IoD hosts inaugural National Convention on Leadership at GIFT city

The Institute of Directors (IoD), India, held its inaugural 2025 National Convention on Leadership and Business Excellence on Saturday at the GIFT City Club (Radisson Individuals) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, marking a significant milestone in advancing boardroom governance and leadership excellence in the country.Hosted in collaboration with GIFT City, India’s International Financial Services Centre, the Convention brought together senior policymakers, regulators, members of the judiciary, board leaders, CEOs, and senior civil servants from across India. The event underscored the growing importance of effective and future-ready boards in navigating complex global and domestic challenges.
The Convention was organised under the theme “Driving Global Excellence through Effective and Future-Ready Boards”, with deliberations centred on strengthening governance frameworks, leadership accountability, and institutional resilience in alignment with India’s long-term development vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Justice Sunita Agarwal, Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court, attended the Convention as the Chief Guest. Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Vice-Chairman of the Institute of Directors, Judicial Member of Lokpal of India, and former Chairperson of the Law Commission of India, provided strategic direction to the proceedings.Girish Chandra Murmu, former Comptroller and Auditor General of India, was present as the Guest of Honour. The Keynote Address was delivered by K. Rajaraman, Chairperson of the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA), who highlighted the evolving regulatory landscape and the critical role of strong board governance in fostering global confidence in India’s financial ecosystem.
Sanjay Kaul, Managing Director and Group CEO of Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), shared perspectives on GIFT City’s expanding role as a global financial hub and its contribution to positioning India as a competitive destination for international financial services.Manoj K. Raut, CEO of the Institute of Directors, said the Convention served as a structured platform for high-level dialogue on board leadership, regulatory oversight, and governance practices that are increasingly vital in a globally integrated economy.The Convention also featured insights from several eminent speakers, including Anju Sharma, Mona Khandhar, Banchhanidhi Pani, Maheswar Sahu, Nagarajan M., and Paridhi Adani, among others. Senior representatives from institutions such as India International Exchange (IFSC) Ltd. and NSE IFSC Clearing Corporation also participated in the discussions.Established in 1990, the Institute of Directors, India, has been actively engaged in promoting responsible leadership and strengthening boardroom performance through global conventions and business meets held across India and international financial centres including Dubai, Singapore, London, and Europe. The inaugural National Convention at GIFT City marked an important step in expanding IoD’s engagement on leadership and governance issues critical to India’s global aspirations.

(State Correspondent)