Overview

On September 28, 2026, the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology (RGIPT) Bengaluru Campus hosted the HR Conclave 2026 under the theme “Navigating Future Workforces: Innovation, Sustainability, and Talent Strategy.” The event brought together industry leaders, technology experts, human‑resource professionals, entrepreneurs and academicians to discuss how artificial intelligence, automation and evolving business models are reshaping workplaces and the capabilities required of young professionals.

Institutional Vision

The Director of RGIPT emphasized that the institute aims to produce leaders rather than followers, stressing personal qualities such as discipline, integrity, continuous learning and independent thinking. He called for broader academic‑industry connections beyond petroleum and chemical engineering, highlighting the need to engage with electrical and electronics engineering, computer science, digital technologies and multinational corporations to expand exposure to emerging technologies and interdisciplinary careers.

Keynote Address

Chief Guest Mr. Kenneth Lean, CEO & Executive Director of Cognitive Prism, traced the evolution from industrial automation to artificial intelligence. He argued that automation changes the nature of work rather than eliminating jobs, moving human roles toward designing, programming, improving and managing intelligent systems. Lean urged that education should go beyond teaching AI tools and instead focus on problem identification, critical questioning, solution design, judgement and effective collaboration with intelligent technologies. He highlighted curiosity and the habit of asking “Why?”, “Why not?” and “Could I be wrong?” as essential for deeper thinking.

Industry Perspective

Dr. Ramesh Singh, Senior Principal Manager at Tata Elxsi, stressed the importance of adaptability, innovation and continuous learning. He noted that individuals and organisations can become complacent with familiar practices even as external conditions evolve, and that future professionals must understand both technology and its organisational, people and environmental contexts.

Education‑Industry Collaboration

A recurring message was the necessity for continuous interaction between academic institutions and industry. Singh and the Director of RGIPT agreed that curricula and learning approaches must evolve in line with changing industry requirements, and that stronger engagement with electrical, electronics, computer science and digital technology firms can create opportunities for interdisciplinary learning, internships, projects and employment.

Panel Discussions

Two panels featured senior HR and technology leaders:

  • Panel 1: Mr. Sushil Kumar, Chief Manager (HR) at HRRL; Mr. Deepak G, Lead Industrial Engineer & Operations Manager, Tata Semiconductor; Ms. Prachi Bansal, HR Manager, American India Foundation.
  • Panel 2: Mr. Pulakesh Sen, Founder & CEO, Unikul Solutions; Mr. Naveen Roy, Co‑Founder & CEO, Canvas Workspace; Mr. Navnit, Founder & CEO, NAAVI; Mr. Adarsh H M, Co‑Founder, Elcarreira Technologies; Mr. Vinay Annappa, Founder & CEO, Energy As Solution & Director, Magnus Copo.

Panelists discussed entrepreneurship, funding, skill requirements, temperament and self‑discovery. They encouraged students to identify genuine problems, recognise strengths, take calculated risks and develop resilience. The AI discussion examined how software development roles may evolve, which tasks could be automated, and what new career and business opportunities may arise.

Take‑aways for Students

The conclave reinforced that the future of work involves a changing relationship between people, technology, organisations and society. Students were urged to cultivate curiosity, judgement, communication, collaboration, adaptability, resilience, self‑awareness and lifelong learning. The institute’s technical foundation in petroleum and chemical engineering will be complemented by these broader capabilities to prepare graduates for leadership roles in an interconnected technology landscape.

Closing Message

The event concluded with the exhortation “I can do. I will do,” aimed at inspiring confidence and action among the young generation.