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Utkarsh Amitabh is the chief executive officer of Network Capital and the chief marketing officer of 5ire.org, a blockchain unicorn valued at $1.5 billion. 5ire.org acquired a stake in his company Network Capital (networkcapital.tv), one of the world’s largest mentorship platforms that empowers 1.6 million school students and 1,50,000-plus young professionals to build meaningful careers.

Educated at Oxford and INSEAD, Utkarsh worked at Microsoft for seven years across the US, Europe and India, leading business development for big-bet projects. He is the author of two best-selling books published by Penguin and writes for Harvard Business Review and World Economic Forum.

Vaishali Nigam Sinha is Co-Founder and Chairperson of Sustainability at ReNew a Nasdaq-listed leading global renewable energy company. She is also the Founding Chair of the ReNew Foundation the companys philanthropic arm driving the ReNew India Initiative for pathbreaking work in corporate social responsibility.

Vali Golmohammadi Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor at Tarbiat Modares University Department of International Relations Tehran and a visiting scholar at Bilkent University Ankara Turkey. He is a lecturer at World Studies Faculty of Tehran University and Senior Fellow in the Center for Middle East Strategic Studies (CMESS). He is also a Non-residence fellow at Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS) of Irans Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Vamsi TP is the Co- Founder of Edgegrid

Var Shankar is Executive Director at the Responsible AI Institute. An attorney by background, Var advises organizations on AI governance and technology policy. He is also a Co-Instructor of Kaggle’s AI Ethics course. Var formerly practiced law at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP’s office in New York, where he worked on capital markets and banking matters. He holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School and a B.A. from Duke University.

Vardan Kabra is an engineer from IIT Bombay and after graduating from IIM Ahmedabad he co-founded and heads Fountainhead School in Surat. He's also supporting the Education Department of Gujarat in their Mission Schools of Excellence.

Varun is a serial entrepreneur with deep interest across multiple fields including fintech digital currencies and digital privacy and freedom. He is currently the co-founder and CEO at Juno a neo bank built using a USD pegged stablecoin that provides users a high yield account for savings.

VVarya Srivastava - Varya is the VP of Product and Govt. Affairs atNetwork Capital. In this capacity she works closely with the Government of India's Atal Innovation Mission to scale their Mentor India programme and provide mentorship to 7.5 million students across India.Varya has a Bachelors in Political Science and a Diploma in Conflict Transformation and Peace-Building from University of Delhi.Her first non-fiction book on 'Ambition in Rising India' has been commissioned by Penguin Random House and will be published in the summer of 2023.

Vasabjit Banerjee is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Mississippi State University. His primary research interests are electoral politics political violence and state-formation in developing societies. He also conducts research on domestic influences on foreign policies of developing countries.

Veer Puri is a Research Assistant with ORF’s Centre for New Economic Diplomacy. 

At ORF, his research focuses on the Blue Economy and connectivity, with particular emphasis on how maritime infrastructure, ports, and trade corridors can drive economic integration and sustainable development. 

Veer was previously a Policy Research Associate at the Synergia Foundation (2024–2025); Municipal Law and Policy Research Intern at the Janaagraha Foundation (2024); and Research Intern at the Takshashila Institution (2022).

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from American University, Washington, D.C.

Veeresh Kanduri works as Intelligence Analyst and China Specialist at the Mumbai operations of Israel-based Max Securities. He has earlier worked as Young National Security Fellow Indo-Pacific Forum for Integrated National Security (FINS): Young Leader Fellow USA Pacific Forum Honolulu: and Research Fellow Pangoal Institution Beijing China

