TEDxDYPAkurdi

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• Aishwarya Pissay

  Motorcycle Racer; Factory Rider, Petronas TVS Racing

  Aishwarya Pissay is an Indian motorcycle racer in road racing and cross-country rally, and the first Indian to win a motorsport world title with the 2019 FIM Bajas World Cup (women’s), also placing runner-up in juniors that year. A multi-time national champion, she holds seven FMSCI National titles, including consecutive Indian National Rally Championship wins from 2017 to 2022, and early one-make crowns ith Honda and TVS. She became TVS Racing’s first woman factory rider in 2017 and the first Indian woman to compete at Baja Aragón in 2018, expanding to international rally-raid events. In 2025, she became the first Asian and Indian woman to win her class at the W2RC BP Ultimate Rally Raid Portugal, reinforcing her trailblazing status in global rally-raid competition.

• Bela Shende

  Indian playback singer

  Bela Shende is a renowned Indian playback singer known for her soulful voice, technical finesse, and versatility across multiple languages. Born into a musically rich family in Maharashtra, she is the daughter of composer Sanjay Shende, which greatly influenced her journey. Trained in Indian classical music, she developed a strong and expressive singing style. She gained national recognition after winning Sa Re Ga Ma, a turning point that led to collaborations with composers like A. R. Rahman, Shankar Mahadevan, and Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy. She has sung in Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, and Telugu, excelling in romantic, devotional, and classical-based songs. Her emotive singing and live performances have earned her widespread acclaim and multiple awards, especially in the Marathi music industry.

• Dr. Popatrao Pawar

  Rural Development Visionary & Social Reformer — Watershed Management Leader, Sustainability Advocate, Community Governance Champion

  Popatrao Baguji Pawar is a nationally recognized rural-development leader known for transforming Hiware Bazar from a drought-stricken village into one of India’s most successful models of sustainable community development. With over three decades of grassroots leadership, he has served as the long-standing sarpanch of Hiware Bazar and currently works as the Executive Director of the Maharashtra Government’s Model Village Programme. His expertise spans watershed management, water conservation, sustainable agriculture, community-driven governance, poverty alleviation, rural livelihood enhancement, and environmental restoration. Under his leadership, Hiware Bazar achieved dramatic improvements in groundwater levels, agricultural productivity, and rural prosperity through collective decision-making and resource discipline. A Padma Shri awardee, he continues to guide policy, train communities, and inspire large-scale rural transformation across India.

• Nitin Pandey

  Researcher & Industry Veteran — Speaker, Trainer, Dark Web Analyst, Cyber Threat Intelligence Expert, OSINT Researcher

  Nitin Pandey is a global cybersecurity researcher and veteran in the industry with over a decade and a half of experience. He has served in roles such as Security Researcher & Senior Trainer at CyberPeace Foundation, Technical Manager at Kailash Satyarthi Foundation, and Senior Cybercrime & Intelligence Consultant with Uttar Pradesh Police. His core expertise spans areas including dark web analysis, cyber warfare, cybercrime investigations, digital forensics, social-media crime investigation, open-source intelligence (OSINT), child safety, women’s online safety, financial frauds, anti-human-trafficking and child sexual abuse material (CSAM) tracing. He has also developed an intelligence framework tool called “iHUNT” and spearheads initiatives to empower vulnerable groups online.

• Rajan Chopra

  Founder and Lead Educator, Quantum Musing (Physics educator + science communicator specializing in quantum physics and quantum computing)

  Rajan Chopra is a physics educator and science communicator who founded Quantum Musing to make quantum physics and quantum computing accessible to students, educators and science enthusiasts. He creates workshops, talks and educational content that bridge complex quantum concepts with real-world understanding. His work has reached learners across universities and public platforms, helping demystify qubits, quantum algorithms and the rapidly evolving quantum-tech ecosystem.

• Tanvi Malhara

  Actor, Former Radio Jockey & Miss India Multinational

  Tanvi Malhara is an actor, content creator, and former Miss India Multinational known for her charm, confidence, and relatability. Starting her journey as a radio jockey, she went on to win pageants, act in television, and build a strong online presence through authentic storytelling. Her journey reflects courage, reinvention, and the power of staying true to oneself — qualities that inspire today’s youth to embrace uncertainty and take action toward their dreams.