The Indian Institute of Management Jammu inaugurated HR Conclave 9.0, its flagship annual HR conclave, on 24th July 2026, bringing together eminent industry leaders, HR professionals, academicians, and future managers to deliberate on the theme "The People Advantage: Navigating the Intersection of AI, Innovation & Workplace Culture."The inaugural ceremony commenced with the traditional Lighting of the Lamp and Saraswati Vandana, symbolizing the pursuit of knowledge and excellence, followed by the welcome and institutional addresses. Ms. Malvika Singh, Head of Campus Recruitment, BNY, graced the inaugural ceremony. The session was presided over by Prof. B. S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu. 

Prof. Jabir Ali, Dean, Faculty & Research; Prof. Nitin Upadhyay, Dean Academics; Dr. Mahesh Gadekar, Chairperson–Placements; and Dr. Baljeet Singh Sani, Co-Chairperson–Placements, IIM Jammu graced the inaugural ceremony.

Delivering the address, Ms. Malvika Singh, Head of Campus Recruitment, BNY, emphasized that while Artificial Intelligence and technological advancements are transforming workplaces, trust, empathy, and human values will continue to remain the foundation of resilient organizations and meaningful professional relationships. She encouraged students to develop competencies that complement technology, highlighting the importance of empathy, collaboration, adaptability, critical thinking, and continuous learning in the evolving world of work. She urged them to make the most of the opportunities offered by IIM Jammu and actively engage with industry leaders to enhance their professional growth. Ms. Singh also underscored the collective responsibility of academia and industry in nurturing future-ready talent and lauded HR Conclave 9.0 as an important platform for fostering sustained industry-academia collaboration, knowledge exchange, and meaningful dialogue to shape the workforce of tomorrow.

Prof. B. S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, emphasized that the future of work would be shaped not by artificial intelligence alone but by the effective integration of technology with human values. He observed that while AI is enhancing organizational efficiency and competitiveness, human capabilities such as creativity, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, adaptability, and ethical leadership would continue to distinguish professionals. He underscored that it is the collective responsibility of academia and industry to nurture these competencies and prepare future leaders to thrive in an increasingly dynamic global environment. Highlighting IIM Jammu's commitment to experiential learning, he stated that management education must extend beyond conventional classroom teaching to include live projects, internships, contemporary case studies, and sustained industry engagement. He noted that platforms such as HR Conclave 9.0 serve not merely as recruitment forums but as catalysts for meaningful industry-academia collaboration, knowledge exchange, and co-creation. He further expressed confidence that stronger partnerships between academia and industry would play a pivotal role in developing future-ready managers and contribute significantly to the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

Prof. Jabir Ali, Dean, Faculty & Research, IIM Jammu underscored the importance of sustained industry partnerships through live projects, internships, practitioner-led learning, and curriculum co-creation to develop industry-ready professionals. He emphasized that stronger industry-academia collaboration bridges the gap between classroom learning and real-world practice, fostering innovation, enhancing employability, and preparing graduates to excel in a dynamic global business environment.

Prof. Nitin Upadhyay, Dean Academics, IIM Jammu highlighted IIM Jammu's holistic and future-oriented approach to management education, emphasizing critical thinking, innovation, AI-enabled learning, and experiential pedagogy. He noted that continuous engagement with industry plays a pivotal role in enriching the curriculum and equipping students with the competencies required to thrive in an increasingly technology-driven economy.

Welcoming the gathering, Dr. Mahesh Gadekar, Chairperson–Placements, IIM Jammu described HR Conclave 9.0 as IIM Jammu's flagship platform for fostering meaningful industry-academia collaboration. He encouraged students to actively engage with industry leaders, ask insightful questions, and leverage the conclave as an opportunity to build lasting professional networks and gain practical perspectives on the future of work.

Proposing the vote of thanks, Dr. Baljeet Singh Sani, Co-Chairperson–Placements, expressed his gratitude to the distinguished speakers, industry partners, IIM Jammu Leadership, faculty members, and participants for their valuable contributions. He remarked that platforms such as HR Conclave play a transformative role in bridging academia and industry by enabling students to learn directly from accomplished practitioners and emerging business leaders. The inaugural ceremony culminated with the national song and national anthem.