With over two decades of professional experience and academic background in security and defense Velina Tchakarova is an expert in the field of geopolitics. Velina Tchakarova offers a wide range of services for customers in the public and private sectors. These include research consulting lectures and publication of papers on geopolitical issues regional and global trends risks and scenarios. At FACE Velina Tchakarova utilizes her extensive network of experts and real-world experience to offer customized solutions for clients to navigate the geopolitical landscape and make informed decisions. She helps clients plan for potential risks and trends that may arise from the geopolitical environment of their country region or sector while preparing scenarios for their business amidst the complex challenges of the future. As a visiting fellow of ORF Velina Tchakarova will provide the latest insights and analysis on geopolitical developments regarding the relations between Russia China and India and formulate geopolitical scenarios for the Global System Transformation with a focus on the repercussions for South Asia and the Indo-Pacific region. Furthermore she will cover the Indo-Pacific strategy of key actors in Europe and the development of the relation between the EU and India.

As the former Director of the Austrian Institute for European and Security Policy (AIES) in Vienna, Austria, Velina has a wealth of knowledge and expertise in analyzing the geopolitical landscape and its impact on businesses and organizations. Currently serving as an instructor at the Real-World Risk Institute, a member of the Strategic and Security Policy Advisory Board of the Science Commission at the Austrian Federal Ministry of Defense, and a peer board member of the Austrian publication Defence Horizon Journal, Velina Tchakarova offers a wide range of services for customers in the public and private sectors. These include research, consulting, lectures, and publication of papers on geopolitical issues, regional and global trends, risks and scenarios. She also hosts and attends conferences, webinars, expert meetings, and round tables, providing the latest insights and analysis on geopolitical developments to both private and public sectors.

Vera Songwe is the Founder and Chair of Liquidity and Sustainability Facility.

A repo facility for emerging countries. She is also the co-chair of the High Level Panel on Climate Finance. Under this role she is working to develop functioning carbon markets in Africa and is a champion of the peatlands. She created the African Women's Impact Fund a fund of funds alongside Standard Bank.

Dr. Victoria V. Panova is the Provost for International Relations of the Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU).

Vidisha heads programmatic and substantive community engagement at GSI, including partnerships with the G20 and G7 processes and associated multilateral groups. She brings a decade of experience working at the intersection of policy advice, programme management and strategic engagement across international think tanks in Europe, South and Southeast Asia.

Before joining GSI, Vidisha worked at UNU-IIGH – the UN’s think tank on global health, where she led global partnerships with UN agencies, civil society and member state governments. Her former roles include leading research on gender in economic diplomacy at ORF – one of Asia’s most influential foreign policy think tanks.

Col Vidur Ji Sharma is an Indian Army officer commissioned into Mahar Regiment in May 2000. The officer has had varied operational experience of serving in all types of terrain including the High Altitude region of J&K and Northeast. He was actively involved in Counter Insurgency operations in Kashmir and Assam as well as attended counter terrorism course at Joint Special Ops University (JSOU) Tempa, Florida USA. He has also served with the United Nations Mission in Congo (MONUC) in 2005-06, where he was awarded Force Commander’s appreciation for his outstanding contribution in demobilising large numbers of local militia cadres. The officer commanded an Infantry battalion in a critical sector along the Indo-China Border in Arunachal Pradesh. The officer is a graduate of Defence Services Staff College Wellington and prestigious Higher Command Course. His staff experience includes a tenure at Infantry Directorate at Army headquarters as well as Colonel General Staff of a Corps Headquarters in J&K. He has also been an instructor at Officers Training Academy Chennai as well as Army War College Mhow. The officer is currently a visiting Research Fellow with the Strategic Studies Programme at ORF. His areas of specialisation are security & military issues. His research work primarily centred on South & East Asia including China.

Vidushi Sinha is a Sub-Editor with the Communications Team at ORF. Harbouring a keen interest in diplomacy, geopolitics, and governance, she aims to wield her words into armour to dissect and decode the complexities of global discourse, whilst ensuring clarity without compromising depth.

Her journey into the world of ideas began with a B.A. (Honours) in Political Science from Lady Shri Ram, Delhi University, where she cultivated a curiosity for the forces that shape societies and nations. This academic foundation and her editorial acumen allow her to navigate the intricate interplay of power, policy, and people with precision and insight.

