Bhubaneswar, 12 September 2026: The KIIT School of Rural Management (KSRM) organised HR Konclave 2026 on the theme “People Strategies for Sustainable Future in Agribusiness and Development Sector: Cultivating Talent – Harvesting Impact” at the KIIT Campus-17 Auditorium. The conclave brought together industry leaders, HR professionals, academicians and students to deliberate on emerging people-management challenges and opportunities in the agribusiness and development sectors.

The inaugural session commenced with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp by the dignitaries along with the Director and Dean of KSRM. In his address, Prof. Jnyana Ranjan Mohanty, Hon’ble Registrar, KIIT, recalled the Founder’s vision of inclusive growth and rural development and highlighted the role of students as a bridge between technology and rural communities.

Mr. Kamlesh Shah, Chairman & Managing Director, Listenlights and Guest of Honour, highlighted the growing influence of technology and AI on the workplace. He stressed the need to balance technological advancement with human values, integrity and employee well-being, emphasising that organisations grow sustainably when their people have opportunities to learn, grow and thrive.

The keynote address was delivered by Shri Sachin Ramchandra Jadhav, IAS, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment, Government of Odisha. He emphasised that the vision of Viksit Bharat requires the right talent, along with a focus on climate-resilient crops, improved capabilities, empathy and resilience.

Showcasing Empathy through Cinema

A highlight of the conclave was the screening of “Resurrection,” a national-level award-winning student-made film, inspired by the life of Mr. Trinath Bhoi, an employee of KIIT with 80% locomotor disability. His story of dignity, opportunity and inclusion resonated with the Founder’s vision of empathy and inclusive growth, while closely reflecting the conclave’s theme of “Cultivating Talent – Harvesting Impact.”

Panel Discussion

The panel discussion was moderated by Mr. Asis Patnaik, Senior Vice President & Head HR – Grocery, Reliance Retail, and featured:

  • Ms. Tressa George – Vice President, People & Culture, Rang De
  • Dr. Amit Raual – Group Chief People Officer, Listenlights
  • Ms. Namita Pandey – Chief Human Resources Officer, SRIJAN
  • Dr. Ranganath I V S – Chief Human Resources Officer, Tropolite Foods
  • Mr. Raman Chidambarasubramanian – Senior Vice President & Head HR, IKF Finance

The discussion explored three key areas—cultivating talent, enhancing impact, and technology, digitalisation and AI. The panellists emphasised the importance of combining domain, consumer and market knowledge with technological adaptability, while preparing young professionals for an evolving workplace.

The conclave concluded with an interactive session between the panel members, HR leaders and Rural Management and Agribusiness Management students of KSRM, enabling students to engage directly with industry practitioners and gain insights into emerging workplace realities.

The HR Konclave 2026 reinforced a central message: the future of sustainable organisations lies in developing people who are adaptable, technologically capable, empathetic and committed to creating meaningful impact.