological Safety vs Performance
Senior leaders debate one of today's most critical leadership challenges—how to balance high performance with safe, inclusive cultures.
CHRO Panel
Equity in Action: What's Working & What Must Change
An honest, data-informed discussion on the realities of DEI implementation across organisations.
DEI Toolkit Workshop
From Intent to Execution
A hands-on introduction to IDF's structured DEI Toolkit covering bias-free hiring, pay fairness templates, and mental safety frameworks.
Community Voices
Stories of Change: Lived Experiences
Real stories from the community that challenge assumptions, humanise data, and inspire workplace redesign.
This Is NOT Just Another Conference
IDC 2026 is where intent meets action.
Agenda
A full day of transformative sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities
Registration & Networking
Welcome Address
- Satish Rao, Managing Director & CEO, Anthea Aromatics Ltd, Advisory Board Member, IDF
Chief Guest: The Future Workforce
- Why DEI is a Business Strategy, Not a Social Initiative
- Avinash Gupta, MD & CEO - India, Dun & Bradstreet
Guest of Honour Address: Diversity 3:O: When ‘Who’ Includes AI
- Vishakha R M, Former Managing Director & CEO, IndiaFirst Life Insurance and Independent Board Member
CEO Panel: Leadership Dilemma Psychological Safety vs Performance
- Deepak Thakur, MD & CEO, Hinduja Renewables
- Avinash Joshi, CEO, NTT Ltd
- Dr. Sandeep Dadia, CEO & Country Head - India, Lockton
- Nilesh Ghuge, CEO, Western Capital Advisors
- Moderator: Pintu Singh, Partner, Deloitte
CHRO Panel: Equity in Action What’s Working, What Isn’t & What Must Change in 2026
- Richa Chatterjee, CHRO, ManipalCigna Health Insurance Company Ltd
- Tanvi Choksi, CHRO, Savills Asia Pacific
- Nimisha Rana Pathak, CHRO, Alvarez and Marsal
- Priti Kataria, CHRO, Birlasoft
- Moderator: Apeksha Matto, Partner, Trilegal
Inclusive Infrastructure: Transforming Spaces with Intelligent Access Solutions
- Kaushal Shah, Sr.Manager- Sales & Territory Business Lead, Dormakaba
Lunch
Spotlight: Diversity In Action
- Thomas George, Co-Founder & CEO, Hiresolv
DEI Toolkit Workshop
- Sooraj Solanki, General Manager Training, India Diversity Forum
Community Voices – Stories of Change
- Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil, MD & CO-Founder, Manvendra Foundation
- Praful Baweja, Founder & Diversity Strategist, 6 Degrees Diversity Counsel
- Tejaswi Subramanian, Editorial & DEI Specialist, Gaysi Family
- Moderator: Elsie Gabriel, Inclusion Strategist
Workshop – From Authority to Allyship
- Sonali Jain, AVP, Genpact
- Deepa Sethi, India Training & Knowledge Management Lead, Airbnb
The Sound of Belonging
- Sunita Bhuyan, Leadership Practitioner
* Schedule is subject to minor changes. All times are in IST.
Why Attend IDC 2026?
- Understand how equity drives business growth, performance, and resilience
- Learn what's working, what's failing, and what must change in DEI implementation
- Gain access to practical frameworks, tools, and metrics to operationalise DEI
- Hear unfiltered leadership perspectives and lived experiences shaping inclusive workplaces
- Network with India's leading DEI practitioners, business leaders, and change-makers
Come for the Conversations. Leave with Clarity.
At IDC 2026, expect to:
- → Question what you thought was working
- → Rethink policies that look good on paper but fail in practice
- → Walk away with tools you can actually use on Monday morning
"Policy is the start. Practice is the test."
What to Expect
Actionable DEI Strategies
Move beyond intent and policies to learn how organisations are implementing equity in real, measurable ways.
Leadership Perspectives That Matter
Hear directly from CEOs, CHROs, and senior leaders on navigating performance, psychological safety, and inclusive leadership.
Honest Conversations, Real Challenges
Unfiltered discussions on what's working, what's not, and why some DEI initiatives fail to scale.
Lived Experiences from the Community
Powerful stories that bring data to life and highlight the human impact of inclusive—or exclusionary—workplace practices.
Skill-Building Masterclasses
Deep-dive workshops focused on strengthening capability, confidence, and execution for DEI and HR leaders.
High-Value Networking
Connect with decision-makers, practitioners, and change-makers shaping the future of inclusive workplaces in India.
Who Should Attend?
IDC 2026 is designed for leaders who are done with surface-level inclusion and want measurable impact, not just messaging.
CEOs, CXOs, and Board Members
CHROs and HR Leaders
DEI, ESG, and People Strategy Professionals
Policy leaders, researchers, and practitioners
Organisations committed to measurable inclusion outcomes
If You're Still Asking "Why DEI?" — This Isn't for You
If you're asking "How do we do this better?" — Welcome.
Partners & Sponsors
We are proud to collaborate with leading organizations committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion across India
Ready to Transform DEI from Intent to Impact?
IDC 2026 gives you frameworks you can adapt, tools you can measure, and language you can use in the boardroom.
Because belief without action doesn't change culture.
Trusted by leading organisations since 2021