At Business Standard, Vidushi immersed herself in the rigours of print journalism, earning three bylines in the newspaper’s print edition. Selected as one of six interns from a pool of 200+ candidates, she honed her ability to transform complex economic and financial stories into compelling reads, while meeting the relentless demands of a newsroom.

As the Editor-in-Chief of Lady Shri Ram College’s 67-year-old College Magazine, Vidushi led a team of 100+ to produce the annual edition, themed “Love Annotated,” which resonated with a readership of 3,000+. This role sharpened her editorial and leadership skills and deepened her appreciation for the power of storytelling to inspire and inform.

Vidushi’s published works reflect her intellectual curiosity and commitment to addressing contemporary challenges. From analysing India’s role in the Global South to exploring the implications of AI in governance, her writing is a testament to her ability to weave together theory, evidence, and narrative. Her articles have appeared in Business Standard, DU Beat, and The Hindu College Gazette, among others.

For Vidushi, writing is more than a skill—it’s a way to question, challenge, and reimagine the world. At ORF, she continues to channel this passion into contributing effectively to narratives that inform, engage, and spark meaningful dialogue on the issues that matter most.

Vijay Sappani is on the board of the Macdonald-Laurier Institute

Vijay Seth is holding a Master's Degree (MBA) in Business Administration from Sikkim Manipal University. He is also a Software Engineer from Aptech Computers Limited. He has done his Graduation in Botany (Hons.) from Sambalpur University.

Vikram Gandhi is co-founder of Asha Impact an impact investment and policy advocacy platform for Indian business leaders. Vikram is faculty member at Harvard Business School where he teaches impact investing and entrepreneurial management in the MBA and Executive Education programs. He is also a Senior Advisor to CPPIB. Vikram had a career spanning 23 years in investment banking as head of the global financial services business at Morgan Stanley and Vice Chairman of Investment Banking globally at Credit Suisse. He is a founding board member of Social Finance India board member of Grameen Foundation and founding member of Harvards South Asia Initiative. Vikram graduated as a Baker scholar from Harvard Business School.

Vikram Sood is Advisor at Observer Research Foundation.

Mr. Sood is the former head of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) — India’s foreign intelligence agency. He writes on security, foreign relations and strategic issues. He is the author of The Unending Game: A Former R&AW Chief’s Insights into Espionage (2018).

Vikrom Mathur is Visiting Fellow at ORF.

Vikrom curates research at ORF’s Centre for New Economic Diplomacy (CNED). He also guides and mentors researchers at CNED. Vikrom has 20 years of professional experience, straddling research and policy advice, at the interface of social and environmental change. His research explores international partnerships, foreign policy and economic diplomacy related to the implementation of the global development, sustainability and human security agenda with a focus on India’s development cooperation with African nations and the countries in India’s neighbourhood.

Vikrom received his PhD from Oxford University, Institute for Science, Society and Innovation (2011). He received his Bachelors in Chemical and Environmental Engineering from McGill University, Canada, and Masters in Regional Planning from the Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden.

Vinaina Suri leads Communications and Outreach at IPE Global’s Social and Economic Empowerment Practice. She has over 17 years of experience in health and impact-led initiatives.

Vinay Kaura PhD is Assistant Professor in the Department of International Affairs and Security Studies and Deputy Director of Centre for Peace &: Conflict Studies Sardar Patel University of Police Security and Criminal Justice Jodhpur Rajasthan. Concurrently he is a Non-resident Scholar at the Middle East Institute Washington DC. His current research interests include Afghanistan-Pakistan relations counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency and the geopolitics of Indo-Pacific. He is particularly interested in how political and cultural perspectives shape approaches to national security and foreign policy.

Vinayak Malhotra is co-founder and CEO of Kesowa a technology-focused startup based out of Kolkata. Vinayak is also a contributor to Primus Partners a business and management consultancy firm.

