Prof. Bhasker obtained his Ph.D. and master’s degree in computer science at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, USA. He earned his Bachelor of Engineering from IIT Roorkee.

Prior to accepting the position of Director, IIM Ahmedabad, he served as a Professor of Information Technology and Systems at IIM Lucknow. He has also served as Director of IIM Raipur from March 2017 to March 2022, Acting-Director of IIM Lucknow during July 2015 to November 2015, as a Mentor Director/Convener (Nodal Prof.) at IIM Sirmaur in 2015. In 2018, he was honoured with 'Best Director of Business Schools' award for transforming IIM Raipur to a great place to work and its exponential growth. He was honoured with IIT Roorkee’s Distinguished Alumnus Award for 2022. In 2023, he received the ‘Kewal Nohriya Award for Academic Leadership in Management 2023’ at an event organized by the All India Management Association.

Prof. Bhasker has held various visiting academic positions such as International Expert Advisor at the University of Tenaga Nasional, Malaysia, International Expert, Research Grants, at the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Visiting Professor at the ESSEC Business School, Paris, France, Distinguished Professor at the Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea, Research Professor at the University of California, USA, Visiting Professor at the University of Texas, USA and Adjunct Faculty at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Prof. Bhasker has acquired rich industry experience in addition to his academic experience. He has held senior positions at multiple organizations such as Connectix Corp., USA, SYBASE Inc., USA, MDL Information Systems Inc., USA, Hughes STX Inc., USA, and Tata Steel Ltd., India. He has also been associated as the Chairman at the Services Sector Development Council, Bureau of Indian Standards, President at the Indian Sub-continent Decision Science Institute, USA, Chairman at the Computer Society of India, Lucknow, Chairperson of the Governing Board of the INFLIBNET Centre. An Expert member of National Mission Authority of Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA) Chaired by the Minister of Education. A Member of Expert Committee to review University Grants Commission (Open and Distance Learning Programmes and Online Programmes) Regulations 2020. Chairperson of a Management Evaluation and Accreditation Committee (MEAC) of the National Board of Accreditation and as a Member of the Board of Governors at various organizations.

Violetta Gallagher is the Director of Product & Publishing at Ivey Publishing, based in London, Canada. With over two decades of experience in relationship management, stakeholder engagement, and team leadership, she oversees a high-performing team dedicated to advancing Ivey’s mission through innovative, high-impact business education products.

Violetta plays a central role in shaping the product and publishing strategy across Ivey's portfolio—driving growth, fostering meaningful author and partner collaborations, and ensuring a seamless and rigorous product development process. She brings a thoughtful, learner-centered perspective to her work, grounded in a deep passion for pedagogy and a lifelong curiosity about how people learn. Her approach emphasizes collaboration and innovation to continually improve educational experiences.

Beyond her professional role, Violetta brings her love of learning into her home life by sharing cases with her children and encouraging critical thinking through discussion and storytelling. She enjoys building LEGO with her family, playing basketball, and finding everyday opportunities to connect learning with play.

Keynote Speech Topic: Meeting Students Where They Are: Writing Cases That Resonate with Today’s Learners

Dr. Mike Annett is an Associate Professor and Associate Dean in the School of Business at MacEwan University. With a PhD in Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations from the University of Alberta, Dr. Annett brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his role. He is passionate about student development, integrating community partner projects, case studies, and simulations into his courses to enhance students' judgment and decision-making skills. Dr. Annett's research focuses on equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace, particularly the employment of persons with disabilities and long-term disability/return to work issues. He is also actively involved in case study research and authorship, contributing to the development of practical and engaging educational materials. He is a recipient of the 2024 Teaching Leadership Award, recognizing his outstanding contributions to teaching and learning at MacEwan University. Dr. Annett is an Associate Editor of The CASE Journal (2023), a premier publisher of teaching cases and related articles. He also serves as the Vice President of Programs for the North American Case Research Association (NACRA), where he plays a key role in advancing case research and education. He is the Conference Chair for NACRA's 2025 Annual Conference.

Eric Dolansky is an associate professor of marketing and has been at the Goodman School of Business for 16 years; during that time he has been involved in student success both in the classroom and outside the classroom, helping student teams and clubs. Eric is a leader in the case research and teaching area, serving as editor in chief of the Case Research Journal, writing award-winning cases, and as an international speaker on the topic of case research, how to excel at it, and how it can improve business education and practice.

Dr. Anjan Ghosh’s research, teaching, and impact work focus on the strategy process of change. He has deep interests in (1) grand societal challenges and organizing in extreme conditions such as climate change, child malnutrition, inclusivity and social justice, (2) the emerging entrepreneurial and social dynamics in Post-Soviet Contexts. He has co-founded three research centers in Central Asia, including the Nazarbayev University Research Center for Entrepreneurship (NURCE). Dr. Anjan Ghosh represents Central Asia in Case Research Foundation USA (Board Member), The Case Center (Member - Regional Advisory Committee), GBSN (Member - Case Method Steering Committee), FIIB Business Review (Senior Assiciate Editor - Case Method) and South Asian Journal of Business and Management Cases (Member - Editorial Board). A Ph.D. Gold Medalist from the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta, he has over 25 years of combined experience in academia and corporate leadership. Currently, Dr. Anjan Ghosh is an Assistant Professor of Management at the Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Business and a Visiting Professor of Research Methods at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. His recent publication in the Academy of Management Journal was included in the International Honor Roll of Responsible Research in Business and Management (RRBM) and received the Financial Times Responsible Business Education Award 2023, making him the first scholar affiliated with a Kazakh university to achieve this feat. Anjan's research on Central Asia has won several awards/ nominations at Academy of Management Annual Conference (2023, 2024, 2025) and Strategic Management Society (2022, 2024).