The Panel 1 on "The Digital Advisory Frontier: Nurturing Specialized Management Profiles in an Automated Era" featured an engaging discussion moderated by Ms. Samriti Malhotra, CHRO, UDS Group, with Mr. Sai Varma, CHRO, RYT Advisory; Ms. Santhoshi Devarsetty, Director-Global Talent Acquisition, Critical River; Mr. Binoy Aravindakshan, Director-Learning & Development, KPI Partners; and Ms. Sanjana Sidha, HR Lead, Tata Elxsi. The panel deliberated on how Artificial Intelligence is transforming consulting and talent management, while emphasizing that human judgment, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, adaptability, and continuous learning will remain the defining qualities of future-ready professionals. The speakers underscored the importance of integrating technological expertise with business acumen, client-centricity, and practical exposure to create meaningful value in an AI-driven consulting ecosystem. The session concluded with an engaging Q&A, where students actively interacted with the panelists on emerging industry expectations and career readiness.

The Panel 2 on "Trust and Innovation: Strategic Talent Management in Contemporary Financial Services" brought together Ms. Malvika Singh, Head – Campus Recruitment, BNY; Mr. Binoy Parekh, SVP-II & Business Head (TASC), Axis Bank; Ms. Padmaja Arya, Head HR, NSE Cogencis; Mr. Ajeet Shirshat, Associate Director – HR, Synechron; Mr. Yatharth Jhawar, Campus Recruiter, Grant Thornton Bharat LLP; and Ms. Reema Garg, CHRO, SMC Global Securities, for an insightful discussion on the evolving talent landscape in the BFSI sector. The panel emphasized that while Artificial Intelligence is accelerating innovation and transforming financial services, trust, ethical governance, human judgment, and domain expertise remain central to sustainable success. The speakers also highlighted the importance of continuous learning, reverse mentoring, and fostering collaborative, future-ready talent capable of navigating the convergence of technology, regulation, and human potential. The session concluded with an engaging Q&A, where students interacted with the panelists on emerging career opportunities and the evolving expectations of the BFSI industry.

The Panel 3 on "The Healthcare Talent Continuum: Strategic Workforce Management in Corporate Medicine" featured an insightful discussion by Ms. Anusha Wagh, Vice President–HR, IKS Health; Ms. Rishika Verma, Senior Manager (Campus), Talent Academy, Niva Bupa Health Insurance; Dr. Madhuri Vinjamur, AGM–Medical Affairs & Talent Acquisition, AIG Hospitals; Mr. Uday Kanth G., Recruitment Lead, Clear View Healthcare Partners; Ms. Rashma Nathani, Head–Human Resources, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital; and Mr. Balajibabu A. V., Vice President–HR, Yashoda Hospitals. The panel deliberated on the evolving healthcare talent landscape, emphasizing that resilient workforce management requires a balanced focus on employee well-being, leadership support, continuous learning, mentoring, and empathetic workplace cultures. The speakers highlighted that while technology is transforming healthcare delivery, compassion, service orientation, and people-centric leadership remain fundamental to enhancing patient outcomes and building future-ready healthcare organizations. The session concluded with an engaging Q&A, where students interacted with the panelists and gained valuable insights into emerging trends and career opportunities in the healthcare sector.

The intellectually stimulating discussion was followed by a vibrant cultural programme, showcasing the rich artistic talents of IIM Jammu students and providing an opportunity for the distinguished guests to experience the Institute's vibrant campus culture. The evening concluded with the Director's Dinner, where industry leaders, faculty members, and students engaged in informal interactions, fostering meaningful conversations, strengthening industry-academia relationships, and creating valuable networking opportunities beyond the panel discussions. With thought-provoking discussions, meaningful industry-academia engagement, and the collective wisdom of distinguished HR leaders, HR Conclave 9.0 has set the stage for two transformative days of learning, collaboration, innovation, and networking, reaffirming IIM Jammu's commitment to shaping future-ready leaders and advancing the future of work through impactful dialogue and partnerships.