Vindu Mai Chotani is a PhD scholar at the Graduate School of Public Policy University of Tokyo. She is also a teaching fellow for the GLP-GEfIL (Global Education for Innovation and Leadership) programme at the University of Tokyo.Having previously worked as a Junior Fellow at ORFs Strategic Studies Programme she continues to maintain her affiliation as a Visiting Associate.Vindus research focus is primarily on Japan and Indian foreign policy with an emphasis on Japans growing strategic and techno-economic ties as well as connectivity projects in South Asia and the Bay of Bengal region. Her work also examines great power dynamics and the evolving security architecture in the Indo-Pacific region.Vindu previously earned an MSc in International Relations from the University of Bristol and a BA in Political Science from the University of Delhi.

Vinia is Director of Publications at ORF. She oversees the production of long-form research papers, and is curator of the Fellows Seminar Series that showcases ORF's best research. She was a Chevening scholar at the University of Reading in the UK, where she obtained her MSc in Environment and Development.

She has been a recipient of the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards for Excellence in Journalism; the Marshall McLuhan Fellowship; the SEAMEO-Australia Press Award; and the UNFPA Population and Development Award for Reportage.

Dr. Vinitha Revi is an Independent Scholar associated with ORF-Chennai. Her PhD was in International Relations and focused on India-UK relations in the post-colonial period. Her research interest are Indian Foreign Policy South Asia with a special focus on the island nations Sri Lanka Maldives Mauritius &: Seychelles as well as India-UK Relations.

Vinod Kumar, Assistant Manager, Energy and Climate Change Content Development of the Energy News Monitor Energy and Climate Change.

Member of the Energy News Monitor production team. He assists senior research fellows by providing data and reliable information about energy and collecting tabulated data. He assists in coordinating projects of the Energy and Climate Change.

NSS Certificate from M. M. College Modinagar & National Hindi Gyan Pratiyogita Certificate from the U.P. Board

Miss. Viola Savy Dsouza is a PhD Scholar at Department of Health Policy Prasanna School of Public Health. She holds a Master of Science degree in Clinical Research from Indian Institute of Public Health Delhi (IIPH-D) and Post Graduate Diploma in Data Science from Amity Future Academy. Her research interests are in regulatory science clinical trials and pharmacovigilance. Her dissertation is in predicting Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) using Artificial Intelligence.

Viraj Solanki is the Research Associate for South and Central Asian Defence Strategy and Diplomacy at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) based in London. His research focuses on Indias policy towards the Indo-Pacific region primarily on the Indian Ocean littoral and island states and their foreign policies in relation to India China and the US: and the Quad countries role in the Indian Ocean region.

Virginie Tallio Ph.D is a Research fellow at the Makerere Institute for Social Research-Makerere University (Uganda). Anthropologist by training her main research interest revolves around oil. Her first entry point explores its symbolism and its weight into national identity construction. The second one interrogates the links between oil and development more specifically within the realm of CSR policies. Another of her research interests concerns refugees and the different strategies they develop to deal with external and institutional categorizations. She has worked on Africa especially in Angola and Uganda.

Vishal Nigam is a Delhi University graduate. He holds a postgraduate degree in International Business Strategy from Indian Institute of Foreign Trade; and a postgraduate degree in Personnel Management and Diploma in Management from Fu Hsing Kang College, National Defence University, Taipei. He is an experienced aviator with more than two decades of distinguished service with the Indian Air Force. He worked at the Centre for Air power Studies from 2009-2014.

Vishal Ranjan has held various positions in the last five years in different organisations such as the UN Development Programme (disaster management), SAGE (publishing) and Mahindra Comviva (corporate communications). He obtained his MPhil in International Relations from JNU, and is completing his PhD on Australia-China Relations: 1989-2005, in the same university. He currently works as Senior Researcher with the Rajya Sabha TV. He recently copublished an article titled, Hong Kong and Taiwan: A Chinese Tale of Two Cities in The Straits Times, Singapore.