Media Release
Mangaluru, Apr 9: The department of commerce, St Agnes College (Autonomous), Mangaluru, inaugurated its prestigious International Conference on "Building future ready finance talent: sustainability in the digital age" on April 8. The event aimed to explore and deliberate on the evolving demands of the financial sector in the context of sustainability and digital transformation.
The programme began with a warm and graceful welcome by the master of ceremony, Anusha Noronha, assistant professor, department of commerce, who guided the proceedings with elegance and clarity.
The formal welcome and introduction of the esteemed guests was delivered by Rodney Vas, convenor & assistant professor, department of commerce, who highlighted the relevance of the conference theme in today’s fast-changing financial world and acknowledged the presence of eminent personalities from academia and industry.
Vineetha N T, co-convenor & head of the department of commerce, presented the conference overview, outlining the objectives of the conference, its academic significance and the expected outcomes.
The conference was inaugurated by Nantharam Ramalingam, global head, Dyson Technologies, who also delivered the Keynote Address. In his inspiring speech, Ramalingam shed light on the role of finance professionals in driving sustainable value in the digital era.
The chief guest for the occasion was CS Pallavi Karkera, an alumna of St Agnes College, currently serving as company secretary and compliance officer, head of internal audit and IFC, Healthium Medtech Ltd Group. In her address, she reminisced about her time at the institution, appreciated the college's continued commitment to excellence and shared her professional journey emphasizing the importance of compliance, integrity and adaptability in modern finance careers.
The guest of honour, Sr Dr Maria Roopa AC, joint secretary, St Agnes Institutions, Mangaluru, appreciated the initiative of the commerce department and encouraged participants to engage actively with the sessions to gain meaningful insights.
The presidential address was delivered by Sr Dr M Venissa AC, principal, St Agnes College (Autonomous), Mangaluru, who congratulated the department on organizing a globally relevant conference. She expressed her pride in the institution's alumni and stressed the importance of value-based education in building future-ready professionals.
The inaugural session concluded with a heartfelt vote of thanks delivered by Nimitha K, co-convenor and dean of commerce, who extended gratitude to the dignitaries, organizing committee, participants and supporters for their contributions in making the inaugural session a grand success.
The event marked a significant step in fostering dialogue and collaboration among academic and industry leaders, and it set an inspiring tone for the rest of the conference proceedings.
Conference overview:
This conference aims to explore how the finance profession is evolving — and how educators, learners, and professionals can prepare for a future that demands not just technological expertise but also ethical thinking and sustainable practices.
The conference brings together a vibrant community of experts, educators, and students from the fields of finance, accounting, and digital innovation. Over the course of the day, participants will engage in insightful keynote addresses, expert sessions, and research paper presentations — all designed to address the pressing questions of the time.
The event will begin with a keynote address by Nantharam Ramalingam, global head at Dyson Technologies, and Dr Vinod Madhavan, vice president, academics, School of Branding and Advertising, Miles Education. They will set the tone for the conference by sharing insights on how organizations today are reimagining finance capabilities in a digital-first world, while balancing the critical pillars of people, planet, and profit, followed by;
Technical sessions:
Session 1: Planet, people, profit – Can accounting save or sink the future?
Speaker: Uttam Pai Umesh, CPA, associate vice president
Session 2: “Future of work”
Speaker: Kamalanathan, vice president – academic operations,
Session 3: The metamorphosis of automation to artificial intelligence
Speaker: Kiruba Nagini R, data analytics trainer at Miles Education.
In addition to the expert-led sessions, the conference will feature paper presentations by both students and faculty members. These presentations will showcase fresh research, original insights, and innovative ideas that address today’s challenges in finance, sustainability, digital tools, and corporate responsibility.
The conference is designed not just to understand the future, but to help build it — by preparing finance professionals who are digitally skilled, ethically grounded, and sustainability-focused.